Going to extremes with the Arctic 10+ immersion suit
Published onAs sea ice retreats in the Bering Sea, the Arctic Ocean, and Arctic waters of the North Atlantic, fish and fishing vessels are moving further north. To help keepfishermen and other seafarers safe in waters where the sea surface temperature can be in the 30s in August, the USA-based company White Glacier hasintroduced the Arctic 10+ immersion suit. "The Arctic 10+ is the most advanced cold water protective suit available, says Diego Jacobson, CEO of White Glacier. It far exceeds regulatory requirements for buoyancy, thermal protection, fire protection, and jumping into the water from a height. According to Jacobson, the Arctic 10+ is built to keep a person alive for more than five days if necessary. Because of its innovative design, the Arctic 10+ allows the users to remove the hands from within the suit to open the front zipper and have access to their hands, he says ...
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Jokasafe brings durable cold-weather gloves to North America
Published onFinland has over 180,000 lakes and a thriving winter fishery for vendace, a small freshwater salmonid known in the U.S. as cisco. When the lakes freeze, fishermen catch vendace by seining under the ice, and its cold work. Most of them use our Jokasafe gloves, says Ville Sulkakoski, managing director of the family-owned Jokasafe Oy. They use the smooth version of mittens so that theydont get caught in the net. We also make a version with a granulated surface for gripping fish. The Finnish company has made several journeys to the Pacific Marine Expo to share Jokasafe gloves and mittens with North American fishermen. We would really like to get into that market, says Sulkakoski, whose grandfather and great-uncle started the business in 1960. Our gloves are made of PVC with a cotton lining. Some have a crenelation applied. It is poured on, and then ...
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Power and precision for commercial fishermen’s skiffs
Published onHaving a reliable and powerful motor is essential for commercial fishermen who rely on punts or small skiffs to reach their larger fishing vessels moored off the coast. Garmins newly introduced Force Pro trolling motor is already making waves in the sportfishing world but could be just as beneficial for working fishermen navigating tight harbors, choppy waters, or shifting tides. Garmin announced the first Force trolling motor 5+ years ago. Since then, they've expanded into more markets with different mounting options, longer shaft lengths, and new features. Photo by Garmin Garmin Force has quickly become a trusted name in trolling motors for both professional and recreational anglers worldwide, said Susan Lyman of Garmin. One of the standout features of the Force Pro is the multi-band GPS anchor lock, which provides stability in strong currents or gusty winds. Whether youre holding position near a mooring or a dock, this ...
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Lee Fisher International’s new Cajun Reeboks
Published onFor fishermen in the southeast and along the Gulf Coast, white boots are more than just a way to help keep your feet cool in the heat, they are part of an identity. Seafood restaurants sometimes feature white boot events, indicating that fishermen are particularly welcome, andMardi Gras beads sometimes sport little white boots. Dulac Reeboks, we call them. Or Cajun Reeboks, Louisiana shrimper Lance Nacio says of the iconic white boots he and almost every other fisherman in the South wear. Royal is probably the most common brand of the white PVC boots, but Lee Fisher International has come out with a new boot that it hopes will make a strong showing in the market. We sell Royals, says Steve Powers, sales representative at Lee Fisher. But we dont promote them. We have our own boot, the Lee Fisher Shrimp boot. According to Powers, Lee Fisher was selling ...
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Kongsberg and Viam bring AI to sonar fish finding
Published onKongsberg Discovery has announced a strategic partnership with Viam, an artificial intelligence (AI) and automation company, to integrate AI into Kongsbergs Simrad SY50 sonar, enhancing fish-finding capabilities. The collaboration is designed to help commercial fishermen make more informed decisions at sea by improving sonar data interpretation, automating key settings, and connecting fleets to real-time insights. The Simrad SY50 is a compact omnidirectional medium-frequency fish-finding sonar. With Viams AI technology, SY50 users can translate complex sonar data into actionable targets while the system automatically fine-tunes critical settings. The AI-driven enhancements also provide captains with instant access to cloud-connecting dates, offering a clearer view of underwater activity and allowing for smarter operational decisions. In many ways, we still have so much to learn about our oceans, said Viam founder and CEO Eliot Horowitz. Integrating Viams AI technology with Kongsbergs cutting-edge SY50 sonars will help ...
