Alaska charts a course to revive the seafood industry
Published onAlaskas seafood industry, a cornerstone of the states economy, has been facing turbulence. Legislative leaders from fishing-dependent communities have convened a task force to chart a path to recovery, offering a blend of local and international strategies to stabilize and rejuvenate the sector. According to a recent article from Yereth Rosen of the Alaska Beacon, the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaskas Seafood Industry has developed draft recommendations to address the industry's multifaceted challenges. The draft, reviewed during a two-day hearing in Anchorage, outlines a series of potential actions, from enhancing international marketing efforts to developing community-based cold-storage facilities. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, chair of the task force, emphasized the urgency of these recommendations, though final proposals may extend beyond the initial January deadline into February. We can hit the ground running because weve got some good solid ideas, said Rep. Louise Stutes ...
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Fans of Deadliest Catch wonder what happened to Edgar Hansen
Published onDeadliest Catch fans have seenEdgar Hansenserve aboard the family-run F/V Northwestern fishing vessel. However, the figure eventually disappeared from the series. Since then, fans have been wondering just what happened toEdgar.Edgar Hansen Served On The Vessel For Around Three DecadesEdgar served aboard the F/V Northwestern vessel, having been part of the crew for close to three decades. He is the brother ofCaptain Sig Hansen. Their brother Norm also served as the vessels engineer.Edgar himself has occasionally served as a captain aboard the vessel, usually during blue king crab or bairdi seasons. While making appearances throughout the series early on, Edgar eventually stopped appearing on the show after season 14. Read more...
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Red king crab sales brighten wharf in Kodiak
Published onA horde of red king crabs crawled around two black totes filled with seawater as customers picked which ones theyd take home for dinner. The first day of sales had plenty of stock. Read more
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Commodores Boats transforms Alaskan crabber into a powerhouse
Published onCommodores Boats in Richmond, British Columbia, has been repairing boats for over 30 years, and the yard has seen some interesting projects. Last year, the crew sponsoned two boats, the Golovin Bay and the Sea Lady, at close to the same time using two different systems. According to Jake Spiller, the son of owner Bo Spiller, Commodores does most of its own design work and did so with the Golovin Bay, but they tried something new with the Sea Lady. We used a designer who scanned the hull and created CAD files, and we sent those out to be cut. We like to try new things and hopefully improve our customers experience. On the Golovin Bay, an aluminum crabber/longliner owned by Don Stiles in Nome, Alaska, the crew at Commodores did things the way they have on many previous sponson jobs, Brendan Burgess ran that project. It was almost ...
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Alaska fishing industry sees nearly 7,000 job cuts
Published onThe Alaska fishing industry, long regarded as an economic engine and cultural cornerstone, is grappling with steep financial losses and structural challenges. A recent Alaska Seafood Snapshot economic report by NOAA Fisheries underscores the scale of the crisis, showing that the states seafood sector has been hit with nearly 7,000 lost jobs, shrinking profitability, and a $1.8 billion decline in revenues between 2022 and 2023. The report is based on ex-vessel landings, processed products, and wholesale revenue data through 2022, alongside statistical projections for 2023. Analysts also spoke with fishermen, processors, and community members to better capture the social impacts of the downturn. While this report focuses on the commercial fishing sector, NOAA noted that future studies may explore the broader effects on recreational and subsistence fisheries. As Robert Foy, director of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center stated in a press release, The social and economic ramifications ...
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NOAA model predicts areas of likely red king crab bycatch
Published onNOAA Fisheries scientists developed new models to predict red king crab bycatch occurrence and abundance in Bristol Bay flatfish trawl fisheries. They found a general northward shift in occurrence and abundance of different ages of male and female red king crab in Bristol Bay. "By demonstrating that its possible to predict where and when bycatch occurs, this model is an important first step towards building predictive tools for fishing fleets and fisheries managers to reduce bycatch, said Emily Ryznar, lead author and fisheries biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Read more
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What’s happening aboard ‘Deadliest Catch’ crabber Wizard?
Published onAs one of Discovery's most action-packed reality series, Deadliest Catch has captivated audiences since it first premiered in April 2005. Now in its 20th Season, Deadliest Catch fans have grown accustomed to the various fishing vessels on the show throughout the years, as well as those who captain them. Read more
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Red king crab reopening propelling ‘Deadliest Catch’
Published onAt the start of Season 19, Deadliest Catch was enduring an obstacle that could have sunk the entire program. When the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game canceled the entire season due to the population of winter snow and red king crab shrinking, production decided the show must go on. Read more
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Kolstrand innovates crab blocks with rotary piston motors
Published onAccording to Justin Fontes, owner of Integrity Machining in Seattle, Kolstrand has been manufacturing its 24-inch crab block since the 1980s. In 2008, Fontes acquired Kolstrand, Nordic, JKFab, and Forfjord. Until three years ago, he continued to build the crab blocks using the same Vickers 35M motor and Fairfield 18:1 or 24:1 gearbox that had always been used. Things changed when the lead times for gearboxes extended to 16 months, says Fontes. Weve since switched to the KYB rotary piston motor, which eliminates the need for a gearbox. The KYB radial piston motor, manufactured in Japan, boast infinitely variable speed and constant torque over the entire speed range, excellent efficiency allows precise positioning of driven equipment, and rapid acceleration, deceleration and reversing, among other features. Integrity offers three versions of the Kolstrand 24-inch hauler. For king crabbers or guys fishing pot cod, we have the 95 ...
