Daily Archives: November 19, 2020
Coast Guard concluded search for missing man near St. Helena Sound
The Coast Guard concluded the search Thursday evening for a man who went missing after his fishing vessel capsized, Wednesday. The man has been identified as Don Melcoock, 50, who is from the greater Charleston area. “I am thankful of the aggressive search efforts put forth by all of our Coast Guard units and partner agencies who have conducted search and rescue operations over the past three days,” said Lt. Cmdr. Christie Connell, the search and rescue mission coordinator at Sector Charleston. “We found the second missing man who unfortunately did not survive. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased.” >click to read< 20:37
Coast Guard medevacs fisherman gone overboard/recovered 160 miles east of Boston – Video
The Coast Guard medevaced an injured fisherman 160 miles east of Boston, Thursday. At approximately 3:30 a.m., Coast Guard District One watchstanders received a notification from the crew of the 72-foot commercial fishing vessel Jennifer Anne, reporting a 35-year-old crewmember had fallen overboard and was recovered by the other crew members. The fisherman was experiencing hypothermia-like conditions and had minor lacerations. >video, click to read<17:23
No North Atlantic Right Whale Deaths In Canadian Waters This Year
It has been a good year for the endangered North Atlantic right whale in Canadian waters. Federal officials say no deaths or new entanglements have been reported to date. The government credits “significant” action taken to help protect the whale. A new season-long fishing area closure protocol was introduced in the Gulf of St. Lawrence based on where whales were detected. Fisheries and Oceans Canada also expanded the scope of where temporary and season-long closures were applied. >click to read< 15:50
Float-free EPIRB deadline approaches for Australian commercial vessels
Commercial vessel owners and operators are being urged to act now to ensure their vessels are fitted with float-free Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) before the New Year deadline. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) legislated changes requiring certain commercial vessels to carry float-free EPIRBs from 1 January 2021 following the deaths of 14 commercial fishers and divers between 2015 and 2017. >click to read< 14:49
DFO’s Jordan defends government actions during violence over Mi’kmaw fishery – Chiefs say DFO only looking out for non-Indigenous fishers
Despite admitting she hasn’t read the entire Marshall decision, Department of Fisheries (DFO) Minister Bernadette Jordan says her government is committed to implementing the Mi’kmaq Nation’s treaty right to catch and sell fish commercially in their traditional territories across the Maritimes, which the landmark ruling guarantees. >click to read< Mi’kmaw chiefs say DFO only looking out for non-Indigenous fishers – Mi’kmaw chiefs appearing before a Parliamentary committee looking into fishing rights say the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is not upholding its treaty obligations and is only looking to appease non-Indigenous fishers rather than implementing Mi’kmaw rights. >click to read< 11:02
Progress expected for Rhode Island’s offshore wind farm plan
Much was made of the Raimondo administration’s selection in 2018 of a proposal for a massive offshore wind farm off the Rhode Island coast that would power as much as a quarter of the state’s electric load. But a Biden presidency is expected to boost renewables overall, and a decision could come in a matter of weeks for the benchmark Vineyard Wind project,,, A favorable ruling on the proposal could break the logjam for Revolution Wind. Orsted and Eversource are gearing up,,, >click to read< 09:21
Maine’s booming seal population concerns local fishermen, biologists. Cod predation isn’t mentioned
Biologists say there are three points to consider: While the increase in harbor seals is creating a healthier ecosystem for the Gulf of Maine, it’s also creating problems for local lobstermen who say they’re a threat to their livelihoods, and it’s drawing new and potentially dangerous fish into our waters at a rate the state has never seen before. “I’ve had guys call me and say, ‘Are you having a problem with bait bags being ripped out because of the seals?’ and I say, ‘Yeah. I’ve had five or six.’ he says, ‘Rusty, I just had twenty traps in a row right, in a row. The seals went bang bang, bang, bang, bang right down through and ripped all the bags out,'” Court said. >click to read< Bait bags? What about cod fish bellies?!!
UPDATED: 1 man found alive, 1 still missing after shrimp boat capsizes in Beaufort County
The found man’s condition is stable and he’s continuing to improve after he was found late this morning off Tybee Island. According to the Coast Guard, one of the men has been found alive in a life raft. He has been airlifted to Memorial Hospital in Savannah. There is no word yet on his condition. Officials say a Good Samaritan spotted the man and called the Coast Guard. The search continues for the other missing boater. >click to read< 06:51
