Monthly Archives: April 2021
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 49′ 6″ Fiberglass/Wood Lobster/Gillnetter, Cummins 855
To review specifications, information, and 28 photos, >click here<, To see all the boats in this series >click here<11:21
F/V Nicola Faith: The wreck discovered by the MAIB last week is confirmed as the missing fishing vessel
Today, MAIB inspectors attended the site of the wreck,1.9 nautical miles off Rhos Point, to identify the vessel. They were assisted by North Wales Police Underwater Search Team who undertook a comprehensive survey on behalf of the MAIB. As well as identifying the vessel, the survey gathered video evidence and information that will help inform our investigation and assist in understanding the reasons the vessel sank. After all the evidence has been reviewed, including imagery from the dive team, a decision will be made regarding the next steps to be taken as part of the ongoing investigation. >click to read< 09:31
Tilghman Island Blessing of the Fleet: Watermen, first responders honored for life-saving rescue
The watermen’s fleet has officially been blessed, along with five men who rescued a waterman earlier this year and saved his life after falling overboard into the Chesapeake Bay’s cold waters. Public officials, community and religious leaders and locals gathered at Dogwood Harbor in Tilghman Island on Sunday, April 11, to give their blessings to the watermen. The ceremony offers good graces to the seafood catchers as they prepare to fish, crab and oyster in the Bay and its tributaries this year. The annual “blessing of the fleet,” comes just after crabbing season officially began on April 1. photos, >click to read< 08:42
N.L. fishers crabby over Snow Crab prices
Since last week they’ve taken to social media to rant about an apparently-large gap in prices between Nova Scotia and N.L. and chew out the Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) union for failing to negotiate a better price. According to a post by Ryan Cleary on April 9, Nova Scotia buyers were offering $8 a pound for crab, while N.L. harvesters are fishing crab for $5.73 a pound. That’s the price set by the Fish Price Setting Panel, who chose the price suggested by the FFAW. “What’s clear is the price setting panel does not work and it’s costing Newfoundland fishermen millions,” stated Cleary, who led the former FISH-NL group in an attempt by some inshore harvesters to break away from the FFAW. >click to read< 07:59
Lobster fisherman says he was at the wheel during fatal boat collision
A lobster fisherman says he was at the wheel of his boat when it hit another vessel in a fatal collision in 2018. Clarence Barry White, 52, testified Tuesday before Justice Gregory Cann in P.E.I. Supreme Court in Charlottetown where he is on trial on two counts of criminal negligence causing death. Those charges relate to a collision on June 9, 2018 that killed Chris Melanson and Justin MacKay who were onboard the Joel ’98. White was captain of the Forever Chasin’ Tail and testified he didn’t give any warning before his boat hit the other vessel. >click to read< 21:40
New York Wind Power Plans Make No Sense, NY wants a green energy ‘superhighway.’ Hydro-Québec can help
New York needs big ideas if it’s to overcome its current state of decline,,, But Democrat candidate Eric Adams’ wind power proposal is not that plan, and it’s with great respect and an open invite to sit down with the candidate, and any candidate of any party, to explain why. Mr. Adams noted Rhode Island’s wind farm as an example of a state committed to the technology. Let’s explore. The promises were great. The wind farm promised to cut 
electricity rates on Block Island by 40%. Rates have gone up, >click to read< New York state wants a green energy ‘superhighway.’ – Hydro-Québec says it can help New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo build a green energy “superhighway” from Canada to New York City. >click to read< 16:50
SPECIAL REPORT: Winds of change – Developers grease the skids to ingratiate themselves and minimize negative reception
Rural onshore windfarms have long been a subject of much debate, Windfarm developers have found that their financial contributions to local communities, like sports clubs, local organizations and projects, have helped to ingratiate themselves with the locals and minimize negative reception. HUH! Between these generous handouts and potential legal challenges, many developers of windfarms have found the projects an expensive business. But now the sector has spotted another option on the horizon – literally. Offshore wind farms. The biggest criticism of the offshore wind 
energy sector in Ireland so far has come from fishing interests, Patrick Murphy of the Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation told Southern Star recently that the commandeering of sites at sea by windfarm developers today is akin to the land grabs from the native Americans in the 19th century. >click to read< 12:59
US Marine Corp Vet, Commercial Fisherman, Paul Bettencourt, Dies at 80
Paul “The Baitman” Bettencourt, 80, of Pawtucket, passed away peacefully at home with family by his side on Saturday, April 10, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Barbara R. (Stuart) Bettencourt for forty-three years. Born in Providence, Paul was one of twenty-one children of the late John and Emelia (Pacheco) Bettencourt. He resided the majority of his adult life in Pawtucket. Paul was a United States Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam Era and went on to a lifelong career in the commercial fishing industry, where he gained the nickname and call sign, “The Baitman”. Paul was totally devoted to God, his family, and his community. >click to read< 12:10
Expert says Captain not practicing ‘good seamanship’ in fatal boat collision, did not have a proper lookout
The boat that sank after a fatal collision in 2018 should have been visible to the captain of the vessel that hit it, an expert testified Monday. That testimony came during the trial for Clarence Barry White, who appeared before Justice Gregory Cann in P.E.I. Supreme Court in Charlottetown on two counts of criminal negligence causing death. Those charges stem from a collision on June 9, 2018 when the Forever Chasin’ Tail hit the Joel ’98 near Beach Point. Justin MacKay and Chris Melanson died after the collision. >click to read< 10:30
Podcast: Want to support San Diego’s shrinking local commercial fishing industry?
