Daily Archives: February 23, 2018
28 accidents reported since crab season began off Oregon, Washington
Since the commercial Dungeness crab season began on January 15th, Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Portland marine investigators have responded to 28 marine accidents involving commercial fishing vessels, with no reported deaths or serious injuries. Since the start of the season, Marine Safety Unit Portland personnel responded to an average of one marine accident per day, causalities included loss of propulsion, loss of steering, loss of power, fire, collisions, grounding and personnel injuries. >click to read< 17:13
GARFO AA Pentony taking on whale crisis – Lobstermen wary of more environmental regulations
South Shore Lobstermen wary – Traps dropped to the bottom of the ocean by lobstermen are currently connected to a buoy at the surface by a long, taut rope. Fishermen use the buoys to mark where traps are and use the rope to pull up them from the ocean floor, but researchers think the same thing could be achieved by ditching the ropes and using a GPS-like tracking technology and acoustic communication. >click to read< 16:20
Pentony taking on whale crisis – The number one issue right now is the right whale crisis,,, It will occupy our resources and energy for the next several years until we can reverse the trend. Thats going to be a significant challenge. >click to read<
F/V Alaska Patriot sunk, now Coast Guard seeks fines
The Alaska Patriot rests in a watery grave after the runaway former factory long liner was shot full of holes by a Coast Guard cutter in December. Now, the agency is taking aim at the vessel owner’s finances, proposing at least $155,000 in fines after the 170-foot vessel was left adrift and threatening navigation safety in international shipping lanes when it broke loose from a tow from Unalaska/Dutch Harbor to a scrapyard in Mexico.,, The Coast Guard has initiated a Class I Civil Penalty against the owner of the vessels Alaska Patriot and Alaska Pioneer,,, >click to read<14:11
FFAW-Unifor files Supreme Court application in ‘desperate’ attempt to block vote on union representation: FISH-NL
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) describes the latest legal maneuvers by the FFAW-Unifor to try and derail a vote by inshore harvesters on their union representation as an “act of desperation.” “The FFAW-Unifor executive knows they’ll lose a vote, and are desperate to cling to power,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “They’re using the courts and legal costs to try and quash the FISH-NL movement, but we’re past the point of no return — a vote must happen before inshore harvesters and the fishery can move forward.”>click to read< 13:42
Offshore Wind Fiasco: Renewables Industry Faces $Billions In Compensation For Early Repairs
Ørsted must repair up to 2,000 wind turbine blades because the leading edge of the blades have become worn down after just a few years at sea. The company has a total of 646 wind turbines from Siemens Gamesa, which may potentially be affected to some extent, Ørsted confirmed. The wind turbine owner will not disclose the bill, but says that the financial significance is “small”. However, it is far from just the Anholt Park that is affected. The blades at several British Ørsted offshore wind farms must also be repaired after just a few years on the water. >click to read<12:12
Their worst fears are now starting to be realized: Fishers forced out of business
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Mick Veitch, met with fishers from the Great Lakes yesterday February 22 at the Wallis Lake Fishing Co-op to highlight the impact of the State government’s commercial fishing reforms. The reforms have forced a number of family run fishing businesses to exit the industry, while businesses association with the local fishing industry are under pressure. An Upper House committee last year heard directly from co-ops over the impacts of these reforms – and was warned over the viability of co-ops if the reforms proceeded. The worst fears are now starting to be realized. >click to read< 10:36 
Outrage in Newfoundland as Indigenous groups get cut of Arctic surf clam fishery
Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc’s decision to cleave off 25 per cent of the lucrative Arctic surf clam fishery and give it to a newly formed consortium of Indigenous groups has blindsided those who have depended on the industry on Newfoundland’s Burin Peninsula for decades. “This is an unprecedented move,” Grand Bank Mayor Rex Matthews told CBC Radio’s The Broadcast. “To come in and expropriate 25 per cent of a quota that we’ve had for the last 27 years.” >click to read< 10:06
F/V Dianne: Mystery remains after search fails to find any bodies
Queensland police have confirmed that no human remains have been found inside the salvaged trawler FV Dianne after inspecting the vessel at Bundaberg port. Disaster Victim Identification officers scoured the wreck on Thursday and Friday, but hopes for closure for the families of the missing men was not forthcoming. Police have recovered a number of personal items from the vessel, Video >click to read<09:32
