I like to think of Alaska as home to a vast ecosystem of fishing families, each family a tributary with its own unique course and character, shaping the future of the region through the work that they do to harvest wild seafood. My husband Arron Kallenberg (WAC co-founder + CEO) is the third generation of one of these fishing families.
The Kallenbergs, though, are just one Alaskan fishing family — the one I know best — in a region rich with stories like theirs. That’s why it is my distinct pleasure this week to share with you the story of Erik and Lacey Velsko, who own and operate three commercial fishing boats, year-round, out of Homer, Alaska (which is Arron’s hometown).
“All this fish we catch is not just to make a paycheck,” Erik recently explained WAC. “It’s what people eat. I think that’s important to have in everyone’s mind while they’re harvesting: this is someone’s food at the end of the day, and you need to treat it that way.”
Both Erik and Lacey hail from Homer where they, too, grew up in fishing families. Today, they run their family business with their three children frequently aboard, introducing them to the ins and outs of commercial fishing when they have free time. Their oldest, now 15, even has her own salmon permit that gives her the autonomy to harvest her own salmon each season.
I’m truly inspired by how the Velskos have brought their children into the fold, and I can’t help but think of what the future holds for our son and daughter, who — once they’re old enough to choose to do so — may very well continue the Kallenberg legacy into a fourth generation of an Alaskan fishing life.
I’m also struck by the fact that the Velskos and the Kallenbergs — former schoolmates! — are both helping to build a more sustainable food system through the work that they’re doing with wild Alaskan seafood. This intertwining of narratives makes it clear to me how integral fishing families are in maintaining the resilience of a place like Homer, as a place that has provided sustenance for communities in Alaska and beyond for generations.
I invite you to read the full profile about the Velskos on the WAC blog.
Live Wild,
Monica
Pictured above: A snapshot of an Alaskan fishing family: Erik and Lacey Velsko with their three children.
