Monthly Archives: May 2025
Salvage operation begins for sunken fishing boat; captain still missing
A commercial salvage team is working on a plan to recover a sunken fishing boat near Grays Harbor. On Friday night, the Coast Guard suspended a search for its missing captain. Earlier in day, a lifeboat crew from Grays Harbor and an air crew from Astoria, Oregon rescued three others who were on board. The 68-foot fishing boat known as the “Captain Raleigh” capsized at around 8:15 a.m. near the bar at the entrance to Grays Harbor. The fishing boat crew told rescuers the captain was still aboard the ship when it sank near the Grays Harbor bar entrance. The Coast Guard actively searched for the captain for several hours, but called off the search at 8:40 p.m. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:27
Lost fishermen remembered at UK services
Fishermen who lost their lives at sea are being remembered at special services around the UK. National Fishing Remembrance Day was created in 2024 by maritime organisations including the Hampshire-based Fishermen’s Mission. The charity said Sunday’s services – including Brixham, Kilkeel and Peterhead which have been designated as national services for England, Northern Ireland and Scotland – were a reminder that fishing remained one of the most dangerous peacetime occupations. A total of 26 deaths involving fishing vessels were recorded in the five years from 2019 to 2023, according to the Marine Accident Investigation Board. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:50
Investigating Shrimp Fraud Is an Urgent Matter on the Gulf Coast
Imagine sitting down for a meal at a restaurant with a view of the ocean. You are on vacation, and the restaurant’s décor includes fishnets, pictures of boats and taxidermied exemplars of the local catch. You order a plate of shrimp, reasonably expecting it to have come from nearby waters. Way too often it comes from thousands of miles away, Dave Williams told a small crowd at the Louisiana Shrimp Festival on a summer-hot day in New Orleans last fall. “And that’s despicable,” he said. Mr. Williams is a commercial fisheries scientist who was in New Orleans to shed light on what he considers an epidemic problem: restaurants and festivals misrepresenting imported shrimp as locally caught. In many cases, diners are paying for what they think is more expensive, high-quality wild Gulf shrimp, but is actually an inferior product produced by an aquaculture industry that has a history of labor abuse. A 2020 study by Louisiana State University found two thirds of imported shrimp samples purchased in Baton Rouge contained banned veterinary drugs. Photos,Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:50
John Anthony “Captain Tony” Geisman of James Island, S.C. has passed away
John Anthony Geisman, known and revered as “Captain Tony”, was born on September 18, 1948, and raised in Cocoa Beach, FL and Cape Canaveral. From the beginning, he always had a rod and a fish in his hand; his father and grandfather were involved in fishing, which led to him working on party boats in Cape Canaveral at the early ages of 10 and 11. He was such a natural boatsman that they would have him refuel the boat on his own, foreshadowing what would become a legendary career as “a wildly successful pioneer in the fledgling Distant Water Longline Fishery, fishing the seven seas” (as quoted by fellow fisherman James Budi). His long career at sea began with the merchant marines, traveling around the world carrying his surfboard; when he returned, he acquired his first small boat called the Blue Waters, with which he bottom-fished until Marty taught him to handline swordfish on the Penob Scott Gulf (imagine that!). more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:03
Historic Japanese Canadian boat project sailing along in Slocan
Seven years after acquiring a last-of-its kind Japanese Canadian fishing boat, the Slocan Valley Historical Society (SVHS) is excited to share that construction of the vessel’s shelter is underway. “After many unexpected delays, we have finally broken ground on the next step in this project,” says Joyce Johnson, president of the SVHS. “The Merriwake has been restored to the condition she was in when she was confiscated during WWII. We are excited to display the boat and share her history, as well as tell part of the internment story.” Built in 1929 by Matsumoto Boatworks, the 31-foot gillnetter was impounded by the Canadian government during WWII. After being acquired by the SVHS, Eric Chevalier of the Copper Nail Boat Shop began restoring the vessel. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:58
Coast Guard medevacs captain from fishing vessel offshore Hawaii
The Coast Guard medevaced the captain of a commercial fishing vessel 80 miles offshore Hilo, Hawaii, Friday. Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders received a phone call at 6:50 a.m. Tuesday from the captain of the 78-foot fishing vessel Sea Angel, which was approximately 675 miles northeast of Hilo. The captain, a 68-year-old man, had reportedly been experiencing severe symptoms, such as abdominal pain and fever, for the past 10 days. After conferring with the duty flight surgeon, watchstanders established a regular communication schedule with the vessel’s crew and directed them to transit toward Hawaii. Coast Guard Fourteenth District and Coast Guard Base Honolulu personnel procured antibiotics, which an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers successfully dropped to the Sea Angel at 1:07 p.m. Wednesday. Photos, vide, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:53
Coast Guard suspends search for man near Westport, Wash.
