Below are the bios of the fishermen and fisherwomen who presented their sustainable and entrepreneurial seafood businesses during the workshops.
Mike Baran has a BS degree in Biology from Armstrong
Atlantic State University, which led him to the West Coast in 2012 to work as a
NMFS Fisheries Observer. After a 7 month
contract he decided that the work “wasn’t for me”, and moved on to various odd
jobs. In 2014, while applying for a position with the city of Port Orford, a
fateful interview with a savvy mayor redirected Mike and his skills to the new
group- Port Orford Sustainable Seafood. His experience as a NMFS observer “schooled me
on all the various species of fish that I might see on fishing trips, which
translated seamlessly to the processing room”. After a year or two cutting fish,
Mike “ moves up” to manage half of the Community Supported Fishery (CSF). In 2016. he went on to help re-design Port
Orford Sustainable Seafood’s direct-to-consumer business model, based largely on Skipper Otto’s CSF in Vancouver, BC. He oversees operations as manager of the CSF
program, and is now co-owner and promoter of Port Orford Sustainable Seafood.
Red’s Best was founded in 2008 by Jared Auerbach. As a young fisherman from Boston, Jared worked on commercial vessels in Alaska and Cape Cod during the early 2000’s. He worked alongside hardworking fishermen and saw that with the advent of industrial technology and the governmental regulation of open oceans, traditional fishing communities and family fishing businesses began to struggle for survival. Jared also saw the abundance of species available in New England’s pristine cold waters. He set out to create a way for consumers to have direct access to the freshest seafood. He envisioned a brand that would represent each and every fisherman and the pride of the profession. Reds Best was among the first “boat to table” purveyors, linking fishermen to their catch in retail outlets, and distributed fresh fish and ocean products out to New England farmer’s markets and other community outlets. Reds Best also hosts great educational events on “where your fish comes from” throughout the region.
Bob Campbell a life-long New Englander, now in Rhode Island, with 45 years of experience in the Atlantic bluefin fishery, both as a commercial fisherman, and for the last 32 years, as a bluefin and tuna dealer to diverse US outlets. Bob was trained in bluefin grading, handling and how to properly pack at the Tsukaiji Market in Tokyo, Japan, but has handled most species ranging from tuna to lobsters. He is now semi-retired and employed seasonally by Chubby Fish USA. Bob is a jack of all trades including sales, logistics, troubleshooting, government reporting both for the US and for imported fish from the sister company in Canada. Having formed Yankee Co-op,one of the most important, long standing fishermen’s co-operative in New England, Bob has extensive knowledge of fish and seafood business. He’s partnered with LPRC’s bluefin lab on ecological and condition research on giant bluefin and other studies relevant to the commercial fisheries.
Jenn is a Kauai resident, and avid shore fisher from “small kid time” in Maui with her family. She notes that “my father instilled the importance of sustainability and conservation in me every time we would go fishing, and I carry those values with me in every aspect of my life.” Jenn’s professional career covers a wide swath of important training and knowledge related to agriculture, fish and seafood product safety- information vital to any seafood business. She worked for Hawaii State Dept of Agriculture as a Commodity Marketing Specialist, and contracted for different federal agencies over the years with extensive expertise in produce and seafood safety. She has notable professional experience performing Country of Origin Labeling inspections for produce, meat and seafood under USDA contract, as well as USDA Food Safety Audits. Jenn completed USDC/NOAA Basic Seafood HACCP certification, yearly NOAA IASI Sensory Training for Auditors, and FDA’s Reduced Oxygen Packaging, Thermometer Calibration, and Food Allergens courses. Under NOAA, she performed Seafood Food Safety Inspections/audits, as well as FDA Food Safety Inspections. Jenn is deeply connected to the Kauai community, with fishermen and farmers in her ohana. She adds “ I would love to help local fisherman and the local market improve and become more efficient in providing stability and security in the supply, and also security for fishermen and their families. With the cost of everything skyrocketing, we need to try and keep our local markets stable and successful and I will do anything I can to help.”
