February 23, 2023 — Some emergency relief money is on the way to help crabbers impacted by the historic closure of the Bering Sea snow crab and Bristol Bay red king crab harvests in Alaska.
Washington-based fishermen, however, say more lasting attention, research and action is needed to preserve the industry as a sustainable way of life for generational small businesses.
Mark Casto owns the fishing vessel Pinnacle and says he’s been crabbing since he graduated from high school in 1986.
“I grew up in it, as a little kid I used to do it growing up, it got in my blood and it’s just been a way of life for me,” Casto said.
He’s crabbed with the same crewmates for years- some, for decades- and they’ve become a team that can anticipate each other’s next move. When Bering Sea snow crab was cancelled, they were scattered- all forced to find another way to make a living during the season.
“A few years ago I saw some stuff coming and geared up to tender, so we tendered salmon for a few years and this year with the closure of the king crab and the snow crab, we’re doing some cod tendering, just enough to keep the boat busy, get it up there, and we’ll do a small Bairdi after that,” Casto said. “But it’s a trickle-down effect. It’s hitting everybody, from the bait people to the shipyard people to the meat guys that’ve been supplying boats for years and years.”