Bering Sea Crab FishingDangerous seas to dangerous dinner tab...

Derby Season

• 3-10 Days of All Out Fishing

• Length dependent on amount of crab processed.

• In 2005 over 14 million pounds of Red King Crab were caught.

Regulation of Industy

• Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ)

• Fleet reduced by 65%

Deadliest Job

• 2008 Bureau of Labor Statics Report

• One of Deadliest Jobs in America

Opillio

• Snow Crab

• Most Dangerous Season

• 3-4 Foot Spread

• Usually less than 8 lbs

Red King Crab

• Fall Season

• Up to 15 lbs

• Up to 6 foot spread

Crab Pots

• 7’ x 8’ Metal Pot

• Net Sides

• 800 lbs

Fishing Process

• Several Mile String of Pots

• Launched from side of boat

• Sink to bottom to ‘soak’.

Retrieval

• Line of Buoys

• Pulled back onto Launcher

• Sorted by Hand

Pay Day

• Offloaded by proccessor

• Paid by the pound

Pay Out• Expenses

• Owner

• Captain

• Deckhands

• Percentage after Captains Take.

• $40-60,000

• Greenhorns

• Pre negotiated wage (low)