Daily Archives: November 25, 2015

Seattle’s aging fishing fleets provide hundred-million-dollar opportunity for shipbuilders

blue-north_750xx4272-2403-0-223Some vessels in the Seattle-based North Pacific fishing fleet are more than 70 years old, and replacing them could bring hundreds of millions of dollars of work to regional shipyards. That, according to Port of Seattle Co-President Stephanie Bowma, is at the top of a list of maritime-industrial business possibilities for the region. “By some estimates, more than 2,000 boats need to built or remodeled, which is requiring hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investments, and hundreds of workers throughout our region to work on these vessels,” Read the article here 16:40

El Niño pushes California calamari landings down

cali squidAfter several years of bounty, California’s commercial landings of market squid — the species better known to hungry diners as calamari — are down by about two-thirds compared to this time last year. The squid are responding to this year’s El Niño conditions, scientists say, but whether their numbers are declining or they’re simply eluding fishermen is unknown, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist Laura Ryley. Read the article here 15:03

Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 56′ DMR Scalloper/Stern Trawler, Detroit 8-V-71 Diesel, Permit

sc4017_01Specifications, information and 14 photo’s  click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 12:36

Shetland fishing industry celebrates with yearbook

151124_Fishermen_yearbookThe full-colour A4 book is a comprehensive guide of the industry past and present and gives a confident outlook despite radical changes to fish landing regimes coming in next year. It discusses in some detail the whitefish, pelagic and shellfish sectors before listing all 180 commercial fishing boats operating in Shetland waters ranging from the larges pelagic trawler to the smallest inshore boat. The Shetland Fishermen Yearbook 2016 gives also details of fisheries related organisations, including the vital role of the NAFC Marine Centre. Read the article here 11:55:47

The Easy Lady restoration almost complete – Lowcountry treasure ready to return to her berth

EP-151129875.jpg&Maxw=600&Q=90The Easy Lady has belonged solely to Cpt. Kenneth Ezell for 10 years. But after a public appeal went out to help the captain restore this commercial crabbing boat and save her from sinking, she’s almost as a good as new from keel to chine. More importantly, Ezell, who is forever grateful, considers himself only as her caretaker now. “She now belongs to Mount Pleasant and her citizens,” he said. The Easy Lady is now part of the whole of Mount Pleasant, he explained. He considers her the crown jewel of his career, which is about to take another turn. Read the article here  F/V Easy Lady on face book 11:12

Wired to go at V&R Traps in Yarmouth

v&r trap, yarmouthLobster fishing has evolved enormously over the decades, with changes in regulations, boats, markets and gear. After learning of the wire lobster traps invention in New England in the early 1970s, businessmen Louie Vacon, Edward Vacon, John Vacon and Bill Reeves tried introducing them to southwestern Nova Scotia lobster fishermen. Early attempts were met with skepticism, but after years of persistence from V&R Traps, local fishermen came aboard with the idea that “Wire was the future.” Video, Read the article here 10:51

The loss of Greenport’s fishing fleet is another sign of a changing village

Just a few decades ago, Greenport Village looked very different. Fishermen describe as many as 50 towering fishing vessels crammed into the deepwater port, making pit stops at Claudio’s dock before their offshore expeditions in the Atlantic. The docks were swarmed with fishing crews unloading their stock for sale at fish markets across the East Coast. But today, the dozens of captains whose boats once fed Greenport’s fishing industry have either fled for other ports or been scuppered altogether. Read the article here 09:17

Joint Task Force Atlantic release video of medevac rescue

A new video has been released by the Joint Task Force Atlantic that shows a medical evacuation from a fishing vessel off the coast of Newfoundland The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax dispatched a Comorant helicopter from 103 Search and Rescue Squadron in Gander and 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Greenwood, N.S., on Sunday.  The aircraft responded to a vessel 235 nautical miles southwest of St. John’s. Watch the video here 08:43

Giving Back: Leviathan II survivor finds way to thank Ahousaht First Nation

A Calgary couple who survived the whale-watching boat capsize off Tofino, B.C., last month say they’ve found the perfect way to thank the people of nearby Ahousaht, who rushed to the scene and pulled them from the frigid waters. Dwayne Mazereeuw and his wife were among 21 people on board the Leviathan II who were rescued. Five British nationals and a man from Australia died in the accident. Fishermen from the Ahousaht First Nation are credited with spotting the only flare the crew of the boat was able to deploy. “How do you ever thank someone,,, Read the rest here 07:53

Members of Congress urge disaster relief for Dungeness crab fishermen

cashIn a bit of good news for California’s beleaguered crab fishermen, four members of Congress announced Tuesday they would call for federal disaster relief in the unlikely event the state’s commercial fishing season for Dungeness crab is canceled altogether.In a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, the representatives urged the governor to “stand ready” to ask to provide compensation to fishermen and businesses if the crab season — postponed indefinitely Nov. 6 because of high levels of a biotoxin called domoic acid,,, Read the rest here 06:39