fish prices
yak2you2
2012-07-06 07:03:04
I remember when I was a kid, a long time ago. Fisherman had some control over their destiny. Even so long ago, things were not so different in some ways from today. Processors still practiced business sense and paid as little for the product as possible, and sold it for as high as possible.
What's different about today is, and I don't know if it's the processors, or the retailers, but the ratio of ex-vessel prices vs. what the product sells for in the market, is nowhere near what it used to be. This happened from time to time in the old days, but the fisherman in those days had their ways of fixing this. They went on strike. Somewhere, somehow, this practice has become lost to us. Question is, why?
Who owns the permits? The boats? Pays for the fuel, insurance, and gear? Who takes all the risks and does the work of catching the fish? The fishermen. So why do they have absolutely no say in how much a fish is worth? Or costs to produce?
Over the years I've heard all the excuses. "Those guys over there, flooded the market, the Yen is weak right now, the product quality is low, etc." Strange that the fisherman past had no where near the means of double checking what the product is really worth that we do, yet were able to control their shares better than us.
Are strikes risky? Of course they are. It's hard to sit still in a short season when you have bills to pay, but no more so, than it was for the fisherman before us. The bottom line is, if your not going to be paid enough to make ends meet, especially with sky rocketing costs of doing business, then you really have no choice.
There are many risks that are brought up every time this conversation comes up. What if we had a strike, and it got ugly, what if the marketers turned to our competiton for their product? My thought is, if farm fish was capable of taking over high quality troll markets, than it would have already done it. The bottom line is, the consumer knows the difference, and is willing to pay for it.
The trouble is, what does a strike do in the small where I live? Or even in a bigger town? If there is troll fish available elsewhere for cheaper, all your going to do is put you and your local processor out of business. But what if,,,, you had a west coast wide consortium, like OPEC. All the troll caught salmon on this planet come from this small area. Coho would be a tougher line to hold, they do actually farm these, and they can be replaced with other fisherman's fish, but not king salmon. The rivers are producing very little king salmon in Alaska, there is very little net caught product to turn to. If a chef wants King salmon, he's not likely to replace it with a sockeye, or a farmed product. So, we control the King salmon. Why are we giving it away? What are we being paid for summer troll caught King salmon right now? 4 dollars? 5 dollars? maybe higher for some of the freezer boats, maybe 8 or 9 dollars per pound? Have you seen how much it's selling for in the markets? There is an obscene difference from what it sells for, and what we are getting paid, and I don't understand why we don't fight for what should be a better share, instead of simply taking whatever is given to us.
Like I said, it won't work if the businessmen are able to play us against ourselves. If we strike, and you don't, they'll simply fill the markets with the cheaper product, and starve out the strikers. If you had a westcoast wide troll caught king salmon producers union, and you said, " we need this much as a baseline to produce king salmon or you get none, from anywhere, then what would happen? They'd try for a while to fill the markets with substitue product, but the consumer would way in. They want the good stuff. Eventually, I feel, they would slowly, one at a time, start to give in, and pay the asking price, because, they have bills to pay too, and no product leaving the shelves means no money for them either. You would have to make allowances for areas where your local producer had higher expenses than others, but it would have to be open book prices that showed that he actually had over and above costs to pay above the set price.
I for one, am sick and tired of looking at the same product I worked so hard for, risk my life and property for, and got paid so little for, looking at it in the Pike Street Markets of Seattle selling for 20 to 25 dollars more per lb. than I was paid for it. And no, thats not the filleted, weight loss price, that is for fish that look exactly like I left them, head on, gutted fish, laying on ice for 29.00 per lb.
Once you organized, that is to say, if we ever were able to, then you could try to figure out what to do about coho prices.
Where I live, potatoes cost more per pound, than what I am being paid for my summer troll caught king salmon,,,,how did that happen? and, at 6.00 per gallon for fuel, how much longer can it go on?
If we ever did try it, and wound up putting ourselves out of business, well, I guess I'd rather go down fighting, than slowly wither away to nothing.
Why is this never a topic being considered by our organizations? Policitics is is important, but what good are shares of fish that are worth nothing? If we focused on getting paid for them, maybe we wouldn't have to fight so hard about who gets what.
yak2you2
2012-07-06 07:13:49
What if,,,,you took it a step further. Went and visited with the other salmon producers, the gillnetters and seiners. What if you had a consortium that held the line for all types of wild salmon west coast wide? "Yup, farmed fish is cheaper, but ours is healthier, and it tastes better, you decide." We always get used against each other, guess I'm just curious what could happen,,,, if we all decided to work together.
