Category Archives: Gulf of Mexico
Shrimp boat captain jailed for damaging another boat fishing ‘in his spot
The Sheriff’s Office sent marine units to an area of the Rigolets Pass near Geoghegan Canal to respond to a call about an altercation between the occupants of two shrimp boats, according to a news release. Casey Russell, 35, became angry when he spotted someone else shrimping “in his spot,” the Sheriff’s Office release said. >click to read< 18:40
Floodwaters Diverted from New Orleans Killed Off Marine Life
The federal government’s effort to avoid a flood disaster in New Orleans had catastrophic consequences of its own, causing massive fish kills and habitat destruction along the Gulf Coast, according to the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The governors say the Army Corps of Engineers’ diversion of trillions of gallons of water from the swollen Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico killed fish, shrimp, oysters and crab and forced the extended closure of beaches. Dolphins have suffered high death and infection rates, researchers say. >click to read< 15:44
President Trump! About our great Fishermen, our great Farmers and tariffs
President Trump, as we sit here listening to your arena chat with another strong crowd of support tonight (9-16-2019) in New Mexico, you once again brought up the nations farmers, I’d like to mention another group of outstanding, and hard working Americans, U.S. Commercial Fishermen, of whom many are your supporters that have been standing with you on the trade war. We have heard the praise of the Miners, and the Farmers, and its time for you to praise the Fishermen. >click to read< 11:31
Copeland man accused in his father’s death aboard a fishing boat in March sentenced
A Copeland man accused in his father’s death aboard a fishing boat in March was sentenced to just fewer than 10 years in prison at the federal courthouse in Fort Myers on Monday. Casey Hickok, 32, originally faced a second-degree murder charge and was accused of bludgeoning the sleeping Robert Hickok, 54 of Copeland, to death with an alternator aboard the fishing boat No Bitchin’ on March 18. >click to read< 14:07
Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries: report of loss linked to Bonnet Carre Spillway opening
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it in my life,” Shrimper Charles Robin said. Robin is a shrimper in Yscloskey. He said his catch dropped by more than half this year compared to last. “Last year on average I’d catch a thousand or 1,200 pounds a day on a slow day. Now, you can’t even catch 500 pounds,” Robin said. According to Wildlife and Fisheries, brown shrimp landings are down 34 to 44 percent compared to the five year average. St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis said he’s actively pushing for an Emergency Fisheries Declaration in Washington, D.C. Video, >click to read<16:33
“We’re gonna bomb your bleeping ships”, You understand me? – Coast Guard seeks tips for threatening radio broadcast
The Coast Guard is seeking information regarding a person making threats and hoax calls on marine band radio off the gulf coast of Florida. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center received the latest threat on Aug. 13, 2019 via VHF channel 22A. In this call, the male caller makes threats against the Coast Guard personnel, aircrafts and vessels. The broadcast sounds like the same person who has made other radio broadcasts that start with MAYDAY three times and then talks about, “scrambling all jets we are under nuclear attack.” >click to read, listen< 13:43
Near Deepwater Horizon Spill Site, Sea Creatures Looking For Mates Find Death Instead
It’s been almost a decade since an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused nearly five million barrels of oil to leak into the Gulf of Mexico. It was a catastrophe for Gulf ecosystems and, even now, wildlife still tend to avoid the site. But there are a couple of notable exceptions,,, some deep-sea shrimp and red crab looking for potential mates are turning up at the site, only to find sickness and death, due to oil spill contamination. >click to read< 20:08
Plan for fish farm off Florida’s Gulf Coast raises environmental concerns
A Hawaiian fish farming company wants to expand into the Gulf of Mexico near Sarasota, Fla., prompting opposition from some fishing associations and environmental groups.,,, Although it’s only proposed as a demonstration project, such a plan pits the company’s desire to increase the local seafood supply against commercial fishing interests and some environmental groups, which believe industrial fish farms do more harm than good in the long run.,, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has green-lighted the Florida project,,, Other groups that oppose Kampachi’s project include the Louisiana Shrimp Association, Friends of the Earth and the Recirculating Farms Coalition >click to read< 10:44
