Search Results for: Richard Gaines
9 Years Later: We Remember Richard Gaines and We Miss Him
The passing of Richard Gaines was catastrophic for many. From an industry perspective, none more so than the Gloucester Daily Times. We were gifted to have the right combination of a great writer that informed of the issues of the day, and an Editor that was supportive, and a crew that did such a wonderful job churning out article after article. To say Richard Gaines is missed is an understatement. I miss him more than ever. >Richard Gaines, click to read< 17:35
Richard Gaines, Staff Writer, Gloucester Daily Times – For years, we found his byline under the headline of every major fishery article that we read 
at the Gloucester Daily Times. It told us to read on for the truth and an unbiased perspective that a great journalist presents regarding our livelihoods. Richard’s articles provided the information to the public of the complexities that made up the convoluted issues surrounding the stories of the New England ground fishery — something that was just about impossible. Some of the articles would leave the public confused, but industry insiders knew exactly what he was bringing up. At times, these controversial to insider articles would erupt, causing some noses to get out of joint, generating lively, pointed, and sometimes fierce debate. Those were my favorites, and I know what Richard wrote was on the money, even though some would disagree, of course. By Jim Kendall, June 13, 2013 >click to read<
Richard Gaines – December 22, 2011 – Fish appeal claims feds misled, (and did they ever!)
An alliance of fishing interests led by the port cities of Gloucester and New Bedford filed briefs Wednesday arguing that the First U.S. District Court of Appeals should overturn a lower court ruling in June that upheld a radical reorganization of New England’s fishing industry. According to the appeal, the government intentionally circumvented requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and camouflaged the changes in order to transform the groundfishery in a commodities market, trading in catch shares, the appellants argued. Since the start of the new regimen in May 2010, Amendment 16 to the Magnuson-Stevens Act has concentrated control of the industry in a small number of hands while “disenfranchising” a larger number of smaller businesses, according to multiple studies. Read the article here 10:15
One Year Later – We Remember Richard Gaines, and We Miss Him
This may be hard to believe. Its been a year since Richard Gaines was found dead.
People in the fisheries, and every sector attached to it felt an immediate void.
The passing of Gaines was catastrophic for many. From an industry perspective, none more so than the Gloucester Daily Times.
We were gifted to have the right combination of a great writer that informed of the issues of the day, an Editor that was supportive, and a crew that did such a wonderful job churning out article after article.
To say Richard Gaines is missed is an understatement.
07:23
Homage to the late Richard Gaines – Letter: Don’t forget Gaines’ push for fishing justice – Paul Cohan
While everyone’s talking about disbursement, and congratulating elected and non-elected representatives upon the news of the federal fishing aid package, it has occurred to me that there is no individual who deserves more credit for this and many other minor victories than the late Richard Gaines. Without his dogged, investigative, reporting and well-seasoned and honed intuition, the few positive accomplishments, this one certainly included, which we have experienced over the past few years, would not have been possible. Read more@gdt 07:53
My View: Nancy’s farewell to Richard Gaines by Nancy Gaines
As I get ready to lock the door behind me and drive down the gravel lane away from Quarry Street, I carry a profound gratitude for the 14 years Richard and I had here, and the people who helped him make these the best years of his life.
Richard lived his hopes and dreams and, yes, battles (he loved them, too) right here. Gloucester was where he found his earliest pleasures, a child at his family summer home on the corner of Atlantic and Moorland in the post-war 1940s.
He frolicked in the ocean, fished from the rocks, hustled hot dogs at Bob’s Clam Shack. He came back in the ‘80s with his babies, the fourth generation of Gaineses’ here, who waddled in the Good Harbor tidal pools and Pebble Beach. He would bring his granddaughter, Anna, here in 2011 to make the fifth.
We had our first “date” on Bass Rocks. His children scattered his ashes there.
A Blast From the Past from Richard Gaines – Green ‘activists’ gaining control of fisheries – It’s only gotten worse!
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Two fishermen were hanged in effigy at a protest by a crowd of 300 outside the regional office of the federal fisheries service last October in Gloucester, Mass., the oldest commercial fishing port in America. The mannequins clad in foul weather gear weren’t the object of the protesters’ anger. The target was the black-hooded dummy off to the side presiding over the hanging. That figure represented Jane Lubchenco,,,Link
Letter: Richard Gaines, a true journalism original Mark Leibovich – Washington, D.C. Chief national correspondent, New York Times Magazine
Richard Gaines gave me my first job in journalism.
