Deadliest Catch Starts Tuesday

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[Enough of politics for today. -BZ]

The new season of Deadliest Catch starts tomorrow, Tuesday the 12th.

Much has changed since Cornelia Marie’s captain, Phil Harris, passed away on February 9th of 2010, at age 53. My father passed away on February 11th of 2009, at age 88. The pain of Josh and Jake? I know it, and recently.
In cutting to the chase, the rumors and truths have been flying:
Kick-ass deckhand Freddy Maugatai left the Cornelia Marie for the Wizard, under Keith Colburn. CM’s Engineer, Steve Ward, also left due to his treatment by Derrick Ray. Derrick Ray was subsequently fired and CM’s new captain is Tony Lara. Both Phil’s kids, Jose and Jake, are on drugs and have tanked the boat. Are they really?
Will Time Bandit be back? Will Jonathan Hillstrand — clearly unhappy at the end of Season 5? Northwestern? Will Edgar Hansen return — clearly unhappy at the end of Season 5? How about Jake Anderson, the newest hand? Information indicates he skipped King Crab season.
And isn’t that a new boat I see — the Seabrooke, chaired by Scott Campbell?
This Tuesday, April 12th: the new season of Deadliest Catch begins. Set your DVR.
No, I’m not paid by anyone — in fact, Discovery sues and eliminates those blogs that post videos and revolve around the DC theme.
That’s an issue unto itself.
I just enjoy the dynamics, the drama, the weather, the challenges, the business of fishing in America. And, folks, you don’t know the HALF of the regulations, strictures and laws required to fish as these boats do. Our country does its best to eliminate the fishing industry on every coast.
But that, too, is another post entirely.
BZ
Statistically, Alaskan crab fishing remains one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States.[4] In 2006, the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked commercial fishing as the job occupation with the highest fatality rate with 141.7 per 100,000, almost 75 percent higher than the rate for pilots, flight engineers and loggers, the next most hazardous occupations.[8] However, Alaskan crab fishing specifically is even more dangerous with over 300 fatalities per 100,000.[9] Over 80% of these deaths are caused by drowning or hypothermia.[10] The fishermen are also susceptible to crippling injuries caused by working with heavy machinery and gear.[11]
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6 thoughts on “Deadliest Catch Starts Tuesday”

  1. My husband used to watch this show diligently but once the captain passed away, he says, “it’s just not the same.”

    I watched a few episodes, but too much swearing and so forth. Not my cup of tea.

    Glad you like it though, must be a man’s show.

  2. Leticia: thanks for being, likely, the only person who will weigh in on this post.

    That said, here’s why I find myself fascinated with Deadliest Catch:

    It is still the last bastion, mostly, of Man vs Nature. And, Man vs Government. Still, these broken bastards persevere.

    Yes, admittedly, there are bad words all around. The fishing industry on the Bering is RIFE with drugs. Drugs that keep the fishing industry there AWAKE while they try to make their limits and try to make their time windows with the processors.

    What I haven’t written here and what is mostly uncovered are the absolutely STIFLING REGULATIONS under which these boats must operate. Alaska took away the “derby” style of fishing and instead instituted the “quota” system, AKA “rationalization.”

    This was done under the guise of industrial “safety.”

    What happened, in truth, is that the smaller boats realized they couldn’t compete with boats having larger holds and so then sold their “share” to the larger boats and larger conglomerates. This system, essentially, KILLED the small fisherman who went to Alaska to make the best of what he could under fewer strictures.

    These poor bastards operate under Coast Guard scrutiny, federal scrutiny, state scrutiny, over 20 bodies of law across the spectrum, and are constantly bombarded with taxes, regulations, hindrances, and out-stretched governmental palms.

    And that DOESN’T include weather issues, mechanical issues, scheduling issues, personal and personnel issues, equipment issues, Discovery Channel coordination/camera/production issues.

    There is SO much more that we DON’T see and STILL these guys persevere.

    And, generally, most people don’t realize there are HUNDREDS of problems they don’t see on screen.

    And STILL these guys persevere.

    It amazes me.

    BZ

  6. Robert: I set up my DVR as well. I set it up for the Season 6 summary as well as the coming season. I miss Phil. I suspect everyone does but, further, I want to see how everyone overcomes. Phil would have wanted that. He would have wanted most everyone to kick some major crab ass.

    Cowboys? The Bering Sea is just about the Last Range imaginable in the United States.

    BZ

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