Tommy Gomes has done his fair share of time at sea as a fourth generation commercial fisherman. Now, at 60, he’s dedicating much of his time and energy to raising awareness about San Diego’s local fishing community and how to get and eat fresh-caught fish. We need to support our local fishermen. There are not many commercial fishermen left in California. Electronics have taken away our tradition, our heritage and our sea time. Artisanal fishing, small boat operation, family-owned and operated boats — those have been pushed out. We’re trying to hold on to the few that are remaining in California, Oregon and Washington because it’s important. And they bring in the best fish. They go out for shorter trips, they bring in the best fish. >click to listen, read< 09:56
Japanese fishermen angered by gov’t decision on Fukushima plant water release
The controversial move came at “the worst time” for fishermen who are stepping up preparations for the restart of full-fledged coastal fishing off Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, after years of small-scale, trial fishing complete with safety checks for radioactive materials to win back consumer trust, ended in March. “Why now? I’m strongly opposed to the release (of treated water),” said Yoshimi Terashima, a fisherman from the Fukushima town of Shinchi. “I want to go fishing every day like I used to,” said the 73-year-old, who can do so only twice a week at present. >click to read< 09:10
Bering Sea Fishermen likely had Coronavirus and went to the bar, locals have to quarantine
Unvaccinated people who visited Unalaska’s Norwegian Rat Saloon late Saturday are being asked to quarantine this week, after officials say they shared the space with fishermen who broke their company’s own quarantine plans,,, The Norwegian Rat is a popular spot for both fishermen and locals, with pool tables and shuffleboard, and it’s the closest bar to the docks used by many large fishing vessels. Saturday was margarita and taco night. >click to read< 07:50
It’s Not Just Windmills – Nils Stolpe
Demand for undersea cables will only grow as more businesses rely on cloud computing services,,, “All of that data is going in the undersea cables.” I have known Captain Jim Lovgren for most of thirty years. I have worked with him on a number of issues,,, Based on this I have no compunctions about strongly recommending that you read the piece that he wrote and titled, “Its Time For A Fishing Industry Buy Out By Offshore Wind” And, unfortunately, I see the struggle that both recreational and commercial fishermen are facing with myriad huge windmills planned in our coastal waters as only the tip of the iceberg. >click to read, with links< 20:51
Seafood wholesaler, boat master fined for obstruction
The fines resulted from what DFO describes as “a serious case of obstruction,” which included the co-owner of the wholesaler eating a receipt rather than give it to a DFO officer. A B.C. provincial court judge has found Tenshi Seafood Ltd. and the company’s co-owner, Dishi Liu, guilty of violating the Fishers Act. The company was fined $75,000; Liu was fined $25,000. The judge also handed a $10,000 fine to Thuong Nguyen, master of the commercial fishing vessel Dream Chaser, for obstructing a fisheries officer. >click to read< 17:47
NOAA and its new “partner” Ørsted agree to share data on wind farm lease areas
NOAA has reached an agreement with leading offshore wind developer Ørsted to share physical and biological data from Ørsted’s offshore lease areas. The memorandum is the first of its kind between an offshore wind developer and NOAA, and the agency says that it paves the way for similar data-sharing agreements with other developers. “This partnership with industry will deliver data Americans use for business, science, and education, while at the same time mitigating effects of climate change,” said Ben Friedman, NOAA’s acting administrator.,,, The partnership is one element of a wide range of offshore wind initiatives that the Biden-Harris Administration announced at the end of March. (what crap!!!) >click to read< 14:36
South County Museum honors the legends of the Point Judith commercial fishing industry
Imagine walking into a new exhibit at the South County Museum that lists as many local commercial fishermen as can be identified, past and present, and features stories of notable fishing families, artifacts of the fishing industry, a parade of historic photographs on large video screens, and even an oral history booth where present-day fishermen and their families can tell their stories. “Point Judith was once the No. 2 commercial seaport on the East Coast, and it needs to be celebrated and show how it’s changed. Commercial fishermen are the most adaptable, industrious individuals who are running a business, but are also doing it because it’s a passion in their life.”>click to read< 12:38