I was right out of college, and he was looking for an assistant. He was nice enough to meet with me, and then take a flier on a 23-year-old kid with not a day of journalism experience.
I loved reading The Phoenix back then. I was a fledgling political junkie, and the Phoenix was all over politics — none more so than its legendary editor, Richard Gaines, continued@gloucesterdailytimes
My View: Joann Mackenzie – Richard Gaines
The ones his beloved Jack Kerouac said were “mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved. Who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars…” Richard Gaines found those words by Kerouac on a poster and framed that poster and hung it in a place of honor, so no one who walked through his front door could miss it. continued@gloucesterdailytimes
Richard Gaines, Staff Writer, Gloucester Daily Times
Richard Gaines, Staff Reporter, Gloucester Daily Times
For years, we found his byline under the headline of every major fishery article that we read at the Gloucester Daily Times. It told us to read on for the truth and an unbiased perspective that a great journalist presents regarding our livelihoods.Richard’s articles provided the information to the public of the complexities that made up the convoluted issues surrounding the stories of the New England ground fishery — something that was just about impossible.
Some of the articles would leave the public confused, but industry insiders knew exactly what he was bringing up. At times, these controversial to insider articles would erupt, causing some noses to get out of joint, generating lively, pointed, and sometimes fierce debate.
Those were my favorites, and I know what Richard wrote was on the money, even though some would disagree, of course.
To those people I say, some of these issues will be raised again, because there has been no closure.
There’s a lot of unfinished business to be settled, and our literary warrior, Richard Gaines, forever rides with many of us in our hearts and minds. Many of us that will attempt to keep those issues alive.
There are some that won’t share in our feelings regarding our beloved friend and beacon of justice for the small boat fishermen, and for fishermen in general, and we understand this.
ENGO’s and the “too big to fail” fishing conglomerates and even the bureaucracy of NOAA/NMFS, that includes OLE/OGC, may be breathing sighs of relief, or are even content to know that Richard Gaines won’t be watchdogging them.
While such agenda bound groups might find temporary relief in Richard’s passing, his crossing the bar merely reaffirms to us that we must each continue the struggles that are easier to walk away from than to stand and fight back. To those bad players, we’ll steadfastly say, “As long as we draw a breath of existence, let it be known that our loss will not be your gain.”
I also realize that many who do understand what I’m trying to say are battle weary. For many, it’s been a decade’s long continuous fight, but it is a worthy one.
Richard Gaines created a standard that we all now expect in the esoteric arena of fishery journalism; but sadly, there is no one individual to carry on the legacy he left for us. During this time of awakening to this cruel reality the question becomes, “How do we continue Richard’s work that still demands greater accountability to the resource and the public?”
We must find the way. Richard would want us to; and his bright beacon will forever guide us to that home harbor where truth and conscience tie up to the dock alongside integrity and grit.
From the Moderator – Richard Gaines
photo credit Jim Kendall
Richard Gaines, Staff Reporter, Gloucester Daily Times
For years, we found his byline under the headline of every major fishery article that we read at the Gloucester Daily Times. It told us to read on for the truth and an unbiased perspective that a great journalist presents regarding our livelihoods.
Richard’s articles provided the information to the public of the complexities that made up the convoluted issues surrounding the stories of the New England ground fishery — something that was just about impossible.
Some of the articles would leave the public confused, but industry insiders knew exactly what he was bringing up. At times, these controversial to insider articles would erupt, causing some noses to get out of joint, generating lively, pointed, and sometimes fierce debate.
Those were my favorites, and I know what Richard wrote was on the money, even though some would disagree, of course.
To those people I say, some of these issues will be raised again, because there has been no closure.
There’s a lot of unfinished business to be settled, and our literary warrior, Richard Gaines, forever rides with many of us in our hearts and minds. Many of us that will attempt to keep those issues alive.
There are some that won’t share in our feelings regarding our beloved friend and beacon of justice for the small boat fishermen, and for fishermen in general, and we understand this.
ENGO’s and the “too big to fail” fishing conglomerates and even the bureaucracy of NOAA/NMFS, that includes OLE/OGC, may be breathing sighs of relief, or are even content to know that Richard Gaines won’t be watchdogging them.
While such agenda bound groups might find temporary relief in Richard’s passing, his crossing the bar merely reaffirms to us that we must each continue the struggles that are easier to walk away from than to stand and fight back. To those bad players, we’ll steadfastly say, “As long as we draw a breath of existence, let it be known that our loss will not be your gain.”
