September 2014 $3.00 www.fishermensnews.com

The Advocate for the Commercial Fisherman

Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations

The following article is the opinion of the writers and does not reflect the opinions of Fishermen’s News or Philips Publishing Group.

Fishing: It’s More Than Just Catching Fish By Chuck Cappotto

Forty years ago when I first tive as possible and to avoid mammals, how I don’t get it. became involved in commercial fish- turtles, prohibited species or those with This is the type of mentality we ing, I thought fishing was the easy part no market value. No consideration was must deal with to keep ourselves in busi- and catching was the tough part. Now, given to the marketplace and where ness. It is a result of growing pressure just being able to get on the water in the fish would come from if these short from people who want only to view the an area where you want to fish seems nets were banned. Nor was any consid- ocean as a painting or from the picture almost impossible. Over the past forty eration given to the impact that foreign window of their villa in some coastal years the “web of regulations” (Federal fisheries would end up having when enclave; the attitude of those who think as well as State) have whittled-down the they become the suppliers of these fish the ocean is their exclusive playground ocean to a fraction of what it used to be. and what effect their unrestricted fish- for snorkeling, sea kayaking and jet And if that wasn’t enough, some well- ing would have on marine mammals, skiing. It is certainly not the mentality funded environmental organizations sea birds and sea turtles. Proponents of those of us who work on the ocean. are waging nothing short of war on our didn’t even think about all the lost jobs We understand well that it is a dynamic, way of life. and income to our fishermen if the bill dangerous, and complex living environ- You don’t have to look far to see passed. Their glib answer was, “well ment that provides us with some of the examples of what I’m talking about. Last they can just fish with harpoons,” as if most healthy food available to mankind. spring, a California legislator authored such a fishery would be economically We find ourselves at a time in the a bill (AB 2019, Fong) that would have feasible or could even work in most evolution of our industry where we outlawed driftnetting for swordfish. Pacific waters, save for a few small areas must “up our game” if we intend to Keep in mind, however, this fishery is off Southern California. stay in business. In the past, most of us already one of the most regulated of any If it weren’t for the hard work of a left the political work to someone else we have. There are sonar pingers on the few dedicated people this bill would because in our eyes it was more impor- nets to avoid marine mammal interac- have passed (it failed in committee). tant to go fishing. That must change if tions, there are on-board observers, the And, the battle over the nets still isn’t we want to maintain our markets and fishery is already restricted from much over. see our industry survive. of the ocean to avoid turtle interactions, Then, in July, we learned that Sea- By this, I mean our industry has to and in the areas that are open to the fleet food Watch (the Monterey Bay Aquar- concern itself about more than immedi- (or what’s left of it), fishermen have to ium’s seafood pocket guides) moved ate profitability. It has to fight for the fight bad weather offshore. Dungeness crab from “Best Choices” to health of the fish themselves if we are None of this seemed to make any “Good Alternative” on its West Coast to have a future as fishermen. Neither difference to the legislator or the bill’s Consumer Guide. This move was not government, nor green NGOs can be proponents. No consideration was based on any evidence that the fishery is entrusted to do this. given for the hard work over the past not sustainable, but rather on “the lack Second, there must be a pathway thirty years to make the fishery as selec- of science” in its management. Some- for crewmembers to become captains, Reprinted with permission from Fishermen’s News • September 2014 1 for new people to enter the fisheries dozen local port associations into a tion (WFOA) and the American Fisher- and take ownership of them. Without regional organization with a full-time men’s Research Foundation (AFRF). addressing these two fundamental staff. It was PCFFA then, as one of its All of this is to say that the fisher- issues, there will be no future for our first legislative initiatives in 1976, that ies we have today are the result of a aging fleet; it will become more and got language written into California’s lot of hard work and some success of more difficult to advance younger crew new Coastal Act to declare commercial dedicated individuals and commercial members, if at all; and our markets will fishing a coastal dependent activity; fishing associations. Remember, those go to other outside sources. require the protection of commercial same individuals and association mem- Thus, I believe we are entering a fishing facilities; and where feasible, bers also had to struggle to get started new era of involvement. If each fish- require the upgrading of those facili- in fishing. They put in long hours, they erman is not spending at least 20 per- ties. If it were not for that language, had families and bills to pay, but that cent of his time and 10 percent of his our fishing ports would have been was not used to excuse themselves income on fishing related solutions the overrun with resort and condominium from doing the work that needed doing future will surely be dim. I fear now developments and recreational boating and from attending to the needs of the that future generations of fishing men marinas. greater fishing community. and women will be lost if all we worry My organization’s work through With all the pressures now on about is catching fish, our allocations the PCFFA did not stop there. We suc- our fisheries, (from dealing with the or our quotas. cessfully (with the advice from a sister impacts of climate change and trying What we have today didn’t just association in Santa Barbara) stopped to understand ocean acidification, to happen. Looking back over the past I offshore oil development north of the certain Big Green organizations will- remember that it was my organization, Santa Maria River and have carried ing to make fishermen and fisheries the Fishermen’s Marketing Association the fight for 40 years to protect and their whipping boys) our work going of Bodega Bay (FMA Bodega), that did enhance our salmon stocks (launching forward will certainly not end. the unthinkable in the early 1960’s and defending numerous lawsuits). We There will be no shortage of future (before my time). It successfully halted also made the case for a herring roe fish- challenges. There’ll be more ENGO the construction of a nuclear power ery and opened up the San Francisco press releases issued and fundraising plant on Bodega Head (right on top of Bay fishery to set gillnets. We initiated campaigns launched attacking fisher- the San Andreas Fault). If we hadn’t the first legislation for trap limits in the men. Wall Street financiers now covet teamed-up with a waitress from The Dungeness crab fishery – and the list our fisheries and other food produc- Tides, a young Sierra Club activist, goes on. Young fishermen have a fish- tion. We will need to be organized and and an eccentric marine biologist, and ery to enter today because of the hard united in our thinking. Otherwise, all had we not spoken up, or had we not work of a few people and their organi- our efforts would continue to fall on protested, Bodega Bay could very well zations in the past. what seems to be the “deaf ears of an have become the Fukushima of the West My organization and PCFFA and its indifferent fishery bureaucracy,” which Coast. member groups are not alone. Look at mostly just wishes we’d go away. My port does not have a harbor dis- what the Columbia River Fishermen’s Last year I sold my boat and I plan trict, so it was my organization (again, Protective Association did to save the to step down at the end of my current before my time) that applied for and salmon fishery back in the 1930’s when term as FMA Bodega President, work- secured the Economic Development the dams were going in on the Colum- ing this year to help finish up the estab- Act’s (EDA’s) grant for the planning bia. Fish passage at those dams – better lishment of a local Community Fishing of a new and modern marina – what is than we did in California – happened Association (CFA) I’ve done what I now Spud Point. FMA Bodega was the because of the work of that basin’s com- could, but it’s now time to turn the only fishing organization in the nation mercial fishermen. Sport anglers on the reins over to a new generation. I have to engage in such an undertaking – and Columbia would have no salmon today, no doubt of your capabilities to catch if it had not, our local fleet would still save for the hard work of the gillnetters fish and encourage you all to get more be tied to moorings in the bay, and a 75 years ago. involved. lucky few might have side ties to a local For those fishing in Alaska, I don’t I don’t have any advice for you on processor’s pier or, if they were small have to tell you of the value of your particular fishing gear or fishing spots. enough, get a slip in one of the small associations’ fighting for your fishing. Rather, I want to emphasize, again, two marinas built for recreational boats. In the case of the proposed Pebble Mine things: My organization also understood in the Bristol Bay watershed, fighting First, take care of the fish and that it had to extend its voice beyond for the fish and fish habitat is essential. they’ll take care of you. Just showing up our local area, and so was one of the Albacore fishermen know, or should for state fishery commission or regional founders of the Pacific Coast Federation know, of the good that has happened fishery council meetings is not enough. of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA). for that fishery as a result of the work of They mostly just divide up what fish This brought together more than a the Western Fishboat Owners Associa- are available. We have to be in those

