In this trouble time of economy crunch fishermen are looking for different way to run their stable business which is now in doldrums. It is found that fishermen on the Oregon Coast and fish farmers in Idaho have discovered new way to live market. Now the consumer doesn’t have to wait for their choice of seafood. In cities with a Chinatown, you can pick your dinner out of a live fish tank.
It is fact that commercial fishing is the second career for both crew members of the fishing boat Carolyn Ann. Skipper John Martin recalls when he started commercial fishing part time eight years ago, he’d slay everything that came in over the side. Now it’s just the opposite. He does everything he can to keep the catch alive. The wriggling rockfish caught today go straight into a holding tank filled with seawater.
John Martin opined that another attraction is the money. A live fish commands triple the price of a fish on ice at wholesale. The concept to bring them back alive spread north from California about a decade ago. It’s gone largely unnoticed while it’s grown into a good little business. Oregon has capped the number of fishing permits at about 70 boats and also enforces conservative catch limits to prevent overfishing.
It is true that Washington State banned the so-called “live fish” fishery in its infancy. That’s because the groundfish that would’ve been targeted are reserved for sportfishers.
The Oregon live fish fishery is centered in Port Orford. Other ports include Gold Beach, Garibaldi, and Newport, where we’re headed back to. The wind has picked up. So, the skipper has decided to pack it in early given the small size of our boat. Melissa Tan works the counter at her family-run fish store. The fishmongers will conk your purchase on the head to kill it and clean it on request.
