Sue Aspelund has been chosen as the new executive director of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association.
She succeeds Bob Waldrop, who recently resigned after guiding the association through its formative years.
For Aspelund's background, click here.
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55 comments:
Sue A. will do ok in Naknek. That is where many of her family live and she will hit the ground running. She was not very effective at the Dept because she was so biased in favor of the commercial users that everything she did had to be vetted. She tried to run her Dept and run the BOF at the same time. That did not work out for her so she left. Now she is where should have been all along. Good luck to her
Maybe she can address the fact that the set netters in BB have been riding the coat tails of the bbrsda's efforts to raise the grounds price without contributing a dime. The set netters are shameless freeloaders and now the bbrsda is run by one. We've all seen the set netters picking fish out of dried up nets and handling them like the drifters did in the 70s. They should be thanking us drifters for helping raise their price. Something tells me that won't happen.
The need for bbrsda is questionable in this current market environment.What needs to happen is the processers all force the fleet through quality price incentives to upgrade to chilled floated fish.In SE fisheries gillnet boats take care of fish or cannot sell them.Time to boycott stone age processers as well.
I think the set netters called it correct when BBRSDA was first voted on. BBRSA has had zero effect on pricing since it came about. I'm tired of paying into a system that is not working. I thank Silver Bay Seafoods and Extreme Seafoods in coming into the Bay. They have been able to raise our pricing in less than a year that BBRSDA has had 7 plus years to do.....
Lets revote and see if BBRSDA should continue. I'd bet the vote would go towards closing it down.
How much money is BBRSDA sitting on and how much are the board memembers being paid?
Tired of paying with nothing to show for it.....
There are east side set netters paying there assessment voluntarily and I hear that they are helping with a petition to pursue a vote to include set nets in the RSDA..... and I see things differently. Aspelund's set net time helps her understand the issue. Implying that she will be anything other than the drifter's strongest advocate is ridiculous.
With a family who has multipal set-net sites and permits and drift permits with boats based out of Egegik, I can assure you all the Egegik set-netters are laughing at BBRSDA. Concept had great intentions but their deliverables are flawed.
Really, does one think BBRSDA should provide money to RSW an Rawson...... Really.... Canneries are pushing fisherman to upgrade vessels...Wood boats and Rawsons sadly, their fishing days are numbered.
I look forward to voting again along with the rest of the permit holders to see if BBRSDA passes.
The RSDA's funding of the Port Moller survey and genetics seems worthwhile. Having the counting towers installed earlier, wouldn't have happened without their resources. Their endless advocacy of the Pebble Mine issue is something I don't think you can put a price tag on.
While not a perfect organization, we are far better off with it, than without it. What other organization could we rely upon to represent everyone?
Through the BBRSDA's efforts, the Bristol Bay fleet has achieved over 50% chill rate and a global seafood brand. Oh, and through the RSDA's efforts, its fishermen and consultants Pebble Mine has almost been defeated. Doing nothing? Get involved and learn. The RSDA's board members do, without getting paid.
Rsda should be closed, not even 1/2 of fleet votes for this thing. Sue will be a positive player for Rsda yet there are bigger concerns. Marketing?? Don't you have to own a product to market something?? Who is your customer here? You dumb fools, your customer as a fisherman is the Prossesors, then they market it to wholesale companies then they sell to distributors and so on up the market chain. We don't control any product after getting a fish ticket, that's our sale, game over. The fools you are, un-educated idiots. All to do for us is work on quality with our individual processors. Never seen such a dumb organization. The processors have failed fisherman in Bristol bay. They are the ones with the product and us dumb fools believe we can market it, hold it here, we don't even own or control the product to sell to consumers. Go back to school and please learn how to read and stop playing a fools game here.
Every positive aspect of the rsda mentioned can be achieved through a fishermen's organization at a fraction of the cost. If aifma etc. aren't getting the job done then a new one needs to be formed. As for chill rates among the drift fleet, the $.15/LB rsw bonus is the reason. 1% of our season is confiscated based on a vote back in 2006 by 400 out of 1800 permit holders who bothered to check a box and send in an envelope. Set netters are laughing at us. What a joke.
