Daily Archives: October 26, 2013

Edited: With Sadness and Regret. Fisherman David Oakes of South Thomaston Maine

1394468_656424637735296_964145650_nIt has been noted that Fisherman David Oakes of South Thomaston Maine has passed. It appears he had acquired the F/V Terra Nova, and was excited to be bringing her home. David “Oakesey”  Oakes was living a dream. The father of five, grandfather, son, uncle and friend of many many people was bound for Rockland Me on his big dragger F/V Terra Nova with son in law Jason Randall.

An entry on David’s Facebook page on Oct 24th said, “on my way to glouster to get my big dragger whooooo” . Excited he was! The published report at uscgnews told some of the story, but didn’t tell the whole story.

Sadly, the rest of the story is one of tragedy.
They had departed Gloucester with no indication of anything of concern out of the ordinary.
Around 20:30, the Coast Guard received a call on Channel 16 that the vessel was taking on water when they discovered six feet of it in the flooding forecastle. They relayed that the pumps would not keep up with the flooding.
David Oakes and Jason Randall donned their survival suits and abandoned the sinking vessel. As they were getting ready to go over the side, Jason lost his footing and David Oakes grabbed him, and tossed him towards and over the rail before he jumped.
It is believed he was pulled under as Terra Nova slipped under the waves and into the darkness of the Atlantic, three miles East of Cape Ann.
It was mentioned that he had a head injury, possibly receiving it when he was sucked under as the vessel went down.
David is being credited for saving his son in law, Jason Randall.
He is survived by his mother, four daughters, a son, and three adoring nieces
More information when available.  A Fisherman’s Song for David Oakes. 21:43 edited 10/27/2013 21:24

Pew: Flooky’s got all the answers on Marine reserves and running the Bermudan government.

Marine reserve: Why don’t we just use current legislation to fine illegal fishing operations? The 1972 Fisheries Act already states that $1 million fines can be handed out to foreign vessels fishing illegally in our EEZ and their boats seized. So what difference does it make to create a marine reserve and close off future potential commercial opportunities for Bermudians to benefit from?  Mr Flook believes that current legislation doesn’t have teeth nor does it align with the global legal framework of creating marine reserves in local territories and on the high seas. more@bermudasun 17:53

Marine reserve: How can we enforce such a huge area?  There is a discrepancy between what the Pew Charitable Trust says it will cost and what the Government of Bermuda says it will cost. Flooky’ll figure it out.  link  18:14

Can the ‘butterfly effect’ inform fisheries management?

Dr. Les Kaufman, a marine ecologist at Boston University, has been deploying his considerable talents in the service of fisheries science and management for over three decades, but it is in the last year that he has developed an approach that very well may elevate our ability to manage fisheries onto a new level. more@workingwaterfront 17:31

Operation aims to chase the last drift nets out of the North Pacific

Once the domain of environmental-conservation groups like Sea Shepherd, the campaign against drift nets has become an increasingly high-tech effort. Operation High Seas Driftnet is run by enforcement agencies in five countries – Canada, the United States, Russia, Japan and South Korea. more@globeandmail 17:12

N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission: Fisheries advisors sought

N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen and scientists for advice on various fisheries topics. Two regional advisory committees — northern and southern — and three standing advisory committees — Finfish, Habitat and Water Quality, and Shellfish-Crustacean — review referred matters from the commission and recommend management strategies. more@jdnews 17:05

Funding for seal marketing draws acclaim, criticism

Animal rights groups said the amount of money being invested constitutes a drop in the bucket when it comes to international marketing. Rebecca Aldworth, with the Humane Society of the United States, told The Fisheries Broadcast that the funding is “yet another futile subsidy to a dying industry.” more@cbcnews 13:24

‘Locally caught?’ It depends – Plenty of Chef no knowledge in this one! Good recipe’s, though!

What’s critical, says Johnson, is supporting local fisheries, whether here, in Oregon, Massachusetts or New Orleans, rather than a 90-foot boat that unloads in California after 30 or 40 days at sea. Wha??? What was the catch method? Best methods are hook and line, rod and reel, and troll (not trawl) caught fish. sheeesh!  more@sfgate  12:54

Fishing technique known as trawling can sometimes be productive

High-intensity raking of the seabed, called trawling, is a very effective fishing method that can inflict significant collateral damage on sea life. However, it can sometimes help fish populations to grow, scientists have found. more@sitnews 11:54

F/V FIERCE ALLEGIANCE gets $4M Major Vessel Overhaul at Pacific Fishermen Shipyard

In the fall of 2012, the FIERCE ALLEGIANCE pulled in to Seattle for a major overhaul after her 10 years in the Gulf of Mexico oil field service and 26 years in the Bering Sea as a combination Crabber/RSW Trawler. Pacific Fishermen added an 18” steel I-beam as a full length keel for added directional stability while towing larger nets. [email protected] 11:38

Gloucester F/V Terra Nova Sinks, Two Men Retrieved, then Tragedy

terra-nova-3BOSTON − Coast Guard crews rescued two male crew members after a commercial fishing vessel that was taking on water sank three miles east of Cape Ann, Mass., at approximately 10:30 p.m., Friday. The crew reported six feet of water in the forward cabin of the vessel and the onboard pumps were not able to keep up with the flooding. The crew anchored the vessel, donned immersion suits and abandoned ship. photo goodmorninggloucester more@uscgnews 08:22

With Sadness and Regret. It has been noted that Fisherman David Oakes of South Thomaston Maine has passed. Link

The Alaska Fisheries Report

radio-microphoneComing up this week, federal workers are back to work, which means crab fishermen are, too. The government shutdown may impair research on an emerging fishery, and five well-prepared fishermen are safe after their boat burns in the Aleutian Islands. All that, plus, more@kmxt 08:09