F/V Benna A. Deadliest Catch Newest Boat, Captain Sean Dwyer comes on board Discovery’s Season 12 and Season 13 on Deadliest Catch. The Dwyer family is a seasoned Alaskan fishing family. The below story was ran a few years ago, Pat Dwyer was alive at the time we ran this, he was puffing away and very much with it, from what Sean’s Superstar Mom shared with us. When Naknek Sea Gal interviewed Sean Dwyer, back then F/V Brenna A. wasn’t ready for crabber, yet they still had serious bragging rights. F/V Jennifer A. is known as a Bering Sea Crabber highliner. God Bless Pat Dwyer & all families fighting ALS today! Enjoy below.
Salty Dog Boating News: Top News Below: 3 years ago with Sean Dwyer, crawling around on F/V Breanna. “We like to brag about being the fastest tender in Bristol Bay and SE, Alaska” says Sean Dwyer. Every commercial fishing family has a unique story; some of courage, sadness, loss, sacrifice and teamwork through the seasons. This story is about a family who, ‘leads by great example.’ Pat Dwyer is the owner of St. George Marine Inc; it’s a family owned and operated business. “In 1986, dad bought his 1st boat named St. George, he did crab in winter, then would do tender circuit – start with Herring then to Salmon. The St. George was lost in 1991, the faulty stability report lead to; too many pots on deck it iced up and rolled over. The only thing found was mom’s survival suite still in the bag, everyone died – all six crew gone,” describes Sean Dwyer, son of Pat Dwyer. Jenny Dwyer, (mom) explains their great family dynamics, “Growing up we used to say Sean is Pats, shadow – he loves his dad; we are so proud of Sean.”
Sean is very wise and mature beyond his 22 years. He clearly has learned a lot from his seasoned commercial fishing father. The term ‘lead by example’ is really the best way to describe the Dwyer family. Sean is calm, steadfast and packed with more boat, fishing knowledge at ease than he may realize. In 1993 Pat bought F/V Jennifer A. (Named after wife – Jenny) 2008 – 2010 the boat took few years off for a bunch of shipyard work with a big rebuild. When Sean was asked how he communicated with his dad from Alaska while up fishing he said, “I started taking more of a position of sending him pictures he would figure out how to do things, he still runs the company; I send pictures and we figure out what to do,” as Sean explains how this family business works through the harsh Alaska seasons.
F/V Brenna A. Deadliest Catch New Boat & Captain Season 12, 13, Discovery
Dwyer Family, Jenny, Pat, Sean, Breanna – Commercial Fishing Family
“In 2005, Dad was diagnosed with ALS – also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, (This disease is a rare progressive and degenerative disease affecting the pathways of the brain and spinal cord. It is characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness. ALS is a rare progressive and degenerative disease affecting the pathways of the brain and spinal cord. It is characterized especially by increasing and spreading muscular weakness.) At the time he was working for Trident Seafoods with the Jennifer A. In 2006 he brought F/V Brenna A. (Named after my sister) it used to fish brown crab, it was named the F/V Shishaldin. (After the Alaskan Volcano on Unimak Island) ALS – disease is where nerves and muscles stop talking to each other, my dad has gone on 7 years now almost 8 years. He has slow progression, lost strength in arms first, when you lose the nerves they start to atrophy – arms, hands, breathing, now he’s wheel chair bound, he’s now on a feeding tube – he eats 5 food groups a day; better than the rest of us. He has always had the boats to keep him going – his mind is good – he has lots of time to think, his mind is there – he’s just trapped in a bad body,” describes Sean in his calm at peace tone.
F/V Jennifer A. Sister Boat to F/V Brenna A. Sean Dwyer, Deadliest Catch New Crabber & Captain
“My Dad always has a really good attitude, it’s what keeps him going. It’s a weird disease, no cure, no treatment, they don’t really know where it comes from, my dad has been in a shipyard since he was 19, it’s a random deal everyone else he grew up with is healthy and for whatever reason he got a bum deal. My mom is very active in fundraising for ALS with TDI. TDI is one of main laboratories that focus’ on development for treatment. Through-out it all the thing that has kept us going is fishing, crabbing. My sister works for our family company, she’s decided to become more involved, she deals a lot with the crab co-op issues and all kinds of issues related to how we manage fisheries. May Dad has always been very active with our co-op. He’s a board member of his co-op that we’re in, it’s called – Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers; Mark Gleason is the Executive Director. National Marine Fisheries and NOAA; we have people we have to answer to, add with surveys that have to be done, we have a lot to figure out – its big time,” describes Sean.