As a Bristol Bay non-resident permit holder who understands the depth and breadth of the economic woes of rural Southwest Alaska residents (especially Lake Iliamna/the upper watershed), BBRSDA needs to emphasize the "regional" aspect of their mission and work hand-in-hand with BBEDC and individuals to make a processor-dominated fishery VIABLE FOR BRISTOL BAY'S OWN RESIDENTS. We're not talking about putting RSW systems into Rawsons. We're talking about real incentives and a philosophical discussion with residents and processors. Send the native residents home with a paycheck = a much easier time to get the region as a whole (not just Dillingham and CDQ-covered towns)to oppose non-renewable resource extraction. How can the processor business model be so short-sighted and inconsiderate of these real threats and circumstances? Oh wait...that's right...their bottom lines for this year, not 2024. Things need to progress so that a sustainable regional economy is possible with what's already under our nose and happens to keep swimming back upstream year after year.
Another rabid fox leaving the hen house that has become ADF&G. Good riddance.
bbrsda can be a good tool,How many people voted for it to get it started ? about 450 permit holders and about the same amount of permit holders participate in the process today! An organization is only as good as it holders.Yes we haven't owned the product in the past, the bay is changing again with Silver Bay and Extreme Seafoods . Marketing is what the money should be used for! Imagine Deadliest catch stars selling seafoods( Salmon from BRISTOL Bay, Crab , cod, Herring Eggs)in the United States and the World,with the help of ASMI too!Lots of money there to spend. Traditional buyers had there markets sometimes some sold to each other and they were making their profit and were happy with it. Processors didn't care if you made it or not, or had the price calculated to you, so you could just squeeze by. Those bonus checks didn't come out of their payroll! it was calculated out 99% of the fleet that didn't make the poundage break. Yes I bought into Silver Bay its not going to easy, but it will work and the big pricks know it. So I think you have one day left to vote ,so those of you that didn't vote get out an vote BBRSDA! join AIFMA and quit "bitch-In" and start "DO-IN"
Spot on to the writer who speaks about who owns the fish. Honestly, have you heard where the front end user pays to market the final product for the end user? And get this, the end user does not have to share the profits, not info nada nothing? yep thats us the fisherman and BBRSA....
Icing: Really are we going to subsidize something that common sense says its nto working...If the owner operator want to get the 15 cents more p/pound let his fund it on his own. Pretty soon someone is goign to say we need to pay into Obamacare.......
Pebble Mine: This issue needs to be worked through the process, where stake holders, yes you guessed it, Alaska resident stake holders and the various angencies to figure out what to do with yes, you guessed it...Alaska's resources. These NGO's and intrests groups need to back off of what Alaska and the Alaska Stake holders want to do with THEIR resources.
If one was to really look at the likelihood of the mine going through, it's eveident due to it geographic location to open and port, it is economically not viable.
The anti BBRSDA fishermen should create and name their organization something that represents the outlook and mentality of the members. Perhaps something like United Cavemen of Bristol Bay, UCBB. Always willing to complain but short on solutions of their own.
@ 4:46pm
Are you kidding me. Only Alaska resident stakeholders should be allowed to comment? So it is okay for multinational corporation to create potentially huge environmental disasters but fishermen and an industry that have been supporting responsible management for generations can't comment because they live in the State of Washington. Go back under the rock you crawled out from under and let me know where it is so I can come by and spray a healthy dose of Roundup weekly and perhaps you will shrivel up and never appear again
Oh we have a solution. Keep your hands off our 1% so we can spend it as we see fit. Boat improvements, an extra shackle or two, or maybe a life-raft. I doubt too many people would voluntarily give to the BBEDC to fund their ice barges, but that's where much of it goes. Call me a caveman if you like, I just feel like the people who earned the money tend to take better care of it.
Setnetters paid into this system for several years to get it up and running, and the only result that I ever saw was the grant money going to the processors to help them buy insulated fish totes.
The biggest problem is that the BBRSDA is not only doing very little positive work, they are also holding onto a large surplus of money...millions. But they will still take our one percent next year!!
Its time to have a referendum on whether to keep the RSDA or not. We voted it in we can vote it out, though if I remember correctly it takes a far larger member % to do so. Can someone tell us the bylaws on that process?
Could the RSDA survive a vote of confidence....lets find out.
The RSDA does not "take" the fleet's money. Instead, the State of Alaska taxes the fishermen and then passes the money to the RSDA. In the past, the State levied a 1% tax and passed that money through to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI), which used the funds to promote Alaska salmon and other species, with little emphasis on Bristol Bay salmon.
