U.S. Senator Patty Murray visits Working Waterfront to talk impacts

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) visited the Working Waterfront offices yesterday to discuss the current impacts of trade policy and the war in Iran on fuel prices with maritime leaders from around Whatcom County. Photo: Sen. Patty Murray

The Working Waterfront Coalition hosted U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) on Sept. 2nd to discuss the impacts of ongoing trade and tariff policy, and the rising fuel prices from the war with Iran. Roundtable discussion included leaders and representatives of the maritime industry from our Coalition membership, who each had an opportunity to speak about the experiences they are feeling with the Senator and answer questions from her as she carries those stories and information back to Washington D.C.

From Sen. Murray's press release:

“Our maritime industry and our ports power the economy in Washington state—our fish and shellfish travel far on their own, but our fishermen and our ports are the reason they’re famous worldwide,” said Senator Murray. “And this administration’s reckless and unpredictable tariffs have been nothing short of a disaster for them—driving up costs and making it impossible for any small business to plan. Let’s just acknowledge how Trump’s decision to pursue an all-out trade war with Canada—Washington state’s biggest trading partner and our country’s closest ally—is beyond stupid and counterproductive, fraying partnerships north of the border that have spanned lifetimes. Trump’s war in Iran has made fuel far more expensive for fleets already running on razor-thin margins. And that’s to say nothing of pushing federal workers out en masse and making severe cuts to NOAA and the National Weather Service—clearly, Trump does not understand that our fishermen rely on a top-notch National Weather Service to do their work.”

“The most urgent thing we can do to bring costs down in a big way is put an end to this trade war and to the actual war against Iran—and Congress can do both,” continued Senator Murray. “How about instead of funding bombs in the Middle East we invest in our fisheries and habitat recovery here at home? Let me sum it up: more fish—fewer tariffs and fewer wars.”

Washington state has one of the most trade-dependent economies of any state in the country, with 40 percent of jobs in the state tied to international commerce—and no community feels that more directly than Whatcom County, which sits at the Canadian border. In just one year, Trump’s tariff tax has cost the average family nearly $2,000, with hardworking Americans bearing 96% of the cost of the hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs. Still, Trump has been undeterred by the chaos and pain his trade war has wrought and continues to double down on the global stage.

Yesterday, Murray announced the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act, legislation that would revoke and refund Trump’s latest barrage of tariffs and repeal the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump’s newest global tariffs of 12.5% and 50% tariffs on Canada.

At the same time, Trump’s war in Iran and the resulting disruption at the Strait of Hormuz have sent fuel costs soaring for Washington state’s fishing fleets and maritime businesses. National average diesel has climbed past $5 a gallon—up nearly $2 from a year ago—and fuel can account for as much as 40 percent of the operating costs of a fishing trip, pushing captains up and down the coast to cut days at sea or tie up their boats altogether.

Joining Senator Murray at the roundtable discussion were: Dan Tucker, Executive Director of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County; Sierra Oliver, Program Director of the NW Maritime Apprenticeship Program with the Working Waterfront Foundation; Steve Seymour, Owner and CEO of Drayton Harbor Oyster Company; Ron Wille, President and COO of All American Marine; Jamie Wurtz, commercial fisherman and owner of Wurtz Fisheries; and Mike Hogan, Public Affairs Administrator at the Port of Bellingham.

“Senator Murray is a tremendous champion for Washington’s working waterfronts,” said Port of Bellingham Public Affairs Administrator Mike Hogan. “Over the past two years, Senator Murray has helped secure over $40 million in federal grants to rebuild Whatcom County’s maritime infrastructure and create new family-wage jobs.”

“Maritime sectors worldwide are underway with the largest shift in technology since the switch from sail to steam,” said Dan Tucker, Executive Director of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County. “Whatcom County and Washington state need steady regulation and policy, protection for American shipbuilding and crews through the Jones Act, federal investment in business and workforce development, and careful consideration of our international partners in order to provide career-track, retirement-potential opportunities to the next generation that will build tomorrow’s blue economy.”

“First the price of fish is of greatest concern, if the markets are not buying wild sustainable caught fish at a healthy price our business is unsustainable and crew and captains alike cannot make a living,” said Jamie Wurtz, commercial fisherman and owner of Wurtz Fisheries. “Fuel costs have the second biggest impact on small fishing operations. These can normally be the largest expense of any fishing season with this last year’s price of agricultural- off road diesel fuel increasing 22%. For example, last year in WA state fuel rose from $3.59 a gallon to $5.00 a gallon and in Alaska it was even higher, going from $4.68 a gallon to $6.10. That translates to being the largest expense in our operation after the cost of financing a boat. This increase impacts our ability to be profitable. All fishermen need to see some stability in the markets for the price of seafood as well as the price of fuel.”

“Whatcom County businesses are ready to grow, but need investment in industrial waterfront infrastructure, clearer and more predictable environmental regulations, and faster, more accessible workforce-training incentives. These changes would unlock business expansion, create good-paying jobs, and expand workforce development opportunities. Limited infrastructure restricts our ability to create the volume of work and training opportunities needed to bring more women and other underrepresented workers into the marine trades,” said Patrick Schjelderup, co-owner and CEO of Top to Bottom Marine, Inc."

The roundtable will be followed by an additional meeting with Murray's staff on Sept. 18th to discuss the salmon treaty of the Fraser River with local fishermen as well, highlighting the need for informed and engaged US representation at the table for the upcoming negotiation next year.

Senator Murray highlighted in the press release the current FY27 budget request that cuts all funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) and NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.  This would impact our commercial fishermen and our marine trades businesses here in Whatcom and across the state. Senator Murray has vowed to fight these budget proposals and has a budget plan that includes adequate funding for those critical programs she will counter the proposal with.

The Coalition will remain engaged in sharing the impacts of our industry with our legislators to make sure your voices and concerns are heard. We encourage all of our maritime businesses to reach out to our staff and tell your story, share your data, and connect with us on how you're being impacted by the current policy and pricing climate.  Please email Dant@whatcomworkingwaterfront.org and let us share your experiences in upcoming meetings.

We extend a warm thank you to Senator Murray and her staff for helping to coordinate this visit, and for coming to hear about the impacts in person, and look forward to continuing the conversation.