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King Crab fishing booming in European waters
Published onWhile 31 Alaskan boats competed for a 2.1 million-pound red king crab quota in 2023, after two years without a season, Norwegian fishermen are building boats and fishing year-round on king crab, which is an invasive species in the waters of Northern Europe. The Norwegians call them Stalins Crabs, says Jason Fontes, owner of Integrity Machining Inc. in Seattle. In the 1930s, Josef Stalin, then leader of the USSR, had the idea of transplanting king crabs from the Bering Sea in Russias Far East, to the Barents Sea in Europe. His motives are a matter of conjectureit may have been to get a fishery going, or to have a fresher supply of crab for Moscow, or to help ensure food security for the peoplebut it doesnt matter because it didnt work. The crabs all died on the overland journey across the vastness of Russia. Nikita Khruschev, Stalins ...
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Boosting wild red king crab populations through hatcheries
Published onA new study found that releasing red king crabs as early as possible after they are reared in a hatchery may improve young crab survival and save operational costs. Researchers at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center have noted that the optimal time to release hatchery-raised red king crabs is immediately following their transition from freely swimming planktonic larvae to settling as bottom-dwelling juveniles. The red king crab was one of Alaska's most important commercial and subsistence fisheries. In the 1960s, it was especially commercially important around Kodiak. However, the stock crashed in the late 1970s. Researchers believe the crash was a combination of climatic shifts, changes in the food web structure, recruitment failure, and overfishing. According to NOAA Fisheries and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, the commercial fishery has been closed since 1983, and the Kodiak stock still has not recovered. Due to the lack of recovery ...
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Alaska processors make their moves after market tumult
Published onBig changes are afoot in Alaskas seafood processing sector. In December 2023, Trident Seafoodsannounced it planned to sell its Alaskan assetsin Kodiak, Ketchikan, Petersburg, and False Pass, as well as its South Naknek cannery and its support facilities in Chignik. Trident Seafoods CEO Joe Bundrant said the moves were being made to position the company to fund the reinvestments necessary to continue to lead in the Alaska seafood industry. The announcement came just a few months after Trident a vertically integrated seafood harvesting and processing company whose motto is Anchored in Alaska announced it was delaying the development and construction of a processing plant in Unalaska, Alaska, that was supposed to replace an aging plant in Akutan, citing an overall collapse of the seafood market as the reason for the delay. Bundrant said Tridents strategy reflects the realities facing U.S. seafood producers in global markets. Across many species, the ...
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Regional council opposes further regulations in Bristol Bay savings area
Published onAt their February meeting, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council decided not to move forward with the request to close the Bristol Bay red king crab 4000-square nautical mile saving area to all commercial fishing. The council investigated the effectiveness of closing this eastern Bering Sea section to commercial trawl, pot, and longline fishing. However, they advised that they will not tighten regulations in this area. The savings box was established in 1996 as a haven for red king crabs. However, other fishing, such as midwater/ pelagic trawlers, pot fishing, and longlining, is allowed in the area. According to the AFDG Status of King Crab Stocks, the area is closed to bottom trawling. The year after the saving box was established, the mature male red king crab stock increased from 8.5 millionto 10.5 million. According to KUCB, at this meeting, the Council also evaluated a pot gear ...
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Study sees benefits in early release of hatchery red king crab
Published onA new study found that releasing red king crab as early as possible after they are reared in a hatchery may improve young crab survival and save operational costs. Scientists from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center observed that the best time to release hatchery-reared red king crab is right after they transition from free-swimming planktonic larvae to bottom dwelling juveniles. Read more
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Recipes for the boat: Margarita, Crab Pizza
Published onAhoy mates! Prepare for a hearty feast with margarita, crab pizza, a savory delight crafted for the hard-working souls of the sea. Picture the salty breeze mingling with the aroma of freshly baked pizza in your galley. It's a scent that fuels the spirits of fishermen, a reminder of the bountiful ocean that sustains them. Imagine this: after a long day's haul, you gather in the galley with your crew, swapping stories of the day's catch. As the oven heats up, anticipation fills the air, knowing that soon you'll be indulging in a slice of Margarita Crab Pizza a simple yet satisfying blend of crab, tomatoes, and gooey cheese. But it's not just about the food; it's about the bond you share with your fellow fishermen. As the dough rises, so does the camaraderie among your crew, forged through hard work and shared ...
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Lilani Dunn promoted to BBRSDA executive director
Published onThe Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association announced the promotion of Lilani Dunn to executive director of BBRSDA Feb. 21. Dunn joined BBRSDAto head marketing in 2020. The BBRSDA is a fisherman-driven organization with the goal of increasing the value of the Bristol Bay fishery for the benefit of its members. In addition to Bristol Baysmarketing program, which is anchored in retail and foodservice promotions in the U.S. and Canada, the BBRSDA also executes quality, sustainability and fleet outreach programs. Dunn is a seafood industry veteran with a breadth of experience within the sector. Prior to joining BBRSDA, Dunn previously held staff positions with Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and Orca Bay Foods. She is currently an active member of National Fisheries Institute, is president of Northwest Fisheries Association and serves as chair of ASMIs Domestic Marketing Committee. BBRSDA directors are looking forward to having Lilani in this new ...
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