When the 1% for ASMI tax died about a dozen years ago, I can't recall anyone celebrating. In fact, many Bristol Bay fishermen were unaware it was gone. So much for the unbearable burden that 1% represents.
The RSDA focuses on Bristol Bay issues alone. It spends money to promote, enhance, and preserve the fishery. This year, to cite one small example, RSDA financing will allow ADFG to open counting towers a week earlier than normal. This could lead to better escapement counts, which could lead to more fish in your net. If you normally catch 100,000 pounds and this one project puts an additional 2,000 pounds of fish in your column, then the 1% you paid to support the RSDA will be paid for twice over.
RSDA funding has helped ADFG keep its offices open for longer hours. This made it possible to call in your district transfers outside regular State business hours. Would you prefer to have to wait until 8 a.m. Monday for the ADFG office to open? Would that wait cost you fish?
The price of fish has more than doubled since the RSDA's founding, and the percentage of chilled fish has more than tripled. I believe the RSDA has played an important role in both these positive developments.
Five years ago the Pebble Mine was a looming, existential threat to the future of our fishery. Today the mine plan is on life support. Hopefully, the mine will soon be dead. RSDA leadership in the anti-Pebble fight was crucial to that success.
Those of us who have been around for awhile remember years when there were very poor returns to Bristol Bay. Just because we're making money now doesn't mean it will always be that way. Just as Alaska has put money aside for the inevitable day when its revenues dry up, so has the RSDA put money in the bank so its programs won't come crashing to a halt if and when the Bay has a few bad years.
I believe that if you don't like the way the RSDA is operating then you should run for a seat on the Board. If the organization is so bad, then why, in recent years, have board seats been uncontested? Could it be that, aside from a few chronic whiners, most fishermen are OK with what the RSDA is doing?
Based on the 1% for ASMI experience, I'm certain that if we took away the 1% tax for the RSDA many fishermen wouldn't notice. BUT, if we took away the RSDA the whole Bay would notice--and be worse off in the bargain.
10:29 - WELL SAID!!
Who would lead Bristol Bay otherwise?
Yes, nicely said, but clearly over reaching. It is likely the BBRSDA has had minimal influence on any of the obviously positive trends the bay has been experiencing. I would wager it is primarily macro economics and increased globalization that is responsible for the current up-cycle in the bay. You just don't get new processors involved without money to be made.
Prices are up for salmon everywhere. For example, Pinks are up almost 10x in as many years. The original Japanese heavy market has been diversified away from to include, of all places, the good ol' US of A (you can thank the weakness of the USD for that one). We are now repossessing in China which was unheard of before. Overall, prices for food in general are up considerably, sugar for example is 30x higher than it was 20 years ago.
Yes, refer bonuses are up, but on a percentage increase they are actually down? I remember getting 8-10 cents on my 45 cent fish! I do however like the look of those frozen fillets and that product is creating more yield. Although those cold fish bruise less easily, so does simply keeping bag weights down.
Pebble is (hopefully) defeated, but I believe it is largely due to a handful of people involved in bringing the 404c issue to the table; no one honestly saw that coming, least of all Rio Tinto which is why they pulled their stake (listen to the conference call). Years ago, I raised concern to the RSDA about pebble and suggested the bulk of the 1% should be re-directed at lobbying against mine development otherwise there might not be any sockeye left to "market." I'm sure you can guess what the response was...improve marketing blah blah blah, rsw raswson blah blah blah. I'm sorry, but big mining is a dirty business and sometimes the money needs to be spent in less than transparent ways in order to compete.
If that prior post about 400 permit holders electing to organize the RSDA was accurate, I can't help but wonder where in the production range those voters operated? I understand all about saving for a rainy day, but for some, 1% of today's catch is a hell of a lot more than when this thing started...looking back, maybe the contribution should have been static, I mean how much does advertising, etc. change each year? Just build-in a 5% expected bump on costs from year-to-year, am I right?
As for the counting towers going in early, yes, that is good news. But ADFG should have been doing this all along. But alas, it is a state run fishery and with that you get state run problems.
The old transfer deadline probably saved me money since I was often forced to wait it out and get a look at the next tied. I suppose that revision was simply a product of the tech age coming to adfg though.
As for keeping the RSDA, I think closing the entire program is probably going too far. The end goal for all bristol bay stake holders is one in the same, but the road to get there is under examination.
