A documentary on sustainable fishing in Kodiak will soon be featured on 70 government access stations nationwide.

The documentary was shot by EcoNews, a branch of Environmental Communications Inc. The company is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that focuses on worldwide environmental issues.

“We’ve been to India, Kenya, Fiji. From the Mojave Desert to the orangutan, we’ve covered habitats everywhere,” project overseer Nancy Pearlman said.

All the work that EcoNews does is privately funded by donations.

“What we do is all love,” Pearlman said.

While in Kodiak, Pearlman and her crew explored various aspects of the fishing industry and took a tour of a pollock processing plant. They also interviewed employees of the Marine Conservation Alliance and the Kodiak lab at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center to understand the scope of Kodiak’s fishing business.

“We were overwhelmed by the depth of the industry up there,” Pearlman said.

Pearlman’s overall impressions were positive.

“What we discovered is that most people involved in the industry there are concerned and caring about the fish. It’s a healthy program.”

“Her perspective of how we work to ensure sustainability with the community and the industry was positive,” Robert Foy, director of the Kodiak lab, said.

Pearlman also plans to feature Kodiak and surrounding areas in an “eco-tour” series that promotes environmental tourism.

“There are beautiful resources to be explored there,” Pearlman said.

Currently, EcoNews hopes to release the fishing documentary in September.

Pearlman said it will be available to Kodiak residents on PBS and YouTube. EcoNews will also send a tape to anyone who places a request with EcoNews.

“It’s free, but we ask for donations if someone wants a tape,” Pearlman said.

EcoNews can be reached at www.ecoprojects.org.

Mirror writer Elizabeth Caldwell can be reached via e-mail at ecaldwell@kodiakdailymirror.com.