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Mission & Goals – Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers
“We seek to continue to be vigilant stewards of our crab resources and the environment, provide economic stability to our industry and Alaska’s coastal communities, and produce premier crab products for our American and global customers. ABSC will stand together to be actively involved in all aspects of crab fishery research, sound management and marketing. We will be proactive advocates to benefit the crab resource and the independently owned businesses of Alaska’s Bering Sea crab fisheries. By participating in the regulatory process, we can continue to make a positive difference for the fishing fleets and families that depend on our crab fisheries for their livelihood.” For details visit: www.alaskaberingseacrabbers.org
F/V Breanna A. Deadliest Catch Season 12, Sean Dwyer Discovery New Captain, AK Bering Sea Crabber
Pat and Jenny Dwyer have had their business since 1986. Sean describes the journey as; “it’s had its up and downs my dad diversified himself working for other companies – he built his company from the ground up; he never had an option to let it go. He’s always been known as one of the smart and knowledgeable guys I the industry. The only thing he saw was find a way to make this business work, even with ALS.” Again we see ‘leadership by great example.’ Pat Dwyer is motivated man; with his strong family support system on the hip, along side of him it’s amazing how this family unit fights this darn ALS disease just as they fight the rough conditions of Alaskan Seas. Some say ALS is death sentence; well maybe Pat out lives us all; anyone who has spent a season(s) in the Bering Sea or Bristol Bay knows our mind, can push our body a lot farther and longer than we dare to image – fishing is defined by ‘mind over matter – pushing ourselves beyond our limits.’
As Sean talks about his dad and ALS he mentions, “There is one drug that was supposed to work, for some people it slows stuff down. The side effects weren’t worth it for my dad, he decided on whatever and to keep going. Chinese herbs and acupuncture its mixed short term results– my mom swears by it, when my mom had cancer it helped her go through her chemo.”
The support of the maritime industry has been amazing toward the Dwyer Family; “He’s in wheel chair, his close friends in the industry have helped with fundraising – Trident Seafoods, owner Chuck Bundrant did a match on the ALS –TDI – Safeco Field Corntoss Fundraiser; you go play Corntoss and drink beer it’s a good fishermen event. There is no cure for this disease, many diseases have very effective treatments, but not ALS”, says Sean with a bit more of a heavy heart when he speaks.
F/V Brenna A, SE Alaska – Ready to Take Fish
“Chuck and Diane Bundrant; have been most generous with us. When Pat was first diagnosed they were one of the first ones to reach out to us and let us know that if we needed anything, they were there for us. We have tendered for them for years; Pat worked for Norquest when Trident bought them. He continued to work there until he could no longer physically do the job,” Jenny describes the marine industry dynamics and our close knit marine industry.
“We support ALS TDI because we believe in their approach to finding a treatment for ALS. They are efficient, innovative, open and work collaboratively with others so as to find treatments more quickly. Because ALS is 100% fatal, they believe in finding a treatment first, so people with ALS can live longer. We like that! With 30 scientists on staff, working around the clock to understand ALS, we know our support will help TDI is on their mission to develop potential treatments and then end ALS. The people behind ALS TDI are concerned, passionate and driven by those who support them and live with this disease. Pat and I feel confident in knowing that our donations to TDI are an investment to slowing down ALS and ultimately a cure. ALS is a horrible rotten disease, but I have met the most amazing people because of it,” describes Jenny.
“There are over 30,000 people living with ALS in the US. ALS TDI is the world’s largest research lab that focuses only on ALS. They were started by one brother when another brother was diagnosed with ALS; they worked out of their parent’s basement and in 12 years have grown to a 52 person operation, with 30 of those people being scientists that are working in the TDI lab in Boston, around the clock. It’s a family thing for TDI and many people there have been touched by ALS and their first CEO died from complications of disease. They are a 4 star charity as rated by Charity Navigator,” describes Jenny. For Details Visit: www.als.net
‘Pat and Jenny have been involved in the ALS community for a number of years, and they chose ALS TDI as the solution to Pat’s disease, even if Pat might not see the day when there is a solution. To develop a new drug usually costs $12 billion and 12 years. ALS TDI has a drug, Gilenya, going to trial in May. We did that in under 7 years and for under a total of $70M. The Dwyers support ALS TDI, and would welcome the support of all of Pat’s colleagues in the fishing industry by donating at www.als.net/Donate/?f=h ALS TDI “National Corntoss Challenge” will be in August (date TBA) at Safeco Field in Seattle, WA. Anyone in the marine industry who would like to be a corporate sponsor and to register for the event please visit http://yfals.als.net‘ – described by Mike Shannon, Western Regional Director of ALS TDI.
The Team at Salty Dog Boating News has Pat Dwyer and family in our prayers, “Now faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what your do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1
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God Bless Our AK Bering Sea Crabbers & Their Families!
