With more fish buyers paying chilling bonuses for iced fish, BBEDC wants to make sure that all CDQ resident fishermen have access to the tools they need to chill their salmon.
If you are a BBEDC community fisher who needs but has not previously received insulated totes or slush ice bags, you need apply by Feb. 15 in order to get them in time for the 2010 season.
Please note that replacement slush
bags are not available at this time.
Insulated totes are most often used to hold ice, but some fishers use them as bleeding tanks or to keep fish cold. BBEDC totes are available in two sizes: the larger tote is approximately 44”x44” by 30” high and holds about 800 pounds of ice; the smaller totes are approximately 44”x24” by 30” high and hold about 400 pounds. Resident fishers can request two large totes, three small totes, or two small and one large tote. This is a one-time opportunity for resident fishers, so please don’t request replacements if you’ve received totes from BBEDC previously.
Slush ice bags, custom made of heavy duty vinyl to fit in your fish hold, hold a mix of water and ice. Your brailer fits inside the slush bag and fish in the brailer are chilled by the cold water flowing through the mesh. The water and ice stays behind in the slush bag when the brailer is lifted out. (Don’t put ice in the brailer itself that won't melt before you deliver; too much will slow down your delivery and not please the tender crew, or the boats waiting in line behind you!).
Since slush bags are custom-built to fit your fish hold, fish holds need to be measured carefully to properly size the slush bag. It’s OK to size the bags longer on one side than the other if that’s what you need. Generally slush bags should be just slightly larger than your brailer, and big enough to fit against the hull and any bulkheads or bin boards without hanging suspended in the air.
BBEDC’s slush bag distribution began in 2004, and we’re aware that some are wearing out. Replacements are not available at this time. BBEDC will be stocking sluch bag patch kits, however, to be sold at cost, around $15.
BBEDC has two additional components to its Chilling Products Program. The easiest to access is rolled foam insulation to line your fish hold, keep your ice from melting and keep your fish colder longer. The half-inch-thick foam comes in a 60-inch wide roll and doesn’t absorb water but can be removed for cleaning. Mutiply the depth, length and width of your fish holds to determine how many square feet you need.
A limited number of fish hold insulation grants are also available for permanently insulating boats and skiffs. This is a one time opportunity for resident fishers and will provide up to $5,500 toward the cost of permanent fish hold insulation, which can cost up to $15,000 depending on the vessel. Applicants must provide a detailed description of their boat and the work to be done that includes photos and a cost estimate. You also need to receive a signed commitment from BBEDC before beginning the work.
It’s not too soon to begin planning for your 2010 fish season. The Feb. 15, 2010 deadline for insulated totes and slush bags will be strictly enforced in order to avoid delivery problems in time for the season. Similarly, requests for rolled insulating foam made after May 15 cannot be guaranteed.
Download an application.
For more information contact your BBEDC community liaison, or BBEDC Regional Fisheries Coordinator Fritz Johnson by email (fritz@bbedc.com) or by phone at 842-6407 or 1-866-796-6407. |
