Author Archives: borehead - Moderator
Hurricane Ian: Shem Creek shrimpers help iconic trawler grounded on Myrtle Beach – Ready to move!
“We’re a community, and we ride together,” said Grace Edwards of Shem Creek Fisheries. “No one wants to see the boat break up on shore. “We all grew up with (that boat),” she said. “Edwards said Magwood’s nephew Rocky and some other Shem Creek fishermen helped unload ice and fuel from the Shayna Michelle to make the 68-foot fiberglass trawler lighter. “That is a piece of Mount Pleasant history, really,” said Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie. “I’m proud that a lot of our local shrimping community has pitched in to help.” 4 photos, Video, >click to read< 18:00
Uncooperative tide delays removal of boat left behind by Hurricane Ian – According to Myrtle Beach Police Department spokesperson, MCpl. Tom Vest, the original plan was to remove the boat Monday at high tide. But that won’t be happening because the tide has kept two smaller tug boats from making it to Myrtle Beach. >click to read<
Hurricane Ian Ravages Family Fishing Business Just Before Crab Season
Off the Hook Fishing Fleet has been in Michael McPhillips’ family for three generations, but Hurricane Ian has left the Fort Myers business in shambles. “Words can’t describe what happened here, McPhillips said. Though stone crab fishing runs in his blood, McPhillips says family-owned commercial fishing businesses are hard to come by. It’s why he tied down and braced for impact as Hurricane Ian barreled into Fort Myers. His mom Denise says she begged her son to stay home. “This is our livelihood,” Michael McPhillips said. “This is all we got. Without this, you don’t have anything. That’s why I was trying to save the boats.” Denise McPhillips says they don’t have insurance. Video, >click to read< 14:00
World War II American fighter cockpit found by Lowestoft fishermen
Lowestoft trawlerman Alex Wightman was collecting his nets on September 9, when, to his amazement, he realised the big catch he hauled overboard was the remains of a P-47 Thunderbolt cockpit, which was stuck in his net. The 16-year-old said: “Me and my skipper Jeffery Melton were out when the net tightened. It was weird because we felt something snagging the net. When Mr Wightman and his skipper got the parts on the boat they couldn’t believe the smell of petrol of the parts. Photos, >click to read< 12:48
‘That’s who we depend on,’: Omaha fish market braces for impact after Hurricane Ian
One Omaha restaurant is wondering if the impact of Hurricane Ian will reach the metro. Absolutely Fresh Seafood Market and Shucks Fish House survived the shutdown during the pandemic and supply chain issues that still put a strain on the industry. They said there’s no chance they’ll close but some things may be hard to come by. “Our hearts go out to them because, you know, if it wasn’t for a fisherman there or on any of the coasts, we couldn’t be here. You know that’s who we depend on,” Leimbach said. Video, >click to read< 12:09
Scots fishers urge ministers to resist campaign for giant freezer trawler
The UK Government is being urged to ignore a “concerted campaign” to deprive Scottish fishers of quota in favour of a huge, foreign-owned freezer trawler operating out of a British port. Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association chief executive Ian Gatt and Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Simon Collins said lobbying by the vessel’s owner, East Yorkshire-based UK Fisheries, to secure more fish “must be resisted”. Mr Gatt said: “This vessel operates out of Hull, but is owned primarily by Dutch and Icelandic interests, is largely operated by a non-UK crew and processes its catch on board. >click to read< 09:31
In-Person Scoping Meeting for Modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan on Wednesday, October 5 at 6-9 pm in Portland, Maine
We will be conducting an in-person scoping meeting to collect public input on modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to reduce the risk of death and serious injury caused by U.S. commercial fishing gear to endangered North Atlantic right whales in compliance with the mandates of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. We are seeking suggestions for measures for all U.S. commercial fisheries regulated by the Plan (U.S. East Coast gillnet, Atlantic mixed species trap/pot, and Mid-Atlantic and Northeast lobster and Jonah crab trap/pot fisheries) that would reach a 90% minimum risk reduction needed to bring mortality and serious injury below the potential biological removal level for this species. >click to read the notice< 07:38
Hurricane Ian: Shrimpers rode out the storm on boats. Now they’re left without work
The F/V Aces and Eights precariously perch on land near the Trico Shrimp Co. in Matanzas Harbor. Under the shadow cast by the shrimping boat’s black and white hull, sailors Oriel Martinez Alvarado and Javier Allan Lopez took a breather. The shrimping industry’s long history in Fort Myers Beach, the largest commercial shrimping fleet in the Gulf of Mexico, came to a crashing halt as Hurricane Ian’s storm surge tossed around massive boats like bath toys, most of them now stuck on land. During the storm, Martinez and Lopez worried that the boat they were on, the F/V Miz Shirley, might sink. So they crossed onto the F/V Big Daddy with two other sailors. But now, Martinez, Lopez and other shrimpers are out of a job indefinitely. Photos, >click to read< 17:31
Atlantic sea scallops at lowest biomass in over 20 years and what that means for New Bedford
A Scallop Survey Report presented at the NEFMC meeting Tuesday showed the Atlantic Sea scallop fishery is facing its lowest biomass in over 20 years. Throughout the NEFMC jurisdiction, the survey estimated a biomass decrease of almost 30%. The Georges Bank region saw the largest drop, around 36%. Tyler Miranda, a scalloper Captain and owner who came to prominence during the recent scallop license allocation debate, said that though it is of concern, the announcement does not worry him too much. “Obviously I worry, but what I’ve come to realize about the scallop industry is it fluctuates year to year,” Justin Mello said he felt similarly. “I’m only gonna go into the areas they allow us to, that’s why they call it fishing and not catching.” >click to read< 14:20
What Happened to F/V Southern Wind on Deadliest Catch?
