Suggestion....

[stevedafishman]

I dont know so much as this would be up to the Northwestern crew, but probably more the decision of the Discovery Channel..but anyway..

I would like to see more documentary on how tough fisheries regulations have changed the industry..Then govt has regulated us to death here on the east coast, and in many cases unreasonably, unjustly, and illegally..Fishermen and fish dealers in some areas have all but disappeared..Many of the old places where we used to tie up have been razed and sold to developers for condominiums..Licensing has been closed, and fisheries are becoming privatized..The average age of a licensed fisherman is about 47 years old..In New Bedford Ma, the biggest port on the east coast where the fishing industry had carried the city finacially for at least a century or more, has entertained the idea of of building a casino to breathe new life into the city..All the fishing gear supplyers and ship chandelries, only do a fraction of the business they they have in the past, and the city is literally dying on the vine..The guys who had big mortgages on their boats had to get out of the business, some via the vessel buy back program, and some even lost their homes..The govt has mercilessly imposed regulations that are impossible to live with..They have pitted fishermen against fishermen out of fear, and have created classes of people..user group against user group, and in some cases have taken from one user group and given to another..and sometimes the regulations have nothing to do with conservation, but with who gets what..This is a side of the business that John Q Public doesnt see, and I think they should have the opportunity see..Deadliest Catch has given folks have had an opportunity to see the actual fishing, and the ups and downs associated with it..The lucky, and the unlucky fishing, the weather, the break downs, the grub bill, the dangers, the humor, the grueling hours on deck and in the wheelhouse, the lifestyle, etc, and its all good..its great!..And I think in addition to all that, people need to know the truth about the regulatory process that takes place in the industry..Everyone I encounter outside of the industry always asks me about overfishing?..Can you still make a living, is the usual question?..In too many cases, the public has been under the impression that we're a bunch of rag-tag pirates who rape a pillage the ocean, and kill everything in our path, and the greatest message that has come out of Deadliest Catch in my opinion is that we are a community of honest hardworking humble people, who care about the industry

[patque]

Have you thought of emailing that to Discovery? They can be contacted by email or there is a suggestion thread way down in the last DC fan forum. Just a thought. :)

[stevedafishman]

Originally Posted by patque

Have you thought of emailing that to Discovery? They can be contacted by email or there is a suggestion thread way down in the last DC fan forum. Just a thought. :)

I think that is a good idea..I wasnt sure whether it was completely up to the Discovery Channel exclusively as to what the content of the show would be, or if Sig or the other Capt's had any influence regarding content, or if they are interested in incorporating more of the regulatory process into the show at all..I think for the industry as a whole it is a great opportunity to sieze the moment, because it is a story that needs to be told

On the other hand maybe a subject for another documentary altogether

[Minarvia]

I think they are starting to touch on the regulations of the new quota system and how it failing to do its job, make crab fishing safer, because in the pervious episode, both Phil and Sig were worry about making their delivery dates.

Also Matt in a chat session mention that this issue is going to be featured in some up and coming episodes. Plus we have the entire Stellar Sea issue coming up in the 2007 Opie season and how it also caused a major tready at sea.

[stevedafishman]

Originally Posted by Minarvia

I think they are starting to touch on the regulations of the new quota system and how it failing to do its job, make crab fishing safer, because in the pervious episode, both Phil and Sig were worry about making their delivery dates.

Also Matt in a chat session mention that this issue is going to be featured in some up and coming episodes. Plus we have the entire Stellar Sea issue coming up in the 2007 Opie season and how it also caused a major tready at sea.

Yeah..I just got done reading Matt's chat session, and he did hint about that..We have lost a few boats here on the east coast as a direct result of ridiculous regulations..Guys pushing the weather to get their trips in..The feds have turned the industry into a 3 ring circus..I personally spent 7 years in court fighting over the provisions in one regulation, and had appealed it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court..Unfortunate for me, and the fishermen it has affected, the Supreme court only hears something like 80 out of the 20,000 cases brought before it, and mine was one of the 19,920 that got the axe..It dealt with the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, and whether I as a private citizen had standing to challenge the soverienty of my state from the federal govt, because my state wouldnt do it, and therefore protect my rights..A lower court..(Boston 1st Circut Court of Appeals)..felt as though I had standing, but decided to have the Supreme Court rule on it instead..A classic game of pass the buck, because they knew chances were that my case would never see the light of day again once I appealed it to the U.S. Supreme Court..or that I would run out of funds to fight the case

[Bugga314]

Isn't it AMAZING how they regulate a Dangerous Job that they have never expirenced.... Put them on a boat one time and see if they pick the job apart! In my opinion how would they know what would make the job "SAFER" if they never did it?

[stevedafishman]

Originally Posted by Bugga314

Isn't it AMAZING how they regulate a Dangerous Job that they have never expirenced.... Put them on a boat one time and see if they pick the job apart! In my opinion how would they know what would make the job "SAFER" if they never did it?

Good point!..The only time "they" learn anything about making the job safer is when theres a tragedy investigation, and sometimes excessively strict regulations were the cause..You take a guy whos up against it finacially in the winter time when the weather is usually at its worse..He will take risks that he normally wouldnt take to get the bills paid..And if hes a little short..no doubt his crew is hurting as well..This is a formula for disaster at sea..Men make decisions out of desperation in hopes of trying to get a trip in..When you fish one of these big vessels, they cost a ton of money just to own..They have to be maintained even if they are sitting at the dock..The last season I owned mine it sat at the dock for 11 months before I sold it..It cost me $1650 for winter dry dock..$1300 for paint and other misc maintenance to get it back in the water..$2000 for summer dockage..The batteries went dead..another $200..The brand new splash rails I put on her while on drydock got busted up in a nor'easter..had to re-replace 15' of them on the starboard side..The add in the paper cost $22 per month..It sprung a leak in an old fastening..had to deal with that

These boat have to go to work, because the upkeep is a vicious cycle, and most of the repairs cost big bucks..The boat gets a share just like the Capt and Crew..You are only as good and as safe as the tools you have to work with..The boat doesnt care that the regulations are what they are..The boat constantly says "feed me or we aint goin' fishin"..Fuel costs are through the roof..6-7 years ago I got fuel as cheap as 50 cents per gallon..70 cents per gallon..Now its $2.50!!..Everything you buy for the boat costs more as a result, because it either involved oil in its manufacture, or the added fuel cost for shipping and handling..These bureaucrats dont know anything about that!..They dont know anything about weather and sea conditions..They dont understand if it takes 48 hours to steam out to the grounds, it takes 48 hours to steam back..Once you get there you're pretty much committed to it if its at all possible to fish..They dont understand thats theres tons more to this business than just catching fish..The fishing gear costs a small fortune and its got to be right, or you dont catch Jack..A bureaucrat who sits behind a desk doesnt know diddly about what it takes to take a boat away from the dock and produce..If he's lucky he may be bright enough to know its a good idea to put his patio furniture in the garage on a windy stormy day..lol