Modernizing the North Pacific commercial fishing fleet, which plays a critical role in Alaska fisheries, is an increasingly important issue for Washington’s maritime industry, one that also represents significant economic opportunity for the Puget Sound area.
An economic analysis prepared by the McDowell Group in Juneau for the Washington Maritime Federation and Port of Seattle outlines developments that are behind the growing need to “recapitalize” in the case of many federally permitted vessels with an average age of 40 years.
The North Pacific fishing fleet consists of 414 federally permitted vessels of over 58 feet in length with an average of 40 years. They are among more than 5,000 vessels over 30 feet engaged in commercial fishing activity off the coast of Alaska.