Monthly Archives: January 2020
Prayer service held for missing newly married fisherman William ‘Willie’ Whelan at Hook Lighthouse as search continues
A prayer service for a newly married missing fisherman was held at Hook Lighthouse as the search for him continues. William ‘Willie’ Whelan, 41, from Saltmills, Co Wexford, disappeared when his trawler, the Alize, a 11.7 metre steel-hulled vessel, sank off Hook Head eight days ago at around 10.45pm. A second fisherman, who died in hospital after being rescued, was Joe Sinnott, 65, from Kilmore Quay, was laid to rest last week. >click to read< 12:28
Confined Space Hazards on Small Vessels, how to identify them, and conduct yourself around them
Deadly confined spaces are ubiquitous in the marine industry, including big ships, tugs and barges, commercial fishing vessels, and port infrastructure. Despite all manner of training, equipment, regulations and best practices, they continue to kill. A healthy dose of caution and above all leadership is needed to ensure that these spaces take no more lives. by Andrew Tucci, >click to read< 10:56
Survey say most Delaware beachfront residents oppose Skipjack Wind Project
Residents along Delaware’s beach areas don’t want a proposed offshore wind farm originally planned for Maryland. 84 percent of respondents to a survey on offshore wind are primarily opposed to two things, said the Caesar Rodney Institute’s David Stevenson.,, The Skipjack Wind Project, originally slated for Ocean City, Maryland, would use 850 foot-tall wind turbines, whose manufacturer said are roughly the size of New York City’s Chrysler Building. >click to read< 10:06
John Crosbie dead at 88. They broke the mould when they made John Crosbie, a politician like no other
John Crosbie, a firebrand of a politician who served in several federal cabinet portfolios and who played a dominant role in his beloved Newfoundland and Labrador for decades, has died.,, Chief among those was a stomach-churning decision to shut down the northern cod fishery off Newfoundland and Labrador in 1992, a decision that instantly put an estimated 30,000 people out of work and triggered what was called the single largest industrial layoff in Canadian history. >click to read< 07:26
They broke the mould when they made John Crosbie, a politician like no other – He was very smart, witty, opinionated, at times outrageous, sarcastic, chauvinistic, and contemptuous of those among his fellow politicians who got ahead by going with the flow. Crosbie was not a “going with the flow” sort. >click to read<
Suit targets Alaska salmon management to protect southern killer whales
The Wild Fish Conservancy filed notice on January 9, stating its intentions to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for violating the Endangered Species Act, and jeopardizing the existence of Southern Resident Killer Whales. The Conservancy argues that an important food supply of the whales, endangered stocks of chinook salmon originating in Puget Sound, the lower Columbia River, the Willamette River, and Snake River is being depleted by the commercial troll and sport harvest in Southeast Alaska. >click to read< 20:51
Lobster fisherman who stole his boss’s pug dog Franky, took it for a joyride, tortured it, shot it in the throat before dumping it at sea is jailed
A man who tortured and killed a dog in Winter Harbor last year has been sentenced to a year in prison. Justin Chipman, 24, appeared in court Wednesday afternoon in Ellsworth. He was convicted in November of a string of charges including aggravated cruelty to animals, burglary and theft in connection with the death of Franky the pug. Chipman and 38-year-old Nathan Burke, of Hancock, were both arrested in the case. >click to read< 15:41
Fishing Money found for at-sea monitors
As part of a $1.4 trillion spending package, the U.S. Senate passed a $79.4 billion appropriations bill that includes another $10.3 million for NOAA Fisheries — once again secured by New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen — to fully fund at-sea monitoring in the Northeast groundfish fishery for the 2020 fishing season that begins May 1. When President Donald Trump signed the bill into law the next day, the mandated shouldering of the full financial weight of at-sea monitoring by the groundfish industry — at a cost of up to $700 per day per vessel — had been deferred for at least another fishing season. >click to read< 12:24
Marine protected areas not all good, says fisherman Lance Underwood, who fears for local fisheries