How a shocking environmental disaster was uncovered after 70 years
Just 10 miles off the coast of Los Angeles lurks an environmental disaster over 70 years in the making, which few have ever heard about. That is, until now, thanks to the research of a University of California marine scientist named David Valentine. Working with little more than rumors and a hunch, curiosity guided him 3,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. A few hours of research time and an autonomous robotic submersible unearthed what had been hidden since the 1940s: countless barrels of toxic waste, laced with DDT, littering the ocean floor in between Long Beach and Catalina Island. Video, >click to read< 09:33
Nova Scotia: The hidden fight for baby eels – Court docs reveal why DFO shut down the elver fishery for all of 2020
The federal department had been closely monitoring, and in some cases prosecuting, the unauthorized sale of baby eels harvested by Mi’kmaq under Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) eel licences since 2017. The appearance of more than 110 Indigenous fishermen at the beginning of April 2020, up from 21 across the region in 2019, quickly forced a shutdown of the little known but lucrative fishery throughout the Maritimes, the documents state. DFO was in the middle of a collision between Mi’kmaq asserting treaty rights and commercial harvesters anxious to protect a fishery worth $38 million in 2019. >click to read< 08:32
Frustration as F/V Pesorsa Dos returns to local fishing grounds
Local fishermen are up in arms after the German registered gill-netter F/V Pesorsa Dos reappeared in the waters to the west of Shetland. Last year, the Spanish owned vessel was in the centre of a huge controversy after the crew of the Alison Kay (LK57) posted a video that appeared to show the gill netter trying to foul the local trawler’s propeller. Following Brexit and the “hugely disappointing” trade deal, the UK has become an independent coastal state, but EU vessels continue to have full access to UK waters until 2026. >click to read< 18:26
Innovative Monkfish Catcher Vessel Built in Brazil
High-quality monkfish in southern of Brazil is is driving a local fishing company to build the very first fishing vessel in the country for this fishery. Blaze I’s construction is currently approaching completion and it is expected to start fishing in the second half of 2021. For two decades, seafood company Blaze has been providing premium products to European, Asian, and African markets. Despite the solid commercial relationship with the Portuguese and French customers that the company has built since the beginning, it has been suffering over the past three years with the closure of European markets to the Brazilian fish due to sanitary concerns. That was one of the reasons why Blaze decided to invest in its own boat. According to José da Silveira Jr., one of the owners, the company’s expectation is to obtain a European certification. photos, >click to read< 15:29
The sinking of the Star
The first picture I am sharing was taken in September of 1957 after a valiant fight to save this 40-foot commercial fishing boat, Star, which ended up on the beach south of the jetty. The boat’s owner, Harold Powell, and his son Richard, both of Charleston, were rescued from their sinking craft by another fishing boat, William A, near Whiskey Run, the point of land north of the Coquille River mouth. They had fish on the deck and were oblivious of anything wrong until the owner noticed water splashing over the gurleys. >click to read< 13:41
What’s good for America?!!: Impact of Foreign Workers on American Jobs a Contentious Issue in US
The colossal impact of immigrant labor in the United States extends to Louisiana’s struggling fisheries. “I’ve been hiring workers from Mexico, Honduras and everywhere else for 20 years,” Dean Blanchard, president of Blanchard Seafood, Inc. George Barisich, a fisherman in the suburbs of New Orleans, Louisiana, draws a distinction between lawful and undocumented immigration. He voted twice for former President Donald Trump, who 
championed restrictive immigration policies. Even so, Barisich agrees with Blanchard that immigrants play a vital role in his industry. “During shrimping season, we need legal immigrants to work in those factories,” he said. “It’s hard work, it’s decent pay, and it’s stuff young Americans just don’t want to do anymore.” >click to read< 11:05
Maryland Governor Calls for more HB-2 Visas – Governor Larry Hogan urged federal officials to make more H-2B Nonimmigrant Temporary Worker Program visas available to help protect Maryland’s $355 million seafood industry and supply chain. >click to read<
Newfoundland: A Discussion of the Impact of Seals on Cod Stocks
