Fishermen's Finest distributed our annual crew letters to our active crew via email and First Class mail today.  We are proud to offer our dedicated crew access to Medical, Dental, Vision insurance as well as retirement planning through the Fishermen's Finest, Inc. 401(K) plan.  IMPORTANT: February is Open Enrollment month for insurance - Crew that wish to participate in our insurance plan effective March 1st must enroll in February - if you miss open enrollment, you will not have another chance until NEXT YEAR - 2013. If you are already a participant, you do not need to do anything.

Happy Chinese New Year ~ 2012 Year of the Dragon!

As Ms. Park proclaimed at her President's Address on January 10th, WE ARE DRAGON PEOPLE!

See our Ship's blog entry from earlier this month:  Ms. Park's Address

The element associated with the Dragon this year is Water and they while the Dragon is the only legendary animal in the 12 year cycle of animals in the Chinese Zodiac, it is known as a diligent, kind animal and a deliverer of good fortune.

Kung Hei Fat Choi - Happy New Year 2012

Fishermen's Finest ~ a team of excellence ~ our name says it all...

The AMERICAN NO.1 and US INTREPID departed North Pacific Fuel's 'Crowley' dock in Captains Bay (Unalaska port of Dutch Harbor) Thursday January 19th to start the 2012 Season

The US INTREPID and AMERICAN No.1 are pictured above sporting their NETS Systems Gull Wing Doors.  With 100% returning crew and a record amount of work completed in our Seattle Shipyard, we are ready for a safe and productive season ~ good fishing!

The U.S. INTREPID and AMERICAN NO.1 departed the Maritime Industrial Center (aka 'Old Coast Guard Dock') today (January 11th) en route to Dutch Harbor and the start of the 2012 fishing season (January 20th)

As is our tradition at Fishermen's Finest, we gather at the start of each season on the dock or in this case at the HJP Warehouse, right up the street from our regular moorage at the Maritime Industrial Center (aka 'Old Coast Guard Dock') to hear from our President, Ms. Park regarding our team's performance in the past and plan for the future.

Fishermen's Finest hosted a group of NMFS Federal Fisheries Observer trainees at the Maritime Industrial Center on Friday.  It was a great opportunity for the observers to get a first hand look at our two trawlers and our crew provided hands on information of our operations.

NMFS Observer Class visits FFI Shipyard ~ January 6, 2012

A group of about 30 observers and supervisors were present and all of us at Fishermen's Finest wish them the best of luck!  Fishermen's Finest has a rich tradition in the development of sustainable seafood and in support of the precautionary resource management programs developed by our industry and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council.  We are committed to being good stewards of our nation's resources - a responsibility that supports our employees, coastal communities, and seafood consumers around the world.

For more information about the Amendment 80 BSAI (Bering Sea and Aleutian Island) FMP (Fishery Management Plan), visit the following page:

Amendment 80

Note that while we operate in the A.80 fisheries, we have 2 Federal Observers aboard at all times; during our GOA (Gulf of Alaska) operations, we carry one observer.   For more information regarding our observer contractor, visit their website:

Saltwater

And finally, for overall information about the Federal Observer Program, visit the following link:

Alaska Fisheries Science Center

As we close our record 2011 year, Fishermen's Finest took time today to meet and have a lunch at our Ballard home office to acknowledge US INTREPID crewman Chad Crittenden.  Ms. Park referenced saint Diogenes of Sinope when talking of Chad and congratulated him for his ethical standards dedication and hard work.

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our 25 years in business possible; it is in this spirit we say...

Fishermen's Finest is proud to acknowledge former US Liberator, American No.1 and US Intrepid skipper Konrad Sivert Uri for lifetime achievement in the fishing industry.  Konrad was awarded the Person of the Year award Saturday night at the 59th Annual Northwest Fisheries Association holiday function at the Grand Hyatt in Seattle.

Happy Holidays! All of us at Fishermen's Finest were happy to see American No.1 crewmember Dimitri Avgi at the office yesterday as he stopped by to deliver his annual gift of Christmas trees for Fishermen's Finest.  Thank you Dimitri!

We all join in wishing our family and friends in the fishing industry a Happy Thanksgiving!  As we near the end of our first week in Shipyard at the end of a record year for our vessels F/V American No.1 and US Intrepid, we take a day to reflect on the past year and give thanks.

Fishermen's Finest is proud to recognize Joe Gleb for his achievement of United States Coast Guard First Mate's license.  As Ms. Park reminds us, 'if it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger.'  Joe is a testament to this saying as he has persevered and with a few setbacks along the way, has come ahead stronger than ever.