At a meeting of Port of Bellingham commission it will be first on its agenda that to resume a cut in moorage rates fro commercial fishermen. The meeting will discuss a proposal to lower the commercial moorage rate for vessels smaller than 80 feet to $5.90 per foot per month, from the current $6.92. In last meeting commissioners voted 2-1 against a bigger cut, to $5.39, but all three commissioners indicated they wanted to take steps to support the existing commercial fleet and encourage growth in that sector locally.
Commercial fishermen of the area have been trying to convince commissioners that a cut in moorage rates would mean more job-generating fishing boats using Bellingham and Blaine as their base of operations. The port’s current commercial rate at Squalicum Harbor and Blaine is above rates charged in Seattle and some other ports, although port officials say other operating costs are lower here.
Dan Stahl, Director, Port Marine Services, said that the cut to $5.90 would mean a loss of $77,000 a year in port revenue. In recent years, the port has made a practice of setting moorage rates at a level that covers marina costs, but instead of making up the $77,000 by raising rates on pleasure boats and other marina users, Stahl proposes shifting some of the port’s property tax revenue from other accounts.
Stahl is asking the commissioners to approve spending about $170,000 on other activities to retain jobs and create new ones in commercial fishing and related industries. Among other things, the port would promote itself at industry trade shows.