Those in the industry feel more needs to be done to track the impact seal predation is having on cod stocks in the province. The latest DFO modelling shows 3Ps cod deep in the critical zone, prompting meagre quotas to be cut in half.,, “Most fear if we don’t do anything” Sullivan says, “it’ll be the story of what’s going on with the neighbouring cod stock.” He says scientists working in the Gulf of St. Lawrence noted a few years ago that fishing or no fishing, seals were going to devour all the cod and the species could become extinct. >click to read< 09:10
It’s Race Day! From giant lobsters to grandfather clocks, NASCAR’s top 14 novelty trophies, ranked
It’s undeniable: NASCAR and the tracks it competes at deliver some pretty spectacular trophies to Cup Series race winners. Sure, there are plenty of traditional-looking trophies that are treasured and will surely be part of drivers’ display cases and trophy rooms. But many of those are also subject to change, in name and design, based on the race sponsor, and other than signifying another tally in the win column, they might not mean much. Instead, we’re talking about the icons, the staples, the ones drivers can spend their careers chasing because they’re so uniquely coveted. >click to read< 07:55
Lower and middle class Americans will pay for the Biden Administration offshore wind power “plan”
Last week, the Biden administration announced “a bold set of actions” that it said will “catalyze” the installation of 30,000 megawatts of new offshore wind capacity by 2030. A White House fact sheet claimed the offshore push will create “good-paying union jobs” and “strengthen the domestic supply chain.” One problem: It didn’t contain a single mention of electricity prices or ratepayers. The reason for the omission is obvious: President Biden’s offshore-wind scheme will be terrible for consumers. >click to read<,,, Offshore wind is a bad deal for the marine environment, ratepayers and taxpayers. Biden’s plan should be torpedoed before it leaves the harbor. 17:28
Commercial horse seining on the Columbia River
These days, the rotting pilings that sit in the middle of the Columbia River don’t seem like much at first glance. But they are the remnants of a booming cannery industry. Near the old Desdemona Sands Lighthouse, they were considered home for teams of horses that helped fishermen catch salmon along the river. Commercial horse seining on the Columbia River played a vital role in the area’s economy from the 1890s through the 1940s. When the river was in full swing, dozens of men would gather near Desdemona Sands and Sand Island to collect the bounty of salmon that awaited them. photos, >click to read< 14:20
“It’s excellent,” – Court hears testimony that vessel involved in fatal collision had good visibility
A fishing boat involved in a fatal collision that killed two people had good visibility from its cabin, a P.E.I. Supreme Court judge heard Friday. That testimony came during the fourth day of the trial for Clarence Barry White who appeared before Justice Gregory Cann in Charlottetown. White is facing two counts of criminal negligence causing death in connection with a collision on June 9, 2018, that killed Justin MacKay and Chris Melanson. During Friday’s proceedings, the court heard testimony from a Transport Canada employee who took White’s boat, the Forever Chasin’ Tail, out for a sea trial days after the collision. >click to read< 13:14
The host parish for Mid-Barataria diversion just voted 8-0 thumbs down against it – would destroy economy, culture
The Plaquemines Parish Council has decided to oppose Louisiana’s $2 billion plan to channel land-building sediment and nutrient-laden water from the Mississippi River,,, Members said the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project would destroy their parish’s seafood-based economy and culture. The 8-0 thumbs down from the governing authority in the project’s home parish marks an expected rebuke for Gov. John Bel Edwards, his coastal planners and their nonprofit advocates, who see Mid-Barataria as the flagship project in the state’s 50-year, $50 billion effort to stave off the disappearance of much of the bottom third of Louisiana into the Gulf of Mexico. >click to read< 11:13
Changing environment may be to blame for reduced fish populations – Seals, Professor? Regulatory changes?
A new study aimed at determining how best to boost recovery of Atlantic cod has researchers pondering whether ongoing fishing and environmental changes, rather than evolution, are behind failed recovery of many stressed fish populations. (Seal predation?!!) Research published Monday, April 5 by Rutgers University, including genetic sequencing of this iconic species, offers major implications for ocean conservation, says Malin Pinsky, an associate professor in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. “Fish populations around the world have collapsed and many have not recovered,” said Pinsky. >click to read 09:43
