What can go wrong in seafood processing jobs (Klawock, Akutan: sale, homes)

[Metlakatla]

https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/2017...out-nightmare/

People sometimes ask what's the worst that can happen if they take on a seafood processing job. I suppose things could be worse for this crew -- they could have all drowned. The crew are literally stuck with no way to get home. Some have even lost their homes due to not being paid.

Here's something I can do for anyone wanting to work processing in Alaska -- PM me. I'm not hiring, but I can find out if the person you're thinking about working for is legit or a grifter. Word travels really fast in Alaska's seafood processing industry. I would have warned anyone who asked away from this guy. Still owes me money from three years ago.

[AKStafford]

I had seen the headline but hadn't read the story... Unfortunately it's not the first time something like that has happened and it probably won't be the last. That's why I always say don't come unless you've got the money stashed away to get out of here.
Thanks for sharing Met.

[Metlakatla]

I know -- in a perfect world, everyone would have the price of a ticket home in their pocket. People who hire on with processors shouldn't have to worry about a ticket home or being paid, though. Those who take these jobs aren't usually in the best financial places -- and these guys were out at sea for weeks with no cell service and no internet service -- they didn't know their pay hadn't gone through direct deposit as promised.

As far as this guy, he's been around the commercial processing industry for over 50 years. Idiot should be wealthy by now, but stupidity doesn't pay well.

"I guess this will all be sorted out in court, sad to say," said Lang, pledging that he will pay the crew first if any money is raised from the processing, sale of the fish, or the sale of the Akutan.

This makes me furious. He's basically saying is that his crew is SOL. If you don't have the working capital to pay your crew, you don't belong in business. My crew got paid even though Larry Lang ripped me off for thousands of dollars and sold every last bit of the product he never paid for.

Was just gonna write his debt off and be glad we no longer do business with him, but it'll be turned it over to collections now.

I am contacting the AMSI and others to see what we can do for these people. Some of them got tickets back home from AFG, at least.

[Northrick]

Or the processing plant you are working in goes up in flames.

[Sockeye66]

That's right, two processing tragedies this week. Thanks Met for posting the F/V Akutan fiasco, that's unconscionable, and your right, no excuse for the man behind it.

The other tragedy was the burning of the Peter Pan plant, I was working Tridents Chignik Bay plant when it burned in 2008, so many tried to save it, but old timbers and limited support makes it hard. Thank god in both instances there were no serious injuries.

[Alaskan Mutt]

Somehow I get the feeling the whole story is not being told. Beyond the crew not being paid things just don't add up. I find it very odd that Bristol Bay Seafoods invested $400,000 upfront in a boat that looked like it was next in line to be cut up for scrap and was owned by someone that lost a lot of money the year before and then severed their ties with Icicle Seafoods. I really get the feeling this whole venture was never meant to succeed.

[Metlakatla]

Larry Lang talks a good game, and he had a positive enough relationship with tribal in Klawock when he rented their old cannery facilities for eight years, which probably gave him some credibility with Bristol Bay Seafoods (which is a startup run by business amateurs anyway). Chances are that Bristol Bay Seafoods never even saw the boat prior to signing a contract with Larry -- and losing a lot of money the year before in the seafood industry isn't necessarily a red flag; some districts were even declared disaster areas because of low pink runs. There was a lot of money lost in the North Pacific in 2016. Not standing up for Larry at all, but I can see how someone could be taken in, especially since those guys were pretty anxious to stick it to the big processors.

I honestly don't know what the end game would be if this were some sort of setup to fail. There's no gain.

ETA although it would come as no surprise if some of that money didn't end up in Larry's pocket.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Sockeye66

That's right, two processing tragedies this week. Thanks Met for posting the F/V Akutan fiasco, that's unconscionable, and your right, no excuse for the man behind it.

The other tragedy was the burning of the Peter Pan plant, I was working Tridents Chignik Bay plant when it burned in 2008, so many tried to save it, but old timbers and limited support makes it hard. Thank god in both instances there were no serious injuries.

That's pretty sad -- I think that's the only employer in that town? Doesn't seem likely they'll rebuild

[Happy Cells]

Um...

You'd best do your homework before signing on to a "processor" up there.

I busted my hump for years out there in Dutch Harbor, the Aleutians, Cold Bay, Chignik and all the rest...and it sucked.

Low pay, low respect, high risk, distant aloof owners and managers safe in Seattle.

You're out there slinging 150 pound sacks of rock-hard frozen sea "food"....crappy busted equipment....risking your life on some World War Two era POS "Ship" for Fish "MiK-nuggets".....

Crazy.
You'd best have a plan "B"....to get you through to the rest of your natural life....if you go up there.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Happy Cells

Um...



I busted my hump for years out there in Dutch Harbor, the Aleutians, Cold Bay, Chignik and all the rest...and it sucked.

Why did you keep going back?