I also realize that many who do understand what I’m trying to say are battle weary. For many, it’s been a decade’s long continuous fight, but it is a worthy one.
Richard Gaines created a standard that we all now expect in the esoteric arena of fishery journalism; but sadly, there is no one individual to carry on the legacy he left for us. During this time of awakening to this cruel reality the question becomes, “How do we continue Richard’s work that still demands greater accountability to the resource and the public?”
We must find the way. Richard would want us to; and his bright beacon will forever guide us to that home harbor where truth and conscience tie up to the dock alongside integrity and grit.
Steve Urbon discusses Richard Gaines – Reporter’s death silences voice for fishing industry
I had been on the fishing beat for just over nine months in 2010 when the fishing industry and local and state leaders during the Working Waterfront Festival presented the Friend of the New Bedford Fishermen Award to a reporter from the Gloucester Daily Times, Richard Gaines, along with his editor, Ray Lamont. continued@southcoasttoday
WCVB-TV Channel 5’s ‘Chronical’ to feature an interview of Richard Gaines, 7:30 pm
Chronicle, WCVB-TV Channel 5’s venerable 30-minute travelogue of New England and its cities and towns, will be re-running a segment on the city of Gloucester tonight at 7:30, and the program will include a recognition of the late Times staff writer Richard Gaines. An interview with Gaines is included in the Chronicle segment, which was recorded last summer and focuses in part on the the Gloucester fishing industry. GDT
Counsel touts fishery suits as ‘education’ By Richard Gaines – (Peter Shelley said the action was not “hypocritical at all.”)
In drawing a distinction between a federal lawsuit filed by Attorney General Martha Coakley to halt NOAA’s draconian groundfish catch limits and federal lawsuits like one he filed against NOAA a day later for his Conservation Law Foundation, CLF’s senior counsel Peter Shelley said the action was not “hypocritical at all.” continued @ Gloucester Daily Times
One scandal of the National Marine Fishery Service, unknown but for Richard Gaines
Who in the Hell is Richard Gaines?!!
Richard Gaines, Staff Writer, Gloucester Daily Times.
Read it here with two video interviews by GMG’s JoeyC
There is nothing sadder to me than the passing of my friend, Richard Gaines
Richard Gaines has passed today.
Richard Gaines, the award-winning 40-year New England journalist who spent more than a decade as staff writer with the Gloucester Daily Times and carved out a national niche with his local coverage of the commercial fishing industry, was found dead this afternoon in the swimming pool outside his home in his beloved Bay View section of the city.
One fisherman’s tale shows plight of many -Richard Gaines – gloucester daily times
For a gillnet fisherman, these are trying times — with worse yet to come. Captain Don Smith, a 57-year-old transplanted Mainer whose family roots are in Nova Scotia and has fished commercially from Gloucester for more than 30 y
ears, doesn’t need to be prodded to speak to that…… Making life more difficult for the small boats are the big boats; these “trip” boats that traditionally worked offshore on the more distant Georges Bank. But the catch share trading system imposed by federal regulators in 2010 has liberated them to acquire quota from non-participants or day boats, and — no longer limited by daily catch limits —they have been induced to chase the pulses of cod onto Stellwagen, where they flaunt their scale and have their way. Read more here
UPDATED – Ex-AG Harshbarger report clears fisheries group, but raises questions By Richard Gaines
A 48-page report released today by a former state attorney general has found allegations of wrongdoing by Vito Giacalone in his role heading the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund “without merit” and with no “credible 
basis.”,,,,The investigation and report, filled with compliments and praise for Giacalone, in one place noting that his many admirers consider him a “genius” of foresight, was commissioned and financed by the preservation fund, for which Giacalone serves as president and executive director. Read more Todays Update January 30, 2013 Read more
Regional NOAA head won’t ease limits: Richard Gaines
Claiming his hands are tied legally, NOAA regional administrator John Bullard has rejected a nearly unanimous request by the New England Regional Fishery Management Council to give the inshore cod fishery centered on Gloucester a second year of interim relief from extreme cuts in landings. The interim action on Gulf of Maine cod for the 2012 fishing cycle, which ends April 30, reduced landing limits by 22 percent compared to the prior year, and the seafood coalition — later backed by the regional council — had hoped to extend that limit rate for another year, in part while questions are answered regarding the assessments. Read more
Iconic fisheries scientist loses key UMass post – Richard Gaines gdt
