Daily Archives: April 1, 2023
Three rescued as shrimp boat catches fire off Jekyll
Three people were rescued about 4 miles off shore of Jekyll Island Friday after jumping from a burning shrimp boat that sent a plume of black smoke across the horizon visible from the beaches of Jekyll and St. Simons Island. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Charleston called the Brunswick station around 12:30 p.m. to report that a shrimp boat, the Miss Hopkins from Darien, was burning and three people were on board, a Coast Guard representative said Friday. >click to read< 14:44
Eastern Fisheries cuts temp agency, laying off New Bedford workers amid labor probe
Eastern Fisheries is cutting ties with its main staffing agency, potentially laying off as many as 200 fish processors amid an ongoing federal investigation into unfair labor practices at the company. Those involved described the action of Eastern Fisheries as retaliation aimed at a small group of workers attempting to organize the largely immigrant workforce and fight for better labor conditions. Eastern Fisheries is one of the top employers on the waterfront and the largest scallop company on the east coast. Video, >click to read< 11:51
Retired Nanticoke commercial fisherman catches a $2 million ace
The wildly popular Catch the Ace draw resulted in a big win on Thursday evening for Richard Marshall of Nanticoke. “I just got lucky, that’s all,” Marshall said on Friday after going to the legion with his wife Lorna to pick up a cheque for $2,035,295. It’s likely the biggest catch of his life. Marshall, age 83, is a retired commercial fisherman who worked on fishing boats on Lake Superior, as well as out of Nanticoke, Port Dover and Port Burwell on Lake Erie. “My wife’s got relatives in Switzerland,” said Marshall when asked about his plans after the big win. “I think we’ll go back over there and visit them for a while.” >click to read< 11:07
In response to the Biden Administration’s shoddy wind farm approval
The House of Representatives today passed an amendment offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) requiring a comprehensive, independent investigation into the sufficiency of the environmental approval process for 3,400 offshore wind turbines along New Jersey’s coastline during its consideration of the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1). Smith said his amendment—which passed by a vote of 244-189 and is now part of HR 1—comes in response to the Biden and Murphy Administrations’ rush to install the massive wind farms around the nation’s busiest port without adequate study on their impact on the environment, marine mammals, the fishing industry, tourism, navigational safety and more. Video, >click to read< 09:07
Early close to Dungeness crab season just one more strike against commercial fleet
This year’s early close also comes as state, federal and nongovernmental conservation agencies are putting increased funding and support behind whale-safe “ropeless” or “pop-up” gear in development over recent years to allow for crabbers to extend their efforts during the shoulder seasons, even when the giant marine mammals are present. “The ropeless gear is a non-starter, as far as we’re concerned,” said Crescent City crabber Ben Platt, president of the California Coast Crab Association, which represents about 140 commercial Dungeness crab permit holders in California, including about two dozen in Bodega Bay. Members of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and conservation groups are bullish about the new traps, however, with several manufacturers working on or ready to test equipment. >click to read< 07:54
