UglyDan®©™ wrote:
Chuck,
Nobody can just go get a commercial license anymore,and its been that
way for years, Boat/License buyback programs have been around for at
least 4 or 5 years now too.
As to Halibut longlining (tub lining), I agree the feds don't give a
"Weather Day" so it can be extremely dangerous if it kicks up.

Many moons ago when the feds started restricting fishing most of the
Owner/Operators were forced out of business and the only way to recoup
any loss was to sell the license, the boat too since the license is
attached to the boat. Back then if the boat was a POS it still had value
because of the license, but, and here's the kicker, The license could
only be transfered to another boat of equal or less tonnage.

BTW, I'm surprised you would trash anyone who works as a roofer, short
order cook, etc...
Most of the guy's I know in the industry are just Commercial (or used
to be) Fishermen trying to make ends meet.
, Try a trip on an ol' Halibut Schooner.
You know what I mean UD

No trashing intended. Simply pointing out that there aren't very many
guys making a year 'round living in the fishing industry. It's very sad
that economics and the need for conservation have nudged out the small
operators, but that is indeed the case.

When I was a kid, I lived in Ballard for several years. A lot of the
30-40 foot gill netters at Fishermen's Terminal could provide a decent,
middle class living for two or three families back then. I went to
school with kids whose parents were buying a home, driving a new car
every few years, and enjoying a few luxuries. Ask a lot of them what
their Dad did for a living and the answer would be "fisherman". As you
know, most of the smaller boats (those that are still left) spend the
majority of the year at the dock and an increasing number never seem to
go fishing at all. Same with small businesses of all sorts, I suppose,
but farmers, fishermen, loggers, and others dependent on natural
resources are taking it most directly on the chin.