The decision to remove Rothschild from the co-directorship of the institute he helped found 10 years ago was signaled in a press release dated Dec. 11. It featured the announcement of a decision to suspend the operations of a neurotoxin lab; only secondarily did the release describe a restructuring of the Marine Fisheries Institute and then never mentioned Rothschild by name, but noted that Steve Lorhenz, dean of the School or Marine Science and Technology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, had become co-director of the institute. The decision to remove Rothschild from the institute was made by Marcie Williams, the vice president for academic affairs, based on a review of MFI by Associate Vice President Robert Gamache, and was “agreed to” by Divina Grossman, chancellor of UMass-Dartmouth, John Hoey, Grossman’s chief of staff, explained in a telephone interview. Read More
City loses bid to have catch share tossed By Richard Gaines
The pla
intiffs included U.S. Congressmen John Tierney, whose district includes Gloucester, and Barney Frank, who represents New Bedford. The Conservation Law Foundation was allowed to intervene, allied with the government. A core complaint by the plaintiffs, rejected by the court, was the adoption of the catch share system without putting the regimen to a binding referendum. “Not allowing a referendum on such a measure effectively leaves the fishery up for grabs to the highest bidder,” said Tierney in an email. “This isn’t in the best interest of fishermen.”http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x1839362063/City-loses-bid-to-have-catch-share-tossed
Fish council eyes December for ’13 limits By Richard Gaines Staff Writer GDT
The New England Fishery Management Council has set a special one-day meeting Dec. 20 to take final action on most groundfish allocations for the 2013 fishing year that begins May 1, and take near final action on Framework 48 which updates and refines Amendment 16 and its catch share maagement system. The special meeting was spun off the November council meeting set for Newport, R.I., due to the welter of issues. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1499658911/Fish-council-eyes-December-for-13-limits
Fish report release unlikely before elections By Richard Gaines Staff Writer Gloucester Daily Times
The Obama administration, through its Commerce Department and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, has declined to respond to inquiries as to whether it would release before the Nov. 6 election a special investigator’s set of case studies into allegations of abuse and excesses against American fishermen by federal law enforcers still insulated and protected by top Commerce and NOAA officials. Numerous telephone and email questions over the past month to the acting commerce secretary, Rebecca Blank, General Counsel Cameron Kerry, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and her chief counsel, Lois Schiffer, have been ignored. Read More.
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x1133190572/Fish-report-release-unlikely-before-elections
Study shows new signs of sea change By Richard Gaines Staff Writer Gloucester Daily Times
Sea surface temperatures along the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem — the waters off the New England and Mid-Atlantic coasts — were the highest ever recorded during the first half of 2012,
the government reports.“A profound warming event occurred on the Northeast Shelf this spring, and this will have a profound impact throughout the ecosystem,” said Kevin Friedland, a scientist at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole. The average sea surface temperature in the region exceeded 51 degrees, surpassing the previous record for the time of year, from 1951. The average sea surface temperature for the time of year over the past three decades was more than three degrees lower than the high http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x1618663563/Study-shows-new-signs-of-sea-change
Who in the Hell is Richard Gaines?!!
I posted this to newvine.com on Wed May 25, 2011. It’s worth another look, for those that may have missed it. Who the Hell is Richard Gaines? My hero.
I can guarantee, that the members of the New England Fishery Management Council know him. Everyone at NMFS surely know of him. I know Dr. Jane Lubchenco of EDF/NOAA fame knows who Richard Gaines is! Hell! even US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke knows who he is. I’d bet even President Obama knows of him. These are some that wished they hadn’t. I would dare say that for the last two years, or so, thanks to Richard we should all be very grateful to know of him, for if not for Richards determination to bring this information to the public, there is a real chance that things would be the same as they were. Disgustingly dysfunctional. This journalist has single-handedly brought these fishery issues to the attention of the citizens of the United States, and the world! There has been a noticeable lack of media coverage of the major networks, and print media, but thankfully for the sake of justice for all, the determined Richard Gaines, with his editors support, Ray Lamond, the misdeeds and injustices of two very powerful government agency’s, NOAA/NMFS, and US COMMERCE have been exposed.