I realize this is a tall, never been tried before order, but for my whole life, I've always wondered. Who really owns the salmon? Is it the guys who catch them? or are they mearly the field workers who collect them for the rich guys who more or less, own the workers.
flash
2012-07-09 01:12:24
I agree with much of this. A strike always has its risks, but with the king salmon quota, the fish are available to us from July through August, which could give trollers another hedge.
Here might be a way to take the first step: I've always wondered what would happen to the price of white kings if we all agreed NOT to sell them unless we were paid at least 3 times the going rate for red kings. Not much to loose if it didn't work but lots to gain. There's already a niche market for these fish; I've seen it myself in specialty fish shops in New Jersey. They charge a LOT more for whites. Add to the niche market factor the phenomenon of creating a demand simply by raising the price (think Copper River Kings).
irondog
2012-07-10 04:44:25
I've played the game in the tourist trade with the Japanese market. My Partner was fed up and against the wall and stated that things would be on her terms from now on. Not gouging just trying to suvive, pay the bills and maintain a lifestyle that she could afford. It was a big deal to confront the "bread and butter" of her business. Once the terms were layed out and reasons for them all that came back was " we understand, we'll take your price and mark up ours accordingly, no problem. This is a small market where there is not a convenient option to replace the quality experience she provides but there are numerous options available that provide a lesser experience for about the same or a lesser price if squeezed. There will always be the bottom line guys taking the low road but my opinion is that if you could establish a united front representing a high quality product at a minimum price that it was agreed upon was necessary to sustain the product and the people producing it you would get the same response. As for producing the "united front" this is as good a place as any to start.
lone eagle
2012-07-11 00:23:19
Sounds like your partner had pricing power in a service business with limited supply or niche. Is that situation applicable to salmon fishing when not custom packing?
lone eagle
2012-07-11 00:27:46
I'm not a lawer but I've always believed that independant businessmen who get together in an attempt to fix prices was illegal...cartel kinda thing. PWS seiners did strike in the eighties but couldn't move the price of pinks
irondog
2012-07-12 13:36:53
My partner does not have pricing power as much as she has a quality product. The effort to produce and maintain that quality is what forced her into a "this is my bottom line take it or leave it " situation. Other options certainly exist for the people bringing business to her but at this point they are willing to pass the extra cost along to maintain the quality of experience. I relate the "quality experience" directly to the "quality product" that is troll caught wild salmon. Other options certainly exist and certainly some will pursue those other options as they do now. As for independant businessmen price fixing I'm no expert but in my simplistic viewpoint if your going broke producing your product you need some tool to push back with in order get more dollars coming in. Without a "cartel" approach your hammer is nothing. Obviously if there are enough fishermen happy with the amount of money they are making the "united front / cartel" never forms but I suspect the point is being reached where that is not the case. I noticed some California boats staying in port to let their market clean out and let the price rebound. I would be curious to hear how united an effort that was and what the end results were. I'm also curious about efforts in the past by trollers along these lines and if so what the outcome was.
lone eagle
2012-07-12 14:38:12
I heard on the dock yesterday that king prices had plunged 50%. North coast of California just opened as well as Alaska swamping a small quality market. A strike somewhere would be appreciated! perhaps we should push for more winter fishing on the entire coast.
kylejon
2012-07-13 03:43:27
Talked to a friend today in Monterey CA. He said boats were on strike supposedly. They are getting 2.75 a lb right now. He's not a fisherman. It would be interesting to find out if there's any truth to this strike or it's just guys not fishing because of price.
Capt. Midnite
2012-07-13 05:11:19
That's right, we had a 30 day opener in May, lots of wind and not a lot of fish, so people were paying some crazy prices, anywhere from 5.50 to 7.75. we shut down for the month of June and resume fishing on July 7, now we had decent weather and for some of us very good fishing. I had a very good trip going so I called the buyer in my home port (Ft. Bragg) and asked the price 3.50 they told me, I said ok and told them I would fish the next morning and take off for home, about 12 hrs. from where I was, they said ok and 3.50 will be the price. Well, when I started to unload they told me sorry price is now 2.75 and going to 2.50 in the afternoon, they alluded to the fact that they really didn't need the fish, but as a favor to us they would buy them, boy things change pretty fast around here, it's the same old BS, and I pretty sure they think were dumb enough to believe this crap.So, as of today we're tied up, I think the feeling of the fleet right now is 4.00 or we don't fish, but I don't think we can hold this together for very long, WTF, we got 3.50 for the same fish in 1988, and fuel was 1.10 a gallon. "The more things change, the more they stay the same"
Jon
F/V Shooting Star
F.T. Bragg Ca.
