Daily Archives: February 22, 2025
Career Commercial Fisherman Richard Paterson has passed away
With heavy hearts, we share the passing of Richard Paterson, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Feb 5 at Inglewood Care Centre in North Van. He was deeply loved and will be missed. He spent several years with the North Van Fire Dept, where he also worked as a paramedic and ambulance driver, before embarking on a long & fulfilling career as a commercial fisherman. In 1966, Richard & Rhea moved their young family to Qualicum Beach, where they built their cherished Pan-Abode home and second troller, Plus III, in their backyard. From 1975 Richard and his family spent 8 yrs homesteading on Read Island, embracing a life of resilience and self-sufficiency. In 1989 he remarried, and by 1993, he had returned to his family estate in Lynn Valley. He continued fishing and kept the Plus III in False Creek until 2011. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:11
NOAA set to slash jobs ‘imminently’
Mass firings are set to hit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) “imminently,” a source with knowledge told The Hill. The person, who asked to speak anonymously due to fear of reprisals, said that the agency had not yet been subjected to the steep cuts announced elsewhere due to the then-pending confirmation of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The Commerce Department oversees NOAA and the National Weather Service. Many of the federal cuts thus far have targeted probationary workers, which includes recent hires but also those who have been recently promoted. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:34
Study highlights successes of Virginia’s oyster restoration efforts
Virginia has made significant investments in the restoration of oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay, and now a study led by William & Mary’s Batten School & VIMS suggests those management practices are literally paying off in the Rappahannock River. The study, recently published in the Journal of Environmental Management, was led by Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences Ph.D. student Alexandria Marquardt, who presented the results to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission’s (VMRC) Shellfish Management Advisory Committee on February 19. In addition to supporting local economies, oysters filter the surrounding water, removing algae and excess nutrients while clumping together to form large reefs that serve as habitat for many fish and marine animals. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:14
Massachusetts: Retired Commercial Fisherman Raoul (Ray) D. Ross has passed away
Raoul (Ray) D. Ross died on February 17 at Cape Cod Hospital after a brief illness. Early in his life, Ray was drawn to the ocean and from the age of 14, except for his stint in the military, he worked as a commercial fisherman. He was a physically vital man and worked many long hours fishing in the waters off southern New England on one of his boats: the Rosalie R (which he helped design and build), the Carole R, the Jessica and Susan, and the Colleen and Melissa. After settling on Cape Cod in 1965, Ray was for years a fixture at the Ocean Street docks in Hyannis, a devoted friend and supportive member of the commercial fishing community. His advocacy and leadership included a term as President of the Massachusetts Inshore Daggerman’s Association, where he worked with regulators and legislators to represent the interests of Cape Cod fisherman. Well into his seventies, Ray was still rising at 4:00 a.m. to happily captain a boat and crew to catch squid and scup in the waters of Nantucket Sound. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:07
Following Trump’s executive order, New Hampshire House votes to roll back offshore wind
Citing President Donald Trump’s executive order halting new federal offshore wind leases, the New Hampshire House voted Thursday to roll back offshore wind development in the state. HB 682 would remove “offshore wind industry development” from the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation. It would also repeal the Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Training Center Committee and the Offshore and Port Development Commission. Along with cost, House Republicans cited harm to the ocean life as a reason for their opposition to offshore wind. “After the President’s executive order to eliminate offshore wind and turbines this bill seeks to avoid the destruction of nearby fisheries, lobster, shellfish, and whales,” wrote Rep. James Summer, R-Newton. “Offshore wind is more expensive and destructive than any other renewable energy source.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:10
