(Left to right): Sam Armstrong, Mason Villarma, Dawson Miller, and Geoffrey Stokes helping process crab at Sea Level Seafoods. Villarma said that all the volunteers and workers at Sea Level were following proper safety precautions and wearing PPE, they only removed their face masks to take some pictures.
Several local fishermen have been volunteering their time and energy, more so than usual, at Wrangell's sole operating seafood processor. With the decision by Trident Seafoods to not operate this summer, Sea Level Seafoods has been the only local option available for fishermen to process their catches. However, thanks to a number of factors brought on by COVID-19, Sea Level has been shorthanded. This has led to a number of fishermen volunteering to help process crab, as well as catch them.
"They want the company to succeed," said Rocky Caldero, with Sea Level Seafoods. "They need us and we need them ... We're the last game in town right now."
Caldero said that Sea Level Seafoods recently had one of their employees test positive for COVID-19. He was asymptomatic, he said, but the facility was temporarily closed down for cleaning. Hiring during the pandemic, and getting workers into Wrangell to process crab and fish, has also been challenging. As crab season was ongoing, Caldero said their dock staff sent out the call to the fleet to ask for help. Over the previous weekend, and still ongoing at the time of writing, Caldero said they have had between 8 and 16 fishermen regularly volunteering at their facility to process crab. As of Tuesday, June 23, Caldero said they have processed approximately 72,000 lbs. of crab. It has been a great display of the community's work ethic, he said.
"Processing, you know, is hard work. Packing crab is difficult," Caldero said. "Wrangell people in general are really hard workers."
Caldero said that he is incredibly grateful for all the help that the fishermen are providing. He added that anybody looking for work is welcome at Sea Level Seafoods. They just need to show up to the plant and they will help them get the paperwork sorted out. Caldero added that the fishermen are following all of the health and safety guidelines. Things at the plant have been a very positive environment with the processors working there. He is not sure how long the fishermen will be volunteering, he added.
"It really depends on catch rates, that kind of thing," Caldero said. "We're really going to need them when salmon comes around."
"Uncommon times call for uncommon measures," added volunteer Mason Villarma, in a text message to the Sentinel. "You won't find a more selfless, humble and hardworking group of men. Their steadfast effort shows the highest level of character."
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