The massive blade that broke off a windmill tower, splashed down into the ocean and had pieces wash up on Nantucket beaches a few weeks ago is having repercussions here today in Connecticut. The joint venture project being developed by a division of Orange-based Avangrid and a Dutch renewable energy company is under scrutiny, even as construction of the 806-megawatt offshore wind farm came to halt in mid-July when a 300-foot section of a 360-foot blade broke off one of the turbines that are part of Vineyard Wind. The project, which is a joint venture of Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, is being developed about 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and 35 miles from mainland Massachusetts. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:29
Author Archives: borehead - Moderator
JMT tragedy: Looking for answers – and an apology
I’m writing this after my annual trip to sit at Rame Head and look over the spot where my son Michael and his colleague Shane Hooper died nine years ago. Shane was 33 when he died, and Michael was 22. I’ve been fighting since then for some kind of justice, and for changes that will prevent other needless deaths at sea. The fundamental issue that saw my son go to sea in a boat that was certified as safe, but most certainly was not, has never been addressed. Michael was fishing at the age of 14, whelking as soon as he was able to leave school and work full-time, and well used to weights on deck. He wanted to go scalloping, and I found what was advertised as the ideal boat for him. The boat, called JMT, was an under- 10m scalloper, and had just passed its MCA survey, then conducted through Seafish. If I had had an additional independent survey done (this haunts me to this day), it would have been deemed unsafe immediately. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:01
New regulations on lobstering delayed amid pushback from Seacoast lobstermen
New federal regulations on the lobstering industry are being delayed after months of pushback from local lobstermen. The rules would increase the minimum acceptable size for lobsters that can be caught and require bigger escape vents to be added to traps. Regulators with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission told News9 the goal of the new rules, laid out in policy called Addendum 27, are aimed at protecting the population of younger lobsters and allowing them to grow to a size where they can reproduce and be suitable for harvesting. Starks said the number of those younger lobsters have declined in research counts in recent years, triggering the new regulations. However, local lobstermen have cast doubt on those studies and railed against the rules laid out in Addendum 27. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:18
A new Battle Between Worcester County and U.S. Wind
The offshore wind company is still moving forward with plans for a facility in the West Ocean City Harbor. County leaders have taken issue with this, because U.S. Wind’s desired location could uproot the commercial fishing industry. The packhouse at the end of the harbor allows commercial fisherman to make their living in West Ocean City. That packhouse however, sits on the property where U.S. plans on building a new facility. Dave Wilson with U.S. Wind told us on Wednesday, they didn’t find the property on their own. “We were approached by the two property owners at the harbor, we did not approach them they approached us, and we needed some space there,” said Wilson. Worcester County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said the size of that pier, in relation to U.S. Wind’s overall plans, makes him skeptical. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:17
Fishers excited as opening of fall lobster season arrives
As the fall lobster season approaches, fishers in LFA 25 are looking forward to hitting the waves. “It’s always a challenge,” said Kristian Bernard, who fishes out of Skinners Pond. “You’ve always got to try and do your best at what you can catch, and it’s nice to be on the water.” This year, fishers will be starting earlier than what was originally planned, something that hasn’t received much complaint. “Everybody was really pushing for earlier because of bad weather at the end of the season,” said Travis Shea, who also fishes out of Skinners Pond. “Due to weather, the last few seasons, we’ve all been pushed back a few days extra, so we’re trying to get a bit of leeway.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
Shrimp boat captain grateful for community support
For just over a week, it has been a sight for the curious: a mysterious shrimp boat that washed up along the beach in Port Aransas. For Phillip Lara, Captain of the Second Chance boat, it has been one crashing wave after another. “Well, the whole thing has been a nightmare,” he said. “We accidentally busted our anchor line, and we were coming in to replace it, and then we had a fuel issue, which killed the boat. I had a secondary anchor, and it wasn’t big enough. We did everything we could to stop it.” The community has taken notice of his plight. A GoFundMe page has raised nearly $5,600 and early Wednesday morning, a few of the faithful gathered in prayer to ask for help of another kind. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:21
N.S. swordfish harpoon fleet urged to bring tourists aboard to boost troubled sector