Underwood, a fisherman in Cowichan Bay on Vancouver Island, sits on the advisory panel for the creation of the marine protected areas and has many concerns about the need for them on the west coast, and their implications for the fisheries. “It is vast, running from central Vancouver Island all the way to Alaska, that will potentially remove thousands of fishermen from these productive and diverse fishing grounds. But the question is, how will it protect Canada’s oceans?” >click to read< 11:05
Sea lions are cash cows in the Bay Area. Farther south, fishermen say, ‘Shoot ‘em’
Sea lions are increasingly living in parallel universes along the California coast, a disparity best observed amid the noisy, stinking spectacle that rolls out daily at San Francisco’s Pier 39 shopping center. There, hundreds of these enormous, mostly male California sea lions bark, defecate, urinate and regurgitate, but are immensely popular with tourists.,, Officials in Washington, Oregon and Idaho are so irate at marauding sea lions that they have asked for federal permission to shoot certain ones identified as feasting on salmon and steelhead,,, >click to read< 10:01
A graveside service will be held at Soule Cemetery, Saturday, for F.G. Gibbs
Floyd Guy “F.G.” Gibbs, Jr., 66, of Engelhard, died, Tuesday, January 7, 2020. F.G. was born in Beaufort County, October 21, 1953 to the late Floyd Guy, Sr. and Nina Way Cuthrell Gibbs. He was married to the former Beverly Hodges who survives. F.G. worked as a commercial fisherman and was the owner and captain of the vessel Papa’s Girl. A graveside service will be held at Soule Cemetery, Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the online fundraiser for the families here, https://tinyurl.com/PapasGirl >click to read< 08:44
On this day in 1922, Cape Cod Fisherman lost in weird January Hurricane, 2006: Lady Grace rescued a year before she sank
On this day in 1922 the newspapers reported a January hurricane three months after the normal end of the hurricane season. DROWNED IN HURRICANE; Cape Cod Fisherman Lost; One Dead in Springfield, Mass., On this day in 2006 the Coast Guard towed a 76-foot fishing vessel to safety after the vessel became disabled near Nantucket early Monday morning. Almost exactly a year later, on January 27, 2007, the Coast Guard launched a massive search for the fishing boat Lady of Grace after the 75-foot dragger failed to return as scheduled to New Bedford. >click to read< 07:46
Four Washington Dams Again on Chopping Block
Farmers, fishermen and environmentalists sparred Thursday over a proposal to breach four dams on the Snake River to prevent extinction of salmon born there. The time could be ripe for the proposal long favored by environmentalists, with requirements under decades-running litigation dovetailing with measures called for by a state task force bent on saving endangered killer whales. The government is preparing to take an official position in February on whether breaching the four dams is necessary. >click to read< 20:31
BASE withdraws its bid to buy Carlos Rafael’s boats
An attempt to gain control of a large portion of Carlos Rafael’s fleet by the local seafood auction has been withdrawn after a fight over the vessels made its way to court.,, The fight is an important one as New Bedford is trying to keep the fishing and scallop boats, as well as their federal permits, in the city. Though both entities have pledged to do that, Blue Harvest would consolidate ownership and BASE has said it would resell the boats to individual owners. >click to read< 16:12
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for January10, 2020. We extend our condolences to the Gibbs, Davis, and Douglas Families
NCFA would like to extend our condolences to the Gibbs family as well as the families of Keyron Davis and Sammy Douglas for their loss, (as a result of the sinking of F/V Papa’s Girl). Our prayers are for peace and comfort during your time of sorrow. photo, (F.G)., Gibbs, the Captain of the fishing vessel, Papa’s Girl. Legislative updates, Bill updates, Calendar, >Click here to read the Weekly Update<, to read all the updates >click here<, for older updates listed as NCFA, >click to read< 14:44
F/V Papa’s Girl: A Fundraiser for Family Assistance and help for Ben Poe’s medical expences
