Features – Fishermens News

Innovations in Work Vessel Deck Machinery

By Karen Robes Meeks karen@maritimepublishing.com In the commercial vessel deck machinery market, companies have been improving upon product lines of reels, cranes, winches, power blocks and other forms of equipment and technology in recent years. And deck machinery and vessel services provider MacGregor, for one, has said there’s “a growing market for electric deck systems.” “As with electric cranes, electric deck machinery enables significant OpEx savings—especially when factoring in its reduced maintenance and spare parts requirements,” Thomas Kappel, a senior MacGregor executive for deck machinery, said. “It is also more compact and easier to install than hydraulic-electric systems, while the absence of hydraulic oil makes it safer for the crew and the environment.” Marine powe...

Revised Commercial Fishing Rules, Program Amendments Coming in 2025

By Sara Hall There are some changes in regulations related to commercial fishing coming down the pike for Pacific Coast states next year. While many rule-setting processes don’t follow the calendar year, some regulation changes or program amendments have already been adopted this year or are expected in the upcoming season. Fishermen’s News reached out to officials in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii to find out some of the new rules and regulations that may impact commercial fishers working in Pacific waters in the upcoming season. Alaska At the state level, while some fishing regulation changes come directly from the state’s Department of Fish and Game, the majority go through the Alaska Board of Fisheries. As of early fall, the board had yet to discuss regulator...

Good Physical, Mental Health Key to Successful Fishing

By Margaret Bauman margie@maritimepublishing.com Harvesting commercial seafood on the coastal waters of Alaska demands physical and mental fitness to begin with, and the rougher the weather, the more important it is to be ready to handle whatever the job demands. The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC) in Cooperstown, N.Y., describes commercial fishing as a stressful, dangerous occupation. Injuries, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, anxiety, depression and other stressors are common, and research has concluded that fishermen are four times more likely to die from a drug overdose and 16 times more likely to die by suicide than the average person. An NEC study found that post-traumatic stress disorder rates in commercial fishermen are three times higher than th...

Vessel Profile: Unique Partnership Produces California Patrol Boat

By Daniel Mintz California’s marine law enforcers carry out their missions in a challenging environment, and a new patrol vessel—the Barracuda—is designed to meet that challenge effectively and efficiently. Launched last summer and starting operation Sept. 18, the 74-foot long, 27.5-foot wide Barracuda is built to make a demanding job as safe and productive as possible. The catamaran is the result of a collaboration between the Bellingham, Wash.-based All American Marine (AAM) shipyard and New Zealand-based Teknicraft Design. This year marks a quarter century of the North American builder-designer partnership. Daniel Zech, AAM’s business development manager, describes it as symbiotic. “Our relationship with Teknicraft over 25 years means that Nic De Waal, the managing director th...

Personal Gear for Fishermen: Braving the Elements in Style

By Karen Robes Meeks karen@maritimepublishing.com To wrangle catch in conditions that can sometimes be harsh, unpredictable and unwieldy, West Coast commercial fishers often turn to specialized brands for personal gear that must work as hard as they do to get the job done. Whether it’s rain gear or footwear, many companies are developing new models of gear or improving upon current versions to keep commercial fishers warm, comfortable and dry. Here is a look at the new personal gear these companies are bringing to the market. XTRATUF XTRATUF, founded in the 1950s and a member of the Rocky Brands family since 2021, has been outfitting commercial fishermen and women in Alaska for more than six decades. The company’s best known for its Legacy Boot product, known as the “Alaskan S...

Education Program Enhances Marine Expo ‘24

By Daniel Mintz The Pacific Marine Expo is one of the commercial fishing industry’s most well-known venues for exhibiting products and services. But even more can be learned through the event’s educational program. Held at the Lumen Field Event Center in Seattle, this year’s expo takes place Nov. 20-22 and includes educational sessions on topics ranging from vessel safety policy to federal loan access. Health Issues, Youth Recruitment The educational program kicks off Nov. 21 with a session that aims to “strategize realistic solutions” to fishermen’s health issues, according to the organizers. The session’s presenters include researchers and trainers from the Alaska Marine Safety Association, the state of Alaska, the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety and Oregon State...

Turmoil In Seafood Economy Prompts Collaboration Among Many Sectors

By Margaret Bauman margie@maritimepublishing.com Seafood harvesters and processors facing challenging global marketing conditions are finding it necessary to alter their operations for long-term viability, according to Nicole Kimball, vice president of the Pacific Seafood Processors Association (PSPA). “It’s clearly evident from announcements of seasonal closures of some shoreside processing plants this year, and from multiple facilities up for sale, that seafood processors of all sizes are trying to adapt to very challenging market conditions both globally and domestically,” said Kimball, a seafood industry veteran and member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. “Both fishermen and processors have rising costs that make small margins even smaller, and processors are goin...

Fisheries Sustainability: Management Measures Aim to Ensure Success

By Sara Hall Maintaining sustainable fisheries is in the best interest of all stakeholders—including commercial fishermen, environmentalists and fishery managers. But how that’s best done is up for debate. Over the years, various agencies and organizations have been taking measures to ensure that natural resources aren’t depleted and are maintained at a certain level, with some methods finding more success than others. On June 3, President Biden’s administration announced its “National Strategy for a Sustainable Ocean Economy,” which focuses on opportunities for direct federal action, guiding U.S. ocean policies to “conserve healthy ecosystems, support resilient communities and advance sustainable economic development.” “Ocean policies and management should strive to ensure that int...

All About Crab: Optimism in the Air for 2024-25 Bristol Bay Red King Crab Fishery

Commercial harvesters and state biologists expressed optimism in late August that come October, crab boats would be at work in the Bering Sea, though they were mindful that the decision would be made at a federal fisheries meeting in early October in Anchorage. “I am optimistic we will have a Bristol Bay red king crab fishery and a bairdi fishery,” Jamie Goen, executive director of Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers said, “but the industry needs to stay vigilant on what we can do to help stocks recover.” “There’s always been a high demand for Alaska crab,” Goen added. “It’s a matter of having the crab to harvest.” Goen, a seafood industry veteran, was appointed in August to fill the Washington state seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council that was left open by the death of former...

A Legendary Life of Boats

As Fred Wahl Marine Construction turns 50, the man behind the Oregon empire reflects The man’s name is on the company sign—Fred Wahl Marine Construction. And the Reedsport, Ore.-based commercial shipyard and boatbuilder, which began with Wahl and his toolbox, celebrates 50 years in business this year. When in his presence on the banks of the Umpqua River, Teddy Roosevelt’s “walk quietly but carry a big stick” stance comes to mind. “Since I’m almost 78, I don’t get here real early anymore,” the soft-spoken Wahl said. “I get here about 9:30 or 10 (a.m.) and I make my rounds. Visit my lead people and see what kind of disasters we’re running into. “Pretty much got a good bunch of people here,” he chuckled. “They can run this thing without me, but they don’t seem to understand that yet.” ...