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.
Last winter, Mike Rowe spent a little time up in Dutch Harbor, Alaska filming for ‘Deadliest Catch’ promotional ads and also for the ‘Best of Season 3′. Here’s a youtube videoclip of a few of his bloopers and blunders…Looks like the cold may have been getting to him…
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)
KIAL News out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska reports on the booming Opilio crab season & fishing that’s currently taking place in the Bering sea…
Per Charles Homans, the sea ice has encroached to the Pribilof islands but so far, doesn’t appear to have slowed down the fishing. So far 28 million pounds of Opilio have been offloaded to processors out of 56 million total allowable catch. Pots have been averaging 300 or more Opilio per pot and another industry source also reports that many fishing crews have pulled entire strings filled with 400-500 Opilio per pot!
Sounds like although a dozen fishing vessels or so have finished up for the season already, most crews will most likely fish well in to March and even April.
This current update is also available to listen to:
Autographed Deadliest Catch Hooded Sweatshirt. Signed by Jonathan Hillstrand of the Time Bandit, Neal Hillstrand of the Time Bandit, Jake Anderson from the Northwestern, and several members of the Deadliest Catch Camera Crew. Sweatshirt is being auctioned off as a fundraiser for Channel 8 Television and KIAL Radio in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Both stations are services of the non-profit organization Unalaska Community Broadcasting, and all funds raised will be used to help sustain local radio and television services to the community of Unalaska and fishing port of Dutch Harbor. Unalaska Community Broadcasting is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization; a purchase over the retail value of this item is tax deductible. For more information on our organization, visit www.kial.org
Channel 8 Television and KIAL News are the local media in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and they’ve provided long distance fans like myself with alot of interesting news from Alaska.
From what I understand there will be two hoodies auctioned off in all, both of them one of a kind! The hoodie is heavy-duty, from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Why purchase a plain one when you can get one signed by some of your favorite fishermen? Bidding on this item ends on February 21st. Good luck! Check it out on Ebay….
As you may or may not know, the island of Unalaska is seperate from Dutch Harbor. Dutch Harbor is a tiny island in of itself. The image below shows where on the Dutch Harbor docks the local webcams are located (marked as Coastal Transportation Dock). If you check the webcams from time to time, you can sometimes catch one of the featured “Deadliest Catch” fishing vessels. So try it during daylight hours and see what you can catch!
In the interest of “Deadliest Catch” fans who may be on the lookout for a few “Deadliest” goodies for Christmas, this is a continuation of the first part of “These are a few of my ‘Deadliest’ Things”. Previously posted was “Deadliest Catch” merchandise being offered in Discovery’s store on cafepress. The items posted in this blog however, are a mixture of “official” and “unofficial” goods.
Do you remember the F/V Billikin, skippered by Captain Jeff Weeks, from season 1? The Billikin is a blue and very large crabbing vessel owned by Trident Seafoods. Since crab rationalization took place, the F/V Billikin has been docked in Seattle, Washington, and Jeff Weeks has gone on to captain other Trident vessels. But you can certainly get yourself a Billikin souvenir if interested. Trident Seafoods has a pretty large assortment of merchandise available and an item that stands out in particular, is a brightly colored oversized coffee mug that has “King Crab” written in large letters. There’s an image of a fishing vessel on it as well, and yes, it’s the Billikin on the mug.
There’s different “Deadliest Catch” apparel available on the www these days. Most of it is official Merchandise from the fishing vessel websites that were featured on the show (which will be covered later) but there’s a few other goodies as well. Are you interested in having a Dutch Harbor t-shirt just like Mike Rowe is so fond of wearing? They’re available and come in an assortment of colors. And have you seen the Eat Alaska Crab shirt that Capt. Johnathan Hillstrand wore in “After The Catch”? Several of the skippers have them, and they’re also available to fans. They’re made by Grundens (can’t beat the quality) and you can order them right through Alaska Ship Supply in Alaska. Ever notice some of the clothing worn by fishermen on “Deadliest Catch”? Some of them often wear hoodies from Alaska Ship Supply and sweatpants as well. Might be worth your time to check it out!
Speaking of time, have you purchased your 2008 calendars yet? How about one with Dutch Harbor crab fishing boats? I ran into this site earlier this year and was amazed at the beautiful photographs used in the calendars. There are three of them: Crab boats of Dutch Harbor, Trawling vessels, and Dutch Harbor boats (different commercial vessels). If you check out the website, you can actually see all photos used in the calendars, you won’t be disappointed. If your heart is set on only purchasing “official” Deadliest Catch merchandise, check out the F/V Northwestern’s 2008 calendar. It comes in three different versions and each month boasts a full size image of the Northwestern crew in action. Pictured in the example here is the elusive Norman Hansen hard at work, probably sorting crab.
The Dutch Harbor Fisherman reports that the 2007 Bristol Bay King crab season is approximately halfway through….
The Bristol Bay red king crab season is at its halfway point on the Individual Fishing Quota or open access portion of the fishery, with 106 landings for 9 million pounds, making it to 49 percent and leaving 9.2 million pounds still to harvest.
That’s not to say that some fishermen aren’t completely through with King crab. Capt. Blake on the F/V Maverick has been done for several weeks, the F/V Timebandit has moved on to other crab, and according to Capt. Keith, the F/V Wizard is now through fishing for King crab as they had a smaller quota to fish this season compared to last year.
The fishery has moved into its fourth week, so it should continue until the end of the month. Many of the vessels that have finished catching their red king Individual Fishing Quota are just starting to move into the bairdi tanner crab fishery.
Currently still fishing for King crab in high seas that have been reported to be in the 30′ to 40′ foot range(according to a couple of sites), are the F/V Northwestern and the F/V Cornelia Marie. According to the Deadliest Reports weather widget, the current temperature in Dutch Harbor is at approximately a chilly 36 degrees F and a couple of today’s images taken from local Dutch Harbor webcams, shows that Opilio season weather is setting in.
Hillstrand of the Time Bandit, Neal Hillstrand of the Time Bandit, Jake Anderson from the Northwestern, and several members of the Deadliest Catch Camera Crew. Sweatshirt is being auctioned off as a fundraiser for Channel 8 Television and KIAL Radio in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Both stations are services of the non-profit organization Unalaska Community Broadcasting, and all funds raised will be used to help sustain local radio and television services to the community of Unalaska and fishing port of Dutch Harbor. Unalaska Community Broadcasting is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization; a purchase over the retail value of this item is tax deductible. For more information on our organization, visit 
Billikin is a blue and very large crabbing vessel owned by Trident Seafoods. Since crab rationalization took place, the F/V Billikin has been docked in Seattle, Washington, and Jeff Weeks has gone on to captain other Trident vessels. But you can certainly get yourself a 
There’s different “Deadliest Catch” apparel available on the www these days. Most of it is official Merchandise from the fishing vessel websites that were featured on the show (which will be covered later) but there’s a few other goodies as well. Are you interested in having a 
of colors. And have you seen the 
Speaking of time, have you purchased your 2008 calendars yet? How about one with Dutch Harbor crab fishing boats? I ran into this 
Dutch Harbor, Trawling vessels, and Dutch Harbor boats (different commercial vessels). If you check out the website, you can actually see all photos used in the calendars, you won’t be disappointed. If your heart is set on only purchasing “official” Deadliest Catch merchandise, check out the 