ericv
2012-07-13 06:44:44
I can sure appreciate what yak2you2 has posted and the constructive replies. I think Capt. Midnite really illustrated the point about the 1988 price paid for the Kings vs fuel prices. Like many of us, I see a West Coast troll fleet that is sincerely busting their butt to produce a top of the line product. Many of us know we aren't going to get rich but pursue the fishery because it is hook and line and relatively speaking, a very clean, sustainable method of fishing - not to mention the value of our product due to our handling at sea. It a matter or pride more than production. It is a disgrace that the dock prices are what they are in light of what that price attains through a few short hands. I am biased on wild, troll caught Kings, they are the finest quality salmon on the planet - there simply is no viable argument against this. The further disgrace is the reduced price for our White or "Ivory" Kings. The culinary markets pays huge for one of those fish yet we get paid less for them than ground beef. There has to be a way to draw the line on this product as far as price - doesn't matter if that King is caught off the California to Alaskan coast, it's the same top quality fish and should fetch a consistent West Coast price. How nice if all of us trollers on the West Coast could unify on setting a price. I suspect the fish hawks will look to the foreign fleets to find fish to lay on ice at obscene prices instead of supporting their own counties fisherman - who knows. The bottom line is we are the people who bring in the best quality fish and that in itself is a bargaining tool. The public just may support a group such as us because they can trust in the fact we bring to them a safe and quality product, which in reality is what our consumers really want and will pay for.
yak2you2
2012-07-13 08:11:04
Couple of comments I like and couldn't agree with more. First it IS an absolute disgrace to sell white, or (ivory) kings for less. They are a prized commodity in restaurants. So many generations old wives tales need to die forever, and this is one of them. It reminds me of the old " no big halibut because of the mercury," line.
Second, it was pointed out that maybe we should focus more on winter fisheries, I couldn't agree more on this too. The way we fish for chinook is absolutely ridiculous, and self serving for a small minority of the fleet. Chinook is the only species of salmon that can be harvested wild all year long, we should be taking every effort to capitalize on this. It is when the price is at a premium. I know, we are treaty obligated to have a set number of chinook days in the summer, at least here in Alaska, but that does not mean that we have to do it all at once, and flood our own markets. What we are doing is old fashion derby style, like halibut was just before IFQ. We flood our own markets, right in the heart of summer, when the markets are already awash in salmon from everywhere. So why don't we fish a few target days per month? Like 2 or 3 days before memorial day, 4th of july, fathers day, etc. If we bled our fish into the market alot slower, it would sure be a lot harder to tell us the markets were plugged. Unfortunately, even though this would benefit the whole fleet, there are some who oppose it because they wouldn't be able to go out and scoop up their usual phallic highliner load that makes them so much taller than the rest of us. It really is all about who can catch the most fish, more than it is making them count when it comes to the decision making, and it feels an awful lot like its more about how to make the most for a few guys, rather than doing whats best for the fleet.
If this makes some of you mad, I'm sorry, I don't like to pick on my fellow fisherman, but I have to call them like I see them. When we're down to selling our precious king salmon for 2.50 a lb., it's time to admit that the old ways of filling up the boat in 6 days and calling it a year, is not sound use of our resources.
I firmly believe that based on today's dollar value, it should be considered immoral to kill a king salmon for any less than 4.00 per lb. Ex-vessel,,, period.
We'd be better off letting our stocks rebuild, than letting our markets degrade to so low of levels.
yak2you2
2012-07-13 08:19:39
A Westcoast trollers united is in order. It's the only way to hold the line.
Kelper
2012-07-13 13:38:27
I just shook my head when I was told $3.40lb for kings down here in Craig, on July 3rd. I'd been calling, and they kept telling me "no price yet". And I was wondering why the heck I was going fishing when I didn't even know how much the kings were worth. I'm just a small hand troller out of a skiff so I pride myself in bringing in the freshest, same day caught kings. At that price, I kept a 24lb ivory king to give to my crewman since it was the first king he'd ever bonked. Watching him bonk that king while hanging out of a 19' skiff in a 7ft swell at lil roller was one of the more entertaining things I've ever seen. I just couldn't believe it stayed on the hook.
