Tag Archives: Kodiak Alaska

Reflections on herring fishing then and now

Scandinavians are known for their fondness for pickled herring. You’d think that they’d be excited about the herring fishing in the Kodiak archipelago this past week. I know of several Scandinavian fishermen who are on the grounds, but it’s the roe (eggs) they’re after. Japanese buyers have been known to pay top dollar for these delicacies. However, fisherman Luke Lester, skipper of the F/V Crimson Beauty, said that the market for roe has been declining because the upcoming generations in Japan and other Asian countries haven’t acquired the taste for roe that their ancestors had. On the other hand, there’s a demand for the herring itself in European countries. But with rising costs in fuel and other expenses, the cost in shipping the valued fish to those markets is astronomical, Luke said. Back in the early 1980s,,, >click to read< 14:06  Mike Rostad

Kodiak Alaska, Crabpots Illustration, Bering Sea, King Crab Fishing, Habits, Spiritual Disciplines

I used to love the King Crab Festival which was celebrated in my hometown of Kodiak, Alaska every year. I used to love the activities, the food and the rides which pulled in to town each early summer. Many of my friends growning up had dad’s who were crab fisherman. Each year these dads and their sons would load dozens of crabpots onto their boats,, When looking at this industry and especially those nylon ropes which lifted those crabpots, there is a life and spiritual lesson which I would like to share with you all. When one looks closely at those all important ropes, there is a picture which we all need to be reminded of. What we reinforce or what we repeat is critical to our productivity and impact in our lives and in our worlds. >Video, click to watch< 08:14