While I was curating this month’s Fishing Back When section, I came across something shocking in the June 1986 issue: dirt cheap fuel prices.
The dragger Maria Helena gets serviced at the Connoly Seafood dock in Gloucester, Mass. With lower fuel prices the boat can afford to fill her tanks and still give her crew a raise. File photo.From Cape May, N.J., to Rockland, Maine, fishermen and vessel owners were celebrating a drop in fuel prices — from a reported high of $1.13/gal. to a low of 59 cents. And according to fishermen, the drop was just the shot in the arm the industry needed.
Jerry Wheeler, the general manager of the New Bedford Seafood Cooperative at the time, provided nearly 14 million gallons of fuel annually to about 250 boats and said the savings are going directly to crews up and down the east coast.
“That’s a real boon for them right now,” he said. “Finally, they have something they can take to the bank.”
Frank O’Hara out of Rockland says that the crews of his five vessels have been benefiting from the drop.
“It’s a blessing to the crew. It’s a big, big, big help,” he said.
Fishermen were also trying to predict when prices would hit an uptick again, preparing for a price increase while fighting the urge to stock up on fuel at its low-point. A lot of boats have been staying out longer, finding the extra cash to spend a little more time working each day.
The drop in fuel prices and adjusted budgets translated into a 12 to 20 percent raise for most crewmembers. Fuel costs are the difference between taking the boat out or tying up for the day. The increased time out meant bigger hauls in a lot of cases.
Fishermen across the country have been helped out by the oil business’ loss. Gulf shrimpers have been able to stay out on their grounds longer than normal and some owners out of Alaska are putting the cash right back into their operation with upgrades.
While living in a world where 59 cents a gallon prices are permanent sounds like a dream come true, fishermen know it won’t last. Wheeler said the price dip signals a “dangerous time” in the oil business.
“Fishermen should just figure that they’re getting a gift right now,” said one Seattle dealer with a chuckle.
We know how this story ends. The prices rise and rise. I’m not trying to make anyone stress out about their bills by retelling this story. Just reminding you to take a second to recognize when you’ve got it good.