Capt. Midnite
2012-07-13 15:13:29
Here's the local new's take on this topic, I think I've heard this before........http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120709/articles/120709557?p=3&tc=pg
I have tried to get some of my friends and fellow trollers to join this site before, but there seemed to be little interest, I think I'll try again, we need to share information, and some how realize that if we don't find a way to put the troll fleet together we don't stand a chance. I'm open to any suggestions on what I can do to help make this happen.
Jon
F/V Shooting Star
F.T. Bragg Ca.
lone eagle
2012-07-13 16:19:22
If you believe that salmon are on the road to recovery then the future doesn't look good for small boat guys like me that don't produce high volume and so need high price. And the season looked promising . Begs the question how do you feel being shut down in June when prices are solid and cut loose in July when Ak is now wide open? I have to think that there are no salmon around in the winter because very few fishermen are allowed to actually fish and even then they are kept on a short leash. Our regulators and planners and processors should be throwing in their 2c and share their point of view cos thimgs ain't looking good on the surface
pioneercmt
2012-07-20 18:28:22
Data to share: Just sold 27 kings in Bodega bay yesterday. $3.50/lb for large, $3.25 for others.
SilverT
2012-07-29 06:37:56
A buyer in WA is paying $6.00/lb. dock price for large kings this week and $5.00/lb. for small. $2.50/lb. for whites. Kings have been pretty scarce here for a couple of weeks.
Salty
2012-08-03 16:38:22
Looking forward to a good August Chinook price here in Alaska.
Abundance
2012-08-03 20:55:59
I hope its a little better than the $4 we were getting in the July opening. We should have a long
August opening this year, with the July opening doing only 65% of expected production. There are a lot of kings still on the quota.The fleet should have enough time to poke around up and down the coast and get a lucky day. We will know more when the official announcement is made this afternoon.
John Murray
2012-08-06 01:23:43
Anybody of you West Coast fisherman know what's currently open and what the prices for chinook are?Hope the westerlies aren't kickin up to bad. John
crasmu19
2012-08-06 08:04:36
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/salmon/
90 Chinook new possession limit.
Here (visit site above) you will read about the actions taken during the season from Washington to Cape Falcon. Most recent one is August 1. Effective August 3, 2012. It will continue until August 21, 2012 or changed by in-season action. The possession limit for coho remains at 35 coho (fin clipped adipose fin) per open period.
The "Open Period" is defined at Friday through Monday. What this works out as is you get iced up and run out to the grounds on Thursday. The grounds may be 25 to 32 miles from your harbor. Fish Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday or shorter period, then have 24 hours to deliver from the close of the period. This means for most of the fleet or at least some, if they have to fish the four days to get 90 fish, they then must deliver their catch on Tuesday. Sometimes you catch them in one day and sometimes you have to scratch to get them. Weather may only allow two or three days but in Washington since June 19th almost every day has been 5-10 or 15-20 right up to today as of this posting which calls for 5-15. So you deliver on Tuesday, schuk ice and relax, etc. until Thursday and do it over again. Many have their own markets and will take the fish in the large totes and do their delivery Tuesday and Wednesday.
New action is to increase the possession limit to 90 Chinook per vessel per open period.
It has been increased from the 7/25/12 limit of 60. That limit of 60 was an increase from the limit of 50 as of July 20, 2012 per the July 18, 2012 Action Notice.
More than what you asked for but just sayin....That is what happens in the area mentioned. Draw your own conclusions why the number is increased. It may be the salmon fishing is slow, or the tuna are in close and a good price is being paid, and some of the boats also crab/longline etc. and move to their best options available.
Salty
2012-08-06 17:37:33
How the hell did you guys end up with everyone with the same limit? This kind of deal would kill the serious troller in Alaska. The only way a troller makes a living in Alaska is by making way more than the average. It works because a lot of trollers are part timers, semi-retired, have other fishing income, are just learning, enjoy the trolling without having to make much, etc. Setting an equal share limit would kill the serious troller trying to make a living
On the other hand 90 kings a week for 4 or five weeks in August plus unlimited coho, chums, pinks, etc. here in Alaska would be a nice deal. On the other hand some of our fleet will catch 90 a day for a week next week when our August Chinook season opens. Personally, I prefer the competition, and the rewards for excellence. I would quit trolling if we ever went to an equal share deal.