Hurricane Dorian Update: Hurricane Warning is in effect for Northwestern Bahamas excluding Andros Island
At 1100 AM EDT (1500 UTC), the distinct eye of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 26.0 North, longitude 73.4 West. Dorian is moving toward the west near 8 mph (13 km/h) and a slower westward motion should continue into early next week. On this track, the core of Dorian should move over the Atlantic well north of the southeastern and central Bahamas today, be near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, and move near the Florida east coast late Monday through Tuesday. >click to read< 11:11
Hurricane Dorian Public Advisory, 1100 AM AST Fri Aug 30 2019
At 1100 AM AST (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Dorian was located near latitude 24.5 North, longitude 69.8 West. Dorian is moving toward the northwest near 10 mph (17 km/h). A slower west-northwestward to westward motion should begin tonight and continue into early next week. On this track, the core of Dorian should move over the Atlantic well north of the southeastern and central Bahamas today and tomorrow, be near or over the northwestern Bahamas on Sunday, and be near the Florida peninsula late Monday. >click to read< 11:57
Hurricane Dorian Moving Northwest Across the Atlantic; Major Hurricane Possible Over Florida or Georgia This Weekend
Hurricane Dorian is forecast to strengthen to a major hurricane while shifting north of the Bahamas through Saturday. The risk of dangerous storm surge and hurricane-force winds later this week and this weekend continues to increase in the central and northwestern Bahamas and along the Florida east coast. Heavy rain from Dorian may cause life-threatening flash floods, NWS, >click to read< 10:06
A Fisherman is dead and 2 Fishermen were rescued after fall overboard from a menhaden fishing vessel
The Coast Guard is leading an investigation after a fisherman died after tumbling overboard while performing maintenance operations. The unidentified victim reportedly fell overboard Wednesday morning. Ocean Harvesters, the contracted company for Omega Protein, says the victim was aboard a menhaden fishing vessel when the incident occurred. A total of three fishermen reportedly went overboard while conducting fishing operations, with two of the men being rescued. >click to read< 20:10
Video: Coast Guard medevacs fishing vessel master 104 miles west of Ft. Myers
A Coast Guard crew medevaced a man experiencing abdominal pains Tuesday 104 miles offshore of Ft. Myers, Florida. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center watchstanders were notified by the commercial fishing vessel, F/V Solo, that the master of the boat had been in pain for more than 12 hours. Coast Guard watchstanders launched an Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew who hoisted the man from vessel and transported to Tampa General Hospital, where the man was transferred to medical personnel. >click to read< 15:19
Fishermen aren’t entitled to Deepwater Horizon settlement after failure to comply with order
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed that several menhaden fishermen were not entitled to a settlement agreement involving Deepwater Horizon litigation. On appeal, the menhaden (used for bait and feed) fishermen argued they were improperly denied damage awards, but appeals court agreed they were not entitled to settlement funds because they did not timely comply with a pretrial order identified as PTO 60. >click to read< 12:59
Coast Guard rescues 3 from disabled shrimping vessel taking on water near Matagorda, Texas
The Coast Guard rescued three mariners aboard a disabled vessel taking on water near Matagorda, Texas, Monday morning. Coast Guard Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders received a report of a disabled shrimping vessel that was taking on water approximately two miles from the Matagorda jetties. A Station Port O’Connor 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew was launched. The mariners contacted the command center via cellular phone and informed them that they would be abandoning the vessel. >click to read< 14:20
What Newfoundland and Labrador could learn from the worst offshore oil disaster in U.S. history
Marine scientist Donald Boesch says the controversy fuelled by recent oil spills off Canada’s East Coast has some “fairly interesting and striking comparisons” to his past work examining how the offshore (oil) industry is managed, as part of a U.S. inquiry into the Deepwater Horizon disaster.,,, Boesch says one of the most critical lessons the commission learned is that the U.S. agency overseeing offshore oil in the gulf had a conflict of interest built into its mandate.,,, Critics have accused the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) of having a similar conflict. >click to read< 10:26
Fishermen warn Miss. Coast will pay steep price in new plan to save Louisiana wetlands