Like any show that’s been on the air as long as “Deadliest Catch” has, there comes a point when new blood needs to be brought in to keep things spicy. And the Discovery hit has indeed brought new faces, and even new fishing vessels into the mix on a fairly regular basis over the years. One of the more recent injections of fresh “Deadliest Catch” blood came with the arrival of the F/V Southern Wind and its even-keeled Captain Steve “Harley” Davidson. Harley and the Southern Wind crew joined the series for Season 17, and though they weren’t exactly the most drama-forward lot that season, they certainly faced their share of troubles. Unexpectedly, neither the vessel nor its captain has been seen on “Deadliest Catch” since. Here’s what became of the Southern Wind. >click to read< 11:57
A fundraiser by Aaron Robinson – Save Shayna Michelle Shrimp Boat
Holden Beach Seafood’s, shrimp boat, the Shayna Michelle (formerly the Winds of Fortune), and crew were trying to make their way back home to Holden Beach, NC before Hurricane Ian made it to our coast. However, Thursday evening, they were stranded about two miles off the coast of Myrtle Beach with engine issues. The coast guard was able to save the crew by helicopter but there was no way to get the boat to safety. >click to read<. and please donate if you can. 08:21
Myrtle Beach man charged after he climbed on fishing boat that washed ashore during Hurricane Ian
A Myrtle Beach man was charged after he was accused of climbing on a fishing boat that washed ashore during Hurricane Ian, according to Master Cpl. Tom Vest with the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Isaac Shaw, 50, of Myrtle Beach, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Police said Shaw climbed aboard the boat while it was tossing in the surf. >lick to read< 20:31
The Terrifying Conditions That Forced Sig Hansen to Kick His Daughter Off the Boat
It takes a lot for a captain of a crab fishing boat in Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” to take their boat into harbor because of the conditions on the water — so it was quite a surprise when Captain Sig Hansen of the Northwestern said he was going to be steering his ship into St. Paul Harbor because of the extremely icy conditions. So, with the weather not breaking and more and more ice accumulating on the boat, Hansen decides that he has to wait it out in port and that his daughter shouldn’t complete the crab season on The Northwestern. But actually getting his daughter Mandy to agree to disembark and wait out the season is a whole other problem. >click to read< 14:16
Biden Creates an Eco-Diplomat Position for His Chief of Staff’s Wife
President Joe Biden has created a new “special diplomat” position to represent…plants and animals. “Monica Medina is taking on a new role as special envoy for biodiversity and water resources, the State Department announced Wednesday. She currently serves as the department’s assistant secretary for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs.” What the paper left out is the connection Medina has to White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain. >click to read< 11:06 More on Monica, >click to read<
Sinking trawler safely pulled from Port Townsend Bay
Quick thinking and fast action helped to prevent a sinking trawler from turning into something worse. “Galaxy,” a 38-foot wooden fishing vessel, began taking on water about one nautical mile off of Boat Haven Marina around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. The owner of the boat, who was the only one aboard, called 911 and launched Coast Guard Station Port Angeles and East Jefferson Fire Rescue into action. Luckily, the owner had already contacted a commercial salvage operation, which was able to bring the boat into the marina where it was removed from the water Thursday evening. >click to read< 10:24
Florida, Carolinas count the cost of Hurricane Ian
Florida, North and South Carolina faced a massive clean-up on Saturday from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ian, after one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the U.S. mainland caused tens of billions of dollars in damage and killed more than 20 people. Ian, now a post-tropical cyclone, was weakening but still forecast to bring treacherous conditions to parts of the Carolinas, Virginia and West Virginia into Saturday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. “Major to record river flooding will continue across central Florida through next week. Limited flash, urban and small stream flooding is possible across the central Appalachians and the southern Mid-Atlantic this weekend, with minor river flooding expected over the coastal Carolinas,” it said. >click to read< 08:40
Everglades City: A fishing community versed in struggle bands together after Hurricane Ian
On Friday, after the water had fully receded from roads but with the power still out, it was mostly friends and family helping each clean mud and haul belongings to the curb in the stifling heat. Many neighbors and family have known each other for generations. Betty Valdes, 41, who grew up in Everglades City and whose family runs a fishing boat, said at the height of the surge, people could boat down most every street in town. “It was solid water,” she said. Most of Everglades City’s crab boats survived, secured by those who depend on them for their livelihoods. 41photos, >click to read< 08:32
