That is the question. I spent the last night or morning aboard a shrimp trawler with Prescott College students recording data from each catch throughout the night. For the past ten years, Prescott College has been involved in a study addressing several questions/concerns pertaining to by-catch associated with shrimp trawling in the sea of cortez. It is a complex issue filled with cultural and ecological concerns... Over the next few days I will highlight my experience with these amazing PC students and equally fascinating trawling crew.
On any given night in November, our family can sit on the beach after sunset and count the lights of 18-20 shrimp trawlers in the bay. Colter believed all last year that they were the lights of pirate ships. He would ready himself for defending the family with swords and eyepatches. This year, when his concern for keeping the station locked, to keep the pirates out prevented him from going to sleep at night...we broke the news to him. "Those are not the lights of pirate ships, those are shrimp trawlers."
We boarded the trawler around 4pm. The nets wouldn't be dropped until just after sunset.
Lucy made apple crisp and brought food to resupply the crew. We would later eat super yummy tacos dorado out of this kitchen.
We spent some time touring the boat and meeting the crew.
Crew members spent time making repairs
resting
and of course we started drinking coffee.
after sunset, the nets were dropped
and we waited.......
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