Pelican Seafoods not running in 09
Rumor (and logic) has it that the plant in Pelican won't be open at all this year. Considering the very poor operation last year and the recent economic nose dive there's no possibility of anyone being able to make money operating the plant. The city may run the ice chute, if we're lucky.
A local source told me that last years manager/operator, Ed Barht, is not returning phone calls and still has outstanding debts (bad checks) to fishermen that will probably never be paid.
Salty
2009-02-04 18:46:26
A very sad note for the troll and longline fleet but an even sadder note for the wonderful people of Pelican.
Seems like it was a tough year for processors. I don't think we have the full story on the fallout yet. I know Absolute Fresh here in Sitka has given up its dock space which Jeff had invested quite a lot into.
Katlian
2009-02-05 01:16:14
I talked to Jeff at the airport about a month ago. He has rented the old surf shop downtown. He is going to focus on retail sales. He is still going to do limited commercial purchases using the city hoist. He seemed optomistic about the changes. It did not seem like he was driven to his new angle by tough times, but motivated to refine his nitch. I know that he is also operating a small plant in craig for the dive fisheries.
The question remain, will our intrepid cash buyer, Baranof Seafoods, return to push the price around. I will certainly miss having multiple options to sell if he bows out.
slr
steffco
2009-02-05 06:41:12
I was at the city building paying my harbor fees and noticed a sealed bid sale for fixtures and equipment of Baranof Seafoods for next week on the 10th or 11th in the hall outside the office on the bulletin board, so I am not holding out much hope for them. Too bad I liked working with them.
Carol W
2009-02-05 16:20:18
Good thing the coop is so financially secure, and will be buying fish in 09.
codfoot
2009-02-05 16:35:45
Baranof bankrupt, Pelican gone, Wrangell bankrupt, Absolute rotating to retail. This is a tough business at any time. The co op has never written a bad check in 65 years. Codfoot
Salty
2009-02-05 20:58:27
I just deposited my meager second advance in the co-op loan account. Financial advisors highly recommending it.
Outlaw
2009-02-06 18:20:54
wow, sorrry to hear what is going on in the fishing world. it has to be real tough on all of you. can you all still fish and sell or what? i know here in the seattle areamost all the fleet is in and not moving. of course it's happening all over for everybody. very sad. i just got to the age i can retire, sure to what, my stock went the other way and my wife and i are on SS and working part time jobs. lol, that's my retirement. keep the faith and hopefully things will get better. just wish we had salmon to catch.
Outlaw
Salty
2009-02-06 19:30:24
Outlaw,
We are going to be fine in Sitka. We live in the most gorgeous place on earth. There will be plenty of clams, berries, fish, and venison to eat. Spuds, fruit, and veggies are likely to be cheaper all the time. The guided sport fishery is collapsing and there will likely be less tourists clogging up the downtown.
The co-op is still doing just fine and is situated well to survive the coming tough times. Labor is likely to be cheaper to help with the boat maintenance and crewing. The state has wonderful low interest loans to re-power and upgrade the quality handling.
Those of us who are trolling have the best job on earth. We get to make a living doing what others pay thousands to experience.
Things could be worse but I don't know how they could get much better.
Salty
2009-02-06 19:35:33
Alas, I just read my last post and don't want to sound unsympathetic to others like Pelican and the thousands of people around the world who are suffering from the failures of years of Republican leadership in the United States. While this situation is a great tragedy it is not surprising or undeserved. The sad thing for so many is that even though they never voted for Republicans they are going to suffer with them.
yak2you2
2009-02-06 21:49:48
With respect to fish plants failing, I feel terrible for the fishermen from the communities that have lost processing facilities. This is why I dearly wish a Major player like SPC would start accepting fish flown in from other communities so places like Pelican can have a place to send their fish to. While I'm at it, I'll say it again, why not accept handtrollers into SPC ??? Sure would be a good will gesture towards helping out some of these little communities. There's a pretty good chance there will be more towns out of processors before it's done.
Salty, politics is a dangerous topic to touch in today's climate at all isn't it? Just the same, you know me, I'm going to respond. In my estimation a person would be totally naive not to blame both parties for what's happened to our country, they are both responsible, that's why I am an independent. All of Congress, and that means both parties, were busy interviewing baseball players last summer when they should have been heading this off.
We need a third party who's only special interest group is the common, hardworking, American. These are my personal views, and the only opinion I have on it. Their not open to debate, cause I'm not changing my mind anyway.
Salty
2009-02-06 23:50:20
An important thing in politics and religion is to inform people how you feel without trying to convince them they should feel the same way.
One of my young partners was just here informing me why we need an alternative to the Military Industrial Complex Party which has two branches, Republican and Democrat. I told him that was not a new idea. Gore Vidal wrote a book and many articles on that topic starting in the 70's.
You can make a case that both Democrats and Republicans are at fault for the mess we are in, but you would be hard pressed to make the case that the Democrats are as much at fault as the Republicans. Especially in Alaska where we have not had control of the Legislature since the 70's.
