Endangered Species: One Man’s Fight for the Sea

By Carli Stewart.

David Goethel has lived a life that many only read about in adventure novels.

As a small boat fisherman, he has faced the harshest conditions the ocean can dish out, while navigating a world that grows increasingly indifferent to the struggles of those who work the sea. In his powerful memoir Endangered Species, Goethel not only shares the personal journey of a man fighting to survive in the fishing industry, but he also offers an intimate look into the threats facing small boat fishermen, the true “endangered species” of the sea.

“Fishing is not a job; it’s a way of life,” Goethel told me when we sat down at the Pacific Marine Expo in 2023, and his words ring with the weight of a career shaped by decades of hard-earned knowledge. I had been working to carve out time to read his book and put together a piece since then and finally finished it. He truly speaks on fishing not being just a livelihood; it’s the foundation of his family’s legacy and the backbone of his identity. Yet, in his book, Goethel pulls back the curtain on a world that is fighting to survive against forces that seem determined to end it. From the unpredictable storms at sea to the regulations imposed by those who have little understanding of what it takes to fish sustainably, Goethel’s story is a testament to endurance, resilience, and an unyielding love for the ocean.

If Goethel were a cat, he’d likely be looking for a few more lives. Throughout his career, he has weathered some of the toughest challenges any fisherman can face, both on the water and on land. The ocean is not just a provider; it is a harsh taskmaster. Goethel has faced its violent storms, its unpredictable swells, and the constant battle to outlast nature’s unpredictable fury.

read more at nationalfishermna.com.

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