Daily Archives: July 15, 2023
Aussie sailor rescued after surviving two months lost in the the Pacific with his dog Bella by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater
Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were picked up by a tuna trawler off the coast of Mexico after a helicopter accompanying the ship spotted their catamaran. The Sydney man left La Paz in Mexico in April bound for French Polynesia but a few weeks into the journey a storm destroyed the electronics on his vessel. Mr Shaddock said he was forced to drift for two months with only his dog for company with the pair eating raw fish and drinking rainwater to stay alive. Video, photos, >click to read< 22:16
EU and UK fishermen to install cameras and sensors on boats for post-Brexit quotas
On Monday, ministers are expected to unveil a package of measures that will form part of the post-Brexit regime for fishing in British waters, following 18 months of talks with industry bodies. It will include proposals for both EU and UK vessels to be required to place monitoring equipment on their boats to enable officials to conduct audits of their catches. Currently, cameras are installed on a handful of boats involved in pilot and scientific schemes in British waters. Officials have also been examining sensors that detect or measure fishing operations such as the movement of nets. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs wants to make the technology mandatory for vessels involved in catching certain fish, after an initial period of developing the scheme with volunteer boats. >click to read< 17:12
Expect more temporary closures of P.E.I. lobster fishery, DFO says
Future in-season closures of the P.E.I. lobster fishery are not out of the question as more endangered right whales are spotted in shallow waters, says Fisheries and Oceans Canada. A portion of Lobster Fishing Area 24 was shut down in May after two right whales were spotted off P.E.I.’s north shore. It was the first time DFO had to close off that part of the area due to a whale sighting, and it meant lobster crews had to move their traps to shallower waters. It’s likely not the last time it will happen, said Brett Gilchrist, DFO’s director of national programs. Video, >click to read< 15:25
Andy Hillstrand from Deadliest Catch – What Happened to Him?
Talk about the show Deadliest Catch, and the mention of Andy Hillstrand is a must. The famous face on the show left the whole fans shocked when he decided to exit it in 2020. Andy sailed through the sea with this F/V time Bandit and his crew of sailors to catch crabs in the crab season. He was ready for everything the sea had to offer him. But his sudden exit from the reality show left everyone wondering why he would do that after years of amicable filming with the Discovery Channel. So, why did Andy have to leave the show, and where is he currently? This article answers all the questions. >click to read< 14:36
Hoyle Introduces Supporting Commercial Fishing Act
A release from Hoyle’s office said current law does not make it explicitly clear whether ports can apply for Port Infrastructure Development Program grants that support commercial fishing. Hoyle said that often leaves it up for interpretation that can overlook commercial fishing communities which are the backbone of the coastal communities. The release said Hoyle’s legislation would clarify that ports may apply for federal funding through the Maritime Administration’s PIDP for port infrastructure projects which support commercial fishing and all the jobs that comes with it. >click to read< 12:32
What salmon eat in the open ocean
After one to two years of munching on zooplankton in freshwater, young sockeye – or smolt – head for salt water to begin the next chapter of their anadromous lives, where there’s a whole different menu available. Dr. Katie Howard studies salmon diets in the open ocean and is an ocean fisheries scientist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. “The sockeye, pink and chum, eat a pretty diverse array of invertebrates and fish,” she said. “And the amount that their diets overlap or don’t overlap, is really dependent on where they are.” Howard calls these three species of salmon generalists; for the most part, they’ll eat whatever is available to them. But she says chinook, or king salmon, choose different marine meals. “Chinook tend to focus more on fish and squid. But, which fish and which squid really depends on where they are and what’s available,” she said. >click to read< 11:08
American boat patrols waters around new offshore wind farms to protect jobs
A battleship-gray vessel was on the prowl. In this ramp-up for U.S. offshore wind, American marine companies and mariners fear they’ll be left behind. So Aaron Smith, president of the Offshore Marine Service Association, was looking through binoculars to see whether ships servicing the new wind farms were using foreign-flagged vessels instead of U.S.-made ships with American crews. The ship is named the Jones Act Enforcer, after the century-old law that says the transport of merchandise between U.S. points is reserved for U.S.-built, owned and documented vessels. The motto: “We’ll be watching.” Smith was documenting operations to show to federal law enforcement officials and members of Congress. 15 Photos, >click to read< 10:02
Dungeness RNLI mourns the devastating loss of much-loved Coxswain Stuart Adams
Stuart was the backbone of the RNLI station at Dungeness, providing leadership and true friendship to all the volunteers that worked with him. He guided the volunteers through huge changes throughout his years at the charity, where he lived and breathed ‘Saving Lives at Sea’. Stuart initially joined the RNLI as a volunteer in 1978 alongside his fellow fishermen in Dungeness. He was a keen fisherman from a young age and started commercial fishing as a full-time occupation after school, 
which is where he was introduced to the RNLI. In 2000, 22 years after joining as a volunteer, Stuart became full time Coxswain of Dungeness Lifeboat, where he dedicated his life fully to the role. Stuart was a confidante, a father figure, a calming influence and a figure of stability where no person felt unsafe going to sea under his command. He was highly respected by all that knew him, as well as being full of good humour. He actively ensured that the volunteers felt able to learn and was completely selfless in all of his endeavours. Photos, >click to read< 08:52
Big back-to-back years renew talks of Kodiak Tanner crab protections
The last two years have been big for Kodiak Tanner crab fishermen. Processors offered a record of more than $8 per pound back in 2022. And this year’s harvest levels were the highest they’ve been since 1986, making it the largest crab fishery in the state. But all that attention has also renewed discussions about how to best manage – and protect – the fishery going forward. Back in January, boats sat on anchor waiting to offload their huge crab harvests at Kodiak processors – sometimes for a week or more. Kodiak’s Tanner crab population tends to fluctuate. But when numbers are good, the season opens in mid-January. More than 130 vessels participated in this year’s fishery. Peterson said it’s welcome work for skippers and crew. >click to read< 08:02
