Kodiak Waterfront Walking Tour

OVERVIEW

This 90-minute walking tour takes guests into the rough-and-ready world of Alaska’s commercial fishing industry. A knowledgeable guide will lead the tour through the Kodiak waterfront and help guests learn about Alaskan fishing boats, gear, and the lives of working commercial fishermen. Along the way, guests will hear life and death stories of the Alaskan fishing industry and have the chance to meet real fishermen as they prepare their gear and boats for another fishing trip. The tour introduces guests to the different kinds of fishing vessels in Alaska and the equipment, crab pots, nets and hooks used to catch seafood off Alaska’s coast. The tour includes an examination of a fisherman’s cold water immersion survival suit, which helps fishermen survive the cold waters of Alaska in the event of a fishing vessel sinking. Along with the human activity on the docks, guests should keep an eye out for bald eagles, harbor seals and Steller sea lions, which often frequent the harbor. Guests will also learn about the Great Alaskan Earthquake and Tsunami of 1964 which destroyed much of the town of Kodiak and its fishing fleet. The tour begins at the dock where guests disembark from their ship and ends at the Fishermen’s Memorial at the Kodiak Harbormaster Building in downtown Kodiak. Guests are encouraged to explore Kodiak from there, including visits to other nearby museums and shopping. Guides are current or former Alaskan commercial fishermen with years of Alaska commercial fishing experience. Their knowledge of the gear, the boats, the ocean, and the fishermen of Kodiak insure a highly personal introduction to this unique and dangerous profession.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Follow a commercial fisherman on an enlightening walk along Kodiak’s waterfront.
• Learn about the thriving but often dangerous profession of commercial fishing
• See the fishing fleet and much of the specialized gear up close.
• Visit a memorial dedicated to the men and women died at sea while fishing

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.