Does anyone seriously believe that Silver Bay and Extreme Seafoods would be coming to the Bay if we were producing the same quality fish we were seven years ago, when the RSDA first started? Both those companies are looking for quality fish, just as Copper River did when they came to Togiak several years back.
The RSDA has been a leader in pushing the a sometimes-reluctant fleet toward increased chilling and better at-sea handling practices. When processors see that the fishermen themselves are truly serious about raising quality, then they are more likely to look seriously at opening new plants in Bristol Bay. I seriously doubt that Silver Bay would be building that new plant if there wasn't a critical mass of quality-minded fishermen to draw from.
Since the RSDA has been in operation, the price of your drift permit has doubled. The value of your boat has probably seen some positive effects, too. Do you think the setnetters (who aren't in the RSDA) can make the same claims?
RSDA Board members are paid very modest honorariums for meetings they attend in person. However, they also spend hours each month in teleconferences and at non-RSDA meetings that relate to their service on the Board. They earn nothing for those hours spent.
The RSDA is one hell of a good deal for Bristol Bay. Have they been perfect? Of course not. Have they made some ill-advised moves? Assuredly. But we are all WAY better off with them than without them.
Sue Aspelund is smart, savvy and experienced. She will be an excellent asset for the Bay and for the RSDA.
Today I sat down with a processor and marketer that has 45 years experience in Bristol Bay. I showed him the comments on here. I recorded him on my phone, so here it is:
He just laughed, "In all the West Coast fisheries there is no greater bunch of uneducated, unorganized fishers than Bristol Bay. They were all still barely getting a $1 just two years ago, in the year 2012! The only reason their getting $2 right now is there have been 3 weak runs, and we have two new processors trying to build their own fleets-Extreme and Silver Bay. So naturally all the big guys are raising the price to try to keep their fleets, to fill their sales orders, and try to squeeze out and bankrupt Extreme and Silver Bay. It's a classic price war.
The Bay Fishers have been losing as a group and haven't had any power over the price we give them, since they let the scabs break the last strike in the early '90's. Was that 91 or 93? I'm getting old. The big processors were nervous for a little while, scared that the Bay Fleet was finally going to get organized. They(fishermen) had a chance to negotiate a price every year before going fishing like the West Coast Dungy crabbers if they could of held that strike, but they have always been a weak, fractious bunch, and we broke them easy, that's meant untold billions to the processors in price savings and profit, since that last strike.
Now no processor is happy about paying $2, but they realize that a good price is what it's going to take to retain fleets, and knock out Extreme and Silver Bay. Plus they're going to make sure these new players have a tough time selling into Japan. This tactic has worked before, and that's why they're have only been a few new bit players over the last 20 years, small fry like Leader Creek and Copper River. Guys like Baywatch got creamed. There's been a few others too, they come and go, never last long, the big just squeeze them out. When was the last cash-buying floater of consequence, Jorn Nordman? Can-Inter Am or something. Remember Quality First, they failed, they couldn't sell their fish in Japan. John Lowrance resurrected that plant and turned it into Leader Creek. Now they got Ekuk. And there was those guys that showed up with their head and gut freezer boats for a few years. And there's been Big Creek, and ISA, all the different versions of Inlet, the Ball Brothers, the Ferrari gal, hell, it would be fun to get a whole bunch of old timers in front of a blackboard and start writing down all the old outfits. Bet I can name 50 that processed a million pounds or more a season, and a 100 that never made it that far. Bristol Bay has a long history of broken dreams and busted processing operations.
And nobody is having any trouble selling sockeye right now, we could have been paying $2 for years. Plus there isn't much fish in this down cycle to go around. We're all making money. But next year, or the year after, not this year, the large runs will be back, Silver Bay and Extreme will be weakened, and the price will get driven back to the $1 dollar range. Silver Bay and Extreme won't complain, and will have to go along, their capital will be short, and they won't be able to be pushing $2. I've seen this whole cycle happen at least a half-dozen times since I started buying Bristol Bay fish in the late 70's. It's a classic economic story.
The only way the fleet can affect this dynamic is to withold production, and stay on the beach when we're all geared up with crew and expenses and need to put fish through our plants. But the Bay guys will never pull it off, too many cowboys, the price will return to a buck in a few years, and stay there for another 10 years, or until we get into the next 3-4 year down cycle.