F/V Papa’s Girl sank Tuesday night costing 3 members their lives and a 4th extensive medical bills. In the wake of this tragedy, we are trying to help the families raise money to cover funeral costs and medical bills. Commercial fishermen often times do not carry insurance despite the obvious risks due to excessive insurance costs. Please help us gather as much as we can to assist the families of Captain FG Gibbs, Sammy Douglas and Breezy as well as help Ben Poe with medical expenses. All contributions will be split between the families. Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance! >please click here to donate< 11:12
Lobstermen throw cold water on Maine state plan to protect whales
Fishermen in the heart of Maine’s $485 million lobster industry don’t like a state proposal to protect endangered right whales from buoy lines, arguing that it forces them to give up too much to fix a problem they aren’t causing.About 75 people packed a local lobster board meeting in Deer Isle on Thursday night to vent about the plan, which they argue is overly complicated, puts them in danger and is unlikely to help the species it is trying to save. >click to read< 09:40
NOAA says days-old North Atlantic right whale already injured by propeller
North Atlantic right whale researchers were thrilled to find out a fourth calf had been spotted this year. But the excitement disappeared after learning the newborn, estimated to be only days old, has been injured, according to NOAA. The American agency said in a statement Thursday the injuries “were consistent with the propeller of a vessel.” >click to read< 09:12
Scotland: Safety changes pledge after concerns over deaths involving alcohol while in port
SCOTTISH sea fish industry managers have pledged to make changes over its safety advice after it emerged alcohol has been a contributory factor in two in three in-port fishing deaths. Marine Accident Investigation Board (MAIB) concerns surfaced as an investigation found that the skipper of a Fraserburgh-registered boat died when he fell through a wheelhouse hatch after three hours drinking in the pub. >click to read< 08:28
Product of USA??? President and Chief Executive sentenced, fined for mislabeling crab meat
Officials say Phillip Carawan sold foreign crabmeat that his company, Capt. Neill’s Seafood Inc., labeled as Blue Club from the United States.,, According to their plea agreements, the company and its owner admitted to repacking more than $4 million of crab meat from South America and Asia as jumbo domestically harvested blue crab. Most of the meat was sold to wholesale membership clubs, but officials say some was sold directly to retailers. >click to read< 07:32
Battling the waves to stay alive: A tale of survival from the F/V Scandies Rose
For John Lawler, the only encouraging thing was a glow from a second life raft about a quarter-mile away. He hoped that light would stay on, and someone would find him and crewmate Dean Gribble Jr. in the pitch-black aftermath of Scandies Rose crab boat going down in the Gulf of Alaska. “We would lose sight of it because the waves were so big, but it would always reappear, ” said Lawler, a 34-year-old crabber from Anchorage, Alaska. >click to read< 18:51
Phil Paleologos: The Canastra Brothers withdraw their offer
With no explanation offered, the respected Canastra brothers will not move forward with a transaction to acquire 15 vessels. Adios to Carlos Rafael’s groundfish and scallop vessels. Once upon a time, the “Codfather” benefited from close to 40 vessels that generated about $100 million per year in sales. We can say arrivederci to 15 more Rafael vessels as it was announced that Richard and Raymond Canastra, owners of BASE Seafood Auction in New Bedford, have officially taken their offer to purchase the vessels off the table. >click to read< 16:53
Coast Guard suspends search for two missing fishermen in Pamlico Sound
The Coast Guard suspended its search Thursday afternoon for two fishermen who were reported missing after the commercial fishing vessel Papa’s Girl capsized in the vicinity of the Pamlico Sound. Watchstanders at the Fifth Coast Guard District command center were notified Tuesday night by a distress signal that was sent from the vessel’s emergency position indicating radio beacon. >click to read< 14:58
Fishery FUNDD Act: Reps. Palazzo and Huffman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Federal Fisheries Disaster Relief Program
Representatives Steven Palazzo (MS-4) and Jared Huffman (CA-2) have introduced the Fishery Failures: Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations Act (Fishery FUNDD Act), which will improve the federal fishery disaster process and ensure more timely disaster relief for impacted communities. The Fishery FUNDD Act would set a timeline for the federal government to respond to a fishery disaster request, and set a timeline for disbursal of appropriated funds following a disaster. >click to read< 14:05
