“Co-op members range from three 17-year-olds to age 83,” says Soper, thinking aloud. “There’s Reggie Knowles, Doug Torrey – he could quote you lobster prices from 50 years ago and could tell you what the weather was on that same day. He built his own sailboat, sailed it to the Bahamas….” VANESSA JANE slides to a stop alongside the wharf. “Orton Preble’s fished all his life,” said Soper. “Not yet,” was his response. Orton has lobstered out of Winter Harbor 45 years, fishing in VANESSA JANE for 35 of them. Sternman, Ralph Preble, fished summers since 1960 and now works with his brother. Ralph hoists traps to Orton, who stacks them, four wide, seven high, in an unbroken rhythm. “Phillip Torrey started with a skiff, then a small boat,” said Orton, sharing some history. “He joined the co-op soon as he could get his own boat to go.” Phil’s father, Dale Torrey, is the current co-op president, and one of the founders. October of 1971 The co-op purchased its initial property in October 1971 – Rudy Johnson’s fish pier. But after 38 years in business, Winter Harbor Co-op members knew that in order to stay competitive, they needed to build the live lobster storage facility they’d been considering since 2006. A storage facility would give the members the opportunity to hold their lobsters, rather than sell them for whatever, often low, prices were being paid on any given day, week, or month. Bold move, given the current worldwide financial crash, but as the saying goes, No guts, no glory. It was time to gain some control over the marketing of their lobster, develop a business plan, and roll forward. Boat Price Plunges As the boat price for lobster fell in recent years, there were fewer reasons not to build a live lobster storage facility. The cost of the tank? $300,000. However, in the long run it might cost members more not having it. With- out that option, explained co-op manager Bob Harmon, “Lobster was sold off the dock: best price of the day was what we got.” Supplying the highest quality lobster is easier from this new facility. Product is graded and stored under optimum conditions. The different grades of lobster bring different prices, which gives the coop opportunity to benefit from price gradients. Everything moves faster—the trucks, the lobster—because better tabs are kept on inventory. The tank won’t turn a fast profit, it will take a few years to pay for itself. The reasoning behind the project was based on the long-haul benefits. “This new tank is giving us the ability to grade and hold lobster for different price markets,” said Harmon, citing the advantages. “Lobsters are weighed and graded right here—220 crates ( a crate holds 90 lbs.) can be stored within the poured concrete tank. The holding capacity of the tank is 20,000 lbs.-19,500 lbs., to be exact.” The tank holds 26,000 gallons of water, all of which is totally filtered and aerated every 47 minutes. “There’s a lot of technology: two different filters – a pre-filter and a primary one – to remove ammonia and solids from the water.” A waterfall circulates air into the water, and removes pollutants. In this controlled, 38 degree environment, chilled sea water and air flow through an intake and outtake system running along the tank’s bottom. Lobsters rest in a “hibernation state” that mimics the natural hibernation state that lobsters experience in their annual life cycle in the ocean. “There is a generator to support the AC and air pumps,” explained Harmon. “You don’t want (lobsters) to die from lack of oxygen.” The 30x40 building housing the tank has primary and secondary air conditioners to maintain consistent air temperature, and workspace within the building allows a battery-powered forklift to transport lobster to and from submerged storage. The forklift runs on DC to keep oil, gasoline, and diesel products out of the area. “It might make a small difference (to people considering where they buy lobster) but it would make a huge difference if they bought from us,” said co-op board member Billy Bob Faulkingham. In the past, the co-op sold almost exclusively to dealers who would fill a truck. Now that the facility is built, the co-op is selling to walk-in customers who want just a couple of lobsters. The Winter Harbor Co-op can ship lobster anywhere in special cold containers. Orders are taken from the website, the telephone and from walk-in customers. Now, they’re expanding their markets. While the Co-op’s website is “a work in progress,” it has started to attract customers. Of roughly 37 licensed Winter Harbor lobstermen, 32 are members of the Winter Harbor’s Lobster Co-op. WINTER HARBOR LOBSTER CO-OP (207)963-5857: e-mail to: info@winterharborlobster.com Website:www.winterharborlobster.com |
The Winter Harbor Co-op, established in 1971. The wharf is at the far left. The new building at right is built over the lobster storage facility. The coop now grades, markets, promotes, and sells it products at the co-op and at it’s website. ©Photo by Fishermen’s Voice