Heads up to everyone who–thanks to ‘Deadliest Catch’–now has fishing fever! Here’s some supporting evidence that work actually can be found in Alaska’s fishing industry, and here’s how someone did it:
Daniel Pye of the Towanda News wrote a story–a crab fishing type of story–of how Charles Wilkins found himself a job in Alaska by applying for work online at a seafood processor. Surprisingly Wilkins then went from working on that processor to taking part in the actual fishing/crabbing on a fishing boat, in no time. Check it out…
When people in the Tonawandas are complaining about winter weather, Charles Wilkins is braving minus 40 degree weather and 40 mile per hour winds on the Bering Sea.Wilkins left Kenmore last year, looking for an adventurous and lucrative job. He found just that on board the Arctic Star, a fishing ship that trolls the chilly waters near the Arctic Circle.
Wilkins’ father, Dan, said his son inquired about the career after seeing the TV show “Deadliest Catch,” which features the exploits of similar fishing boats doing the dangerous work.
“He applied for the job on-line through Seattle’s Icicle Seafoods,” Dan said.
After making his own way to Seattle, the company flew Wilkins to Anchorage and then to the port of Dutch Harbor on the Aleutian island chain.
“They had to come in like a corkscrew,” Dan said. “He said it was the most terrifying thing he’s ever done in a plane.”
A helicopter carried him out to a processing boat, where he was initially assigned. But before long Wilkins made his way onto a fishing boat, where he operates the boat’s crane and helps package the fish and crabs they catch…
Forever busy and creative, Discovery has given the go-ahead for seven new projects of which several are from Thom Beers and Craig Piligiam. And actually, there are more then seven as you’ll see…
A brand new series about informerical pitchmen.
2-hour movie about crab fishing (see below for more details)
A reality series called “Out of the Wild”-about surviving in Alaska and also hoofing it back to civilization.
A new series called “Swamp Blogging”–about a logger who harvests trees in environments that are maybe not the best place for man to be.
Another new one–”Moments of Terror” which is related to last year’s very popular “Destroyed”
“Destroyed” will be out for its second season.
A 6-part series called, “Seasons of Survival”
“Lobstermen” was picked up for an 8-episode season (rejoice ‘Deadliest Catch’ fans, more goodies for you!)
A 2-hour documentary called “Disaster on K2″–the story of 30 mountain climbers who climbed up but only 11 survive.
About the crab fishing movie…
Thom Beers serves as the executive producer on this 2-hour movied that is based on Spike Walker’s “Working on the Edge”. It’s been produced for the Discovery Channel by Working on the Edge Productions, Inc.
Oh and by the way, if that isn’t enough action for us all, …April is Alaska Week on Discovery!
Video of part of the US Coastguard rescue of the Katmai survivors…
Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk rescue of four survivors from the 92-foot fishing vessel Katmai 100 miles west of Adak in the Aleutian Islands. Oct. 22, 2008. 081022-G-0000A-100-Katmai Survivors (U.S. Coast Guard video/Air Station Kodiak)
The latest numbers seem to be that five men lost their lives in the tragic sinking of the Cod processor Katmai earlier this week, two are still missing, and four have been rescued. Once again the fishing industry and others around the nation are shocked with how quickly and deadly accidents occurr out on the Bering Sea. The Discovery website has a new post in their Inside the Catch blog on the Katmai and even Capt. Phil Harris of the F/V Cornelia Marie–who happened to fly back to Seattle, Washington for a quick visit to the doctor–discussed the tragedy with a reporter from Kiro TV.
Read more on the Katmai and the men who’ve lost their lives
The Katmai motors toward the Ballard Locks in Seattle in this undated photo. The cod processor sank west of Adak Island in the Aleutians October 22, 2008. (Photo courtesy of Seattle Times)
In sad news related to fishing in the Bering sea, the processor boat Katmai went missing early Wednesday morning (24 hours ago) as it traveled along the Aleutian Islands near the intersecting point of the Bering Sea and Northern Pacific Ocean. (see map below)
Initially one survivor was rescued by the coast guard and since that time, three more have been rescued. Five crewmen are confirmed dead, and two are still unaccounted for. There were 11 onboard in all. Keep them in your thoughts….
The October 15th Bristol Bay Red King Crab season is about to kick off and most fishing vessels are well on their way or already in Dutch Harbor preparing for their grueling work. The “talk on the dock”–according to a Seattle, WA insider– is that Original Productions has many new cameramen on the scene this year as some ‘Deadliest Catch’ veteran cameramen are still tied up with ‘America’s Toughest Job’–currently airing on NBC. And although there doesn’t seem to be a confirmed “boat list” for season 5, Original Productions/Discovery crews have already started preseason filming. The Northwestern headed north on September 29th and is either at its destination or will be shortly, The North American was set to leave port a few days ago, the Cornelia Marie and Time Bandit were already up in Alaska, and the Wizard left some time ago. The quota or Total Allowable Catch was announced a little over a week ago and the discussion for this season’s crab prices is currently taking place. (See below for a list of all registered fishing vessels for this season).