2 Reprinted with permission from Fishermen’s News • September 2014 forums and making our voices heard fishery was just bestowed on them, given us such freedom and beauty and where the fate of our fish stocks, not just or leave it by selling out to some third rewarded many of us handsomely eco- who they’re allocated to, is determined. party simply because they are the high- nomically. I wish all of you the best. Second, our time spent fishing is est bidder with no regard for future fish- Chuck Cappotto has fished the waters off northern transitory. We owe a debt of gratitude ing generations. California for salmon, crab and herring for close to those who fought for the fisheries in For that reason I urge upon all of to forty years. He is currently President of the the past and we owe it to future genera- you to adopt the “20/10 Rule” – 20 per- Fisherman’s Marketing Association of Bodega Bay, one of PCFFA’s founding member associa- tions to fight for the fisheries during our cent of your working time and 10 per- tions. He sold his last boat, the F/V Rosella, and watch. I won’t repeat the old Pogo line cent of your income should go to your is now attempting to retire. PCFFA’s Home Page about us being our own worst enemy, association and the betterment of the is: www.pcffa.org. Comments on this article can but surely there will be no fisheries in fishing community. It’s really a small be addressed to Chuck c/o PCFFA at: fish1ifr@ the future if people just fish as if the price to pay for a profession that has aol.com.

Reprinted with permission from Fishermen’s News • September 2014 3