Katlian
2009-02-07 02:22:26
I think I was there for that conversation, it is a bit more flowery than I recall. ?
I remain steadfast that we need a second party. The greatest scam pulled in the 20th century is to convince the poor people to divide up their votes based on things that cannot be effectively legislated. Leaving the powerbrokers to run wild while the populace is alternately placated or enraged. Things that happen in doctor's offices, bedrooms, and within one's body work great as campaign fundraisers, but cannot be controlled by effectively the government. These issues have made most everyone I know a one or two issue voter. Unfortunately, these issues are not furthering the welfare of our neighbors, a productive economy and a leaving a world worth living in as we depart.
Fish politics are not an issue for parties. They are an issue to be approached by stakeholders. As mammals we are ultimately stakeholders in ecological issues. From what I have read on this forum, we are all on the side of effective utilization of resources. The actions of the republican or democratic figure heads should be taken into account.
sincerely (your raving socialist rev.)
slr
Outlaw
2009-02-07 03:24:56
you guys are way to fun. i like you all. poilitics and releigion i dont't talk about too much. i am a christain but i don't go to church. i am not for either party nor am i against them. not being a fisherman like all of you, i feel very bad for what you all have to go thru. it's all up and down this coast. my uncle fishes the sac. river,sport only, and there has been no salmon there. i am not sure why there is none but i have a big clue. is salmon fishing bad all over or what. i would love to go fishing again but if there is no salmon what is the use. i just hate to see you all lose what you have worked so hard for all these years. i am 63, retired, well kind of. on SS and working a couple days a week as is my wife. our mony went down the tube and so did our dreams. hopefully this world will change for the better for all of us. now if ya all got fish up there, go back and have fun.
Outlaw
Salty
2009-02-07 05:41:53
They pumped the water out of the Sac and the salmon runs are suffering. I fished shad on a river near Sacramento many years ago.
Katlian lays it out pretty well. Working hard on helping make this BOF meeting here in Sitka at least somewhat productive conserving the resources. Tough for me since I pledged about 8 years ago to myself to stop trying to convince Republicans of anything. I was just in DC with a German national who had not set foot in or flown over the US while George Bush was president.
So, I guess I will just inform them of how I see it.
As I listen to the wind howl and think about an article I read or heard somewhere in the last few days about the wind increasing in the North Pacific I wonder if anyone else had noticed. Seems like the blows are stronger and the calms between shorter. But, that may be just the old man in me.
old deckhand
2009-02-08 01:40:04
Salty,
I believe the wind is you flapping you lips.
deckhand
Salty
2009-02-08 02:38:02
Not likely as I have retired from both public and private radio broadcasting since my vocal cords got fried.
Katlian
2009-02-08 05:48:39
I just heard that Hoonah cold storage is not buying tanner crab this year. I know that they took some pretty good damage last fall with collapsing markets. I am crossing my fingers for their safe return.
slr
Bigwave jim
2009-02-10 04:13:10
Anyone heard of Joseph Smith? Basically, what we're seeing is our free markets working to perfection. Meaning, when times are good, there are entries into areas that hold potential to make money. When times are bad for business, there are exits. We're seeing exits. Once conditions turn around we'll have more choices for selling our fish.
Nothing new with this comment - we have to tighten our belts one more notch, and hope that we can overcome the down turn by providing a quality product at a reasonable price. This down period will pass, as they always do. We have to have confidence. Not to go into economics to deeply, but economics is more akin to taking the temperature of how the public feels. If we feel good about our situation we tend to spend more - thus stimulating business.
Salty
2009-02-10 18:37:05
I was just talking to one of my relatives who crewed with me the last couple of summers and is in his second year of college in California. He said a guy in one of his classes went to work at a local Tacobell because his parents lost a lot of his college fund in the stock market. There was an opening the other day and there were 70 applicants, including a guy with a PHD. He says this year is the last for many of his classmates as their parents have informed them they won't be able to afford to send them to college next year.
I just talked to a fairly reputable processor last night and he told me he is thinking $2.50 - $3.00 for halibut and too early to predict on coho but $1 to $1.50 would not be too low. He has sold all of his fish but took quite a bath on the last bunch of coho.
Salty
2009-02-10 18:39:23
Probably a sin to repeat that stuff. People need to start informing themselves about how things look this year. I would love to hear better news.
groundhog
2009-02-11 03:52:39
Well, look at the bright side.
I suspect college tuition has been in a bubble just like house and stock prices. The price of college simply has to come down due to all the demand destruction.
Disclaimer: I have two teenage kids.
yak2you2
2009-02-19 01:11:47
Back to the Pelican seafoods plant closing, what about arranging a packer/floating processor?? It won't replace the lost jobs, but at least there will be a place for area users to off their fish. Plus, the boats that come in to off load their product might stop in for fuel and groceries, be better than nothing right?
JYDPDX
2009-02-19 19:08:03
re: college tuition
Dont get your hopes up. Universities are probably licking their chops at all the unemployed people going back to college right now, demand may be higher than ever. Not that a degree is worth a bag of peanuts these days. :)