Opponents Speak-Out Against Moving Alaska Commercial Fisherman’s Memorial

The board of directors for the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau has come out in favor of leaving the monument where it is – and against building a cruise ship dock in front of it.

Last year, the City and Borough Assembly approved a plan to construct two new floating berths on Gastineau Channel – one of which would sit in front of the memorial. City officials asked the board to weigh in on whether the shrine should move, and if so where.

The board’s Bruce Weyhrauch says having a cruise ship dock in front of the memorial defeats the purpose of having an unobstructed view of the water.

In a letter to CBJ Port Engineer Gary Gillette last week the board said it prefers the city not construct a dock in front of the memorial at all. If the dock is built there, the board wants the memorial moved to Marine Park, and assurances that nothing will be built on the water in front of it.

Gillette says the recommendation will go to the Docks and Harbors board as well as the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.

And Gillette says the assembly may end up making the final decision.

For now, $2 million is included in the dock expansion budget for the purpose of moving the memorial.

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Casey Kelly is a reporter at KTOO in Juneau.

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