Ian James Roberts

Location of Interview
Collection Name

Commercial Fishermen in the California Halibut Trawl Fishery: Who does your local seafood come from?

Description

These oral histories capture and share the history and stories of commercial California halibut trawl fishermen, providing a way for the public to connect with local fishermen and the source of their seafood. Interviews are conducted with with California halibut trawl fishermen in the San Francisco and Half Moon Bay ports, focusing on the fishermen’s fishing history, their family’s fishing history, and their plans for the future. This project will preserve pieces of the history of the California halibut trawl fishermen, as well as build and strengthen relationships between NOAA, the state, local fishermen, and the community.

Date of Interview
08-10-2018
Transcribers

Pioneer Transcription Services

Audio
Biographical Sketch

Ian Roberts is a seasoned fisherman based in Crescent City, California, with a lineage rooted in the fishing industry. His initiation into fishing traces back to his early years, influenced by his father's profession. Throughout his career, Roberts has engaged in a diverse array of fisheries, including crab, salmon, pink shrimp, bottom trawl, herring, and Dungeness crab. Notably, his fishing ventures are a family affair, with his son accompanying him in the trade. In 1992, Roberts expanded his expertise to bottom trawling and has since been innovative in his approach, adopting specialized nets to enhance efficiency and sustainability. His recent endeavors include targeting California Halibut in San Francisco, where he has experienced success. Despite the evolution of the industry, Roberts maintains traditional fishing tactics with minimal reliance on new technology.

Scope and Content Note
The interview with Ian Roberts provides a comprehensive overview of his personal and professional experiences in the fishing industry. Roberts articulates his passion for the ocean and the essence of fishing, which he deems crucial for success in the field. He outlines the breadth of his career, detailing his involvement in various fisheries and the introduction of bottom trawling to his repertoire. The conversation also delves into his decision to target California Halibut and the implementation of a specialized net designed to minimize fuel consumption and bycatch. Furthermore, Roberts reflects on the broader implications of the buyback on the trawl fishery, market dynamics for California Halibut, and the local fishing community's evolution and challenges. He expresses his intention to remain active in the California Halibut Trawl Fishery and his aspirations for its sustainable future, free from excessive regulation. The interview concludes with an acknowledgment of an earlier misnomer and the termination of the recording.


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The NOAA mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The Voices Oral History Archives offers public access to a wide range of accounts, including historical materials that are products of their particular times, and may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes.

Voices Oral History Archives does not verify the accuracy of materials submitted to us. The opinions expressed in the interviews are those of the interviewee only. The interviews here have been made available to the public only after the interviewer has confirmed that they have obtained consent.