Pre-season registration was held by the State of Alaska Fish & Game recently, ending on September 24th, and the following fishing vessels are now currently registered for King Crab in the Bristol Bay region–which is where our familiar ‘Deadliest Catch’ fishermen catch their quota…
Note of interest: Veteran ‘Deadliest Catch’ fans probably remember the Billikin and it’s skipper Jeff Weeks from season 1. After that season, the Trident-owned vessel was docked for several years as its quota was apparently fished by other Trident vessels. This year however, the Billikin is on the list of pre-registered vessels…So welcome back to the fleet!
Adventure Alaska Challenger Alaska Spirit
Alaskan Enterprise Aleutian Beauty Aleutian Lady
Aleutian Mariner American Lady Arctic Fox
Arctic Hunter Arctic Lady Arctic Sea
Arctic Mariner Atlantico Autumn Dawn
Baranof Barbara J Bella K
Bering Sea Bering Star Big Blue
Billikin Bountiful Brenna A
Bistol Mariner BullDog Cape Caution
Cascade Mariner Confidence Constellation
Controller Bay Cornelia Marie Destination
Early Dawn Farrar Sea Farwest Leader
Fierce Allegiance Guardian Gulf Winds
Handler Incentive Island Mist
Jennifer A Kari Marie Karin Lynn
Katie K Keta Kevleen K
Kiska Sea Kodiak Kustatan
Lady Aleutian Lisa Marie Mark I
Maverick Melanie Mystery Bay
Nordic Mariner North American North Sea
Northern Spirit Northwestern Nuka Island
Ocean Fury Pacific Mariner Paragon
Pinnacle Polar Lady Polar Sea
Reliance Rollo Royal American
Royal Viking Sandra Five Scandies Rose
SeaBrooke Silver Dolphin Silver Spray
Southern Wind Starward Stormbird
Sultan Time Bandit Valiant
Viekoda Bay Viking Queen Vixen
Western Mariner Westward Wind Wizard
Zone Five Provider Bering Hunter
Trailblazer
Dutch Harbor, Alaska–the starting point for the crews and skippers of ‘Deadliest Catch’ and so many others–has once again been named the top port for the most fish harvested…
According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “Commercial fishermen unloaded 777.2 million pounds of fish, primarily Alaskan pollock, at the port of Dutch Harbor-Unalaska, Alaska, making it the country’s top port for landings in 2007.”
Dutch Harbor, Alaska (photo courtesy of NOAA)
The port of New Bedford, Mass., claimed the top spot for value of landings, primarily due to sea scallops, bringing in $268 million in 2007. The total domestic commercial landings for 2007 were 9.2 billion pounds, valued at $4.1 billion.
Dutch Harbor-Unalaska netted the top landings slot for the 19th consecutive year, according to NOAA’s Fisheries Service. Reedville, Va., ranked as the number two port for quantity of landings in 2007 with 421.0 million pounds. Empire-Venice, La., was third at 323.1 million. The major fish product landed in both Reedville and Empire-Venice was menhaden.
Over the last few years many writers have posted on their blogs that they just dont know what it is about ‘Deadliest Catch’ that’s got them hooked, but they can’t turn away from the show when it’s on tv. And when one thinks about it, there’s so many different elements to the show that it’s hard to tell whether it’s one specific thing or the combination of it all. It could be the almost exotic setting of Alaska, could be the featured fishermen with their edgy personalities and larger then life presences, could be the Bering sea, the crab itself, the lifestyle, or the actual fishing too. Whichever stands out in your mind, you have to admit that the imagery we see on the television every week is fascinating and sometimes haunting as well! What is it that catches your eye when watching ‘Deadliest Catch’?
(photos are all courtesy of Discovery and Deadliest Screencaps on myspace)
For anyone wanting to catch a repeat of episodes 1, 2, and 3, they’re airing Sunday evening starting at 8pm eastern and again at midnight! It’s great that Discovery is airing the new season 4 episodes several times a week…Sometimes it takes a few viewings to catch everything!
For Deadliest Catch fans who’ve never watched the 1999 Deadliest Job in the World, it’s airing Saturday, April 26th at 3pm eastern. This one hour show was the first crab fishing show that Discovery ever aired and is considered a precurser to the 2004 America’s Deadliest Season. It features the F/V Fierce Allegience which went on to be featured in season 1 of Deadliest Catch!
Make sure to catch as much of Alaska Week as well on Discovery. Alaska Week has been airing all week and there’s been some really interesting and exciting shows on!
