Retired hatchery manager Gary Martinek will be honored on Saturday, June 8, with a Fisheries Achievement Award, a tribute to his over 25 years of pioneering otolith marking techniques and improving sockeye salmon hatchery management practices.
The community is invited to celebrate him at a reception at Prince William Sound Science Center’s dock at 4 p.m., just two hours before the Copper River Nouveau, the annual fine dining and auction fundraiser at the Cordova Center.
Martinek retired about two years ago as manager of the Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation’s Gulkana Hatchery.
Executive chef Nancy Alip, owner of Jens’ Restaurant in Anchorage, will oversee the Copper River Nouveau dinner.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is the honorary host for this dinner, which combines gourmet food with opportunities to meet with federal and regional elected officials, scientists, educators, fishermen and others dedicated to maintaining socioeconomic resilience among healthy ecosystems.
The dinner, plus a silent and live auction help raise funds for the center’s research and education projects. Tickets for the dinner are sold out, but those who want to be on the wait list are invited to call PWSSC at 907-424-5800.
Major sponsors for this year’s event include ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobile, Rim Architects, The Eyak Corp., Chugach Alaska Corp., CoBank, Trident Seafoods, Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., Birch Horton Bittner & Cherot, Boeing, BP, Cascadia Cross-Border Law, GCI, Lynden, Matson, Meera Kohler and Ocean Beauty Seafoods.
A complete list of all sponsors and in-kind donors may be found online at pwssc.org/support/copper-river-nouveau.