Fishtown slides as a top port – Catch landed in Gloucester declines 63 percent in 2 years – Richard Gaines GDT
Once the world’s preeminent fishing port, even today Gloucester is arguably its best known, heralded in literature, cinema and lore……But Gloucester’s fishing industry is in steep decline, the epicenter of a regional disaster
declared days ago by the federal government. In a nation that imports 91 percent of its seafood, Gloucester has dropped nearly out of the top 20 ports in the U.S. based on landings volume, its fleet now barely 75 boats, according to a spokesman for the Gloucester Fishing Community Preservation Fund, the charitable nonprofit permit bank that leases quota from acquired rights…..In only two years, according to the government’s annual report of domestic and global fisheries, released Wednesday, landings have declined by 63 percent, from 122.3 million pounds landed in 2009 to 77 million landed in 2011….The precipitous decline was at odds with national trends, whose indicators, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are mostly pointing upward, and shoved Gloucester from 10th place in landings volume to 19th place. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x964639688/Fishtown-slides-as-a-top-port
Kerry proves lone fed voice on disaster call By Richard Gaines GDT
The U.S. Commerce Department’s assertion is correct that “diminished fish stocks” played a role in the descent of the Lubchenco into a disaster under the watch of President Obama’s nominee, Jane Lubchenco, as c
hief administrator over oceans and atmosphere, most believe. Even more certain is that the causes of the disaster are murkier and far more complex than that Even more certain is that the causes of of the disaster are murkier and far more complex than that. But in announcing the decision Thursday to grant Gov. Deval Patrick and his colleagues governing New York and the other four New England fishing states the disaster finding that had been the object of increasingly desperate pleas dating back to last Nov. 15, the Commerce Department made sure questions could not be asked not of Roberta Blank,the acting secretary; and not of Lubchenco Read More
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/fishing/x1709879299/Kerry-proves-lone-fed-voice-on-disaster-call
Fed probe of NOAA rules due in November – By Richard Gaines GloucesterTimes.com
The U.S. Commerce Department’s inspector general expects to make public in November a procedural review of how NOAA and its regional fishery management councils make rules governing the fishing industry. 
The review of procedures that go into the setting rules and regulations for fisheries was undertaken in January at the request of Congressmen John Tierney and Barney Frank, and amid concerns that non-governmental environmental organizations were given undue influence over fisheries mandates and limits.
“Our review of fishery management councils and rulemaking will be conducted in phases and result in interim reports produced at several intervals,” said Ann C. Eilers, the principal assistant inspector general for audit and evaluation, in a release dated Jan. 10. “In this phase of the review, we will evaluate the role of NOAA and the fishery management councils in the fishery rulemaking process and the transparency of the rulemaking process.”
”We are anticipating having a report ready for the public in November,” Clark Reed, spokesman for the inspector general, said Friday in a telephone interview.
The impetus for the request by Tierney and Frank, they said in a letter to Inspector General Todd Zinser dated Aug. 17, 2011, was the “high degree of mistrust” that existed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its subsidiary agencies by the fishing industry. Read more http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x1709876008/Fed-probe-of-NOAA-rules-due-in-November
Today, We Miss and Remember Richard M. Gaines – March 20, 1944 – June 9, 2013 Gloucester, Massachusetts
On many a morning, Richard Gaines would walk through the front doors of the Gloucester Daily Times, exchange a few brief hellos, and then walk briskly to his desk in the far left corner of the newsroom, sit down and make the first of what would seem like hundreds of phone calls. “I’m going to cause some trouble today,” he’d proclaim. He would mouth those words with both a twinkle in his eye and a profound sense of pride. >click to read, in Richards memory< I miss you, Richard, everyday. You impacted my life.11:29
Remembering Richard M. Gaines March 20, 1944 – June 9, 2013 Gloucester, Massachusetts
It’s hard to believe its been five years since Richard Gaines passed away on June 9, 2013. I miss him everyday, and I know I’m not alone. The many kind words that were written in his obituary by so many prominent members of the fishing community, reminds us when read again, that journalistic truth is elusive. With the integrity and tenacity of Richard Gaines, the truth was always told. >click to read< A video, NMFS Fraud Fishermen Thank Richard Gaines >click to watch<08:49
Times’ journalist Gaines, 69, found dead – By Ray Lamont Editor
Richard Gaines, the award-winning 40-year New England journalist who spent more than a decade as staff writer with the Gloucester Daily Times and carved out a national niche with his local coverage of the commercial fishing industry, was found dead Sunday afternoon in the swimming pool outside his home in his beloved Bay View section of the city. His coverage helped spotlight efforts by fishermen and lawmakers alike to challenge the actions of NOAA — particularly its law enforcement wing — leading to a federal Inspector General’s investigation and findings of wrongdoing in 2010. continued @ Gloucester Daily Times
Gloucester journalist, voice for the region’s struggling commercial fishermen, found dead @ The Republic