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The gear fishermen can’t afford to leave behind
Published onA recent informal survey on FaceBook asked fishermen what gear they would never go offshore without. Many responded that theyd never leave port without a survival suit. Thats smart, says John Roberts, director of safety training at Fishing Partnership Support Services, a Massachusetts-based non-profit dedicated to improving the health, safety, and economic security of commercial fishermen. A survival suit is probably the most important piece of safety gear you can have on the boat. A Coast Guard Helicopter lifts one of two survivors from the life raft of the F/V Tanusha, 20 miles SW of Kodiak. The two had not been adrift long but were already suffering from hypothermia. Photo by DVIDS Coast Guard After 30 years doing search and rescue for the U.S. Coast Guard, Roberts joined the Massachusetts-based Fishing Partnership two years ago and has been running safety trainings for fishermen around ...
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Elevating Chesapeake seafood with Japanese technique
Published onMaryland watermen could soon see new opportunities to enhance the quality and value of their catch with the introduction of a traditional Japanese fishing processing technique known as Ike Jime. A bill currently under consideration in the Maryland General Assembly aims to support Chesapeake Bay watermen by promoting the use of Ike Jime, a humane harvesting method that preserves the freshness and taste of seafood, making it more appealing to high-end markets. The bill seeks to encourage the adoption of Ike Jime by providing watermen with training and resources to implement the technique. The method widely used in Japans seafood industry involves a precise process of stunning and bleeding fish to minimize stress and rigor mortis, resulting in a superior product with better texture and flavor. Proponents believe this could offer Chesapeake Bay watermen a competitive advantage in the seafood market, particularly among chefs and consumers prioritizing premium-quality ...
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Mustang Survival moves to eliminate PFAS in its products
Published onMustang Survival, a manufacturer of marine clothing and personal flotation devices (PFDs), has announced plans to reduce the environmental impact of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in its products. The company said it is committed to phasing out these chemicals, commonly used in textiles for their water, stain, and heat resistance properties, by 2030. There are thousands of types of PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals," and they have been widely used since the 1940s in a variety of consumer products, including non-stick cookware, clothing, and personal care items. In the textile industry, they are particularly valued for enhancing fabric durability and performance, especially in marine safety gear like PFDs. However, these chemicals have raised significant environmental and health concerns due to their persistence in the environment, their ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms, and potential links to various health issues, including developmental harm and certain cancers. Burnaby ...
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Man overboard! How PLBs increase chance of survival
Published onLong ago, there was a night when we were racing ahead of a storm, often battling 20-foot seas as we tried to stay outside Nantucket and reach the shelter of Cape Cod. Waves were sweeping the deck of our wooden eastern rig. The mate came out of the doghouse, waited his chance, and went aft to piss over the rail. Just then, a big one crawled up over the port bow. Green water washed the deck clean and buried the leeward rail. I looked out the door and the mate was gone. I was about to scream, "MAN OVERBOARD," when I noticed in the open porthole at the back of the wheelhouse eight white fingers hanging on. MOBs happen quickly and unexpectedly. Often no one knowsyoure gone, as was the case with Montauk lobsterman John Aldridge in 2013. But that was during summertime and in calm seas, and ...
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CatchCam Technologies revives underwater vision
Published onA few veterans of the now-defunct Safety Net Technologies have revived the companys operations under the name of CatchCam Technologies. "Were a fishing focused company, says CatchCam co-founder, Tom Rossiter. Our engineers are problem solvers. We spend 50 to 100 days at sea getting to see how our products are working. CatchCams main products are underwater cameras rated for depths of 300 and 800 meters. Another product we have is the SeaSensor, says Rossiter. That allows you to collect oceanographic data such as salinity, turbidity, and temperature. Rossiter points out the fishermen can correlate this data with catches and species. You can start to see whats driving the process, he says. But as the company name implies, the cameras are its flagship product, and Rossiter points out that the cameras are versatile and durable. The camera is in this housing, he says, showing off the housing that ...
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Gear and items fishermen can't live without
Published onOnce again, I posted a question on Facebook asking fishermen what sort of gear and personal items they would never go to sea without, and the list is interesting. Coffee, cigarettes, and weed are important for a lot of fishermen. "Cigarettes! Ive never seen 100 feet of steel real estate turn so nasty and negative in my life. Just a bobbing blob of hate, says Boston-based fishermanArchie MacLeod Jr. In most fishermens experience, its true. Life without small comforts is hell, but Kirsten Delane, who fishes salmon off Oregon, counters that A good attitude is all you need. Even if youre scrounging for butts in the ashtray. For those who have had to pull rabbits out of their hats to keep a trip going, its all about tools. Chris Lillehoff never goes to sea without his Sawzall. I have found it works for cutting anything quickly in desperate ...
