“One of the same things that makes fishing a great adventure – the wildness and unpredictability of the ocean – can also be a huge source of discomfort.”
Gene law is a fisherman in Newport, Oregon. He grew up in Half Moon Bay, California, and moved to Newport in 1980. He started fishing in high school with a friend, and bought his first boat, a 30 footer, after he graduated high school. He mainly fishes for Dungeness crab, but has also fished for tuna, salmon, shrimp, box crabs, sardines, and herring. His wife is very involved in his job as well, and they have four children. His son Matthew has his PhD in Chemical Engineering, and his younger son runs their 83-foot boat.
Interview topics include background and reason participant began fishing, social ties, Kodiak history, Joint Venture fisheries, changes in crab fishery, changes in Alaska fisheries over time, and opportunities for current crew members to enter fishery.