Southeast Alaska fishermen unite against designating critical habitat for humpback whales
Fishermen from different gear groups united against a proposed federal rule to designate Southeast Alaska as critical habitat for humpback whales. About 60 people crowded into the Petersburg borough assembly chambers and others overflowed into the hallway. Most were fishermen from Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan.,, They had the same message for the federal government. They don’t want Southeast labeled critical habitat for whales. >click to read< 13:00
Friendship men accused of sinking lobster boat
A Knox County grand jury issued indictments Tuesday against nine people, including two Friendship men accused of stealing and sinking a lobster boat. Jason T. Weeks, 41, and Lyndon R. Harrington, 45, both of Friendship, were indicted Jan. 7 for aggravated criminal mischief and theft. The charges stem from the sinking Dec. 15, 2018, in Friendship of the 32-foot wooden lobster boat Rotten Hog, which is owned by Rodney Genthner II of Friendship. >click to read< 10:39
Opponents call for closure of herring fishery in Strait of Georgia
A Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) management plan for herring recommends a 20 per cent harvest in the Strait of Georgia. Opponents say the harvest rate has contributed to a 60 per cent decline in the population size since 2016. The roe fishery is slated to open early March, pending approval of the Integrated Fisheries Management Plans from the director general of the Pacific Region. >click to read< 09:41
“Earlier in the season it looked like it could be bad,” – Maine lobster landings down about 16% last year, commissioner says, but still beat expectations
“They caught a lot of lobsters in the last few months of the year and made up a lot of ground.” Keliher told the show’s hosts that initial landing reports suggest the lobster industry would finish 2019 with a 100 million-pound harvest. If that number holds, it would be 16 percent lower than 2018’s 119.6 million pounds landed, and nearly 15 percent less than the five-year average. On Tuesday, Keliher said Maine’s most valuable fishery, which had a dock value of $485 million in 2018, seemed to be in good shape. >click to read< 08:22
Unified Command oversees fuel and oil removal from grounded F/V Sea Angels with possible presence of unexploded military ordnance nearby
The Unified Command is overseeing lightering operations to remove the fuel from aboard the grounded fishing vessel Sea Angels, which are being completed by a contractor hired by the vessel owner, Wednesday afternoon. Operations are expected to continue over the next several days to remove all fuel and other oil from the fishing vessel, which ran aground near Browns Inlet, North Carolina, on Dec. 9, 2019. >click to read< 07:19
Unexploded Ordnance Complicates Salvage for Grounded Fishing Vessel – At about 0815 hours on December 9, Coast Guard Sector North Carolina received a distress call from a crewmember aboard the fishing vessel Sea Angels. >click to read< Search Results for: F/V Sea Angels >click to read<
Report says skipper died after wheelhouse hatch fall
The skipper of a Fraserburgh-registered boat died when he fell through the wheelhouse hatch after three hours drinking in a pub, a report has said. Andrew Hay, 56, died after the incident on the Artemis in Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland, in April last year. He suffered severe head injuries after falling to the deck below. The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said Mr Hay was more than four times the legal alcohol limit for professional seafarers while on duty. >click to read< 00:01
Illegally moored 112-foot-long fishing boat could be set for the auction block
The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) will conduct a public auction of a 112 foot-long, twin-engine, fishing boat if the owner does not remove the vessel within one week. The SOS Minnow pulled into a slip at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor on Nov. 22, 2019, after its owner said he was having a medical emergency. The boat is described as being in very good condition. If the current owner claims it before the Wednesday auction, he’ll need to pay impound fees, illegal mooring fees, and for the cost of legal ads, estimated to total $1000.00. 7 photo’s, >click to read< 22:59
