b'Company, McIntosh said that either The Boat Company ordescribed the depletion of fisheries, a major conservation the McIntosh Foundation have funded every environmen- concern in Alaska, as his windmill to tilt at. tal lawsuit to protect the Tongass. Last January, they were part of a coalition fighting a lawsuit trying to dismantle theAs with most efforts to build support for a cause, educa-Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule was put in place in thetion is key. An example McIntosh offered is that in the U.S. waning days of the Clinton administration in 2001. Ac- marine life caught unintentionally and often discarded by cording to U.S. Forest Service, it establishes prohibitionscommercial fishing trawlers is called bycatch, which doesnt on road construction, road reconstruction, and timber har- mean much to most people. He noted that in Europe they vesting on 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areasstarted to call it discard as everyone understands that. Ex-on National Forest System lands. McIntosh explained thatplaining terms like bycatch to members of Congress, edu-the Roadless Rule has protected areas in the lower 48, butcating them about the challenges local fisheries face, and that the Tongass protection has been repeatedly challenged.the impact on the rest of the food chain is a vital part of the work being done to protect marine wildlife in the region. Protecting the Tongass National Forest from the timber industry was part of the reason The Boat Company wasMcIntosh admits that these fights and conservation efforts started and is McIntoshs father and mothers legacy. Itcan be frustrating as it can feel like no one is listening. is becoming his and his wifes, and he hopes that theirHowever, he believes the needle will move. The scales of daughter will continue it as well. However, with each gen- law have got to tilt our way at some point, he said. But eration the scope of their conservation efforts expands.if we dont fight, if we dont do the work, and no one else While he continues the work to protect the Tongass, hedoes, then its never going to change.Kohler Marine is nowFrom 6 to 200kWPHOTO: MARISA MARULLI/THE BOAT COMPANYAvailable with or without enclosures 6 to 200kWAvailable from AvailableAvailable 20 to 175kW 6 to 200kW 6 to 200kWFor global support, contact John McKinnon at 770-601-6880 or john.mckinnon@kohler.com*Products shown are not to scale21 APRIL 2025'