Alaska Pollock Fishing
Aboard the fishing vessel Auriga, in the Bering Sea. The Auriga. was built in 1983 for use in the oil industry and converted in 1988 for the Alaska Pollack fishery. She is a catcher vessel, 198 feet long and able to carry 570 metric tons (about 1.25 million pounds) of fish. Her twin 2,300 horse power engines consume a total 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel per day. Her nets and associated gear cost about $350,000 each (she carries at least two). Auriga is manned by a crew of 7 and always accompanied by a National Marine Fisheries Service observer. Using sophisticated fish finding electronics, Auriga can fill the hold with three sets of the net. These photographs were taken on the Bering Sea in full gale to hurricane conditions -- a usual winter work environment for Alaskan fishermen.