While I am a progressive democrat, I am not into rewarding mediocrity at the expense of creativity and excellence. That is the wonderful thing about trolling in SE Alaska, you do not get rewarded for just showing up, putting in hours, past catch history, or owing a permit. You get rewarded for catching and excellent handling this season.
SilverT
2012-08-07 03:09:02
Salty,
It probably wouldn’t be a good thing for Alaska for the reason you mention. If I understand it correctly, the Washington fishery has evolved a little differently than Alaska. There are approximately 160 permits remaining for Washington. Very few use the permit full-time to make a living and most are like you say, semi-retired or have other income. The bulk of the Washington quota is caught in the May / June fishery and it is wide-open at that time. It is generally good fishing and the boats that are large enough to stay out on the open ocean for several days can do quite well. During the summer, X number of kings/open period, limited to 5 days per week, allows the smaller boats and folks you described a shot during the months that are conducive to day trips and small boats. It also allows the government 2 days to evaluate the catch, knowing that no more fish are being caught while they are counting, and then reset the quota for the next opening.
When the State issued a massive # of permits in the 70’s, a lot of fish were caught, el nino hit and decimated local runs, the State stepped in and basically closed commercial fishing for years and bought back most of the permits, the few that remained were allowed so few fish that it didn’t pay to keep a large boat sitting at the dock. Many folks bought a small boat so they could have a go at the few fish they were allowed to catch when they opened things back up. Washington doesn't have a hand-troll permit, which is what a good percentage of the permit holders would fit into a little better. If I remember right, there were a couple of years that they got 3 days to fish all year. Then they really jumped up and were allowed two weeks. That is why there are so many small boats in the fishery and why they have a fairly large voice in how the quota is allocated. Someone out there could probably give a better history.
In Washington, we are only allowed to keep fin-clipped coho. For every 10 coho we bring to the side of the boat on a very good day, we have to release about 8. If we catch 150, we get to keep around 30. That makes running 60 coho spoons a complete waste of time, energy and money when coho are 5-6 lbs each, the price is $1.00/lb and we burn $100 in fuel. Hatcheries here only clip a percentage of the coho (less every year in my opinion). The tribes largely decided that clipping their fish was ridiculous, as the sporties and trollers would get to keep every one of their fish they caught. Many commercial trollers don't even bring coho to port. The point is that this helps to create a fishery that primarily targets kings. Kings are everything to Washington trollers.
The seiners and State have successfully limited trollers to the coast, eliminating them from participating in an effective chum fishery near terminal areas. Additionally, in August, Trollers are not allowed to keep chum in the Ocean near the entrance to the Strait of Juan De Fuca (about the only place in the ocean down here that they are concentrated). I wonder who pushed for that. That primarily leaves kings and pinks. Few trollers are going to target pinks. In addition, they usually only run on odd years. That leaves kings as the primary targeted species by trollers. Apparently, Washington trollers with small boats grew weary of the large boats catching the bulk of the king quota and then disappearing into another fishery, leaving them with a limit of 8 kings per open period during August when kings are generally large, plentiful and close to shore.
I did show up last week, put in my hours, had a mediocre, if not dismal catch and I owe. I went out believing I was creative, and returned to port with very few fish with which to display my excellent handling. If I don't catch my 90 kings this opener, they stay in the pot, so it's not like our government has completely stepped in for me here and given me what I deserve (hasn't been a GOP governor here in Washington in 32 years). I'm not sure that our current quota arrangement is the best system, but the voters of Washington State have spoken. I know for a fact that the system we have here has negatively impacted some of the larger vessels. That and the fleet history is how I believe we ended up with everyone having the same limit. It's hard to keep all of the people happy all of the time.
Side note: I spoke with a gill-netter on the Columbia and he was paid $3.00/lb for kings last week, which he said was high for him. Our dock prices are $5.00+/lb. for troll. Hope you have a great season.
Lane
actionalaska
2012-08-07 05:07:19
Maybe it's time for a study of past strikes in similar fields like mining, farming etc to see what the strikers faced as far as pressure from the wholesalers that caused the strike to be ineffective.