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Vallation Outerwear gains ground with fishermen
Published onSince first bringing its products to market three years ago, Vallation Outerwear in Poulsbo, Washington, has steadily grown its customer base and presence in fishing gear shops around the U.S. coasts. We dont do a lot of advertising, says company founding partner Cory Jackson. Weve gone to Pacific Marine Expo every year, and the Maine Fishermens Forum last year. Were supporters of the United Fishermen of Alaska and the Maine Lobstermens Association, among others. Mostly, we find people try our gear, like it, and tell their friends about it. Vallation has a line built on jackets, pants, and bibs. We started with the Dark Rain jackets, pants, and bibs, says Jackson. Those are your nylon with 10K water resistance and 5K breathability ratings. We also have the Ocean Watch line, which has more breathability, and the Ocean Rein, made from PU. Jackson notes that the Ocean Rein PU foam ...
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Gearing up in 2025 with Grundens
Published onIts the cold season for fishing. Crew are meeting waves and wind-blown spray coming across deck, hammering ice off the rails, and trying to stay warm. These are the fishermen Grundns talks to and more importantly, listens to. According to Colin Sarfeh, senior marketing manager at Grundns, the company is introducing several items in 2025 all aimed at keeping crew comfortable on deck, including tough new bibs for lobstering. The Sternman Armored Bibs are reinforced in high-wear areas specific to pulling pots traps, says Sarfeh. We designed them for lobstermen, but they can be used in a wide range of on-deck fishing environments. Under the bibs, Sarfeh suggests that fishermen hauling gear offshore in cold weather can wear a pair of Grundns Kryall pants. The companydesigned the Kryall pants for comfort and mobility under the bibs or as standalone weather-resistant pants for when you just need ...
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Electric fishing reel systems hooks success
Published onThe road to success in the gear market begins with listening to fishermen. I talked to fishermen about what they wanted in a reel and looked at what was on the market, says Carl Huffman, president of Electric Fishing Reel Systems, Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina. Huffman decided to build a better mousetrap and proceeded to upgrade the materials and design of the available reels. We built our first commercial electric reel, the Brute 2000, in 2000. We use 661 T-6 military-grade anodized aluminumwhich is 45,000 PSI strengthon our deck mount and mainframe, says Huffman, who also designed a valve lever for the hydraulic reels that was stronger than anything else available. Also, our spool turns on stainless steel bearings, and its smooth as silk. Huffman re-engineered the drag set on the Brute to make it safer and more effective. Huffman started bringing the Brute to ...
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Kolstrand showcases deck gear at 2024 Expo
Published onAt the 2024 Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, Brad Tibbs of Kolstrand came again to sell the deck gear the company is famous for. I came to my first Expo in 2006, says Tibbs. Thats 19 years." At the Kolstrand booth, Tibbs stands next to an array of equipment. We call in the Christmas tree, he says. Starting at the top, Tibbs points to the Kolstrand TopTailer. Its a slack taker for a purse seine winch, he says. The TopTailer consists of a steel bar with a hydraulic-powered nylon roller that keeps a strain on the purse line coming off the capstan head. The TopTailer includes two adjustable speed control valves and mounting brackets for port and starboard side hauling It keeps people away from the capstan head, a dangerous machine, says Tibbs. And it eliminates the need to have someone tending the line. The guys buying it are ...
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Northern fishermen gear up with Zerofit's cold weather wear
Published onTis the season for cold weather gear. As New Bedford scallopers prepare for winter fishing on Georges Bank, the Aleutian pot cod boats and the Bering Sea fleet get ready to steam north, sometimes to the edge of the ice, deckhands are packing their sea bags and figuring out how their systems for staying warm. Most fishermen are open to improving their systemsif there is something new that is better, theyll try itstarting with a base layer. For the second year in a row, the Japanese company Zerofit brought its high-tech line of base layer shirts, leggings, and accessories to the Pacific Marine Expo, giving fishermen a chance to try something new. The thing about fishermen is, they come here to buy, says Zerofits North American distributor, Doug Zirbel. And were here to sell. Zerofit offers an extensive line of products, but Zirbel focused on two lines of shirts ...
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