(cont.)
Now the BBRSDA backlash is totally amusing. Us processors aren't going to spend 1% of our profits marketing Bristol fish. Why should we? We always sell our fish, we make great margins after buying these beautiful fish for only a $1. We haven't increased our marketing budgets for years. But ASMI and the BBRSDA's efforts have been a total boon to our profits. They have done great job opening up the domestic fillet market, the media fight against Pebble has greatly increased domestic brand awareness, and us processors have made great money off of it. But our increased profits aren't going to lead to a trickle down to the Bristol Bay fleet, we know that they will show up year after year and take the price we give them, they have no bargaining power. We have thrown them a few bones, the increased fleetwide chilling has definitely been a positive, quality is demonstrably up, thanks to the BBRSDA. It would never have happened without their hard work. But 45% of the fish/fleet still does not get chilled. And that's not going to change as far as processors are concerned, we're not going to invest any more capital to increase chilling. If the fleet does it on their own, we'll keep giving them 10-15 cents, but that's all.
No, the ASMI and BBRSDA money was well spent by the fleet, they get a little bonus bump out of it, and they're in a stronger negotiating position because of it. It's such a tiny bit of money out of each boat, but of course they cry and whine about it. They're getting a great long-range return on all that marketing, but they don't know how to use it as leverage.
So nothing will come of it as a negotiating tactic on grounds price. But the marketing and ice has been a real positive.
Now I'm about ready to retire, I've made my fortune off of the Bay, our company will keep charging on.
My neighbor has two boys that just got started in the Bay, and those kids got me drunk a few nights back. They implored me to tell them why the price is less now in real dollars than it was when their dad started in the 70's? Both kids are studying business at the University.
They said what Dad was getting paid then, would be about $4 today, adjusted for inflation. All their costs to run a boat have increased at least 3-4 times over what their father's expenses were back in the day.
I know you're recording me, and this conversation better stay private, except for the NSA intercept of course, for national security. (laughing)
But you know, I don't really give shit anymore, I'm out of this business and playing golf by next year. I told those kids the truth.
The Bristol Bay fleet will never get organized and pull off a strike again. They're too weak, and they aren't any leaders with any balls.
And unless the fleet can control production by staying on the beach, not fishing, and create some bargaining power, they will always have to take the price we give them, like the herring fleets, no Cesar Chavez's in that bunch, so they get a blank fish ticket, a kiss and a promise, and $100 a ton after a while.
What other industry is dumb enough to deliver their products to a buyer for a blank invoice and a price to be named later? Herring and Bristol Bay guys are the last big suckers, it's hilarious. I wish I could buy cattle and gold in the same manner. When I tell buyer fellas in other raw product industries about the blank fish tickets and a promise, they can't believe it. They all want to get in on the action.
The West Coast dungy fleet is the model, those guys don't win big, but we would be paying them half if they didn't force us and break a bit of our will, when they stay tied up, and we desperately need crab, as we are all geared up to process and start bleeding money. We blink, and they get a higher price.
So there ya go Professor, you and Gunnar Knapp should write the Economic History of Bristol Bay. But first you're paying for lunch and another round of beer."
The vocal whiners who spew their "wisdom" sound so wise, but really have their heads in their bilges. I would love to have an organization that truly represents all BBay fishermen--but we all know that is impossible. What amazes me is that there are only 400 or so permit holders--RSDA members--voting in this process. The only fools in this process are those who don't vote and don't participate (and that guy above who used "fool" about 10 times in his comment).
In other very positive news your RSDA fought hard against House Bill 77. This bill, the big pro-development permitting and water rights measure proposed by Gov. Sean Parnell, is dead for the current legislative session,
Blocking this bill preserves stream flows for fish rather than for non-fishing industry.
The BB-RSDA is not perfect but, it does much more than you realize. Get involved and become part of the solution.
Who would lead 5:15?
Someone with an IQ, larger than their boot size.
"Judge axes Dillingham fish tax annexation."
