Tom’s Update: March 2025
March 2025: Highlighting Ongoing PIER Research
An image of the once robust fishing port of Astoria, Oregon. Astoria has a strong fishing history with existing infrastructure, factors that can help support new markets and fishing opportunities like the ones proposed by PIER.
The PIER team has just returned from the Oregon coast where they are working to build a network of partnerships that explore fishery and market development research in the Pacific Northwest. Under pilot support provided through the Builders Initiative, PIER met with collaborators to discuss new and exciting fishing opportunities that the team identified during recent field work along the Oregon coast. We are optimistic that this research will lead to expanded opportunities for local markets and fishing families.
PIER hopes to build a collaboration that includes key local partners like the Oregon State University Seafood Laboratory, the OSU Food Innovation Center, the Central Coast Food Web and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. We hope to explore new products and develop additional fishing opportunities for the Pacific Northwest. We are excited for the opportunity to work with local partners that also share the vision of keeping local fishermen on the water.
We are looking forward to the collaboration and can’t wait to get the work started.
Other News: In the coming weeks PIER will be retiring our original Boston Whaler and upgrading to a fully re-vamped Whaler of similar vintage. The Whaler has served PIER well over the past 25 years, performing flawlessly in countless field research projects, but it is now time to upgrade.
The new PIER Whaler getting ready for motor installation.
Over the past few months the PIER team has worked to fully re-fit a classic 20’ 1986 Boston Whaler Outrage, it will be the latest addition to the PIER fleet.
The new Whaler is being repowered with a 175 hp Yamaha V MAX outboard which has been generously provided by partners at Yamaha Rightwaters Program.
The final outfitting is underway and we hope to launch the vessel sometime in the next month. We will follow up with more details as we get closer to the launch date.
To read more about PIER and our Mission, please visit PIER.org. 
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