Caitlin “Caity” Townsend helped bring “Net Your Problem,” a gear recycling company that started in Alaska, to Massachusetts.
By Doreen Leggett
There are a lot of fishy connections between Cape Cod and Alaska, many stories of fishermen from Chatham and Provincetown spending several months to several years there and coming home with enough money to buy a boat. Also common are tales of those who fish summers in the Pacific and come home to fish here the rest of the year.Caitlin Townsend, who lobsters and scallops, is in that category after salmon fishing in Bristol Bay. This photo gallery captures scenes of the Alaskan fishery that draws people from all over the country and provides a glimpse of her gear recycling work through Net Your Problem, which started in Alaska and now has a presence on the Cape. Salmon fishing photos by Sofia DeWolfe others courtesy of Caitlin Townsend.
Townsend spends most of her time lobstering on her dad’s boat, and can often be found with one of her favorite companions, Henrietta.
Townsend, in blue, fished most of the summer in Bristol Bay. Sofia DeWolfe photo.
Townsend, and a sockeye salmon, with crew on the Leila M. in Bristol Bay. Sofia DeWolfe photo.
Fishermen catch salmon swimming into rivers when fishery managers open them for harvest. They submerge 900-to 1,200- foot nets 150 or 200 fathoms before using a hydraulic reel to pull fish onto the deck. Sofia DeWolfe photo.
Salmon brought aboard.Sofia DeWolfe photo.
Townsend has had success selling Alaskan salmon on Cape. Sofia DeWolfe photo.
The season is short, hours long. The crew can become as close as family. Sofia DeWolfe photo.
When Townsend is not fishing on either coast, she separates old fishing gear for Net Your Problem so it can have a second life.
Recycled fishing gear is transformed into products, such as this knife handle.