An environmental group says Nova Scotia’s commercial swordfish fleet could generate millions in added revenue by bringing tourists along for fishing trips and using different gear. The Ecology Action Centre says swordfish harpooning — lunging a long spear into the water to catch a fish — has become increasingly difficult and less economically viable because swordfish are appearing less often at the surface due to changing water conditions. In a report released Wednesday, the centre says changing ocean conditions are preventing fishers who use the traditional fishing method from fulfilling their already small swordfish quotas. The group’s solution is for the harpoon fleet to start using a single deepwater hook and line — called rod and reel gear — and to charge tourists to come aboard for a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:49
The TikTok star saving a 400-year-old US tradition
For decades, Maryland has been synonymous with crabbing. But as the Chesapeake Bay’s “watermen” fade away, a young TikTok-famous fisherman is hoping to revive it.It’s 05:00 and still dark when Luke McFadden sets out from Maryland’s Bodkin Point to start his day. His boat, the FV Southern Girl, slowly makes its way down the creek and out into the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Stretching from the northernmost tip of Maryland down to southern Virginia, the 200-mile-long Chesapeake Bay is made up of 11,684 miles of shoreline (more than the entire US West Coast) and is an integral part of the US Mid-Atlantic’s economy. It also serves as the workplace for thousands of men and women seeking to make a living from its bounty. “Being a crabber is all I’ve ever wanted to do,” McFadden said, leaning against the hull of his boat after a day on the water. On shore, dozens of metal crab traps are stacked to be baited and set across the bay the following morning. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:06
Vineyard Wind turbine debris makes it to Cape Cod
Debris from the failed Vineyard Wind Turbine has washed ashore in Falmouth, town officials said, weeks after a blade broke off and fell into the ocean. The turbine, manufactured by GE Vernova and part of the Vineyard Wind project, failed on July 13. The debris has scattered across nearby beaches, angering residents on Nantucket. A preliminary investigation by GE found that the failure was due to a manufacturing deviation. In a statement, Falmouth says it found what they believe to be wind turbine debris in the water and on the shoreline at Black Beach, Cahpoquoit Beach, Woodneck Beach, and Old Silver Beach. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:51
Hollywood put this New Bedford store on the map, but locals already knew this gem existed
New Bedford Ship Supply was put in the national spotlight when Tommy Lee Jones wore a blue hat with the name of the store on it in the movie The Finestkind. According to store personnel, the person in charge of props for the movie bought some hats, shirts and other merchandise at the store prior to its filming in early 2022. One of those hats ended up being worn by Jones in the movie. After the release of the movie, people came to the shop to buy the hat Jones wore. But while the buzz from the movie put the store in the national spotlight, local fishermen have been relying on the store and its products for decades. Peter Sousa, who has worked at New Bedford Ship Supply for 30 years, said they are proud to be one of the oldest businesses of its kind. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<09:48
Lobsterman Todd O. Keyes, 57, of Lewiston has passed away
Todd O. Keyes, 57, of Lewiston, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 5, 2024, after a period of declining health. Todd was born in Rockland on July 25, 1967, to Sumner and Alberta (Spear) Keyes. Todd grew up in Cushing and attended local schools, graduating from Georges Valley High School in 1986. After graduation, Todd went into the workforce and worked at North End Marine in Rockland and dug clams. He later became a lobsterman, working on the stern of the F/V Jessie Jane alongside captain Richard Olson for many years before his unfortunate accident in 2009 left him confined to a wheelchair for his remaining years. Todd was an avid outdoorsman and greatly enjoyed fishing and hunting. As a child he loved to hunt rabbits, as an adult he was always hunting deer and even once got a bear. Todd will always be remembered for his love of the great outdoors. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:36
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 57′ Aluminum Dragger with Federal & State Permits
To review specifications, information, and 25 photos’, >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >click here< 06:44
FFAW celebrating decision against seafood processors in snow crab dispute
The Fish, Food and Allied Workers union is celebrating a ruling over last year’s payment dispute for snow crab that the union president estimates will net a collective $3.3 million payout for harvesters. FFAW filed the grievance against the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) on the removal of the 20 per cent tolerance for snow crab in 2023. The tolerance had previously allowed harvesters to be paid the minimum price for their entire catch as long as the percentage of crab under four inches, but still of legal size, was less than 20 per cent. On Aug. 5 the arbiter ruled in favour of the fish harvesters union. “These processors have processing licenses from the province, and I expect them to behave in a more honourable manner than what they’ve been doing,” FFAW president Greg Pretty told CBC News. “It’s important not only that the harvesters get their money back, but that it shines a light on behaviours of crab processing companies in this province.” He said fish harvesters are owed approximately $3.3 million from 2023 from processing companies. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:19