"We have been against this from the beginning," said Tonya O'Connor, a permit holder whose family commercially set net fishes at Ekuk Beach. "We feel this is an income tax that violates our Alaska constitutional rights."
http://www.thebristolbaytimes.com/article/1414judge_axes_dillingham_fish_tax_annexation
Some good points, on both sides of the issue:
To respond to one of the comments, to terminate the 1% tax, which could go higher in the future, a petition including 10% of the drift fleet (approx. 180 signatures) needs to be completed and presented and then an election/ballot will follow in which all of the drifters will be asked to respond, yes or no. To terminate, at least 30% of the drifters must cast a ballot, and the majority of ballots must be in favor of terminating the tax.
See Alaska Statute: "Sec. 43.76.375. Termination of seafood development tax"
I think one of the most ironic points made is found in the stated political benefits we get from the BBRSDA. For example the solidarity of BBRSDA members against Pebble Mine, money and grants given to ADFG for projects that benefit bristol bay commercial fishermen and the like. As one blogger in 2006 wrote, "But first of all, by all means, vote for your nearest RSDA or fishermen won't have the political power to blow the water out of a fuel line." The BBRSDA has given drifers (and setnetters) a political voice or at least a well of funds for political groups to benefit from.
But that is the irony. The BBRSDA bylaws state that it shall not advocate any position on resource allocation issues, or engage in an activity for which registration is required under AS 24.45.121. In other words, it is not supposed to be a lobby or a political animal advocating for one thing or another. So they walk a fine line to maintain their non-profit status and choose they way to spend our taxes.
If we need a political body to effect our voice, we should be joining and supporting a privately funded organization, not a forced taxed supported quasi-governmental agency like the BBRSDA. But then again, AIFMA and the BBDNA have not been very effective, have they? Maybe Bob Waldrop would be interested in taking the helm of AIFMA, that Harsilla guy has been there long enough hasn't he?
April 6th 7:40 AM. You sound very convinced about voting the RSDA out but then have no idea as to the process or what resources are available to you.
The regulations, bylaws and statutes are all listed on www.bbrsda.com Click "About Us" and select Bylaws, Statutes & Regulations.
To 7:22 : setnetters NEVER paid into to the BBRSDA. You're smokin' too much beach weed.
Yes, setnetters have paid into the BBRSDA. The organization have received funds from individual setnetters that feel inclined to participate. Not the entire gear group, just individual setnetters'
"To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead."
Thomas Paine
You that believe you can break the new guys better worry about the level of product silver bay controls now.selling fish is about having quality fish to sell.The market has been a sellers market for awhile basically since public awareness about farmed has been raised.the guys that left for silver bay are the cream of the crop ,too. I cannot argue that the rsda has not done some good.The processers need to quit buying from dry boats.even if the fish are just floated a much nicer product emerges.maybe the fleet ought to pay attention to that advice.....you guys have been eating fish I produce since the early 80s all over seattle.ivars,rays boathouse,pike place,uwajimaya to name a few long time customers.But what do I know...I am just a stupid gillnetter.
Where can I sign the petition to re-vote on the tax?
Use all he ice you want, but you still got a mushy green back that you caught in a mud hole. Quit invading fresh markets with your shitty product. Those things belong in a can. Bright chums caught elsewhere are even a better product than a bay red.
Hey 8:43 PM. Why don't you start the petition rather than rely on others?
April 8, 2014 at 4:54 PM
Peter Pan in Dillingham doesn't seem to care about quality that much. They still hire a couple dry tenders for their setnetters in Queen's Slough. Guess they just stuff those in a can!!
1.50 base price and where all happy.spineless wimps. BBRSDA is doing their part ,it takes time.Sue s a good choice ,give her support.
With chilling ,short openers and BBRSDA, I beleave is a very helpful combination that was needed. We have a very marketable product for the results. Now if the fisher would just do their part in uniting on price negotiation.
Your mouth is a mud hole.sounds like u cant aford a bb permit.
@12:59 Thanks, don't need one. I fish area m. We catch bay fish when they still are a quality fish. Hope silver bay or extreme can pull it off for you, but you still have an inferior product compared to other red fisheries in the state. Don't believe me,go fish somewhere else and see for yourself.
Not everyone is a highliner, and not every sockeye is a #1. I'm all for increasing quality into a market hungry for top quality reds (and I wish Sue the best in that endeavor), but make no mistake about it, I am much more concerned with fisherman organizing in the support of price. We can't agree on much, but that single issue ought to be a slam dunk.
At this point, it sure feels like the only thing that will ever get us to this "happy place" is another strike. I know the last one didn't work too well, but this time around I might be inclined to hang around the yards in the fall with a 4" hole saw ready to swiss cheese up those scab boats.
