Scott Kimmel of New Day Fisheries is a third-generation fisherman. One of the niche segments of his business is delivering live Dungeness crab to suppliers both in the United States and internationally. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

Scott Kimmel of New Day Fisheries is a third-generation fisherman. One of the niche segments of his business is delivering live Dungeness crab to suppliers both in the United States and internationally. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

New vision, new commitment for seafood distributor

Port of Port Townsend, New Day Fisheries agree on 30-year lease

PORT TOWNSEND — Scott Kimmel pointed to a plastic tote filled with water a few feet deep. He pulled out a live Dungeness crab, the top product he distributes from New Day Fisheries in Port Townsend.

“There used to be a lot of distributors in the seafood business,” he said. “They were up and down the Puget Sound. We’re kind of one of the last ones left.”

Kimmel has been in business for more than 30 years, and he now has the long-term security he’s been seeking from the Port of Port Townsend.

Port commissioners recently approved a 30-year lease for the land, about 29,600 square feet, where Kimmel operates at 2427 Washington St. The lease will go into effect May 1 and run through April 30, 2049. Kimmel’s rent will be $2,072 per month, according to lease documents.

But it almost didn’t happen at all.

The four buildings on the property had been surplussed for three years, Port Deputy Director Eric Toews told commissioners March 27.

“There was a proposed lease for 50 years of the land itself, and the commission was concerned about the term of the lease [in 2016],” Toews said.

At that time, commissioners talked about reducing the term, but there was a change in port administration and the matter was tabled.

“The new administration took the view that this was the wrong path, the buildings should not be sold, and it was a port responsibility to find the means to bring them back into good repair,” Toews said.

Kimmel has agreed to purchase the four buildings on the property for $101,250 and maintain them for the port, according to lease documents.

Now he’s relieved, considering he’s been on a month-to-month agreement since an original 15-year lease and a five-year extension, he said.

“I have a tremendous amount of equipment and maintenance that goes on here,” he said.

Kimmel distributes more than 1 million pounds of seafood per year. He’s a third-generation fisherman, following his grandfather, Bob Spaulding, and his father, Denny Kimmel.

“I originally started the business with the idea of buying my dad’s product,” Scott Kimmel said.

Scott Kimmel holds a jar of pickled herring that will cross the Hood Canal and be sold as Poulsbo Pickled Herring. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

Scott Kimmel holds a jar of pickled herring that will cross the Hood Canal and be sold as Poulsbo Pickled Herring. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

He trolled for salmon, longlined halibut and black cod, mostly in northeast Alaska, Kimmel said. The fish was frozen at sea and marketed to stores and restaurants.

Eventually, Kimmel started to purchase from local tribal fishermen.

Now, the market calls for crab and shrimp.

“Dungeness crab is the No. 1 product nowadays,” Kimmel said. “It’s almost an all-live market. That’s where we’ve found our niche, delivering live seafood.

“We’ve transformed from a small distributor to bulk. We distribute to other distributors and export.”

Some product, such as pink shrimp, is sent to Iceland and China. He also distributes jars of pickled herring to Poulsbo.

The live seafood is packaged in a Styrofoam box with ice. Oxygen is pumped into the container, and it’s immediately sent by truck in pallets to the airport.

Kimmel said the maximum time to keep the seafood alive during transport is about 30 hours. International exports can push that limit, but it’s not as challenging domestically.

“The longest flight is about six hours to New York,” he said. “It’s a bit easier.”

Throughout the years, Kimmel has had 15 full-time employees and sometimes as many as 30 during the peak season.

He’s purchased his own ice machine that produces 20,000 pounds of flake ice per day. He has his own crane, three personal fishing boats, including the 58-foot Adriatic and the 51-foot Ellie J, plus a blast freezer primarily for shrimp exports. He also has a fleet of five trucks.

Kimmel wants to become more efficient with live crab storage with stackable totes, and he may get into the direct-sale business with a retail operation open to customers at his shop.

“At last count, there are approximately 200 local fishermen we support by buying their products, both tribal and non-tribal,” Kimmel said.

It’s quite different than buying from his dad and a few of his friends.

“Some has been driven by the market, some driven by supply,” Kimmel said. “We’ve succeeded by diversifying and changing with the times.”

________

Jefferson County Managing Editor Brian McLean can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 6, or at bmclean@peninsuladailynews.com.

New Day Fisheries of Port Townsend distributes more than 1 million pounds of seafood per year, including Dungeness crab. Owner Scott Kimmel recently signed a 30-year lease with the Port of Port Townsend to continue to operate at his facility off Washington Street. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

New Day Fisheries of Port Townsend distributes more than 1 million pounds of seafood per year, including Dungeness crab. Owner Scott Kimmel recently signed a 30-year lease with the Port of Port Townsend to continue to operate at his facility off Washington Street. (Brian McLean/Peninsula Daily News)

More in News

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that blew in from this week’s wind storm before they freeze into the surface of the rink on Thursday. The Winter Ice Village, operated by the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce in the 100 block of West Front Street, opens today and runs through Jan. 5. Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. daily. New this year is camera showing the current ice village conditions at www.skatecam.org. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Ice village opens in Port Angeles

Laken Folsom, a Winter Ice Village employee, tries to remove leaves that… Continue reading

Fort PDA receiver protecting assets

Principal: New revenue streams needed

Ella Biss, 4, sits next to her adoptive mother, Alexis Biss, as they wait in Clallam County Family Court on Thursday for the commencement of the ceremony that will formalize the adoption of Ella and her 9-year-old brother John. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Adoption ceremony highlights need for Peninsula foster families

State department says there’s a lack of foster homes for older children, babies

Legislature to decide fate of miscalculation

Peninsula College may have to repay $339K

The Sequim Valley Lions Club donated $5,000 the Sequim Unit of the Boys Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
Mary Budke, on left, and Norma Turner, on right, received the donation on behalf of the Boys Girls Clubs.
Lions donation

The Sequim Valley Lions Club donated $5,000 the Sequim Unit of the… Continue reading

Jae McGinley
Jae McGinley selected for fellowship, scholarship

Jae McGinley has been selected for the Next Generation… Continue reading

A street sweeper on I Street in Port Angeles cleans up the street along the curbs of all the debris that blew down during Tuesday evening’s storm. Thousands were without power at the peak of the storm. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Storm causes power outages, road closures

Smaller weather system may hit Friday

Port Angeles funds lodging tax requests

Sixteen applications to undergo review

Port Townsend’s Water Street sewer project gets funds

City council authorizes contracts; construction to start in January

Port of Port Angeles commissioners approve 2025 budget

Board OKs project that would treat seawater to make it less acidic

Two injured after truck collides with tree

Two people were injured when the truck in which… Continue reading

Power out for thousands in Clallam County

More than 11,000 electric meters were without power in… Continue reading