History Afloat: Voices from the Working Waterfront

Brooke Ratzat
Brooke Ratzat has been working or living on boats for most of her life. She grew up in the harbors of Southeast Alaska. Brooke and her husband, Charlie, have a deep love for boats. Especially old wooden fishing boats. They've owned and trolled them w... View Full Record
Craig Thomas, Commercial Diver and Captain of F/V Dive Master
Craig Thomas is a commercial diver and captain of the F/V Dive Master. Craig began commercial diving in 1993. He harvests sea cucumbers, geoducks, and sea urchins, which sell to markets as far away as Japan. The F/V Dive Master was orig... View Full Record
Tessa Frost, Fisheries Biologist at Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association
Tessa Frost is a fisheries biologist at the Southern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association (SSRAA). SSRAA is one of two regional aquaculture associations in Southeast Alaska and operates three fish hatcheries in the Ketchikan area: Deer Mountain... View Full Record
Brian Kelly and Bryan Frasier, Hatchery Technicians at OceansAlaska
Brian "Chunk" Kelly is the maintenance manager and nursery technician and Bryan Frasier is an algologist and nursery technician at OceansAlaska. OceansAlaska is a Ketchikan based nonprofit dedicated to developing aquaculture and mariculture as viable... View Full Record
Keenan Sanderson, Indigenous Food Sovereignty Specialist at the Ketchikan Indian Community
Keenan Sanderson is the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Specialist at the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC). Keenan is Haida Raven Double Fin Killer Whale of the Yahgw 'Laanas clan and Athabascan. He grew up in Ketchikan and is passionate about natural re... View Full Record
Rebekka Esbjornson and Jeff Karlson, Owners of Lighthouse Excursions
Rebekka Esbjornson and Jeff Karlson are the owners of Lighthouse Excursions, a locally owned and operated tour company. Lighthouse Excursions is located in Ward Cove, approximately seven miles north of Ketchikan. They offer sightseeing boat tours on... View Full Record
Whitney Crittenden, Assistant Area Management Biologist at Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Whitney Crittenden is the Assistant Area Management Biologist at the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). Whitney's job centers around the management of commercial fisheries for salmon, herring, shrimp, sea cucumber, red urchin, and geoduck cl... View Full Record
Karen and Greg Updike, Owners of Alaska Commercial Divers
Karen and Greg Updike are the owners of Alaska Commercial Divers and operate the D/V Alaskan Salvor. They have been providing support to local marine industries for over 25 years. Alaska Commercial Divers provides vessel salvage and repair, a... View Full Record
Umeko Seaver, Port Captain at Alaska Marine Highway System
Umeko Seaver is a Port Captain at the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS). As a Port Captain, Umeko oversees the vessel operation, safety, and maintenance. She is responsible for hiring and training crew members to maintain compliance with regulation... View Full Record
Daniel Marsden Sr., Commercial Fisherman and Diver
Daniel Marsden Sr. is a commercial fisherman and diver, and captain of the F/V Talia Rae. He comes from a fishing family dating back to his great grandfather, Edward Marsden, who was a fisherman and founded the Metlakatla Presbyterian Church.... View Full Record
Victor C. Wellington Sr., Retired Commercial Fisherman
Victor C. Wellington Sr. is a retired commercial fisherman and has fished for over 50 years. His journey spans the changing tides of Alaska's commercial fishing industry from the introduction of the limited entry and hatchery programs to the permit b... View Full Record
Dan Voelz, Owner of Pacific Pride
Dan Voelz is the owner of Pacific Pride, a marine supply store in Ketchikan. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he returned to Ketchikan and was hired at Murray Pacific as a freight clerk in 1996. After the store manager retired, Dan moved from a p... View Full Record
Matt Peavey, Commercial Fisherman
Matt Peavey is a commercial fisherman and captain of the F/V Anne Louise homeported in Craig, a town on Prince of Wales Island. Matt started fishing on his father's troller, the F/V Patsy, when he was just nine years old. Matt is a salm... View Full Record
Mathew Scaletta, Owner of Wildfish Cannery
Mathew Scaletta is the owner of Wildfish Cannery in Klawock, a community on Prince of Wales Island. Wildfish was founded in 1987 by Mathew's grandmother, Phyllis Mueller, who saw the need for a small-scale seafood processor in the community. Growing... View Full Record
Stormy Hamar, Carver
Stormy Hamar is an accomplished Haida carver with a passion for dugout canoes. Based in Kasaan, a village on Prince of Wales Island, Stormy has dedicated his life to learning and preserving the traditional knowledge and skills to carve a Haida dugout... View Full Record