Fishermen in South Louisiana have a warning for the Mississippi Coast: If you think the Bonnet Carré Spillway has wreaked havoc in the Mississippi Sound, just wait until Louisiana gets permission for a new diversion of Mississippi River water.,,, Two scientific studies of three Mississippi River diversions already in place, the most recent out of Louisiana State University, document land loss. The state and big environmental groups are pressing ahead with the two proposed river diversions, expected to consume more than $2.2 billion in funds from the BP catastrophe in 2010. >click to read< 10:47
Florida Keys Eight no-fishing zones proposed in the Keys to protect threatened corals and marine life
Federal environmental regulators Tuesday unveiled major new proposals to protect marine life and corals that would limit fishing, restrict what cruise ships can dump at sea and regulate the boats on which many people live near shore.,,, And in a move that will likely cause controversy in the fishing industry, NOAA, the federal agency that oversees the waters surrounding the island chain, called for adding eight more zones in Keys waters where both commercial fishing) and recreational angling would be prohibited. >click to read< 10:12
200 pounds of shrimp stolen from boat in Cameron Parish
A Hackberry man is under arrest after 200 pounds of shrimp were stolen from a boat in Cameron Parish, authorities said. Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson said in a news release that the theft was reported on Friday. Joseph Keith Portie Jr., 27, has been arrested on one count of possession of stolen things. Bond is set at $1,500. Johnson said some of the shrimp have been recovered. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible. >click to read< 12:03
NOAA Seeks Nominations for Scientific Review Groups under the Marine Mammal Protection Act
NOAA Fisheries will publish a Federal Register Notice on Monday, August 19, 2019, soliciting nominations to three independent marine mammal scientific review groups (SRG). We would like your assistance to identify qualified candidates. The three independent regional SRGs, covering Alaska, the Atlantic (including the Gulf of Mexico), and the Pacific (including Hawaii), were established under section 117(d) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act to provide advice on a range of marine mammal science and management issues. >click to read< 16:27
Once Robust, Bluefin Tuna Fishery Is In Economic Freefall
Carl Coppenrath can remember the days when it seemed bluefin tuna fishermen could walk on water. In the heyday of the 1980s, the market was so flush in Menemsha that fishermen could literally walk across a harbor packed with a fleet of commercial vessels lined up at the end of the day to sell their catch for top dollar. The mystique and allure of catching the torpedo-shaped fish that can weigh over 1,400 pounds brought glory and the prospects of such wealth that it awoke the romantic reimagination of the old whaling days of the Island. So much so that it spawned the popular cable TV series Wicked Tuna and lit up social media with photos and boastful tales of the trophy fish. “It’s like an addiction . . . >click to read< 21:29
Late Post. Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in New Orleans, August 12 – 15, 2019
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in New Orleans, August 12 – 15, 2019, at Hyatt Centric French Quarter, 800 Iberville Street
New Orleans, LA 70112. >click to read the Agenda and Meeting Materials<, >click to listen live< Our apologies! 16:13
Louisiana fishermen sell directly to survive, hoping for boost from restaurant menu labeling law
Commercial fishing businesses in Louisiana, striving to survive years of low prices for their catch and a safety scare following the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, are hoping for a boost in demand when restaurants across the state are required to disclose imported shrimp and crawfish on their menus starting Sept. 1. But already there is doubt that it will have much of an impact. >click to read< 12:15
A Fundraiser by Joseph Daughtry for a Florida Statewide Commercial Fishermen’s Reunion
We are raising funds to pay for the pavillion rental, tent, table and chairs, Permits and insurance, Food and beverage, and everything else that will arise to make our reunion on January 11th, 2020 at Sandsprit Park in Port Salerno the best experience we can make of it. We are not doing this to make money, so if any funds are left over, they will be turned into a Fishermen Emergency fund of a sort to be determined by everyone. Please donate if you can.. It has been too long since the fishermen of Florida past and present got together. Please contact me, Joseph Daughtry, [email protected] if you are interested in attending. Thanks. We hope to make this a lifelong memory for everyone…Joe Daughtry >click to read< Party On!
