Daily Archives: August 1, 2018
Sharks are killed a ‘stone’s throw’ from protected waters off East Coast, Canadian researchers to question U.S. rules
Canadian scientists on the Bay of Fundy are seething over a spate of recent photos of sharks killed in the bay by U.S. fishermen. Especially upsetting have been social media posts showing a large porbeagle shark that was landed in Eastport, Maine. Porbeagles are protected on the Canadian side of the border, but not in the U.S., which does not consider the species in any danger of extinction. “The shark is protected for one minute, then in a heartbeat it’s no longer protected,” said Steven Turnbull, a marine biologist specializing in shark research at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John. >click to read<20:01
Transportation Safety Board of Canada determines fishing vessel was on autopilot prior to fatal lobster boat collision
An investigation into the two-boat collision which resulted in two deaths in June, has revealed that one of the vessels was on autopilot at the time of the crash. The investigation into the collision off Beach Point, P.E.I., was conducted by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. According to the investigation summary, on June 9 the fishing vessel Forever Chasin’ Tail, with three people on board, departed Beach Point to haul lobster traps about 14 nautical miles (nm) out. Later that morning, a second fishing vessel, Joel ’98, with five people on board, also left Beach Point to haul traps about six nautical miles out. >click to read< Marine Transportation Safety Investigation M18A0185 – >click to read<18:56
Alaska – Halibut dock prices rebound, but upswing may not last
Halibut prices fell about $2 per pound at the beginning of the season. But there’s good news for some fishermen: ex-vessel prices are increasing slightly around the state. “We did see the ex-vessel price for halibut perk up a bit where we’re at $6.25, $6.50, $6.75 here in Homer today,” said Doug Bowen, who tracks halibut prices around the Gulf of Alaska for Alaska Boats and Permits, a vessel-and-fishing permit broker in Homer. >click to read<16:22
Mount Pleasant developer to buy one of Shem Creek’s last shrimping docks
One of the last shrimp boat docks on Shem Creek might be saved. Or it might be developed out from underneath the boats, as some fear. Builder and Mount Pleasant resident Brett Elrod has stepped in to buy the Wando dock at the mouth of Shem Creek. Elrod said he plans to work with the community developing the property while maintaining a dock and facilities for shrimp boats.,, But the East Cooper Land Trust, which had been trying to raise money to buy the property, is not convinced and is not partnering with Elrod in the effort. Director Catherine Main said the trust is skeptically optimistic. >click to read<15:16
Save Shem Creek Corp. won’t fundraise until Land Trust offer accepted – >click to read<
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 69.3” Steel Trawler/Gillnetter, KT19-M Cummins Diesel, auxiliarys, Permit available
Specifications, information and 5 photos >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >Click here<14:22
New boat joins the Stonington lobster fleet
Sunday was a great day to have a picnic along the shore of Eggemoggin Reach even without an excuse. The celebration for the launching of Stonington lobsterman Matt Shepard’s new lobster boat Alexsa Rose made the party even better. Shepard comes from a fishing family and has been lobstering since he was a tyke on a succession of ever larger boats. For the last several years, he fished on a 35-footer. Alexsa Rose, named for his daughter, is big step up. The solid fiberglass hull and cored fiberglass top were built by the Kief brothers’ Morgan Bay Boat Co. in Frankfort and it was just the third boat out of the mold for the new 43-foot model. >click to read<11:41
Canadian Freezer scalloper to be built in Spain
Canadian company Comeau’s Sea Foods, based at Saulnierville in Nova Scotia, has placed an order with Astilleros Armon in Spain for a new 50 metre freezer scalloper to be delivered in the spring of 2020. The new scalloper for Comeau’s Sea Foods is designed by Allswater Marine and a 20-moth construction period is expected. The name of the newbuild has been announced as Lady Comeau III, named after Thérèse Comeau, the wife of company founder Bernardin Comeau. >click to read<10:27
R.I. officials find no fault with accidental shark catch | Video
After an analysis of video, the Department of Environmental Management determined that a Rhode Island commercial fisherman netted a juvenile white shark off Westerly and released the shark in compliance with state regulations, a DEM spokesman said Monday night. The video, which was posted on social media, showed a shark of about 6 feet in length and weighing 250 to 350 pounds, said the spokesman, Michael Healey. DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement did not investigate the incident and the fishermen who caught the shark were not required to file a report under the circumstances, Healey said. Still, DEM investigators reviewed the video and determined that no violation occurred, Healey said. Video, >click to read<10:01
Fishing documentary “Dead in the Water” wins film prize
Filmmaker David Wittkower knew he had to do something or his commercial fishing documentary “Dead in the Water” might indeed be dead in the water. Following eight months of showings throughout Massachusetts and other parts of coastal New England, Wittkower’s film, which traces the erosion of the once-proud Gloucester groundfish fleet, was largely rejected by most of the film festivals the director tried to enter. The over-arching criticism was that the film lacked balance, failing to properly include the perspective of federal fishing regulators — most specifically NOAA Fisheries — and environmentalists as the counterpoint to the already powerful message of an industry in trouble. >click to read<09:18
Deepwater in Deep Trouble: Fishermen Tell Off-Shore Wind Farm Developers to F@*#K Off
Wind developers just ran aground off the New Jersey coast, with fishermen telling them to stick their wind turbines where the sun don’t shine. Gripped with a maniacal obsession with wind power, New York State, under Andrew Cuomo, is determined to wreck its once affordable and reliable power supplies, and much more, besides. It’s not as if New Yorkers are short of power. With tens of billions of dollars in subsidies up for grabs, RE rent-seekers have scoped out every last inch of territory in which they might get to spear a few more of these whirling wonders, and start harvesting those subsidies, in earnest. Like all forms of crony capitalism, the rent-seekers will do and say anything to win political favour. Building subsidised offshore wind turbines, is no exception. >click to read<07:56
