Daily Archives: April 7, 2015

Crew of F/V Christina & Caelyn rescue man from the water in Portland Harbor

A 55-year-old man was rescued by a local fishing vessel after the captain spotted him in the water in Portland Harbor, Maine. The Christina & Caelyn crew rescued the man from the 38 degree Fahrenheit water and provided him basic medical attention. Maine EMS met the fishing vessel at the pier and transported the man to Maine Medical Center for hypothermia treatment.  “This lucky man is alive today due to the quick response by the Christina & Caelyn captain and crew” Read the rest here 22:27

Sardine crash threatens port funding

ILWACO — If fishery managers shut down the commercial sardine fishery this year — and it is likely they will — the Port of Ilwaco could lose important tonnage that helps to establish it as a priority among other small ports. Sardines are not a major local cash harvest and the fishermen fishing for them are not based in Ilwaco, but at one time the fish were a big part of processing operations at Jessies’ Ilwaco Fish Company at the Port of Ilwaco, and are a significant product for seafood processors in Clatsop County, Ore. Read the rest here 16:36

‘Precision fishing’ trial confirmed to help the tiddlers

Precision-Seafood-Harvesting-SUPPLIEDA new form of commercial fishing has improved the survival rates for by-catch, scientists involved in the New Zealand project said. The system – which uses a large, flexible PVC liner with specifically sized holes along its length, allows undersized fish to escape before they are brought on board the fishing boat. The fish that are brought on board stay in better condition because they are still swimming in the liner when they are on the deck, the scientists said. Read the rest here 14:00

The future of our children’s ocean

kyle wetleThis is our son Kyle. Kyle has spent most of his young life battling cancer. For many years, we were told he had no future. His battles have been long and merciless, but after nine years, he is finally winning this war. He now officially has a future, and to us, it is nothing short of a miracle. Could you imagine living nine years not knowing if your child would live through the next 24 hours? As his parents, his care and his new life are everything to us.,, We are commercial fishermen. We are generations of fishing families. Read the rest here 10:48

Keeping tradition alive – Through a devastating accident Alaska Native artist Mike Webber finds his gift

mike webber native artistAt 54, Cordova artist Mike Webber’s boyish looks and lighthearted demeanor belie the challenges that brought him to his craft.  “How did I get into carving? The answer to that is simple. I broke my neck when I got wrapped up in a deck winch,” says Webber. “I spent the whole summer and winter learning to walk again.”  His father, Bill Webber, Sr. and Uncle, Jim Webber, are among the most successful fishermen in the fleet. Quick witted, agile, utterly charming, and fiercely competitive on the fishing grounds at ages 80 plus, few will ever come close to matching their legacies. Read the rest here 10:08

The Gulf of Maine: Poster Child for Global Weirding?

gulf_of_maine1Since it’s snowing this evening, again, I though I’d write something on climate, which I know is not weather. As so often, the great state of Maine, seemingly peripheral, turns out to be central, in this case because of the Gulf that bears its name. Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (PDF): So, rather than a definitive theory of everything, this post is one citizen’s effort to try to make sense of the situation. So, to do that, I’ll ask, first, who believes the Gulf of Maine is warming? Read the rest here 08:20