salmon4u
2009-11-06 11:24:54
Has anyone heard of Federal money towards keeping the Alaska troll fleet alive through this recession? unemployment benefits are being extended, banks, auto companies, home buyers are receiving massive money.... Small businesses like trolling should get some relief, it's been a difficult year and doesn't really look encouraging for next.
f/v henrietta w
2009-11-06 14:44:30
Remember this spring when an administration official said he wanted to make sure stimulus money didn't all go to "white male construction workers"? I'm afraid all this borroweed money that you and I are going to be forced to pay back has been targeted towards certain interests, and trolling disasters are not among them.
Here in Oregon we literally have boats going under, haven't been able to land a King in years in this port. Even after one of the biggest Coho years in recorded history, with repeated bag limit raises and season extentions, the microscopic commercial season wasn't extended by a single day. We had a congressman come around a few months ago who told us the researchers across the bay told him not to even ask for more money - they already had more than they could spend. And yet we can't get anyone to even agree to sponsor relief legislation.
I don't know what we can do to change this, but from down here the Alaska troll fleet seems better organized, has developed a better business model, and maybe can get a little pull with your legislative representatives. Our governor would really like to see this pesky troll fleet gone for good, he's actually proposed turning the entire continental shelf into one big marine reserve. I hope you guys can find a way to weather this economic storm and come out of it stronger. We're fighting for survival down here, and losing the battle. Good luck -C.