How wonderful it must be for Mr. Thompson to criticize Kodiak’s trawl fleet for their “bad behavior” from his position as a participant in a rationalized fishery.

What Mr. Thompson failed to say, is that no trawler chose to harvest cod in the fall, not one. But, hey, why tell the whole story, when bashing Kodiak’s trawl fleet is much more fun. No other harvest group has been more maligned — and mostly about issues and situations they are forced into by regulations.

Another thing Mr. Thompson failed to say is that all harvest methods have bycatch. However, not all harvest methods and vessels have observers. Just because no one is there to document what you pull from the sea doesn’t mean you are fishing clean or that your fishery is better than another.

Rationalized fishers enjoy the benefits: the ability to choose when they fish, maximizing safety, efficiency and minimize overhead. Olympic fishers suffer tremendous burdens from increased competition, rising fuel costs and ever-restrictive management, with no tools to change. They are left no choice but to fish as managed or starve.

Kodiak’s trawlers are not bad. They are neither bad for the fisheries nor bad for the town. The fact is, our most productive bottom trawling grounds remain productive after 20 years of fishing in the same exact spot, and is proof that the fishery is sustainable.

The fact that trawlers deliver half of the poundage of the fish that cross the dock — half — is proof that the trawl fleet is good for the town.

Without Kodiak’s trawl fleet, processors could not maintain their plants or the workforce needed to deal with Kodiak’s large lucrative salmon fishery.

Local mechanics, refrigeration technicians, electronic support, hardware sales, net manufacturers, grocery stores, fuel docks and local restaurants benefit from dollars trawlers spend.

The truth is, this community is made up of a very diverse and rich group of harvesters. The interdependency of each harvest group, fish species and vessel size is critical to the entire local economy.

Let’s think twice before griping about the Kodiak trawl fleet.