Horseshoe Beach residents react to Hurricane Debby’s aftermath
One Dixie County town is standing strong after Hurricane Debby appeared in North Central Florida. Horseshoe Beach residents are cleaning up and rebuilding their community after Debby and showing great resilience one year later after the devastation of Hurricane Idalia. Long-time resident Ronald Neeley sat through yet another storm. “It was anywhere between 80 to 90 miles an hour wind hurricane and I stayed here,” said Neeley. “I stayed during this one, it wasn’t too bad, but the other one was nasty.” Hurricane Idalia hit Horseshoe Beach hard last year, leaving homes and buildings damaged beyond repair. Video, more, CLICK TO READ<< 12:46
CT-based Avangrid wind farm under scrutiny, energy production halted, after blade shatters.
Man accused of stealing crabs on Troublesome Point
A Currituck County man found himself in a pinch Friday night after deputies say that they caught him making trouble on Troublesome Point. Deputies say that they, along with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, arrested David Dixon, Jr. of Gibbs Woods around 11:30 Friday night after they caught him in the act of stealing crabs from crab pots in the Troublesome Point area of Currituck Sound. Deputies say that when they got near to Dixon Jr’s boat that the man jumped overboard and tried to swim away, but he was quickly caught. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:25
Lawsuit alleges Cooke Aquaculture using shell companies to skirt U.S. law
Cooke Aquaculture, one of New Brunswick’s largest companies, has asked for dismissal of a U.S. lawsuit accusing it of using a complex web of shell companies to break anti-foreign ownership laws. Saint John-based Cooke Aquaculture has owned Omega Protein, in Virginia, since 2017. Omega is affiliated with another company that operates a Chesapeake Bay menhaden fishery, a small baitfish used to make fishmeal, fish oil and other products. The menhaden fishery under Omega has concerned environmental activists, who say the company is overfishing a fish that many species up the food chain depend on in the Chesapeake Bay, which is slightly smaller than the Bay of Fundy. The lawsuit alleges Cooke is violating the American Fisheries Act, which requires 75 per cent of a company fishing in the U.S. to be owned by a U.S. citizen. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:35
When it comes to boatbuilding, Peter Kass would rather build wooden boats by hand
There is something timeless, at least on the coast of Maine, about a boat made of wood. Crafting those boats requires skills and even tools dating back hundreds of years. In a time when most boats are built of fiberglass or other man-made materials, Peter Kass still does it the old way—building lobster boats and yachts from wood, the way he was taught when he was just 17 years old. Kass grew up in Massachusetts but said he moved to Maine after finishing high school to learn the boatbuilder’s trade. “I’ve always loved it,” he said, now in his early 60’s. “It’s challenging, very interesting…some parts dirty and unpleasant, but for the most part, it’s fun putting the parts together. I love boats,” Kass explained. Kass said he learned from the old-time wooden boatbuilders at the Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol; known at the time for building a series of wooden sailing ships, including a history of building commercial fishing vessels. He then worked at two other yards before opening his own shop, John’s Bay Boat Company, in 1983. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:07
Americans are ‘getting whacked’ by too many laws and regulations, Justice Gorsuch says in a new book
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch said ordinary Americans are “getting whacked” by too many laws and regulations in a new book that underscores his skepticism of federal agencies and the power they wield. “Too little law and we’re not safe, and our liberties aren’t protected,” Gorsuch told The Associated Press in an interview in his Supreme Court office. “But too much law and you actually impair those same things.” The problem, he said, is that there has been an explosion of laws and regulations, at both the federal and state levels. The sheer volume of Congress’ output for the past decade is overwhelming, he said, averaging 344 pieces of legislation totaling two million to three million words a year. One vignette involves John Yates, a Florida fisherman who was convicted of getting rid of some undersized grouper under a federal law originally aimed at the accounting industry and the destruction of evidence in the Enron scandal. Yates’ case went all the way to the Supreme Court, where he won by a single vote. “I wanted to tell the story of people whose lives were affected,” Gorsuch said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:01
Argos Helena Crew Hold Memorial at Sinking Site of Argos Georgia
On Friday, 02 August, the vessel Argos Helena paid a poignant visit to the site where the Argos Georgia tragically sank on Monday, 22 July 2024. The sombre occasion saw Captain Leif Petter Hoddevik lay flowers on the sea in a heartfelt tribute to those who perished and those still missing from the ill-fated Argos Georgia. “A last greeting from Argos Froyanes and Ervik Havfiske,” expressed the part-owners, marking a moment of collective mourning and remembrance. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:38
Hurricane Debby makes landfall in Florida as Cat 1 storm.
Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida in the Florida Big Bend area as a Category 1 hurricane around 7 a.m. Monday. Sustained winds were 80 mph, making Debby a Category 1 hurricane at the time of landfall. Landfall came less than 12 hours after Debby strengthened from a tropical storm into a hurricane Although winds had already dropped to 75 mph by 8 a.m., forecasters warned life-threatening storm surge and “potentially catastrophic rainfall” are expected before Debby finishes with Florida and as it heads toward Georgia and the Carolinas. Debby is expected to bring 6 to 12 inches of rain to Florida, with some areas seeing up to 18 inches, according to the National Hurricane Center. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
EU seal ban causing more harm than good, says Swedish researcher
Danny Pottle is an Inuk elder, who experienced first hand the impacts of the anti-sealing movement growing up in Rigolet, Labrador.
A Swedish researcher says the European Union’s ban on the import and sale of all seal products has caused more harm than good, and now is the time to lift the 15-year-old ban. Sven-Gunnar Lunneryd, who researches aquatic resources at the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences, says ending the ban would help seal hunters and restore depleted fish stocks. His research demonstrates that in the Baltic Sea, where the grey seal population has recently increased rapidly, having a negative impact coastal fisheries in the region. “We maybe need to half the seal population to get the chance for depleted fish stocks to recover,” said Lunneryd. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:53
Fishermen’s dismay as funds diverted to port upgrade
Fishermen in Thanet say they have been “pushed to one side, forgotten about and ignored” after money for new facilities was redirected to a plan to reopen a Kent port. Thanet District Council (TDC) said it had no choice but to reallocate £3.5m slated for fishing upgrades to reopening Ramsgate’s port due to government rules. Some £3.5m from the fishing facilities upgrade programme was proposed to instead be redirected to the port and for a £4.5m grant to be given to any prospective operator of the port. John Nichols, a committee member and a former chairman of the Thanet Fishermen’s Association, said the loss of funding was “extremely disappointing”. “We need these very basic facilities, we don’t need to be pushed to one side, forgotten about and ignored,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:39
UPDATE: Tropical Storm Debby to Bring Major Flooding to Southeast After Florida Landfall
Tropical Storm Debby could bring historically heavy rainfall, gusty winds and a few tornadoes, from north Florida to coastal South Carolina after making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Monday. Flash flooding is the number one concern with Debby. NOAA has issued their highest level of flood outlook for both Monday and Tuesday, shown in pink on the maps below. These areas will likely experience damaging flooding and could experience life-threatening flooding. Debby will also bring gusty winds, coastal flooding and a few tornadoes across the Florida Peninsula Sunday and then along the Southeast coast early in the coming week, where it could slow down or even stall, prolonging impacts. Here’s where watches and warnings are in effect: A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Big Bend region from the Suwannee River to Indian Pass. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:56
Will Labour betray Scotland’s fisherman in order to win concessions from the EU?
