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AFTA does not have data on the number of Oregonians working 

 aboard the two dozen catcher vessels delivering their catch to at- 

 sea markets. 



Unfortunately, AFTA does not have the resources to collect 



comprehensive data on the economic contributions that the at-sea 



processing sector provides to Oregon. However, we offer the 

 following insights. 



Portland's Cascade General shipyard has earned about $5.0 

 million in revenues in recent years working on four repair and 

 reconditioning projects of at-sea processing vessels. The larger 

 projects lasted three months each in duration and employed 

 approximately 100 shipyard workers per day. Cascade General, which 

 has targeted maitenance and repair work on fishing vessels as a 

 potential growth area, recently submitted bids for work on six 

 additional at-sea processing vessels. Finally, The Ocean Phoenix 

 is a former cargo container ship converted to a mothership; the 

 owners of that vessel spent approximately $15.0 million at 

 Southwest Marine, Inc. on that project several years ago. 



At-sea processors have used the ports of Astoria and Coos Bay 

 for off-loading, purchasing fuel and goods, arranging crew changes, 

 etc. Though the port authorities have not estimated our economic 

 contributions, the Port of Grays Harbor (Washington) estimated that 

 at-sea processors contributed half a million dollars to the local 

 economy in 1992. 



Operating in an open access fishery requires quick turnaround 

 time for port calls. Therefore, at-sea processors generally call 

 at Oregon ports when fishing in federal waters off that State, and 

 at Washington ports when fishing in that locale. At-sea processors 

 do not operate off the California coast. 



Issue #3: What is the overall composition of the at-sea processing 

 fleet? 



Comment: There are approximately 65 factory trawlers and 

 motherships in the U.S. -flag fleet of at-sea processing vessels. 

 The fleet directly employs 7,500 people and indirectly provides 

 jobs for an additional 2,500 individuals. 



There are several classifications of at-sea processing 

 vessels. Some vessels are equipped to produce fillets, others 

 simply produce a "headed and gutted" product. Surimi vessels 

 manufacture a fish paste that is the primary product in making 

 artificial crab product. 



Fifteen to 18 at-sea processing vessels have historically 

 participated in the whiting fishery. The vessels produce a surimi 

 product . 



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