Daily Archives: December 8, 2016
Venezuelan fishermen turn to piracy as industry collapses
As Venezuela continues on its downward spiral into economic collapse, in the coastal state of Sucre, out-of-work fishermen have turned to piracy, killing dozens who still venture out into the open sea, trying to make a living. was once home to the world’s fourth-largest tuna fleet. But the fishing industry, along with almost every industry in Venezuela has collapsed, and people have become desperate. It is a desperation born out of being unemployed, having no money to feed their families, and looking at a future that seems to be bleak and empty. So gangs of pirates have been formed, and they prey on those who still try to venture out to fish, stealing their catch and motors. They gangs don’t stop at just stealing, they quite often tie fishermen up and throw them overboard or shoot them, said Associated Press And a dead fisherman’s family is not safe from the gangs, either. Read the rest here 20:11
Obama Administration Approves Nation’s First Ocean Management Plans
President Obama’s National Ocean Council has approved the nation’s first ocean plans for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The plans feature databases about the regions’ marine life and habitats. They’ll inform how to plan commercial and recreational activities at sea, while protecting those resources. Grover Fugate, executive director of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, said the databases are open to the public. “So people can see the information that’s going into federal decisions and also state decisions,” said Fugate, “but also then to create a more coordinated decision-making process.” “We’re looking to the ocean for clean renewable wind energy as well as tidal and wave energy,” continued Brooks. “The ocean is increasingly supporting aquaculture and gas pipelines and cables. So ocean planning is an effort to get out ahead of the increasing use of our ocean and be proactive about managing it comprehensively based on science and with the best data possible.” Read the rest here 18:14
1st US Offshore Wind Turbine Breaks Before It Even Opened For Business!
A wind turbine that’s part of the first U.S. offshore wind farm broke down before the site started commercially producing power. It’s not clear why the turbine isn’t spinning and generating electricity, says Block Island wind farm owner Deepwater Wind, but the company suspects the turbine’s generator was damaged by a drill bit accidentally left inside. Deepwater Wind claims that it will be repaired and working “in the near term,”. The offshore wind farm was supposed to open last month, but developers are still awaiting final approval. Commercial operations of the wind turbines are set to begin later this month. Three miles off the Rhode Island coast, Block Island was supposed to generate enough electricity to power 17,000 homes. But the five turbines would have cost $300 million each, effectively $17,600 dollars per home — and that doesn’t include the costs of operating the turbines. Link 14:19
UPDATE: 2 remain missing after boat sinks near Dutch Harbor
Neither of the two missing crew members from a 117-foot vessel that sank off Dutch Harbor late Tuesday was found Wednesday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Operation Specialist 1st Class Trevor Frommherz, with the Coast Guard’s District 17 Command Center, said that three good Samaritan vessels assisting the cutter Alex Haley with the search for crew from the Exito returned to Dutch Harbor Wednesday afternoon. Three of the Exito’s five crew were rescued shortly after it sank about 14 miles northeast of Dutch Harbor. “We had the Alex Haley stay on scene — they searched throughout the night,” Frommherz said. “There was no sign of the two missing crew members.” Note: It appears the Coast Guard identified the vessel as a fishing vessel, when in actuality the vessel was being used to transporting cargo for Trident Seafoods between Dutch Harbor and the Aleutian community of Akutan. Read the rest here 13:58
Cool Fishing Electronics Gifts for the Holidays
If you’re looking for the just right holiday gift a boating angler – or you just want to drop some hints about what’s you’d like to find under the tree – here are seven portable marine electronics, electro-optical and accessory items that make great gifts for boaters. This is very cool! The most affordable and compact thermal imaging scope yet, the pocket-size FLIR Ocean Scout TK night-time navigational tool reveals objects such buoys, boats and floating debris, as well as people overboard and marine mammals. It also stores up to 1,000 JPEG images and four hours of video. The five-hour rechargeable internal battery will power the scope for five hours on a single charge. See the other items here 12:31
Scallop & Fishing Industry, Municipalities, Sue Feds to Ensure Seafood Interests Are Considered in NY Bight Wind Energy Project
The Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF), which represents the majority of the limited access Atlantic scallop fleet, is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction to delay an anticipated lease sale for the development of a 26-mile long wind farm project approximately 11 miles off the coast of Long Island, scheduled for December 15, 2016. The story was broken today by the Associated Press.,, The filing alleges that the leasing process for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) did not adequately consider the impact the proposed New York Wind Energy Area would have on the region’s fishermen. The site chosen for the 127 square mile wind farm is in the waters of the New York Bight on vital, documented scallop and squid fishing grounds,,,The lawsuit argues that fishermen’s concerns regarding the location of the lease area received “virtually no attention or analysis” from government officials ahead of the planned December 15 lease sale, despite fishing stakeholders repeatedly making their concerns known. Read the story here 11:40
Catch Shares – Fishing Family Devastated by NSW Government Fishery Reforms
Tears come to Donna Cook’s eyes as she describes the sale of her and her husband’s family fishing business; forced, they say, by the impact of the NSW Government’s fishing reforms. After five generations spanning more than 100 years of working the Macleay, the Cook family sold their Stuarts Point fishing business earlier this year to an investor. “We’ve always been a successful fishing family, we’ve bought a home and raised five kids,” Donna told the Argus. “But we lost 60 per cent of our income from the reforms. “We just couldn’t go on.” The State Government reasons that the reform will ensure economic viability and environmental sustainability for the sector. But Donna said the changes have crippled fishers from around the State, with many forced to sell out to wealthy investors and large scale fishing operations. Catch Shares! Read the story here 09:42
Coast Guard medevacs injured fisherman in Pybus Bay, Alaska
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced an injured mariner off the fishing vessel Vendor in Pybus Bay, near Fredrick Sound, approximately 80 miles south of Juneau, Wednesday. The Jayhawk crew hoisted the 37-year-old man and transported him to awaiting emergency medical personnel in Sitka. Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders responded to a mayday call from the mariner on VHF channel 16. The mariner requested assistance after reportedly suffering from a leg laceration. Watchstanders consulted with the duty flight surgeon and requested the launch of the Air Station Sitka Jayhawk and a Station Juneau Response Boat-Medium. “Having communication and safety devices on board your vessel is critical in Alaskan waters,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Francell Abbott, Sector Juneau watchstander. “Having a VHF radio allowed this mariner to call for help and allowed our crew to quickly get him to EMS.” Weather on scene was 12-mph winds, 1-foot seas. Link 08:39
