Daily Archives: April 20, 2013
US witness claims BP gas explosion cover-up
Published on Apr 20, 2013 Just off the coast of the US state of Texas is where the Deepwater Horizon oil platform blew up exactly three years ago. Vast amounts of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico causing one of the biggest-ever environmental catastrophes. Now Al Jazeera’s been seeing video, which energy giant BP never wanted shown. And there’s accusations of a cover-up. Al Jazeera’s John Terret reports from New Orleans.
Newfoundland and Labrador crab tie-up ends – Processors agree to pay an additional 17 cents a pound
The Canadian Press Saturday, April 20, 2013 – 16:02 ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – A fisheries union and seafood processors in Newfoundland and Labrador finalized a deal Saturday that ends the tie-up in the province’s crab fishery. continued
A.F. Theriault delivers new dragger – F/V Nanny Bessie built for W.M. Schrader Fisheries of Larry’s River
A. F. Theriault & Son Ltd. has delivered a new fish dragger, the Nanny Bessie, built for W.M. Schrader Fisheries of Larry’s River. The vessel measures 63 feet in length, with a beam of 23 feet and a draught of 10 feet. continued
F/V Nite Owl Sinks in the Gulf – One recovered, four fishermen missing. Coast Guard converges in the area. Fisherman John Robinson safe.
“We have crews from all over the Gulf region descending on the general area where the boat went down to search for these remaining crewmembers.” continued
NBC news – About five hours after launching a search by air and by sea for the boat — which started to sink about 115 miles from its home port, Galveston, Texas — a Coast Guard search team spotted crew member John Robinson waving his arms aboard his orange raft. continued
Brown administration official claims “BDCP is not about, and has never been about saving the Delta. The Delta cannot be saved.”
Recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, Indian tribal leaders, family farmers, environmentalists, Delta residents and many elected officials strongly oppose the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build the peripheral tunnels because they say it will lead to the extinction of Central Valley salmon, steelhead and other fish species. Natural Resources Secretary John Laird and Governor Jerry Brown have constantly portrayed the BDCP as a visionary effort based on “science” to accomplish the “co-equal goals” of “ecosystem restoration” and “water supply reliability.” continued
Wind energy company works toward Coos Bay project
COOS BAY — For the first time in recent history, South Coast fisherman are on board with an offshore industrial project. Nick Edwards, a representative of the Southern Oregon Ocean Resource Coalition, said the organization supports Principle Power’s plans for a 30-megawatt wind energy flotilla off the South Coast. “It’s better to work with these people and be part of the process,” Edwards said. The commissioner said fisherman needed six months to reach agreement among themselves. “It’s still not going to make a bunch of people happy,” he said. continued
Compass: Support for Alaska fishermen does good from boat to table
Not all seafood is created equal; this is a truth Alaskans know deeply. In Anchorage, we live at the epicenter of the some of the most abundant, diverse and well-managed fisheries on Earth. Many of us don’t rely on restaurants or markets in town to put seafood into our bellies. continued
Eckel’s Diesel Service, Lower Township, NJ repair shop keeps commercial fisherman afloat
LOWER TOWNSHIP — Working as a mechanic is a study in crisis management. That is especially true when the engines being serviced are aboard commercial fishing boats. When these break down, time lost on the water can cost their crews and owners thousands of dollars per day. Bud Eckel, owner of Eckel’s Diesel Service in Lower Township, has become expert in making fast, efficient repairs to clamboats, scallop boats and sport-fishing boats. continued
Furlong | Fishermen aren’t thugs, but they shouldn’t act that way
CBC – I frequently lament the lack of attention people in this province pay to the fishery. That changed this week, but for the wrong reason. The dumping of more than $80,000 worth of crab over the wharf in Hickman’s Harbour outraged many, from both inside and outside the industry. About 200 fishermen gathered on the wharf at the Golden Shell plant on Random Island, bent on stopping the company from operating. They did that by entering the plant and throwing away crab the company had legally bought and legally owned. The province has an arm’s length mechanism in place for resolving fishery price disputes. It’s called the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel. continued
BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill draws wide array of comments on 3rd anniversary – “They’re caused by human and organizational malfunctions.”
A variety of elected officials and representatives of industry and environmental organizations are marking Saturday’s third anniversary of the blowout of the BP Macondo well. The explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig ki
lled 11 workers and injured dozens more, starting a three-month uncontrolled release of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico. continued
“They’re caused by human and organizational malfunctions.” NOAA Inaction in the Gulf of Mexico Nils Stolpe FishNet USA link
Coast Guard renews maritime warning: Vessels need lookouts
The Daily Astorian – This reminder is based on the fact that some vessel operators, including commercial fishermen, engage in the practice of working all day, then drifting at night in open water while the crew sleeps. “This practice is dangerous and a violation of basic seamanship law,” said Dan Hardin, 13th District commercial fishing vessel safety coordinator. continued
Want not, Waste lot, Manitoba fishers throw out millions of kilograms of edible fish a year because there is no viable market
Winnipeg Free Press — Early in the spring on the northeast corner of Lake Manitoba, commercial fisher Frank Kenyon spends an overcast morning pulling up two of the 45 gillnets he’s set below the ice of Portage Bay. continued
Your View: Cape Wind is already a bad deal, by Peter A. Kenney, Yarmouth Ma.
Following the saga of Cape Wind has been nothing if not amusing. Since 1999 when he first hired an engineering firm to survey likely sites in Nantucket Sound, Boston energy developer Jim Gordon has been dogged in his pursuit of profit. Make no mistake, for Jim Gordon, Cape Wind is about the biggest score of his already rich life. If achieving his goal means making claims about environmental motives or even about saving electric ratepayers money, so be it. Whether such claims can be proved is another matter. continued
Mainers take to the water in ‘Wicked Tuna’
The current standings show that Hebert and the crew of the Lisa & Jake are in sixth place. Bruce Hebert’s younger brother, Paul, captains the boat. “We know what we’re doing. We work well together,” the elder Hebert said. “This isn’t over.”Garon Mailman, 30, of Saco knows that’s the truth. Mailman is a deckhand on the first-place boat on the show, the awkwardly named FV-Tuna.com. As a Mainer, he reveres Bruce Hebert and respects the older fisherman’s experience, which is legendary across New England. continued
