* Fish Prom
* CDFU Scholarship Program
* CDFU Buoy Fund
* Senior Salmon Day
* Fish PAC
* Upriver Outreach
* PWSSC Herring Study

* Annual Fishermen BBQ & Dock Walk [coming soon]
* Cordova Maritime Center [coming soon]

Fish Prom Scholarship Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auction

September 17, 2010

CDFU believes that education is key - it is the youth of today that promise a strong future for tomorrow.  Each year, CDFU hosts an annual Fish Prom dinner to raise funds for scholarships which are awarded to individuals seeking further education, with a vested interest in our fishery and the community of Cordova.

*** Cordova's Largest Silent Auction
*** Spin the Fish Wheel of Fortune
*** Devour Libby's Award Winning Sockeye Salmon dinner
*** Desserts up for grabs by some of Cordova's most esteemed bakers
 

-------------------------------------------------------------- [back to top]

CDFU Scholarship Program 

CDFU believes in the importance of fostering the growth and education of our youth.
Using funds raised throughout the year by donations from the fleet, and during CDFU's Fish Prom scholarship fundraiser, CDFU is
able to offer scholarships to dependents of CDFU members, and the youth of Cordova.

Eligible applicants seeking further education in any field are invited to apply for CDFU scholarships.
Applicants will be competing for one of 5 scholarships as follows:

1 x $2,500 award (The Robert H. Blake scholarship award)
4 x $1,000 awards
1 x $500 award (The Nick Budnick memorial scholarship)

--------------------------------------------------------------[back to top]

CDFU Buoy Fund

CDFU raises funds annually which are used to provide a navigational service to members of the commercial fishing fleet. Stakes are placed to mark the channel between Point Whitshed and Egg Island. Buoys are also placed through Racetrack to aid in the safe passageway of vessels through their often precarious waters.

Every 3 years, CDFU solicits bids from contractors to place stakes to mark the channel between Point Whitshed and Egg Island, and place buoys between the Steamboat and Pete Dahl channel (Racetrack) prior to the first commercial fishing periods of theCopper River drift gillnet fishing seasons. The bid period opens on February 1, and officially closes on March 30.

CDFU prints and makes available color maps showing the locations of buoys and channel markers, and provides to members the longitude and latitude numbers for entry into your GPS unit. These maps are available from the CDFU office after May 10, or can be downloaded from this website.

--------------------------------------------------------------[back to top]

Senior Salmon Day 

June 9, 2010

Each year, CDFU runs several programs to help connect Prince William Sound's commercial fishery with our local communities.CDFU organizes a special event each June to ensure that the senior members of our community have access to Copper River sockeye salmon. Held on Main Street, dedicated volunteers, including past CDFU Board members, lend a hand to fillet, clean and bag salmon that is donated to the cause by our generous fishermen. This salmon is then hand delivered to senior residences across the community.

How can I help with this event? ~

Commercial fishermen can donate fish during the weeks leading up to Senior Salmon Day - look out for posters and signs on your tender or at your processing plant. We usually solicit helpers to fillet, bag, and deliver salmon to seniors across the community. If this sounds like something you are interested in helping out with, contact Rochelle at CDFU.

--------------------------------------------------------------[back to top]

CDFU FishPAC

CDFU is a 501(c) 5 non-profit organization, and as such is able to partake in political lobbying activities. In 2007, CDFU formed a Fish PAC (Political Action Committee - see wikipedia explanation here) to raise funds to be used for making political contributions to candidates running in State elections. You can help give our fishery a strong voice in Alaska's political arena by making a contribution today.

--------------------------------------------------------------[back to top]

Upriver Outreach

Each spring, CDFU organizes a delivery of seafood to the residents of nine upriver communities. This is part of an effort to collaborate and connect with other residents that share the resources of the Copper River.

--------------------------------------------------------------[back to top]

PWSSC Herring Study

CDFU has secured a contract with the PWSSC to recruit 10 commercial fishing vessels to participate in a juvenile herring sampling exercise in 30 bays throughout PWS.  This presence/absence study will occur in mid-March and data collected will be used to determine wintering locations of juvenile herring.  To encourage community participation in the restoration of the PWS herring fishery, CDFU has been contracted by the PWSSC in one of nine projects included in the Integrated Herring Restoration Program funded by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.