PUBLIC NOTICE PN-410
OFFICIAL POSTING OF AGENCY TRIBAL NATIONS SOVEREIGN SEAFOOD PROCUREMENT STANDARDS TO THE PRESS AND PUBLIC RECORD
Published in the Official Federal Public Notice of agencytribalnations.org and
December 2, 2025
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF FOOD SOVEREIGNTY STANDARDS
Be it known to all whom these presents shall come,
On this 2nd day of December, 2025, Agency Tribal Nations, through its duly appointed Tribal Federal Contractor and Awardee of the Interior, Chief Geronimo Thomas Langenderfer, hereby gives formal public notice of the establishment and implementation of the Agency Tribal Nations Sovereign Seafood Procurement Standards for the historic Requa fishing grounds on the Klamath River.
PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLE
These Standards are established under our inherent sovereign authority to:
- Exercise economic sovereignty through tribally-controlled seafood enterprise
- Honor and sustain traditional fishing practices while ensuring food safety
- Establish market-based standards reflecting our values of quality, safety, and respect for the resource
- Create opportunity for Native fishers who uphold these standards
- Build a traceable, verifiable system meeting or exceeding regulatory requirements for any market
Learn More About Mendocino & Yurok Fishing Rights: https://www.agencytribalnations.org/fishing-rights-yurok-hoopa-valley-tribe.html
STANDARDS OVERVIEW
1. Procurement Eligibility:
Agency Tribal Nations establishes buyer standards for seafood procurement. We will purchase fish only from:
- Native American harvesters
- Those who follow our documented Tribal Harvest & Handling Standards
- Those who provide complete Tribal Catch Records for traceability
2. The 30-Minute Rule (Critical Standard):
All harvesters selling to Agency Tribal Nations must adhere to the 30-minute rule from net to ice, codifying traditional swift handling practices essential for quality and safety.
3. Food Safety Standards:
Our procurement system implements comprehensive food safety standards including:
- Temperature control standards (≤34°F)
- Clean handling and contamination prevention
- Complete traceability from river to market
- Environmental monitoring for Klamath River conditions
4. Market Pathways:
These standards support both:
- Path A: Tribal commerce & subsistence within our sovereign community
- Path B: Interstate/off-reservation commerce with full regulatory compliance
LEGAL BASIS AND SOVEREIGNTY ASSERTION
These Procurement Standards are established under:
- Our inherent sovereign authority as a tribal nation
- Treaty-reserved fishing rights on the Klamath River
- The Indian Canon of Construction requiring interpretation in favor of tribal sovereignty
- Federal common law recognizing tribal authority over internal economic matters
- Our status as GSA Tribal Federal Contractor and Awardee of the Interior
This is a market-based system of procurement, not regulation. We exercise our sovereign right as buyers to set standards for what we will purchase, creating opportunity for Native fishers who choose to participate while ensuring food safety for our community and customers.
NOTICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
All federal, state, and local agencies, particularly the FDA, USDA, and California Department of Public Health, are hereby noticed of these sovereign food standards. The complete documentation demonstrates:
- A comprehensive food safety system
- Complete traceability and record-keeping
- Environmental monitoring for the Klamath River watershed
- Handling and quality standards equivalent to or exceeding regulatory requirements
We welcome consultation under the FDA's Tribal Consultation Policy to demonstrate equivalency and discuss mutual recognition of these sovereign standards.
DOWNLOAD FULL SEAFOOD STANDARDS
(seafood-system.pdf)
STANDARDS DOCUMENTATION INCLUDES:
- Complete Tribal Harvest & Procurement Standards
- Tribal Catch Record (Primary Traceability Document)
- Harvester Acknowledgment & Agreement
- Daily Receiving Documentation
- Essential Sanitation Guidelines
- Implementation Checklist and Training Materials
- Environmental Monitoring Program Framework
- Full Food Safety Protocol Documentation
For Standards Information, Consultation, or Harvester Registration:
Head Chief Geronimo Thomas Langenderfer
Agency Tribal Nations Seafood Procurement Standards
707-679-8229 • Chief@altearth.org
www.AgencyTribalNations.org/seafood
NOTICE TO NATIVE HARVESTERS:
Native American fishers interested in selling to Agency Tribal Nations under these standards may contact us for training, registration, and copies of the procurement documentation. This system creates new market opportunities while honoring traditional practices.
NOTICE TO BUYERS AND DISTRIBUTORS:
Seafood procured under these sovereign standards will bear the Agency Tribal Nations mark of quality and safety, with complete traceability to the individual harvester and harvest location on the Klamath River.
OBJECTION PERIOD:
Any party desiring to contest or challenge these sovereign food standards must file written objection with the Office of the Tribal Federal Contractor and Awardee of the Interior within thirty (30) calendar days of this publication, or forever hold their peace.
Issued under my hand and seal,
Chief Geronimo Thomas Langenderfer
Tribal Federal Contractor and Awardee of the Interior
Agency Tribal Nations
December 2, 2025