Daily Archives: November 24, 2021
Commercial Fisherman Mark Wells of Phippsburg, Maine, has passed away
Mark Wells, 67, passed away on Nov. 13, 2021 after diabetic issues complicated by Covid. He was born in Kittery, Maine on June 24, 1954 to Bert Wells and Faye Albertson. In 1986, Mark met and married the love of his life, Mary “Betsy” Wells. He adopted her son, William, as his own, and they lived in Arundel, Searsmont and finally settled in Phippsburg. Mark had worked with his grandfather, Dutch Albertson, lobstering as a teenager. His love of commercial fishing stayed with him, and he worked in the industry for many years, before he bought his boat F/V Miss Betsy. He has fished her for the past 26 years out of Sebasco Harbor with his son William lobstering and tuna fishing. Mark also participated in the Maine Lobster Boat Races, where he won several trophies. >click to read< 15:37
Seafood processor accuses Nova Scotia government of revoking licence over clerical error
The Nova Scotia government has postponed its decision to terminate the operating licences for a family-owned fish processing company,,, SeaBrook Fisheries says it’s being shut down as the result of a clerical error during succession planning. The company failed to notify the provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture that control of the company had been passed to the son of the founders. The department earlier this year ordered the company’s fish buyers and fish processors licences to be terminated this Friday, effectively putting the company, which primarily processes lobster, out of business. SeaBrook was scheduled for an emergency hearing Wednesday,,, >click to read<, and Seafood processor accuses Nova Scotia government of revoking licence over clerical error – >click here< 14:17
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 64′ Dixon Fiberglass Longliner, 425HP Mitsubishi
To review specifications, information, with 15 photos, >click here< , To see all the boats in this series >click here< 12:03
Another Thanksgiving, another crab season delay
On a foggy morning in early November, Dan Kammerer hauled a crab trap onto a fishing boat,,, Kammerer, a retired fisherman, is playing a small role in aiding California’s crab fishing industry, On that day, he was selecting crabs to be tested for domoic acid. The toxin is not the only unwanted presence: In the past few years, a handful of migrating whales have been tangled in crab traps. Now, the season cannot open until a majority of the whales are gone. “We’ve gone from a seven-month-long crab season to one that is going to be three months, at best,” said Ben Platt, president of the California Coast Crab Association, which advocates for the fishery. If the regulations keep tightening, Platt said, “there’s a good chance that the Dungeness fishing industry won’t survive.” >click to read< 10:55
Reflection on the Minderoo Foundation’s Global Fishing Index by Ray Hilborn
This Monday, the Minderoo Foundation released their 2021 Global Fishing Index report meant to give a global picture of fisheries status. I have collaborated with the Minderoo Foundation in the past, but this report is highly flawed and should be viewed skeptically. The report claims over 50% of stocks are overfished and no country gets an “A” or a “B” grade for their management efforts—just six get a “C.” Countries that have essentially eliminated overfishing and are clearly delivering near maximum benefits to their countries are graded a “C.” Why is that not an A? >click to read<
How governments finance the ruin of our oceans – Our oceans were once believed to be an endless source of fish,,, Yet, different governments around the world, including the United States, not only allow extreme overfishing but actually pay fishing boats to turn the oceans into so-called “dead zones.”,, Meanwhile, a well-known marine biologist, Daniel Pauly, says the oceans are reaching a tipping point. >click to read< 09:38
Commercial Fisherman Gregory Allan Bray of Perryville, R.I., has passed away
Gregory Allan Bray, beloved husband, dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend passed away on November 17, 2021, surrounded by his family at South County Hospital after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Greg was a second-generation commercial fisherman aboard many boats including the F/V “Valiant Lady” and the F/V “Provider”. Most recently, he worked as the Captain of the F/V “Relentless” for more than 30 years. He was well liked and highly respected by all his crew and colleagues. He was a modest man, genuine and honorable, and he loved rock and roll. >click to read< 07:37