I'm also wondering about extrapolating profit margins from different buyers based on ex-vessel prices vs. retail market prices. There might be more to it than the price of a whole fish per pound at Pike Place in seattle. Who owns the fish retail counter at pike place in Seattle? How much of the summer iced king ends up in freezers waiting for the market demand to support a sale of that fish? Which wholesaler supplies Costco's seafood? what percentage of frozen iced fish is sold to restaurants vs retail raw fish sales? How much ends up being value added product like smoked, canned, jerky etc.? What does the domestic market demand support as far as volume of fresh unfrozen retail king salmon? Why does halibut offloaded in Dutch Harbor bring the same price per pound as Halibut offloaded in Sitka, AK when Sitka is vastly closer to the domestic market? Why are gillnet dogs worth about the same as troll dogs? Why are seined pinks worth just as much as gutted, gilled, bled ocean bright pinks? I think that knowledge about the market, the supply chain, the supply cycle, the retailers that are purchasing product from the wholesalers,the market demand based on season, (international holidays, religious holidays, summer demand vs. winter demand etc.) and cost associated with moving product to retail markets from different locations are the types of things that need to be understood completely before a strike will be effective. There needs to be a realistic goal of ex-vessel price increase based on all these factors. Essentially, the striking force needs to know when to stop squeezing, and in what areas the market supports room for the ex-vessel price to improve for fishermen. Essentially, the strike needs to have a realistic goal of a price move so that there is a goal that is realistic to both sides of the battle. The processors and shipping companies are also buying expensive fuel, and paying expensive insurance premiums, paying workers by the hour is expensive. Maintaining a processing plant can't be cheap. But there are certainly things that are "off" in the industry, like how halibut is worth the same at the dock in Dutch as it is in Ketchikan. With that said I think there is plenty of room for a higher ex-vessel price on fresh troll caught king salmon, but exactly how much room, and what would a price that is good in both FT. Bragg and in Yakutat be? Why settle for $4.00 with all the work and dedication that a task like this would take, when the market would support something like $10.00 for summer kings. What if the most the market would support is only $5.00. What if because of shipping the market supports $10.00 in FT. Bragg, but only $5.00 in yakutat. Would the guys in FT. Bragg be willing to give $2.50/lb to the guys in Yakuktat so that everyone can sell at the same rate because the guys in Yakutat stood by the strike when the mortgage was due, the credit card companies were calling, and the fridge was empty same as the guys in Ft. Bragg? What if cost averaging was already happening by companies like Ocean Beauty, North Pacific Seafoods etc. with different labels on their operations to bring the ex-vessel dock price in multiple locations close to the same rate? Like in sitka there is SSS that is North Pacific Seafoods, which has plants all around the pacific under other labels. Would the entire Pacific troll fleet be willing to strike and risk losing everything they have worked for for their entire careers, boat, home, lifestyle, permits, and put your family through the kind of stress a strike would cause over an insignificant price jump across the board. What if the troll fleet would end up getting less in northern ports, and more in southern ports because of shipping costs? valid things to be considered if a strike is going to be effective. We all have a horse in the race, but knowing how far the finish line is going to be is a handy piece of info to have to know how fast to run the race.
Knowledge is power in a situation like this, and education about the market and the whole situation doesn't come quickly, I can guarantee you that the processors aren't interested in opening up their books and letting the golden goose (if there is one) out of the pen by revealing what the margins are in every market on every species, but that's what's needed to make a movement like this effective.
Kelper
2012-08-07 13:58:12
Too many trollers have invested in large boats to ever go for any type limit on kings. Even getting them away from 2 summer openings to smaller openings designed to keep from flooding the market would be darn near impossible. I haven't invested in a large boat, so I'm sure that I see things a bit differently. Right now I'm happy scratching up what I can, when I can... even though part of me wishes us smaller boats who sell the same day could pursue king salmon a bit longer than we currently get.
I hope the prices are higher for the second opening.
Abundance
2012-08-07 16:02:56
I have a bigger boat, but not a large investment, or a big time fish catcher. I have my days, but if we had a trip limit it wouldnt wreck my career. It might even give me more fish over the season, as the big no weather to rotten, no place to far boats tend to mop up the quota before I get a break in the weather or find the fish. I have never really begrudged that, as they are earning their fish and seeing a return on their investment, as it should be, but I wouldnt say no to something that would likely benefit me. The thing that I picked up on from Lanes beautifully written post that bothered me was how they were getting messed with on the chums and cohos. I of course dont know the situation, but I think they should be able to get a fair chance at all of the species of fish. If we didnabout t have other species of salmon to make our seasons we would have switched to king catch limits a long time ago, just as a matter of survival. The price might manage to stay a little higher, with kings coming in at a trickle rather than a flood.
