"A tide book is like a Bible to a fisherman. It is constantly referenced -- they lay their nets down by the tide, they launch by the tide -- all their activity is centered around that every day," said Jerry Thompson of Soldotna, publisher of the Alaska Tide Book for 23 years.
This year, the bible has a problem. Fishermen and other mariners are being warned that tide information for Port Moller, on the northern side of the Alaska Peninsula, is off by eight to 10 hours.
"Port Moller has the only land-based processing and vessel support facility between Unimak Island and Ugashik," said Lee Ann McDermott, office manager for Peter Pan Seafoods. "Virtually all vessels traveling from the Gulf of Alaska to Bristol Bay will travel outside Port Moller, sometimes coming into the port for refueling or emergency repairs."
"It affects everyone passing by," said Richard Lovano, dock boss for 30 years at Peter Pan at Port Moller. "Even during the winter when we're not here, Bering Sea crabbers and other boats know there is a dock they can get to, and if they need to medevac someone out of here, they know it can be done. If the tide is 10 to two hours off, it can really affect what is going on with them."
The error was first noticed a few weeks ago by Lovano when he was planning the best time to work under the company dock.
"I started watching the tide first thing in the morning, and it was low at 9 a.m. and not high like it was supposed to be."
Don't blame the tide books, Thompson said.
"It's not only a situation with our book, but the official tides published by NOAA include the same data. So anyone who is buying a tide product based on NOAA's predictions has these incorrect tides."
Thompson said it takes nearly 17 years of study to nail down the predictions for a particular location. He is troubled that NOAA has been slow to respond to the incorrect data, he said.
Todd Ehret, a physical oceanographer at NOAA, said in an email on May 25 that the tide predictions for Port Moller were wrong but have been corrected.
"The database error which caused a near reversal of the predicted tides ... for this station has been corrected (on NOAA's website). This error is an isolated incident, and is unlikely to recur in the future," Ehret said. He added that a Notice to Mariners will be issued to the Coast Guard.
Thompson said the error is unusual but not unprecedented.
"For 10 years the tide predictions for Bethel have been off by as much as three hours, and it is very irritating for the local community," Thompson said. "We have discussed it many times with many NOAA agencies, and they feel they are relatively close and blame it on low water in the river. So we have been publishing a nonsupported NOAA tide because the locals say that's what works for them. You have to believe your eyes."
Find accurate tide information for all Alaska regions, including a printable copy for Port Moller, at www.tidebooks.com/.
Easy news
Getting news about Alaska's commercial fisheries has gotten easier. The Department of Fish and Game has launched a new online system for distributing news releases for fishery openings and closures and updates for fisheries all over the state. The system replaces the older method of news releases being published in different ways by separate districts all over the state.
"This is a more efficient way of doing things because we have one system we are all using and it is a much quicker process to post and distribute releases to emails," said Geron Bruce, assistant director of the commercial fisheries division.
The new "clearinghouse" method will be easier for the public to navigate, he added.
"Once you subscribe, you will automatically receive in your email inbox every news release that is issued by the division at the time it is issued."
Announcements about subsistence fisheries and state-managed personal use fisheries are included. The new email system will be in place on Tuesday. Sign up at www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=cfnews.main.
Free DVD pushes pfd
"Man overboard" is the second most common cause of fishing deaths nationwide, after vessel sinkings. Between 2000 and 2009, 155 fishermen lost their lives by falling overboard; not one wore a personal flotation device. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is offering a free DVD on the importance of wearing PFDs on deck, and, more important, how to get a man back on the boat.
"That's really the big thing for us -- how do you retrieve the guy, how do you monitor him in the water to make sure he is still able to make it to the boat and get him back over the rail," said Ted Teske, an occupational safety communication specialist.
Response to the free DVD has been strong, Teske said. The Southeast Alaska Dive Association has ordered several hundred. The Alaska Scallop Association has taken it a step further and set a policy of 100 percent PFD usage on deck.
"That's one of the recommendations we have for vessel owners and skippers. Make a concrete policy with the crew so they know what is expected of them," he said. Order the free "Man Overboard: Prevention and Recovery" DVD at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/fishing.
Fish watch
The Copper River sockeye fishery set a record in its first 12-hour opener on May 16 with a catch of 105,300 reds. The latest tally after three openers is 454,191 sockeye and 5,331 kings. The sockeye price has dropped from $4 a pound to $1.99 a pound. King prices are $6 a pound, down 50 cents.
Laine Welch is a Kodiak-based fisheries journalist. Her Fish Radio programs can be heard on stations around the state. Her information column appears on Sundays in the Anchorage Daily News. This material is protected by copyright. For information on reprinting or placing on your website or newsletter, contact msfish@alaska.com.
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