Port Approves New Policy for Fishermen's Terminal

Recreational Boats To Fill Vacant Slips: Revenues Will Support Fishing Industry

Port of Seattle Commissioners voted unanimously today to permit limited moorage of recreational vessels at Fishermen's Terminal. The move is aimed at improving a vacancy rate in excess of 30 percent in the 371 slips devoted to small boats and helping fund millions in needed capital improvements at the 89-year-old facility.

"The Port is steadfast in its commitment to provide a home for the North Pacific fishing fleet and preserve Fishermen's Terminal as a working waterfront for the long term," said Port Commission Chair Bob Edwards. "We will never allow recreational boats to displace fishing boats. Allowing limited moorage of recreational boats will generate new revenue to help fund needed dock improvements for the fishermen."

Fishermen's Terminal is in the midst of a $35 million program of improvements. Last fall, the Port completed a $7 million electrical upgrade and a $2 million structural upgrade of the West Wall. A $12.8 million replacement of the South Wall is scheduled to begin this year. Planning is underway to replace the wooden docks in the small boat area with concrete floats.

"Every $200,000 of new revenue generated by recreational vessels will back $2 million worth of revenue bonds," said Port CEO M. R. Dinsmore. "This will enable the Port to pay for facility improvements in a way that minimizes the moorage rate impact on the fishing industry." Active fishing boats up to 80 feet in length pay $3.30 per foot per month, well below market rate for Puget Sound. The rate for recreational boats at Fishermen's Terminal will be six to seven dollars per foot per month.

Allowing moorage of recreational boats is the latest development in a years-long effort to reduce the vacancy rate and improve finances at Fishermen's Terminal. In 1997, the Port permitted non-fishing commercial vessels to moor at the Terminal. While commercial vessel moorage has improved finances at the facility, the vacancy rate in the small boat slips has continued to grow.

The Port has aggressively marketed the facility to fishing boat owners, offering discounts to new accounts and incentives for customers to bring in new moorage business. "The growing vacancy rate is a reflection of the state of the small boat fishing fleet in Puget Sound," said Steve Sewell, Seaport Managing Director. Fishermen are under enormous pressure from farmed salmon, catch restrictions, low prices and increased operating costs, he added.

According to figures compiled by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, there were in excess of 1,900 active salmon gillnet licenses in Puget Sound in 1980. The Department estimates the number of active licenses in 2002 will be just 286.

The Commission directed Port staff to work closely with the fishing industry and other interested groups to plan the introduction of recreational vessels in a way that preserves the industrial character of Fishermen's Terminal. Seasonal moorage of recreational boats may begin as early as this summer.