Salty
2012-08-08 06:15:36
Wow, really thoughtful informative comments and thoughts here. Thanx, broadened my perspective for sure.
crasmu19
2012-08-16 09:17:42
Latest from "below" SE on West Coast (Washington to Cape Falcon)
8/15/2012 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the regulations in the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.
ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for the open periods as described in the “2012 Federal Regulations: West Coast Salmon Fisheries” with the following changes to the open periods and open period landing and possession limits: The open periods will be Friday through Tuesday of each week. The open period landing and
RATIONALE: The current rate of landings of Chinook are not on pace to catch the full quota prior to the scheduled end of the fishery. The adopted regulations were scheduled to reduce the open periods to Friday through Monday and increase the coho open period limit to 40 beginning on August 24. At the current pace of the fishery, the restriction to four day open periods was not needed, and to simplify the transition, the 40 coho limit change was moved to this current open period.
salmon4u
2012-08-17 03:18:15
I think that as long as trollers are unable to organize and stand up for themselves they'll be taken advantage of. Increasing expenses and regulations will continue to reduce the productivity of the Alaska fleet until most will make far less than a living wage from trolling and it'll become more of a sport.
With the exact amount of product specified before a king opening, a unified fisherman's organization could shop for buyers, taking bids for the product before anyone untied from the dock. The producers could be involved in bargaining for an acceptable price. What process takes place now to set the "dock price" to fisherman? are fisherman consulted on this price setting?
how about if trollers started giving the excuses.. "well, the price for fuel had doubled, the price for tackle went up, and my healthcare cost increased so I'm sorry but king salmon will have to be sold for $8/lb this year"...
crasmu19
2012-08-30 09:31:34
8/29/2012 ACTION NOTICE: NOAA Fisheries in consultation with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, representatives from the commercial troll fishery, and the Pacific Fishery Management Council, has taken in-season action to adjust the regulations in the commercial troll salmon fishery in the area from the US/Canada Border to Cape Falcon.
ACTION TAKEN: The commercial troll salmon fishery between the US/Canada Border and Cape Falcon will open to commercial troll salmon fishing for the open periods as described in the “2012 Federal Regulations: West Coast Salmon Fisheries” with the following change to the open period landing and possession limits: The open period landing and possession limit for
lone eagle
2012-09-07 23:19:50
Sport guys landed two 20 pounders, offered $5.00 a pound by a buyer and came looking for a commercial guy to sell for them- $50 to me.....What a bunch of shit....just go out and buy your licences and your annuals and safetys , moorages etc etc.....Don't mess with the Troopers and get commercial guys screwed
Abundance
2012-09-26 21:15:18
I have heard stories of people doing things like that, but the penalties are severe if caught. I would never touch such an offer. Have many of the guys started fishing for tuna yet? I heard the price is extraordinary this year for tuna, but it's all rumor. The season for cohos is wrapping up in southeast and most of the summer visitors have gone back south. I personally hung it up a few days ago to get ready for various fall and winter fisheries, but a number of locals are getting a decent late spurt of fish. I know a few guys that will be fishing the terminal areas into October, so some more fish will be caught before the kings open up again the 11th. Catch rates are holding at a relatively meager fifty-sixty cohos a day according to ADF&G, but I got $2.00 lb for 7-, $2.20 for 7+, with very few under 7. The average value per coho was $17 my last delivery, about double what they were worth in July. Fall chums are basically done, but a late spurt could always happen. the gillnetters caught 5,000 chums and 10,000 cohos by Dixon Entrance last week, so there is a number still out there. The few chums that we were catching were the smallest of the season, averaging around 6 lbs, and so added up poundage slowly. I really must say that I appreciate the West Coast trollers input on here. It adds a lot of perspective and insight into whats going on in the fishery. I hope you are filling your boats with kings or tuna.
Kingbonker
2012-11-15 00:49:54
I know that some of these comments and ideas are meant to help us all . But as a phallic power troller the hopes of filling my boat in July on the fair weather grounds or any other place is the reason I made the investment to move from hand to power.
Sounds to like Casey can't hang with the big dogs (phallic powertrollers ) and is trying to level the playing field with more off the wall ideas.