On July 18, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after only a fortnight in the job, hosted a summit meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The meeting, involving more than 40 of the continent’s leaders, was billed as a way for the UK prime minister to re-boot Brexit and negotiate a more favourable trade deal for Britain. The summit concluded with a private dinner between Sir Keir and the French President Emmanuel Macron at Chequers. Scottish fishermen are deeply suspicious that Labour may be planning a major betrayal of their industry. Sir Keir has a long list of concessions that he wants from the EU, including progress on cross-channel migration, increased freedom of movement for UK citizens, a major revision to Boris Johnson’s “botched” Brexit trade deal and a new security and intelligence-sharing agreement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16: 19
‘Majority’ of chinook run is already past Chilcotin River landslide area: Cullen
Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen says officials are estimating a four-to-seven-day window for returning sockeye salmon, but the “majority” of the chinook run is already past the Chilcotin landslide area. During an update on the landslide situation Saturday (Aug. 3), Cullen said the province is working very closely with First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to prepare. “While we know that there will be impacts on fish from there this event, our early assessment is that the majority of the chinook run is already past the landslide area,” he explained. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:44
Flying over Sears Island puts the offshore wind debate in context
A bird’s-eye view can show you a lot about a place — its size and shape, its hidden contours, and the water, forests, roads and development around it. I got this landscape-level view of part of Penobscot Bay last week. I flew in a small propeller plane between Belfast, Searsport and Stockton Springs, up to the mouth of the Penobscot River where it flows from Bucksport around Verona Island, and back again. On my Penobscot Bay flight, we flew from Belfast’s tiny airstrip out over Sears Island, which is mostly undeveloped but still accessible by road. We could see the part of the island where the state wants to build the wind port, an area about one tenth the island’s size. Mack Point is where opponents of the Sears Island project say they want the port built. It was considered by the state’s Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group over the past two years. Sprague has since proposed a new approach to using the site for the port, which groups like Friends of Sears Island are pushing for. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:53
Tropical Storm Debby timeline: When could it become hurricane, make landfall?
Tropical Storm Debby officially formed Saturday afternoon, making it the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters believe Tropical Storm Debby could be ‘at or near hurricane’ strength as it approaches the Florida coast before landfall, according to the 5 p.m. advisory. A timeline has been established for when the eye of what is now known as Tropical Storm Debby could impact Florida over the weekend and into early next week. On Saturday, the NHC issued a hurricane watch and warning for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:32
USCG suspends search for man who fell overboard from fishing vessel 80 miles off Sanibel Island
The United States Coast Guard has suspended a search for a man who fell off a fishing vessel 80 miles off Sanibel Island, Saturday, pending new information. Missing is 29-year-old Sterling Grover. The captain of the fishing vessel Jules’ contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watch standers, Friday, at approximately 10 p.m., reporting Grover fell overboard wearing khaki shorts and no personal flotation device. Rescue crews searched 2,796 square miles, an area about the size of the state of Delaware. On-scene weather conditions during the search were 25-knot winds and 10-foot seas with severe overhead storms. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:34
Outgoing fishing leader warns of challenges facing local fleet
The outgoing head of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association has laid bare the sobering reality of the challenges facing the fleet – as he looks back on nearly two decades as a voice for the industry. Don Thompson said he had “mixed emotions” about his recent decision to step down as JFA president, a role he has held for approximately 17 years. This, he explained, was partly because there are still a number of “big decisions” to be taken by Island fishermen concerning future management of local fish stocks. While no immediate successor has stepped up to replace Mr. Thompson, the 69-year-old stressed that the fleet needed to maintain a “close working relationship” with government “at all levels”. His comments came shortly after States Members unanimously approved an amendment to sea fisheries legislation, lodged by Environment Minister Steve Luce, to raise the minimum landing size for lobster from 87mm to 88mm. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:40
The province says an N.L. fish plant was trying to sell rotten crab. The fish plant is snapping back
The owner of a major seafood processing plant in Bay de Verde says major inspection issues are at the root of claims his company was selling rotten crab. Robin Quinlan, president of Quinlan Brothers Ltd., said the accusations are a “very serious misrepresentation of the facts of what had occurred at the facility.” Quinlan told reporters Thursday that independent inspectors had assessed the catches in question and passed them. But when provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture inspectors showed up for a surprise assessment, they deemed those same catches unfit for the market. The company was formally charged last week under the provincial Fish Inspection Act and Fish Inspection Operations Regulations — accused of moving and processing dead snow crab. The four charges are related to two provincial inspections at the plant in May and June. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:34
