Seattle Press on Line - What About Fishermen's Terminal?

What About Fishermen's Terminal?

By Jo Bailey and Carl Nyberg

Dec 06, 2001 -- Fishermen's Terminal may change forever on Tuesday, December 11.

That's when Port of Seattle Commissioners will vote on whether to allow yachts to moor at the traditional fishing facility. The facility is home to fishing boats since 1911 when the land for the terminal was donated to the North Pacific fishing fleet by the railroad.

But the fishermen won't give up their heritage.

At a recent meeting with the press, Port commissioners and officials maintained that their number one priority at the terminal is to serve and support the fishing industry, but say the terminal must be financially viable. They indicated that the terminal's vacancy rate of 30-40 percent for smaller fishing boats have led them to consider opening moorage slips to recreational boats.

"Providing a home for the fishing industry has been a key component since the beginning, and mooring fish boats is important," said Commission president Clair Nordquist. "We are here to support the fishing industry, but we have to find a way to finance improvements."

"If the commission rams this vote through on Dec. 11, the fishermen are not going to roll over and allow them to begin dismantling Fishermen's Terminal," said Pete Knutson, a fisherman leading the opposition to the proposed change. "We'll fight every step of the way, on zoning, on possible city code violations, on conditional use permits, on a historical designation, and eventually put it up to the voters.

"The Port doesn't intend to just slip a few yachts in alongside fish boats. Their plan is to rebuild Dock 10 just for yachts, at a cost of possibly $35 million dollars. Which would leave the small boat fleet with two docks that aren't functional."

Knutson compared the terminal to Pike Place Market and the changes that have taken place there over the years. "We need to turn the West Wall into a combination fish market and Ballard Farmers' Market. All we need is a big building on the West Wall and floating piers. It would be a winner for everyone, including the public," he said. "We all need to get more involved."

The Port completed a $9 million electrical system at the West Wall, which it says demonstrates commitment to the fishing industry. Another $15.8 million is scheduled to be spent on necessary improvements over the next six years.

Knutson and fisherman Bret Barnecut both say the three-phase, 440-amp power is "massive," and is obviously more than is needed for the fishing fleet. "Everyone knows that new electricity is not for us, but is for much larger boats," Knutson said. The system is on the West Wall near Dock 10, traditionally a work area for fishboats.

"The money we're spending at the terminal is to maintain the fishing industry," said media representative Mick Schultz. "But we need to augment the revenue to keep fish boat rates down. Recreational vessels will build in latitude."

Seaport manager Steve Sewell said the Port was not building a dock just for recreational boats, but could also include fish boats. Income from yacht moorage, which would be more than current boats pay, is estimated at $200,000 per year. He estimates it would take three to five years to build the new dock and floats. According to Sewell, this is the only terminal on the coast that does not mix fish boats and recreational boats.

Older fishermen

"If the (Port) really wanted to help us fishermen, they'd see to it that we could use the winch on Dock 7 to unload our fish or to lift out our engines," said 83-year-old fisherman Boyd Dingman. "They'd repair the docks so we can drive our trucks on them; they'd give us a lounge like they said they would, and they wouldn't lock our restrooms at night."

Fishermen agreed with Dingman about the terminal's condition. Rotten pilings under Pier 7 made the winch unusable because trucks couldn't be driven onto the dock. Serrill said that a permit would soon be obtained for dock repairs. The winch has been unavailable for the past fishing season.

"Nobody else would do this to us," Dingman said.

The lifelong fisherman has moored his boat at Fishermen's Terminal for 60 years, longer than anyone else. He has just sold his boat--again. The Port evicted him last month because he owed moorage fees. It sold his boat out from under him for $200, but he bought it back for $201 and is now clear with the Port. He has had some difficulty getting a printed statement of what he owes and has paid. The Port said it was sending Dingman 373 pages of records covering Dingman's six-decade account.

"This is so sad for Boyd, because it's not what he wanted," said his friend Maria Cain. "What a dreadful departure for him from the business he's been in almost all of his life."

"The Port should make Boyd 'Honorary Commodore' for the terminal, and have him be official greeter to fish boats instead of kicking him out," Barnecut said.

Dingman has support in the community, including e-mail from a 4th grade girl asking what she could do to help him.

"They could leave room for some of the older, retired fishermen to moor their boats," said Knutson. "They've served the public their whole lives producing food. Even some of these older gillnetters are bringing back $40,000 to $50,000 a year from Southeast (Alaska) and they spread their money around the community."

What lies ahead

"There are no plans for condos at the terminal, absolutely not," said Clair Nordquist, Commission chair, when asked about that possibility.

Sewell said there are no upland plans at present. "But we've not ruled out changes. We need to get revenue from this site," he said. These plans might include mixed retail and offices.

Knutson said his research showed a permit for South Wall plans were approved in August. Dock 10 would be attached to the wall. "This is part of industrial, urban maritime, and that does not permit recreational uses," he said. "The permit was for repair of industrial and cargo areas. The Seattle statute for a conditional use permit for a recreational marina shows it could not conflict with commerce, the turning radius of other ships, nor interfere with loading access for fishing and commercial vessels, with parking, or with the main working activity, noise or dust, all of which go on about 150 feet away from Dock 10 along the West Wall."

Cain is concerned that the Port has not done an Environmental Impact Statement on the terminal improvements. "Everything would be public and on record as part of the process, as it is for planned improvements at Shilshole Bay Marina. At the terminal, everything is going through committees, and they may be taking major actions that do require an EIS," she said.

Cain said she would like to see a vote by voters to preserve the terminal as an historical facility.

There will be an opportunity for public testimony on the proposed Fishermen's Terminal change at 1 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6, in the Port Offices on Pier 69.

A vote on the proposed change is scheduled for 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 11, in the Port Offices on Pier 69.

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