Yes, Dennis is a good friend! We've been working on this AC deal with Moon River Foods (MRF) for over a year.
Problem is we can't catch enough to make a "container setting" work using the "regulation" nets . I had only had one day where we caught about 300#'s with a US made, (Memphis Net) "flagg" type COMMERCIAL , 4" HEAVY gill net. Rest of attempts with the lighter nets have yielded way less fish. Only 3 - 5 fish per setting. The Chinese insist on providing the very light, thin nets like they make & use in China. They are like trying to put out & handle a spider web!!
They catch a few fish, but the Carp destroy them! I.E., after one setting / catch, they are torn all to pieces, too light & flimsy to repair, might as well throw them away. The nets they want to provide are very cheap to buy (for them). I ordered some direct from China, a 100 foot by 8 foot deep, 3 inch gill net was about $35 USD. It caught about 10 carp & was destroyed. The net I had made by Memphis net cost $300. It worked & caught fish & was / is reuseable. Holds up. But, they (Moon River) are not convinced.
I think they thought that all they had to do was "build it & they would come" meaning the processing plant. But at $0.30 a pound, folks are not willing to spend the money it takes to get rigged up to make a profitable harvest. So, they (MRF) are now trying to get their own crews going. i.e., $200K worth of boats, trucks & nets, not to mention hiring full time crews. That's quite an investment not to mention the logistics of managing and the expense the crews.
We have had some crazy ideas of how to catch the things! Some "almost" are practical !! LOL, ROLF!!