But can the captains put the good of the fleet ahead of their own interests? Some of them have their doubts. It’s a huge risk and requires honesty and cooperation from everyone. But will Johnathan agree to come out of retirement? And leave behind everything and everyone he loves during such difficult times? Sig’s second strategy goes against everything the old-time crabbers have ever done before – working together as a pack. Johnathan would bring a massive operation, as commander of the F/V Time Bandit, and could provide a lifeline to help catch the fleet’s towering 5-million-pound fall season quota. And there is only one person that comes to mind – his good friend and legendary crabber Johnathan Hillstrand. First, Sig needs someone who isn’t afraid to stick his neck out. Spearheading their defense is Captain Sig Hansen from the F/V Northwestern – who proposes a two-pronged plan to save the fishery. It doesn’t take long for the captains to realize that they can’t start this season without a new approach. Meaning this year, the captains will be fishing blind with no charts or guidance on where to find crab on the grounds – making an already challenging season even more difficult. Due to government-imposed lockdowns, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game wasn’t able to conduct its summer crab survey. It’s been a tough year for everyone, especially for the crabbing fleet in Alaska. DEADLIEST CATCH returns with a season like no other before, streaming exclusively first on Friday, March 19 on discovery+, ahead of the season premiere airing Tuesday, April 20 at 8 PM ET/PT on Discovery. Their livelihood depends on it or they could potentially face the end of their careers. If they’re going to make it work, the fleet will need to make sacrifices and band together across lines – even with long-sworn enemies. This year, it’s a fight for the industry’s survival. Crabbing isn’t just a way of life for the captains and their crew.
Now an existential threat faces the fishermen who make the long-haul trip to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for the 2021 Crab season – a potential closure of the entire fishery. In the wake of the global pandemic, half the crab boats of the Bering Sea fleet are tied up in Seattle.