As a member of a successful fishing family, Vito Giacalone Jr. is a wholesale seafood dealer on Gloucester’s historic waterfront. The Wharf is a direct off-loader of community-based fishing boats landing and processing “the freshest quality seafood possible”, while offering fishermen partners “their highest and fairest prices”. The property was the home of an immigrant Sicilian fisherman’s co-op founded in 1951, destroyed by a catastrophic fire in 1998. Vito Giacalone Sr., seeing the need for a new vision and financial commitment to rebuild the property, purchased the wharf to secure a viable fishing operation. Founded in 2008 by brothers Chris, Vito Jr. and Nick, the Wharf handles ground fish, whiting, scallops and lobsters and sells to wholesale seafood distributors in New England. Committed to sustainable fisheries, the Giacalones also saw opportunities to promote more fresh local seafood, and sell consumer-ready fresh fish direct to consumers. Ahead of the pandemic, the Giacalones invested in “mobile seafood distribution” trucks selling filet portions for drive up customers. The new venture was super successful, offering fresh local fish, oysters, mussels, clams, crab, smoked fish and value added products. Vito and family have undertaken highly innovative adaptation to new seafood market demands, serving the local community’s needs, while staying true to their Sicilian American family’s roots and traditions.
After working as a Consulting engineer for seven years after graduation, in 1970 Pete “took a couple of years off to pursue a diving hobby and work as a full time abalone diver, and never went back”. “Over the years, I noted that what was holding fishermen back was the lack of organization, and have spent the past 40 years developing social capital in the sea urchin fishery.” Pete was the founding director of the statewide sea urchin dive association, SUHAC, and then formed the California Sea Urchin Commission, serving as director and Vice Chairman. There he noted a lack of involvement, or proper foundation at the Port level, and formed a fishing co-operative, the San Diego Watermen’s Association. This effort expanded to include all San Diego fishermen and led to the development of a San Diego Community Based Association, Fishermen’s Working Group, the Seafood Harvesters LLC, and the Fishermen’s Marketing Association of San Diego. “In 2014, we formed the Tuna Harbor Dockside Market in order to market San Diego fish direct to the consumer. The market packed in 500 to 800 customers every Saturday. Our main goal at the outset was to receive a fair price for our fish. As the market progressed we realized that our main goal was to sell “fishing”, and not fish.” Pete remains a full time sea urchin diver working about 80-220 days a year under water, and has no plans to retire.
The Skipanon Brand Seafood cannery and fish processing plant was founded by Mark’s dad, Norman Kujala, a commercial fisherman when he his wife Judy, opened the plant in 1978. The “ladies of their cannery brought 100+ years of processing fresh fish, and were the best filleters in Oregon. The Kajulas also sold fresh seafood at the Beaverton Farmers Market, now the single largest, all-agricultural market in the state. Mark sees farmers markets as an opportunity to bring fresh seafood, along with high-quality canned seafood, directly to customers, and to “meet our customers face to face. In his new role with Astoria Food Hub and other community efforts, Mark, a former mayor, wants people to continue to have access to quality LOCAL seafood, “a superior product to much of what’s found in the grocery store. “However, it requires greater outreach and education about the benefits of buying locally harvested seafood.” He notes that more can be done simply by providing basic infrastructure, keeping taxes and utility costs reasonable, and encouraging better communication between the public and private sectors. In his spare time, among other things, Mark loves cooking for his family and OSU football.
Ann Molloy was born and raised in Gloucester, and is a highly respected leader and spokesperson for its historic working waterfront. After several years of traveling around the country and world, she settled back there and has been helping run her family business. For almost 30 years, Ann has overseen the marketing and sales for the Neptune’s Harvest division of Ocean Crest Seafoods, which came about to fully utilize 100% of the fish, by turning the gurry (everything that’s left after you fillet a fish) into an organic fertilizer. Neptunes Harvest ocean-sourced fertilizers and now diversified products are used across the US (including Hawaii) for agricultural and home gardens. Ann has been featured in multiple media outlets for her compelling portrayal of family’s successful pivot from fishing to gurry, and has a wide knowledge of organic fertilizers, and the fishing industry. She also loves to paint, write, and see live music.