Large fishing boat washes ashore in Myrtle Beach during Hurricane Ian
A large commercial fishing boat washed ashore in Myrtle Beach as Hurricane Ian rages on in the Grand Strand. The boat came ashore in the area of Williams Street. According to the Myrtle Beach Police Department, no one was onboard the boat. The city said that the Coast Guard rescued the people onboard. They are urging people to stay away from the boat and there is no reason to go near it. Video, >click to watch< 19:22
He watched Fiona wash away his livelihood. Now this Newfoundland fisherman says he’ll rebuild
Rose Blanche fisherman Hedley King says it’s almost impossible to put a dollar figure on what he lost to post-tropical storm Fiona, but he knows the road to rebuilding will be a long one. King lost three fishing sheds and a wharf in the wind and waves that hit Rose Blanche, about 45 kilometres from Port aux Basques on Newfoundland’s southwest coast. He also lost 40 tubs of gear for fishing halibut, an expensive freezer unit and much more. As King and his wife, Arthena, stand on the road and watch parts of their lives sail by, they say they’re committing to rebuilding in Rose Blanche. >click to read<
New crab fishing vessel is completed by Macduff Shipyards
Macduff Shipyards has signed over its latest new build vessel Euroclydon (GY77). It is the second crabbing fishing boat built by the yard in a space of only three years, following on from Levanter (GY7) with both vessels belonging to the same owner Stuart MacDougall of fishing company Euroclydon Ltd. The vessel is a new design of vivier crabber fishing vessel designed between the shipyards and local naval architecture and consultancy firm Macduff Ship Design. Photos, >click to read< 11:27
After Fiona’s wrath, Atlantic fishing communities look to rebuild livelihoods
All week, fishermen across Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were left to reckon with the damage left in Fiona’s wake, and to the region’s industry, which exports more than $4.5-billion worth of seafood each year. But as officials plan for the future, they face two competing priorities: the need to rebuild fast to be ready for the coming fishing season and the need to rethink infrastructure entirely in the face of climate change – a costlier, and potentially slower, approach. “PEI’s a mess. Newfoundland’s a mess. Nova Scotia’s a mess. And it’s all the same people who are fixing them,” said Leonard LeBlanc, President of the Gulf Nova Scotia Fishermen’s Coalition >click to read< 10:03
Proposed Virginia offshore wind farm threatens North Atlantic Right Whales
The proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project is directly in the NARWs’ annual migration path. Dominion Energy has applied to erect 176 wind turbines, covering an area of approximately 10 miles by 15 miles—equal to the size of 85,000 football fields or the city of Tampa, Florida—located 27 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. Each turbine will sit atop a monopole extending a minimum of 80 feet into the water and about 120 feet into the ocean floor, and its height above the water will top 620 feet. That’s higher than the Washington Monument, which is 555 feet tall. “How to kill whales with offshore wind?” Wojick asks. “Just push them into traffic. The collision deaths would not be directly attributable to the wall of noise created by the OSW project, so who would know?” >click to read< 08:55
Local fisherman make their pitch to governor
Fishermen like Jon Williams, who call Galilee home, have depended for too long on the port’s aging docks and rusty bulkheads. Williams’ Narragansett Crab Company brings in millions of pounds of fish per year, but he’s hamstrung by a dock that dates back to 1948 and can’t be used because it’s in such poor shape. But he struck a hopeful tone Friday when Gov. Dan McKee came to his business to learn how Williams and his brethren would benefit from a multi million-dollar project to get the port ship-shape through repairs and modernization. >click to read< 08:00
Hurricane Ian Taking Aim at the Carolinas and Georgia – Public Advisory – 800 PM EDT
At 800 PM EDT (0000 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ian was located by an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 29.7 North, longitude 79.4 West. Ian is moving toward the north-northeast near 10 mph (17 km/h). A turn toward the north is expected tonight, followed by a turn toward the north-northwest with an increase in forward speed Friday night. On the forecast track, Ian will approach the coast of South Carolina on Friday. The center will move farther inland across the Carolinas Friday night and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 75 mph (120 km/h) with higher gusts. Ian could slightly strengthen before landfall tomorrow and is forecast to rapidly weaken over the southeastern United States late Friday into Saturday. >click to read< Graphics, >click here< 20:15
Many trapped in Florida as Ian heads toward South Carolina – Photos show the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers
