Features – Page 2 – Fishermens News

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.” ...

Shining a Monthlong Spotlight on Seafood

National Seafood Month allows the U.S. West Coast seafood community to promote its products, sustainable fishing practices and the humanity behind each catch. For the U.S. seafood community, October is more than Halloween and pumpkin lattes. It’s a celebration of seafood and all it has to offer. And while many companies and organizations consider promoting seafood a year-long endeavor, they also view the heightened attention around National Seafood Month as a unique opportunity to raise awareness of seafood products, sustainable practices and the fishing families that make their livelihoods on what they catch. “When it comes to seafood, in October and beyond the message is health—personal health and ecological health that makes seafood available now and for future generations,” said...

Fish Processing: Ancient Practice Meets New Tech

Turning fish into food has never been more sophisticated. Not too long ago, commercial fish processing on land and sea consisted mostly of workers, aces with knives, and those who used uncomplicated steel machines that could make simple cuts. Today, globe-spanning manufacturers in this specialized food processing space proudly boast of yield increases, complete automation, cloud-based software support and more highly technical goals and capabilities. The macro-level fish processing industry trend seems to be increased emphasis on software support, even remotely and with cloud-based capabilities. The digital world is supposed to help integrate a vessel’s processing line into increasingly automated, streamlined, compact and efficient systems. Ideally, these systems will advance both su...

New Grant-Funded Marketing Project for Sablefish Launches

A newly-branded marketing project called NW Sablefish launched in Seattle in mid-August with the hope of increasing awareness among U.S. consumers about sustainable, premium domestic sablefish. The project was developed through a unique collaboration of the non-profit Eat on the Wild Side, a handful of Northwest chefs and a group of sablefish harvesters. Backing is through the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Fund, a NOAA Fisheries-administered a grant competition that annually funds projects that lead to the promotion, development and marketing of U.S. fisheries. By highlighting the fishery’s sustainable management as well as its low impact fixed gear harvest methods, NW Sablefish is seeking to garner the attention of eco-conscious consumers. With little to no existing product messaging for ...

Notable Fishing Vessel Projects at West Coast Boatyards

West Coast boatyards have been busy with repowers, remodels, and maintenance work recently, including projects on commercial fishing boats. Fishermen’s News reached out to several shipyards to see what their latest projects covered. Commodore’s Boats Vancouver-based based boat repair service Commodore’s Boats has had several notable projects recently on commercial fishing vessels. The f/v Golovin Bay came into the shipyard at 38 feet in length and Commodore’s cut off the stern and expanded it to a total of 50 feet in length, Commodore’s Boats Development Manager Jake Spiller told Fishermen’s News. For the width, they widened it by four feet on each side. The vessel also more than doubled its horsepower, going from 2x 300 horsepower Cummins engines to 2x 650 horsepower Scania Marine ...

Size, Style, Regulations Driving West Coast Crab Gear Demand

Here are two trends that aren’t so new in crabbing and crab equipment, but they are worth noting: more catch per pot, and bigger equipment, are the preferred options; West Coast operators are just about as busy dealing with regulations as they are fishing. Crabbing is an important part of the growing seafood market. The global seafood market is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 1.36%—from $720.76 billion in 2023 to $771.17 billion in 2029, largely due to the rising public awareness about the vital role of fish as a food group in healthy diets, according to a report from Mordor Intelligence. West Coast fishermen are a big part of those figures, and while operators in key crabbing states like Alaska, Washington and Oregon must put significant money and resources into adher...