Captains in the Making

CVRF’s Youth to Work Maritime Program

Today, when you look at the demographics of crew members on vessels in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska fisheries, relatively few are Alaska Natives. As the operator of a 100% Alaskan-owned fishing fleet, CVRF founded the Youth to Work Maritime (YTWM) program to offer local Alaska Native youth opportunities for training and experience in this vibrant industry. In its third year, the program provided basic skills training and maritime education to 24 students.

This innovative maritime curriculum teaches students how to tie key and often life-saving knots, what to do in the event of an emergency, what the different stations and roles are on ships, how to navigate, and more. KRISTEN MAXIE of Napaskiak said of YTWM, “It helped me see that there are other job opportunities available. I could be a cook on a ship. I have options.” She now plans to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks to study wildlife biology and conservation.

For CADENCE DULL of Toksook Bay, the YTWM program was a means to pursue her dual dreams of becoming a ship captain and an aviator. “My favorite part was learning how to plot the ship’s course using longitude and latitude,” she said. She brought what she learned about tying knots and reading maps home to teach her friends and family. After graduating high school, she plans to take a year off before college to work and pursue aviation training.

CVRF provided additional employment and training opportunities through its Youth to Work (YTW) program. A total of 491 youth from 16 communities participated in the YTWM and YTW summer programs in 2022.