Rescue crews piloted boats and waded through flooded streets Thursday to save thousands of Floridians trapped after Hurricane Ian destroyed homes and businesses and left millions in the dark. A hurricane warning was issued for the South Carolina coast, where the storm was expected to again make landfall, having already hit Cuba and Florida. Photos, >click to read< Photos show the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers – With top winds of 155 mph, Ian was a major storm that left catastrophic damage in its wake after hitting the southern Gulf Coast and moving north through Florida’s inner counties. The images below show its impact around the state. >click to view< 16:40
A rare summer-long chinook opener was not enough to lure SE trollers away from Chumageddon
Chinook trollers in Southeast may have left a sizeable portion of their allocation in the water when the summer season wrapped up on September 20 – but that doesn’t mean it was a bad year. Instead, it was a rather unusual year. “Being able to retain chinook for the entire summer is not something that they’re used to,” said Grant Hagerman, troll management biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game in Sitka. Commercial trolling for king salmon was open all summer, with only three days off to allow silver salmon – or coho – time to escape into their natal streams, lakes, and rivers. Hagerman says the long summer season wasn’t due to a lack of king salmon; rather, it was an abundance of choice. Commercial trolling has changed. >click to read/listen< 12:37
Fishermen reeling as further whale protection measures fast tracked
Maine lobstermen worry that their fate is sealed. Dozens gathered Tuesday evening in the Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School cafeteria for a livestream of a NOAA Fisheries scoping session on modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Hundreds more participated online. Spurred by a recent court ruling, federal regulators are fast tracking plans to achieve a 90 percent reduction in entanglement risk. “These are measures that are going to really hurt and there were measures that were put forth that look really bad that didn’t come close to 90 percent, so I want people to realize that this is real, that this is coming and it’s not going to be pretty,” said Kristan Porter, president of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association and an Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team member. >click to read< 10:15
People trapped, 2.5M without power as Hurricane Ian drenches Florida
Hurricane Ian left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, cutting off the only bridge to a barrier island, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to 2.5 million people as it dumped rain across the peninsula on Thursday. One of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit the United States threatened catastrophic flooding around the state. Ian’s tropical-storm-force winds extended outward up to 415 miles (665 km), drenching much of Florida and the southeastern Atlantic coast. Photos, >click to read<
Tropical Storm Ian bringing ‘catastrophic flooding’ to east-central Florida – After making landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, Ian weakened into a tropical storm as it made its way across Florida Wednesday night, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center. At 8 a.m. Thursday, maximum sustained winds were still 65 mph. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening flooding, storm surge and gusty winds across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas. >click to read< 08:50
Island’s fate tied to fishing, residents say: “I think we’re being pushed out”
Make way for windmills. That was one of the worries aired by Deer Isle-Stonington fishermen and small business owners who attended a breakfast economic development meeting at the Stonington town office Friday. A few residents and small business owners said they think the fishing industry is being pushed out to make room for windmills, thus further advancing green energy agendas that Governor Janet Mills and the federal government have adopted. Mike Shepard said he started fishing at age 10 in a “little outboard.” “I’m almost 70 now,” the lobsterman said. “I fished all my life out here. All that time I’ve been fishing. I’ve never seen a whale. It has nothing to do with the whale, it has to do with what they want to do with our waters out here. They want to go green and it’s killing the lobster industry, which is our way of life.” >click to read< 19:36
Hurricane Ian makes landfall, causes ‘catastrophic storm surge, winds and flooding’ in southwest Florida
Hurricane Ian weakened slightly again late Wednesday afternoon but remained a dangerous Category 4 storm with top winds of 140 mph. The storm. which previously produced top winds of 155 mph, is forecast to weaken further as it travels up the Florida peninsula, according to a 5 p.m. update from the National Hurricane Center. In 12 hours, the storm’s winds are expected to fall to 85 mph, making the storm a Category 1 hurricane. “It will still pack a formidable punch as it moves across the state of Florida along the I-4 corridor in the next couple of days,” Video, photos, >click to read< 17:57