Watching the smooth operations of a seasoned Captain and crew on a well-maintained boat does not highlight the myriad details that make this possible. Here’s a short list:

1. A boat suited to the work and sea keeping qualities required in rough weather; properly rigged for a variety of fishing types; furnished with specialized gear for the task at hand.

2. Engines and generators with sufficient power to perform the work and travel requirements, but not overpowered to maintain fuel efficiency.

3. Mechanical equipment, winches, net drums, winch heads, gallast frames, cabling and ropes, etc.

4. Electronics for accurate navigation, location keeping, boat and crew safety.

5. Comfortable accommodations, necessary to maintain morale of crews working shifts 24/7, sometimes up to three weeks, in all kinds of weather.

6. Good food supply promotes good health and alertness.

7. Safety equipment and procedures designed to minimize the hazards of this most-dangerous profession.

8. Crew members capable of getting along in cramped conditions.

9. Investment of about two million dollars, needed to institute this complex combination of factors.

10. Boat and fisheries licensing, very costly and hard to get due to limited numbers available.

11. Timely and effective repair and maintenance constantly needed to insure the boat’s fishing readiness.

12. Regulations. The captain’s knowledge of complex and extensive rules is necessary to prevent payments of expensive fines.

13. Marketing of catches. In-depth familiarity of the auctioning process, catch storage, processing and distributions all contribute to overall success of commercial fishing ventures.

Westport Matters has covered most of the above subjects and we will continue to bring more of this information to you.