Gloucester- based commercial and charter boat fisherman, entrepreneur, and leading cast member of National Geographic’s “Wicked Tuna” for 10 seasons. More recently, Capt. Marciano has developed new market and distribution outlets for his catch, including giant
bluefin tuna, direct to restaurant and retail stores. Marciano got his start fishing in high school on the Yankee Fleet in Gloucester, before spending years commercial groundfish
fishing (e.g., haddock, cod, pollock). Capt. Marciano’s family members are all involved in his businesses, including running FV Hard Merchandise and FV Falcon. Marciano and family fish Gloucester’s traditional, old school, commercial fishing vessels, “working year round to feed the nation”. Most fishermen around the world know about Cpt. Marciano’s other “job”, and hopefully, that he’s also partnered with us to promote bluefin science and our tag and release program.
Aaron Longton calls himself “a fisherman, hippie bluegrass rock aficionado, and Boater home owner hopeful”. Aaron started fishing as soon as he was able to hold a rod and grew up on the water in Roseburg, Oregon. Fishing commercially out of Port Orford for over two decades, and as a ‘Jack of all trades”, he worked his way up, learning skills from influential late fisherman, Scott Boley. While salmon is Aaron’s target fish, being “the anadromous silver bullets they are”, he fishes for anything with a fin. He feels that “fishing is multifaceted, requiring understanding of environment, economics, and biology”. With all of the environmental and economic factors affecting the fishing industry, Aaron turned his attention to multiple issues; his stewardship helped support increasing amount of spawning rockfish in the area, creating Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve, necessary to “conserve a precious and valuable resource for the greater good of the ocean and the fishery.” Aaron views fishing with a holistic approach, and takes pride in what he and the fleet can create and continue better stewardship, accountability, and access to fresh fish in the community. With his partners, Aaron helped develop necessary infrastructure to banish the existence of “seafood deserts” in port communities hosting fishing fleets.
Steve served as
the harbormaster at Santa Cruz and Monterey harbors over a 42 year period, with
an early career as a waterman/lifeguard on iconic California beaches. He notes that managing a waterfront required
understanding the needs of commercial fishermen as key customers, and consequently, Steve became
“a student” of fisheries management and science. In 2000, he co-founded the
non-profit organization Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries, the
mission of which is, “Connecting Fishermen with their Communities”. During his last years with the City of
Monterey he led the development of a “Fishing Community Sustainability Plan” to
revitalize commercial fishing, and strengthen its connections to the community.
He currently serves as Chair of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust, a local
non-profit which secures groundfish fishing rights in the region and provides
technical assistance to fishermen for loans, grants, etc. He is the founder of
the business, Marine Alliances Consulting. As a consultant, Steve is working
with the San Diego Fishermen’s Working Group to, among other projects, increase
the ability for fishermen to direct-market their products, and support community
food supply.
Captain Bill
Rehmke has captained multiple fishing vessels for 22 years and has fished albacore
tuna for ten years. After running a company boat fishing the North and South
Pacific, he purchased his own commercial tuna vessel in 2017, and has run his
own operation since. Ownership allowed Bill the freedom to pursue different
processing and marketing avenues, starting a company with his wife, Lane, to
have his blast-frozen fish canned, marketed and sold online, as Pacific Tuna
Products. Capt. Bill is also known to
many for his appearance on National Geographic’s “Battlefish”.
Lane Rehmke, before starting their family run tuna business, has extensive biological field work experience in marine fisheries. With an undergrad marine science degree from Univ. of New Hampshire, she worked as a commercial fisheries observer and catch monitor for four years in the NW Atlantic, and NE Pacific, and as a protected species observer on board dredges and cable laying barges. Her sea time included stints on scallop, surf clam, bottom fish, herring and seine vessels. Moving to the Pacific, Lane performed salmon spawning stream surveys and port sampling for the state of Washington and Oregon. Through these fisheries-related positions, and hearing firsthand from Captains about the difficulties they faced in having limited processing/buying option for their hard earned product, Lane helped developed strategies for marketing and adding value to the Judy S’s catch, leading to Pacific Tuna Products local and web-based sales and outreach. Capt. Bill and Lane are parents to two young “mermaids” and Stevie, their loyal canine companion.
