During our dockside reception, we acknowledge an individual or a group of individuals who have made a significant contribution toward the sustainable use of fishery resources in Prince William Sound or the Copper River regions. We honor individuals for their innovation, perseverance, dedication, and hard work on behalf of Cordova and our region. The awardee(s) are guests of honor at the pre-dinner reception and at the Copper River Nouveau gourmet dinner.
Past recipients include:
Thea Thomas, a Copper River gillnetter for more than 20 years, was presented the 2009 Fisheries Achievement Award. Most recently, Thea was instrumental in the successful formation of the Copper River/Prince William Sound Marketing Association, Alaska’s first Regional Seafood Development Association. She has served as Board President since its inception in 2005. At the state level, Thomas has been active with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. She is a past Board Member and current Committee Member on ASMI’s Retail and Salmon Committees. Additional fishery organizations in which Thomas has been active as an officer or Board member include the Copper River Salmon Producers Association, Cordova District Fishermen United, and Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation.
2008 - Ken Roberson, a former Glennallen resident and retired ADF&G biologist, worked on Copper River fisheries issues for 39 years. In 1973 he helped establish the Gulkana River hatchery, which has now become the world's largest fry production facility. He also initiated the escapement mode of management and installed the first sonar counter at Miles Lake in the late 1970s. His long-term vision and hard work are credited for the sustainability of the salmon fisheries out of Cordova.
2007 - RJ Kopchak. In lieu of the Fisheries Achievement Award, Kopchak was honored for his many contributions over the years to the Prince William Sound Science Center. He is the founding President of the Prince William Sound Science Center, sat on the Advisory Board of the Oil Spill Recovery Institute from 1992-2007, and has raised many thousands of dollars for the PWSSC with his extraordinary auctioneering skills at previous Copper River Nouveau events.
2006 - Ken Roemhildt, plant manager for North Pacific processors, was in the fish processing industry for nearly four decades. One of his more notable contributions was the relationship he developed with Hormel to produce the first canning in volume of skinless, boneless pink salmon. Another cherished contribution was his ability to maintain local, year-round employment. Ken saw an opportunity when he realized that PWS pollock and cod were being shipped to Kodiak for processing. He switched the North Pacific filet lines over for white fish to accommodate wintertime processing. He was an innovator who cared and worked tirelessly for the local fisheries, the fishermen, his workers, and the community of Cordova.
2005 - Jon Rowley, a nationally recognized food consultant and promoter, is regarded as the visionary behind the marketing success of Copper River King Salmon. More than 25 years ago he proposed that Copper River king, with its high oil content, rich orange color and earth complex flavor could have a bright future in the market place. With a small group of Copper River fisherman willing to do the extra handling necessary to assure quality, Rowley's first delivery of Copper River kings to Seattle restaurants was in 1983. The response was incredibly enthusiastic and still lives on today.
