Daily Archives: January 12, 2024
Work on grounded fishing vessel continues after halting due to bad weather
Operations to remove the pollutants from the fishing vessel ‘Elke M’ that ran aground in St Francis Bay on January 6, resumed this morning, January 12, after being suspended late yesterday, January 11, due to bad weather. South African Maritime Safety Authority spokesperson, Tebogo Ramatjie said that yesterday a helicopter assisted in the transfer of equipment to the vessel, and the pumping of onboard fuel into 4 bulk IBC containers was completed. more, >>click to read<< 16:04
Cleary steps down from SEA-NL to focus on fishery Co-op
Ryan Cleary stepped down Thursday as Executive Director of SEA-NL, a non-profit association that advocates on behalf of licensed inshore enterprise owners, to focus his full attention on the formation of a new fisheries co-operative. “I remain as passionate about SEA-NL as the day Merv Wiseman and I started the organization and will continue as a tireless advocate for the inshore fleet, but my focus is drawn to the formation of a new fisheries co-operative,” said Cleary, who was hired as SEA-NL’s first Executive Director in February 2022. “The public can expect to hear as much or more from me on behalf of inshore enterprise owners.” Cleary said he hopes SEA-NL will continue its valuable advocacy role, and work hand-in-hand with the new co-operative to achieve the common goal of prosperous fisheries and rural communities. “The goals and objectives of SEA-NL and the future Co-op are the same, and I hope to work collaboratively to achieve them together,” said Cleary, who continues to work with Mr. Wiseman on development of the Co-op. “Full-steam ahead.”
Peter Pan’s King Cove plant will stay closed this winter as fishing industry turmoil spreads
In a major hit to Southwest Alaska’s fishing industry, Peter Pan Seafood Co. will keep its huge plant in the village of King Cove shuttered this winter, meaning that the company won’t be processing millions of dollars’ worth of cod, whitefish and crab. “It’s one of the most difficult days of my life,” Rodger May, one of the company’s owners and a longtime player in the seafood industry, said in a brief interview Thursday. “It’s just a devastating time for the industry.” The closure is the latest sign of the widening turmoil in Alaska seafood markets, which are contending with depressed global demand across many different species and intense competition from producers in Russia. more, >>click to read<< 13:39
Bomb found on Looe trawler moved and blown up safely
The alarm was raised in a Cornish harbour on Thursday after a suspected bomb was found on a fishing trawler, the Coastguard said. The Coastguard, police and the Royal Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal team were all called to Looe Harbour at about 12:45 GMT. It was taken out to sea to a location south of the Plymouth Breakwater. The navy said it was then made safe in a controlled underwater explosion. A team of Royal Navy divers from HMNB Devonport carried out the explosion on Friday afternoon. more, >>click to read<< 12:38
Historic lighthouse featured on Maine state quarter suffers extensive damage in storm
The Pemaquid Point Light’s bell tower in Bristol, Maine, built in 1897, was battered to a point that its interior was exposed. Shelley Gallagher, Bristol’s Parks and Recreation Department director, said the powerful wind and high waves tore down the bell tower’s whole front wall and part of the side, with pictures showing a debris pile of bricks surrounding the building. “The waves came up and hit it hard,” said Gallagher, who added that a wind reading from the top of the lighthouse reported 79 mph winds during the storm. “It was just such a high tide and so much surf. There was so much power behind it.” photos, more, >>click to read<< 11:17
Maine fishermen hope for relief after powerful storm damages wharfs, equipment
Much of Coastal Maine is now in a State of Civil Emergency after this week’s storm caused widespread damage up and down the coast. That announcement by Governor Janet Mills will mobilize resources for recovery but might also provide a bit of extra relief for Maine fisherman. Fisherman were hard hit by the storm. That damage is illustrated in Harpswell, where a lobsterman’s boat was washed up against the shore during Wednesday’s high tide. Thursday, fishermen in Harpswell were trying to secure and fix it before the boat would get hit by more winds and waves from Saturday’s storm. Video, photos, more,>>click to read<< 09:15
Captain Darren Stanwood Sr. of Orland, Fla, has passed away
Darren Stanwood Sr. of Orlando, FL, formerly from Gloucester, MA, died on January 9, 2024. He loved and worked at sea. On his last 10-day trip, on the way back to port, he became ill and passed away at the St. Petersburg Hospital in Florida. His final moments were at the sea doing what he loved. He was an accomplished commercial fishing captain. He fished out of Gloucester, the Gulf of Mexico, and the southern Atlantic. His passion was fishing, and he was great at it. He was admired and respected by those who worked with and for him for over 44 years. more, >>click to read<< 08:10
Campaign to save historic Hastings fishing boat from being demolished
The clinker built boat Dorothy Melinda has been on display on an island outside Hastings railway station for the past 15 years. It is the first thing visitors to Hastings see when they arrive in the town by rail. But now the Council has said its is planning or removing the boat later this month as vandalism and its deteriorating condition have caused it to become a safety hazard. A campaign has been launched to save the boat, which is part of the town’s fishing history, and restore it to its former glory. more, >>click to read<< 07:02
