Fishermen's Terminal is halfway through its transformation. Docks 5-10 are being redeveloped in a two-phase construction process. The $22 million project includes structural changes, utility upgrades and dredging.

In the end the terminal will be able to better accommodate larger vessels. As a result, it will have moorage for fewer vessels. An entire dock is being removed, fairways are being widened and berths are being elongated.

"What we will have is one fewer dock, but better docks," said Mick Schultz, Port of Seattle spokesman.

"We're pleased with it," said Robert Alverson, general manager of the Fishing Vessel Owners' Association. The organization represents halibut fishermen, many of whom are based out of Fishermen's Terminal.

The fishing industry is using larger and fewer boats, Schultz said. Smaller boats, such as those used by gillnetters and purse-seiners, are disappearing, as the industry relies more and more on large, multi-use fishing vessels. The Port believes this trend will continue into the future.

"The feds are buying up and continuing to buy the smaller boats and permits" as part of a federal buyback program, said Schultz. The National Marine Fisheries Service, which helps manage most fisheries, has organized several buyout programs in recent years in an effort to reduce the size of certain fishing fleets, such as the crab fleet.

The introduction of quota systems in some fisheries in the past decade has also reduced the overall number of vessels heading north to Alaska. Known as 'rationalization', the quota systems replace the derby-style fishing system, which did not limit the number of boats in a fishery.

"The boats that can fish many fisheries and might be gone for long periods of time - those boats are the ones that pump the most money into the local economy," Schultz said. These boats are often in port for only a few months per year for maintenance and repairs.

"We'll continue to service smaller fishing vessels as long as they're here," Schultz said.

If the Port is correct and the trend towards larger, multi-use fishing vessels continues, it will be able to offer increased moorage space to commercial vessels. The Port is mandated to give first priority to fishing vessels and then commercial boats, as space permits.

"In the long term, we anticipate having ample room" for both fishing and commercial vessels, said Schultz.

Phase I is largely finished. The final phase will begin in late September or October. Replacing the structural piers and concrete floats will cost an estimated $14.3 million, with an additional $6 million in utility upgrades to the docks. Dredging is expected to cost $1.7 million.

During the first phase wooden Docks 8-10 were demolished and replaced by new concrete floating Docks 7-9. The previous multi-use dock was replaced with a new one and is now Dock 10.

The work will also improve safety with improved lighting and easier access to the docks from the water. In the past few years the terminal experienced a rash of drownings.

Built in 1913, Fishermen's Terminal supports much of the U.S. North Pacific fishing fleet. By mandate, moorage space must go first to fishing vessels, which also pay a discounted rate.

The Port has come under fire from some in the fishing community for moving towards pleasure and commercial vessels rather than fishing boats. This spring it proposed a new policy that would curtail owners' ability to live aboard their boats.

Some fishermen alleged that the seemingly innocuous policy was in fact an attempt to clean out fishermen to make room pleasure craft. In an industry with sometimes razor thin profits, vessel owners live aboard to save money that would be spent on rent and commuting.

The Port denied the allegations.

The Fishing Vessel Owners' Association opposes the Port's proposed live aboard policy, but does not believe that the Port is trying to turn Fishermen's Terminal into a pleasure craft haven, Alverson said. If space permits, short-term moorage for pleasure craft helps defray the overhead costs of operating the terminal that would otherwise fall onto fishing vessels to make up.

The Fishermen's Terminal Advisory Committee will vote on the policy this fall.

Dan Catchpole may be reached via bnteditor@robinsonnews.com