One method of preparation involves stuffing a fish with goose tongue, a plant found in intertidal wetlands, wrapping the fish in fronds from bull kelp and putting it directly on an outdoor fire to cook. Another preparation is artfully cutting the salmon in strips for smoking.

“I try to change the theme every year so we’re not focusing on the same thing so the kids are learning something new,” Opheim said.

This is the third season SVT has applied for and received the educational fishery permit. It is the only such permit issued for Kachemak Bay.

“Basically, the permit is a systematic program for educating people about the historic and temporary or experimental methods for locating, harvesting, handling or processing fishery resources,” said Nicky Szarzi, a biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Homer.

Three permits have been issued for the southern Cook Inlet, one each to Ninilchik Traditional Council, Ninilchik Native Descendants and Ninilchik Emergency Services. The sites used are just north of Ninilchik River.

“Our idea was to service the kids and adults who aren’t (Ninilchik) tribal members, to take them down (to the beach) and let them learn how to do a setnet,” said Steve Vanek, president of NES.

Applications for educational fishery permits are submitted to the commissioner of Fish and Game or a representative of the department, such as Szarzi. There is no cost to apply. Applications must be submitted on an annual basis.

“They (applications) have to be in no later than 30 days before the applicant proposes to begin the fishery,” Szarzi said. “The plan has to have instructors qualified to teach, enrolled students, minimum attendance requirements, procedures for testing student knowledge and standards for successful completion of the program.”

Educational fishery permits are not issued if the objectives can be accomplished under existing fisheries. The department also is careful to ensure existing fisheries are not impacted.

“A permittee will request a certain number of fish (to be caught) and we’ll assess whether we think the requested number of fish will impact other fisheries. If not, we’ll grant that number of fish,” Szarzi said.

“If an educational fishery could impact the sustainability of a fish stock, we certainly won’t permit that to happen.”

Required reporting informs Fish and Game of the numbers of fish caught, numbers of individuals using the permit and how objectives of the permit are being met.

“If an applicant violates the conditions of the permit, the permit is revoked,” Szarzi said.

Seldovia tribe’s culture camp draws an estimated 30 participants, said Opheim.

“We don’t discriminate on age,” he said. “It’s for the littlest (tribal members) up to adults.”

Nor is the camp just about fishing.

“It also includes identifying edible plants on the beach and intertidal areas, building shelters and other outdoor activities,” Opheim said.