One thing every Urban Studies major should know is how to spot economic agglomeration - and the maritime industry in Ballard and Fishermen's Terminal (henceforth Salmon Bay) is a textbook cluster economy.
A great piece on "Why the Alaskan Fishing Fleet is Based in Seattle" by local radio station KPLU is easy to read and right on about how the cluster works. Read it here.
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| Fishing boats wintering in Salmon Bay. From the 24th St. Pier. |
There are three main requirements for a cluster economy, and Salmon Bay has all of them for its maritime industry:
#1) The right environment. Compared to Alaska "the weather here is mild, perfect for working on boats year round." Additionally, the fresh water protected harbor of Salmon Bay is good for ship repair.
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| A new paint job at the Pacific Fishermen Shipyard. |
#2) All the industry components working together. This includes the main companies, suppliers of parts, supporting institutions (Seattle has a high concentration of marine lawyers for example (source)), available capital, and most importantly, the right people.
According to the KPLU article, Ballard and Magnolia have the highest concentration of workers such as shipwrights, and electronics and hydraulics specialists on the American West Coast.
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| What looks to be a pre-1920 building on 54th ave is in sharp contrast to the company's modern website. |
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This truck is for sale, but Ballard Oil Co. is still going strong.
#3) Political backing. The KPLU article points out that when the home port for the North Alaskan Fishing Fleet was proposed to be moved from Fishermen's Terminal to a port in Alaska, the Port of Seattle made $60 million in improvements to Fishermen's Terminal in order to keep the $5 billion industry in Seattle.
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| The last unpaved street in Ballard: 54th St NW where the pavement ends and the potholes begin. |
Ballard old-timers who are worried about gentrification in the neighborhood can at least rest assured that this blue-collar industry is alive and well due to its economic success, even though the last unpaved street in Ballard will no doubt be photographed by more than a few artsy types who swoon over a rusty truck.
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