From:            Brent Paine
To:                Commission-Public-Records
Subject:           [EXTERNAL] PUBLIC COMMENT for Port of Seattle May 11, 2021 Meeting - Agenda Item 8f, Fisherman"s
Terminal MInC
Date:              Tuesday, May 11, 2021 9:36:38 AM

WARNING: External email. Links or attachments may be unsafe.
Dear Seattle Port Commissioners,
I wish to provide a few comments for your consideration at your May 11, 2021 meeting with
regard to the Seattle Ship Building redevelopment project agenda item.
I am the Executive Director of United Catcher Boats (UCB). United Catcher Boats is a Seattle
based vessel owner's trade association that has been a tenant of the Port at Fisherman's
Terminal since January of 1995. UCB represents the interests of the owners of 72 trawl
catcher vessels that participate in the federally managed Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands, Gulf of
Alaska and West Coast catcher vessel trawl fisheries. The majority of our member vessels are
home ported at Fisherman's Terminal in Seattle and many have used the Port facilities for
over forty years. 
We have watched with interest the Port's plans for the redevelopment of some of the
Fisherman's Terminal buildings over the past couple of years and attended some of the
outreach sessions. UCB supports the efforts of the Port and the State of Washington in the
development of a Maritime Blue Accelerator program as well as the redevelopment of the
Ship Supply Building into a Maritime Innovation Center (MInC).
Given the almost $20 million price tag associated with the rebuilding of Ship Supply Building,
we ask that the Port Commission consider amending the design or function of the new MInC
to allow for a building that be used as a facility to more than just the Maritime Blue
Accelerator program. 
The Washington based commercial fishing industry 501(c) not-for-profit trade associations are
pretty much all based in and around the Fisherman's Terminal. Current trade association
tenants of the Port include: Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers Association, Fishing Vessel Owners
Association, Pacific Seafood Processors Association and the Puget Sound Seiners Association.
Associations that are located in private buildings close to Fisherman's Terminal include At-
Sea Processors Association, Groundfish Forum, and the Freezer Longline Coalition.
Combined, these trade associations represent fishing companies that produce well over a
billion dollars worth of seafood products annually. 
Our trade associations have struggled over the years to have a facility or location in which to
hold meetings for larger gatherings than just their individual Boards of Directors. At times
throughout the year, the NOAA Fisheries West Coast and Alaska Fisheries Science Centers
will hold public meetings for interested industry and ENGO participants. In addition, the
North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) and the Pacific Fishery Management
Council (PFMC) will search for meeting facilities for their committee meetings. And lastly,
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's representatives on the NPFMC and PFMC
will at times host meetings for the federal fishery participants. It seems its always a struggle
to find a nice meeting place to hold and host these meetings. The existing Nordby meeting

room is simply not a meeting place for the above mentioned meetings.
Perhaps you might consider including in your design and function of the new Seattle Ship
Supply building a meeting facility that would be a show piece of the Seattle based federal
fisheries? I am not sure if the Port Commission is intent on limiting the use of this new
facility to just the Maritime Blue Accelerator program. If not, then perhaps you might be able
to consider the suggestion I present in my public comment email to you today? 
Thanks very much for all that you do for the Seattle based commercial fishing companies and
I hope your meeting today is productive.
Please note that I do not speak for, or present comments for other fishing trade associations
listed in my public comment to you. My comments are on behalf of the members of UCB. 
Sincerely,
Brent C. Paine
Executive Director
United Catcher Boats
4005 20th Ave. W., Suite 116
West Wall Building, Fisherman's Terminal
Seattle, WA 98199
206-940-5852 cel
206-282-2599 wk