Fish Report for 4-14-2011
Royal Star Fish Report
4-14-2011
Royal Star
While holding fast my perch at the helm in the early a.m. I was captivated listening to a segment on Bloomberg business focusing on the skyrocketing cost of fresh seafood, and diminishing availability of wild caught, premium product in markets and restaurants today. It was an extension of the ongoing conversation I have been sharing with anglers on Royal Star and beyond especially during the past year.
The value of our product - your catch, can not be overstated. The value such product adds to a long range fishing voyage is difficult to believe. I saw "sashimi" grade yellowfin tuna, that was barely near the quality of product produced on Royal Star, on sale last week at $29.95/lb. On a cheap day, a fire sale to move it off the shelf, it is typically offered at $22 - $25/lb. On any average long range voyage anglers typically return home with the inherent value of their catch far exceeding the trip fare. In no way is this fact a reach or stretched to accomodate opinion. Think about that. Where in the world can an individual venture a vacation and return with a valuable product that actually exceeds the captial invested in their choice of recreation? Nowhere. Maybe panning for gold or searching out ancient artifacts or fossils. But I don't know if that qualifies as recreation.
It is 2011. Just about every ocean fishery on the planet is facing extreme challenges from insatiable market demand to envirornmental changes adversely affecting populations. The fact that this fishery is so incredibly robust consistently offering a remarkable level of abundance relative to the world should not be overlooked. It should be embraced, appreciated, and utilized to the maximum extent possible.
Ant therein lies the thrust of what I am attempting to convey. My newest crusade is focused on encouraging anglers to utilize, to share, to enjoy the incredible fresh product coming off these boats to the maximum extent possible. It is not something to take for granted. What I consistently observe is that processing fees are the biggest detriment to anglers utilizing the majority of their catch fresh. They don't have to be.
It is a huge windfall for anyone to receive a fish from an angling friend or family member, send it to the processing facility, and have it filleted and vacuum packaged in meal size portions for 75 cents a pound. We are seeing more and more anglers embracing this idea to the delight of their friends and family. By the time the beneficiaries depart with their finished fillets and/or loins the total cost of the product in hand is around $1.25 - $1.35/lb; depending on the size and species of fish submitted. To quote Fisherman's Processing owner/manager Sean Sebring "you can't even buy hamburger for that price". Yellowfin, bigeye, and bluefin tuna that regularly commands $25 dollars/lb or more on the open market for only $1.30 sounds too good to be true; but it's not. Anglers who are sharing their catch with family and friends in this manner are incurring zero additional cost. Everyone in this scenario comes out ahead.
And yes, full disclosure mandates I admit my desire to increase the volume of fish heading to Fisheman's Processing. But, not at your expense. I have been singing this tune in one form or another long before the introduction of Fisherman's Processing. This is coming from the guy who has been on his hands and knees spiking, bleeding, and dressing out thousands of tuna over the past seven years. It breaks my heart when these incredibly valuable fish are not utilized in a form consistent with their potential. And while I stand to benefit from more fish being processed as owner of Fisherman's Processing, that benefit is miniscule compared to anyone additional who gains health and enjoyment from the premium quality product produced on our vessels.
What we have in this fishery is so unique, is so incredible relative to the world that all of us must recognize the magnificence of the proverbial bird we hold in our hands. This is not an opportunity to be taken for granted or squandered. This fishery, the opportunity to sport fish and consistently return with such incredible wealth in the form of fresh, wild caught, oean seafood is unavailable anywhere on the planet. Recognition of this fact is smart, cosmopolitan, and correct by any standard.
So concludes today's sermon. All's well as we head down the line in improving conditions. Look for tomorrow's report to continue.
Tim Ekstrom
The value of our product - your catch, can not be overstated. The value such product adds to a long range fishing voyage is difficult to believe. I saw "sashimi" grade yellowfin tuna, that was barely near the quality of product produced on Royal Star, on sale last week at $29.95/lb. On a cheap day, a fire sale to move it off the shelf, it is typically offered at $22 - $25/lb. On any average long range voyage anglers typically return home with the inherent value of their catch far exceeding the trip fare. In no way is this fact a reach or stretched to accomodate opinion. Think about that. Where in the world can an individual venture a vacation and return with a valuable product that actually exceeds the captial invested in their choice of recreation? Nowhere. Maybe panning for gold or searching out ancient artifacts or fossils. But I don't know if that qualifies as recreation.
It is 2011. Just about every ocean fishery on the planet is facing extreme challenges from insatiable market demand to envirornmental changes adversely affecting populations. The fact that this fishery is so incredibly robust consistently offering a remarkable level of abundance relative to the world should not be overlooked. It should be embraced, appreciated, and utilized to the maximum extent possible.
Ant therein lies the thrust of what I am attempting to convey. My newest crusade is focused on encouraging anglers to utilize, to share, to enjoy the incredible fresh product coming off these boats to the maximum extent possible. It is not something to take for granted. What I consistently observe is that processing fees are the biggest detriment to anglers utilizing the majority of their catch fresh. They don't have to be.
It is a huge windfall for anyone to receive a fish from an angling friend or family member, send it to the processing facility, and have it filleted and vacuum packaged in meal size portions for 75 cents a pound. We are seeing more and more anglers embracing this idea to the delight of their friends and family. By the time the beneficiaries depart with their finished fillets and/or loins the total cost of the product in hand is around $1.25 - $1.35/lb; depending on the size and species of fish submitted. To quote Fisherman's Processing owner/manager Sean Sebring "you can't even buy hamburger for that price". Yellowfin, bigeye, and bluefin tuna that regularly commands $25 dollars/lb or more on the open market for only $1.30 sounds too good to be true; but it's not. Anglers who are sharing their catch with family and friends in this manner are incurring zero additional cost. Everyone in this scenario comes out ahead.
And yes, full disclosure mandates I admit my desire to increase the volume of fish heading to Fisheman's Processing. But, not at your expense. I have been singing this tune in one form or another long before the introduction of Fisherman's Processing. This is coming from the guy who has been on his hands and knees spiking, bleeding, and dressing out thousands of tuna over the past seven years. It breaks my heart when these incredibly valuable fish are not utilized in a form consistent with their potential. And while I stand to benefit from more fish being processed as owner of Fisherman's Processing, that benefit is miniscule compared to anyone additional who gains health and enjoyment from the premium quality product produced on our vessels.
What we have in this fishery is so unique, is so incredible relative to the world that all of us must recognize the magnificence of the proverbial bird we hold in our hands. This is not an opportunity to be taken for granted or squandered. This fishery, the opportunity to sport fish and consistently return with such incredible wealth in the form of fresh, wild caught, oean seafood is unavailable anywhere on the planet. Recognition of this fact is smart, cosmopolitan, and correct by any standard.
So concludes today's sermon. All's well as we head down the line in improving conditions. Look for tomorrow's report to continue.
Tim Ekstrom