What happened to Pensacola’s commercial fishing industry?
This industry began when it became possible to put in use a series of key elements which together made such a traffic practical and profitable. The “elements” began, of course, with the fish themselves, some of which had been a part of the economic backbone of the community from the beginning. The open sea was home to the fish, and while some of the works had to be performed some distance from land, netting and icing all were practical for the proper vessels. >click to read< 13:08
Fishermen concerned discharge from large pipe is hurting crab fishing
A longtime crab fisherman in Cameron Parish is raising concerns about a water discharge he says is killing his livelihood. The State Department of Environmental quality is investigating. Seventy-two-year old Teddy Broussard of Grand Chenier would normally be crab fishing on a day like this, but he says discharge into a canal which empties into the Mermentau River has ruined the spot where he fishes.,,“Basically, my livelihood at this moment is, it’s pretty much 85% destroyed >click to read< 17:52
FISH & MEN: A film on the High Cost of Cheap Fish
We hope the fishing families and pioneers featured in this film will inspire a movement,,, For centuries, cod fed the world and helped build a nation. Nowhere was that more so than in Gloucester, Massachusetts – America’s oldest fishing port. But, today all that has changed… From California to Maine, small fishing communities struggle to survive. The iconic American fisherman is in a perfect storm of foreign competition, erratic regulations and rising costs. Trailer, photo’s, of some of the best people on the planet. Please support this effort. >click to read< 14:51
Family hoping for return of lost shrimper after Coast Guard stops search near Port Aransas
The family of a Florida shrimper lost at sea is hoping for his discovery despite the discontinuing of a Coast Guard search for him. “I know it’s a long shot, but we still have some type of hope that somebody picked him up out of the water,” said the man’s niece, Denise Beale,,, Rick Beale, a 62-year-old Fort Myers, Fla., shrimper, went missing off the coast of Port Aransas on Sunday morning, she said. As a shrimper of 42 years, the man routinely sailed out of Florida on long trips along the Gulf Coast. >click to read< 14:14
The Mississippi River Devastated Fisheries This Year. Some See It As A Preview Of The Future
On a bayou in the St. Bernard Parish town of Yscloskey, George Barisich starts up his shrimp boat. “Hear that?” he says, as the diesel engine below our feet roars to a start. “That’s the sound we want to hear.” Barisich says that engine hasn’t gotten much use lately. There is no point in heading into the marsh when there aren’t any shrimp to catch. “I’m 82 percent off on my brown shrimp,” he says of this season. “Eighty two. And there’s a lot of people just as bad.” This year’s historic flooding on the Mississippi River has decimated the coast’s fisheries. >click to read< 17:48:45
More articles on sediment diversion, >click here<
Agents recieve a complaint! Agents cite Lafitte man for theft of crab traps, and a few other things.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents cited a Lafitte man for alleged commercial fishing violations in Jefferson Parish on Aug. 2. Agents cited Tracy Bruce, 46, for theft of crab traps, taking commercial fish without a license, taking commercial fish without a commercial gear license, using crab traps without required markings, illegal removal of contents and operating an unregistered motorboat. Agents received a complaint that Bruce was fishing multiple traps belonging to other fishermen near Little Lake. On Aug. 2, agents stopped Bruce,,, >click to read< 16:18