On second thought, it probably doesn't matter now that SBS is formed. That fleet has no further incentive to hold their processor to the fire as doing so would only reduce the size of their dividend check and decrease the value of their stake.
I fish the bay and have fished Kodiak for over twenty years and a little in area m. There is no difference in the quality of the fish when they are caught. It's what happens after that that makes the difference. The fish laying in the mud on the beaches and the ones in dry holds, yeah not much quality there. Floating and chilled= great quality. I hope the new plants succeed.
The BBRSDA has definitely helped improve fish quality and created a brand for our fish. Pebble would be a reality without the relentless push, paperwork, travel, etc. by the BBRSDA.
They are well organized, professional and consistent in their messages and run a good ship.
I have been involved with the fishery for 25+ years. The Bay was always the butt of jokes for crappy fish and fishermen who could never agree on anything.
Today for the first time over half the boats are chilling fish, everyone in the US and the UK and beyond knows about BBay and its world class salmon. That would never happen without the RSDA.
Sue A will be terrific. She is smart and tough and devoted to BB.
Wow, half the fleet chills.
That's like polishing a turd.
Oh really, 50% chilled is polishing a turd. Let's see, 16 million harvest,8 million fish chilled. 5 lb avg, 60% recovery equals 24 million lbs of fillet product. That is four times the Round Weight production of the entire Copper River Flats. First wholesale Bristol Bay fillet price as of 3/1/14, $7.75/lb. Every major supermarket chain now carries a fresh, frozen, red fleshed wild salmon. Guess where most of it comes from. The only polished turd you really know about is the one you see every day considering where your head resides.
Is that last turd polished?
No wonder why people like farmed fish. Talk up bay fish all you want, but until your whole fleet gets on the same program, half the fish that comes from there is still shit. Where else in Ak does half a fleet ice and half don't. Still a joke.
67% number ones were prduced in the bay last year,the rest went in cans.you turd talkers are creating possible market problems for all alaska
salmon.sound like a disgruntled area m fisher that is part of a missmanaged fishery.
Less than half of Cook Inlet ices and bleeds its sockeye harvests.
The first drift boats are just now investing in RSW. It will take a few years before all 500 drifters switch over.
And on the beach, processors continue to take ice out to set netters, but like horses, you can't make them ice salmon if they want to do things the ways grand papaw did it 100 years ago.
Jeeze you idiot. You must fish copper river where nearly everyone chills. Otherwise you would know that fleets like Kodiak, Cook inlet, Chignik, area m are not anywhere near 100 percent. At least in the Bay it's short openers and you deliver twice a day. And I know alot of guys at least float they're fish if they can't chill them. And brailer weights are kept down. I've seen how fish look coming out of unchilled seiners holds and set net skiffs in other areas. Get off your high horse. Yeah there's room for improvement, but guys are working towards it and RSDA is promoting that.
Has anybody seen the price of can sockeye salmon lately? Just as much as fillet! Huh I wonder how those eggs do when a fish is bled? no blood in the skein! Tokyo Rose always told us we were no good ,that has been a good marketing strategy for that one major buyer! I could say wake up and look at the sun rise.
Well I see I got a little discussion out of the group on quality.anybody out there think that poor quality fish are ok because they are canned.well damned if canned salmon isn't graded in kent washington and wouldn't you know it the better grades sell better and at a higher price than abused fish.My 45 year history has given me the insight to realize that high quality fish sell quicker and for better prices than bad quality fish.if the processer was not bogged down in the sales dept by the off grade lots then business would be a lot easier.Guess what when we have a good product it creates demand.Anybody out there know what demand is?Higher demand raises prices.Pretty simple isn't it. I have a QC regime on my boat that uses simple math to chill and keep fish at correct temperatures.While I am at it one ton of ice on my boat gives me the chilling capacity of a 24 ton system.Ice is free at the tenders and docks of enlightened buyers. A 24 ton system costs mega bucks,breaks down and makes me the slave of reefer repair guys.who knows the way I am I would have to go to school and get a reefer cert.I just went and used google and studied up on but math and some other simple shit that a lot of you guys didn't couldn't figure in junior high.Face it we are just a bunch of stupid gillnetters that don't understand much except fishing on the wrong side of the line ,ruining fish in our haste and trying to push our competition around.
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