Everyone involved in the fishing industry is talking about the government's push toward catch-shares for fishery management. Thirteen fisheries in the U.S. operate under catch share plans. The big three are Alaska halibut and sablefish, which began in 1995, and Bering Sea crab in 2005. As a 32-year crab fisherman in the Bering Sea, these are some of my observations.
The slower pace of crab-catch share fisheries has made them much safer. From 1991-2005, 26 vessels sank in the Bering Sea and 77 crabbers died – 50 times the U.S. worker fatality rate. Since 2005, there has been one death and no vessels have sunk. The slower pace also means we can soak our gear longer, and be more careful with handling and sorting the crab. Fewer pots are being used, meaning less impact on the sea floor and a doubling of crab caught per pot. This smaller, more efficient fleet has reduced our carbon footprint by 50 percent.
Before catch shares, 200 boats would race out, hope to fill up one time and it was over. That meant crab-codependent communities like St. Paul were being left behind. The catch-share program has built in regional protection so dependent communities receive their historical landings. Now boats can make multiple trips to St. Paul or Dutch Harbor, while still fishing on very low crab quotas. Five years into the program, we find it helps us to work more cooperatively with processors and managers to prosecute the Bering Sea crab fisheries.
It's true that crab-catch shares caused the loss of many low paying, part-time jobs when the fleet downsized. But those were hardly "jobs" when you consider low crab quotas meant fishing lasted for a few days a year. None of us could count on this "race for crab" system to support our boats and families. Absent the race for crab, fishing seasons have lengthened to several months. Crew jobs are more stable and higher paying, averaging from $45,000 to $85,000. Overall, the catch share program has resulted in a more professional crew.
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