Crabbing in Alaska – Fishing for Riches
No, it’s not Bill Gates. Nor are they the diamond traders of South Africa or the oil barons of Saudi Arabia. The highest paying job in the world is crabbing in Alaska. The icy waters off the Alaska coast are home to a veritable gold mine for fishing, and Alaska crabbing has been aptly dubbed the last great gold rush on earth.
Crabbing is the most important of Alaska’s commercial seafood industries. The waters of Alaska, particularly the Bering Sea, Bristol Bay, the Dutch Harbor, and the Kodiak and Aleutian Islands are home to a large number of crabs: Tanner, Dungeness, and the famous Alaskan king crab.
The different varieties of Alaskan crabs have immense commercial value and the Alaskan king crab in particular is a prized dish in the culinary world, as valued as caviar or aged French wine. American and Japanese restaurants are the top importers of Alaskan king crab in the world.
An idea of the valuation of crabbing in Alaska can be obtained from the fact that an experienced fisherman can expect to obtain catches worth US $ 50,000 in an eight week period.
Alaska’s commercial crab fishing industry began in 1950. Profits were promising early on, and the region quickly attracted hundreds of American fishing boats. The 1980s were the heyday of crab fishing in Alaska. During this period of king crab boom, fishing boat captains regularly earned $ 150,000 in one season, and crabbing boats boasted saunas, music systems, and microwaves.
But in 1983, the Alaskan king crab industry collapsed for no apparent reason. The worst downturn in fishing history forced fishermen to look for alternative fishing sources. Thus, Alaska’s commercial fishery diversified into salmon and halibut or bairdi and opilio, two types of tanner crabs.
Since then, the Alaskan crab trade has improved somewhat over 2001, bringing in 23.2 million pounds of fish stocks worth $ 36 million. But crabbing in Alaska still remains the highest paying package in the world.
But this is just the optimistic side of the job. Crabbing in Alaska is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. To fish for crabs in the glacial waters of the Arctic Ocean in freezing temperatures, with strong waves hitting the deck and tossing the fishing boat treacherously and icy winds howling continuously, you need a strong heart and a capable body. Plus, your job will involve getting around the huge crab pots and line spools along the slippery deck.
Each and every muscle and tendon in the body is stretched to the hilt and exhaustion to the point of breaking is common. Crippled limbs, crushed fingers and ribs, broken legs are the basic fare in the grueling daily hours of 8 pm to 9 pm, while men falling overboard are not uncommon incidents, either. In fact, every year there are some casualties on these fishing trips.
Yet despite all the difficulties, there is no shortage of men seeking employment in this fishing trade. Crabbing in Alaska is still a job with halos to land on.