Daily Archives: February 12, 2015
Coast Guard medevacs fisherman near Cold Bay, Alaska
The Coast Guard medevaced a 36-year-old man from the 252-foot fishing vessel American Triumph approximately 92 miles north of Cold Bay, Alaska, Thursday. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau were notified of the man’s injury by the crew of the American Triumph. It was reported two of the man’s fingers were severed by a steel door. Watchstanders consulted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. Read the rest here 21:09
Seafood and the UK fishing industry – Cormac Burke – Editor, Fishing News International
“The UK public are being misinformed – by certain core national media organisations, under the influence of green politics, and by some seafood retailers who want consumers to think that fishermen control the price of fish. From its once free-for-all existence of simply going out to catch fish to meet the demands of consumers, the UK fishing industry has become one of the most complex and most regulated sectors of modern day commercial life. Given its complex history and present state, it is difficult to summarise it in one short article – however, I will do my best: Read the rest here 19:33
UPDATE: USCC Polar Star navigates around icebergs, through heavy snow to reach fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain
“We are navigating through heavy pack ice, dodging massive ice bergs that range in size from a Home Depot to some that are miles across, often in low visibility conditions,” said Capt. Matthew Walker, commanding officer of the Polar Star. “The mission…we are now engaged (in) demonstrates the Coast Guard’s core mission to save lives at sea – in any continents’ waters. Polar Star is proud to be able to assist New Zealand in the rescue of the Australian fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain.” Read the rest here 18:34
No vote to protect deep-sea corals off Va and Mid-Atlantic
Council members meeting in Raleigh, N.C., decided instead to postpone a final decision until its June meeting in Virginia Beach, giving them time to hold another workshop to gather more input from coastal fisheries. The council is considering several options to restrict fishing in “broad zones” of the Atlantic based on ocean depth and in “discrete zones” already known to contain valuable coral habitats. Several members said they believe they’re close to an agreement with commercial fisheries on discrete zone boundaries but that another workshop could seal the deal. Read the rest here 17:02
The Facts: Discovery/Animal Planet’s “Battle on the Bay” – Reality, or Made for TV Drama.
In January, Discovery/Animal Planet debuted a new “reality TV” show that follows five of the 1,747 Bristol Bay salmon permit holders that fished during the 2014 season. The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), which represents all the Bay’s salmon driftnet fishermen, would like to set the record straight on a few things. Read the rest here 11:58
NEWPORT FISHERMEN’S WIVES REBUT COAST GUARD MISINFORMATION
In a communication to parties to a lawsuit seeking to keep Newport’s
open, the Coast Guard is now saying that the closure announcement was not an order – it was only “a proposal,” and that “the proposal” has since been abandoned. And for that the Coast Guard is now saying the lawsuit filed against them by Fishermen’s Wives should be dropped. Fishermen’s Wives spokeswoman Ginny Goblirsch has written a response to this latest Coast Guard position: Read the rest here 11:08
Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival set for this weekend
Most people think of the Cortez Commerical Fishing Festival as full day of great live music, activities for kids and adults and, of course, tons of fresh-from-the-boat seafood. For John Stevely, though, what’s really exciting about the festival is the good it does for community and the environment. Stevely is one the organizers of the seafood celebration, which is set for this weekend in Cortez Fishing Village. “This is the 33rd year,” he said, “and I was here for the first one.” Details, and Read the rest here 10:31
A love of lobstering
Seventy-seven-year-old George “Elly” Sewall, a York native, has spent six decades on the water. Sewall is one of the few working fishermen around to still to have a private dock behind his home near Sewall’s Bridge in York (which happens to be named after his ancestors.) It is here on his property that Sewall houses his boat, gear, workshop and everything he needs to fish, all comfortably surrounded within sight of the house he has lived in with his wife for the past 50 years. Read the rest here 08:52
Irish Navy arrests two large British-registered factory trawlers
Two large British-registered “factory” trawlers were arrested approximately 30 miles off the Blasket Islands last night. The first vessel was arrested at approximately 5pm and the second at around 8pm in a joint operation between the Naval Service and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. They have been detained for suspected “high grading” or selective harvesting of fish in Irish waters. Read the rest here 08:17
