Daily Archives: February 14, 2025
Late commercial seafood titan had a simple mission: feeding the hungry
In the first conversation Grant Fishbook had with Andy Vitaljic more than a decade ago, Andy surprised the Christ the King Community Church pastor by saying he wanted his tombstone to read, “Andy fed the hungry.” The third-generation Croatian fisherman, who built a commercial seafood empire in Whatcom County and died at the age of 91 in September 2024, got his wish. Andy may be best remembered for his tireless efforts to help people in need, and his mausoleum inscription reflects that. Fishbook said Andy was one of the most generous humans he’d ever met — a compliment that extends to his widow, Erin. “The Vitaljics have their names attached to all kinds of humanitarian organizations around the county,” he said. “Andy was the brain and heart and passion and Erin was the organizer who made sure the ideas actually became real.” Now, Erin is looking for a successor to the empire Andy spent five decades building. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:11
U.S. Coast Guard Rescues Three Fishermen Off Louisiana
On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people from a fishing vessel that capsized off the coast of Louisiana. At about 0830 hours on Thursday morning, Eighth Coast Guard District received an EPIRB alert from a fishing vessel located about 40 miles off Calibou Bay. The watchstanders issued a broadcast requesting help from merchant vessels and diverted a nearby Ocean Sentry aircrew to the scene. The aircrew spotted the boat, which was partially sunken, and a life raft floating near it. Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:07
Deckhand killed in fishing boat disaster was not wearing lifejacket
A Scots deckhand who drowned and seven other crew who were rescued after a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Norway were not wearing lifejackets an investigation has found. Ronald Mackinnon, 56, from Peterhead, lost his life when the UK-registered Njord trawler got into difficulty west of Stavanger in March 2022. A probe by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has now found that none of the eight crew ‘were able to don personal flotation devices or lifejackets’ after the boat suffered a ‘substantial list’ and started taking on water. The report states that the crew had been taking on an ‘unusually large haul of fish’ when the tragedy happened. Photos, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:22
How Mexican cartels and Chinese criminal networks are moving ‘cocaine of the sea’ through Canadian ports
Chinese organized crime networks and Mexican cartels are using Canadian ports to trade highly lucrative fish bladders for the precursor chemicals needed to produce fentanyl, according to a memo from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). It said organized criminal networks transport the fish — called totoaba — from the West Coast to China, while the chemical precursors to make toxic drugs are sent through Canadian ports. The report from the CBSA, first obtained by Radio-Canada through a freedom of information request, said Canada is being used as a “transit point” for the illegal product — though the quantity of fish passing through Canada and the amount of fentanyl precursors being exchanged for it, were not included in the report. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:16
NTSB: Hydraulic Leak Caused Loss of Fishing Vessel Off Maine
The fire that destroyed the fishing vessel F/V Three Girls off the coast of Maine in 2024 was likely caused by a spray of hydraulic oil, according to an investigation by the NTSB. The crew all abandoned ship and survived, in no small part because of timely and creative action by the vessel’s master. On August 11, the F/V Three Girls was under way in the Gulf of Maine on a routine trip and had five crewmembers and a fishery observer aboard. At about 2050 hours, the crew was hauling in nets and running all hydraulic systems at full power when the captain smelled something burning. He checked the engine room and encountered thick smoke – so thick that he could not clearly see where the fire was coming from. He determined that the blaze was too serious to fight, and he ordered the crew to prepare to abandon ship. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:27