The Coast Guard suspended its search at 8:40 p.m. Friday for the 44-year-old captain aboard the 68-foot fishing vessel, Captain Raleigh, where it sank near Westport, Wash. Three people who were aboard the vessel were rescued from the water by a rescue boatcrew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor. The Captain Raleigh was underway Friday morning when the vessel master issued a distress call around 8:15 a.m. stating they were taking on water and the onboard pumps could not keep up. Watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia immediately issued a Urgent Marine Information Broadcast for anyone in the area to render assistance. They also dispatched rescue boatcrews from Station Grays Harbor and an aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria. A good Samaritan vessel pulled alongside the Captain Raleigh a few minutes after the distress call to provide a dewatering pump. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:39
Province wants intervenor status in case against Maine lobster fisher
A lawyer for the province is asking to be included in a constitutional challenge being brought by a Maine lobster fisher accused of fishing illegally in Passamaquoddy Bay. Erik D. Francis, 55, of Perry, Maine, faces two charges under the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act related to allegations that he illegally fished for lobster off the coast of Deer Island on Nov. 15, 2022. Francis, who is self-represented, has claimed Indigenous fishing rights as a part of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) Nation, which has communities on both sides of the border but is not federally recognized in Canada. In February, Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik lawyer Paul Williams was granted status to intervene on behalf of the nation’s three chiefs. The nation argued that it needed to take part in order to protect and promote their treaty rights. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:59
Local Stakeholders Explore Next Steps for Offshore Wind Despite ‘Significant Uncertainties’ Posed by Trump Administration
Despite federal pushback and industry uncertainty, Humboldt County officials and international developers are moving forward with plans to bring floating offshore wind facilities to the North Coast. This week, the county’s Economic Development Division hosted a renewable energy conference,,, in Loleta to discuss the future of commercial-scale offshore wind development in California and how to navigate potential hurdles imposed by the Trump administration. “There are significant uncertainties created by the federal government in this moment. That’s why discussion is so important,” said Jana Ganion, senior offshore wind advisor for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Office. “We deal with adversity; we ride through it, and we are stronger at the end of it. So when we talk about pathways and partnerships, we know that in this moment these things are recalculating.” Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:28
Le Biche Arrival into Galway Marks 50th Anniversary of Twinning with Lorient
The historic Breton sailing vessel Le Biche will arrive in Galway Harbour on Saturday afternoon. Bearing what is described as a unique Galway/Breton whisky/beer cargo, the classic vessel will be accompanied by a flotilla of Galway sailing vessels and hookers. Its visit marks the start of a week-long celebration of the 50th anniversary of the twinning of Galway and Lorient in north-west France. Built in 1934, Le Biche is one of the last remaining Dundee-rigged tuna fishing boats which once sailed in their hundreds on the Bay of Biscay. links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:20
Ocean City wind farm project sparks debate on Eastern Shore
Ocean City residents may soon see a change to their beachfront views, as U.S. Wind plans to construct a wind farm off the coast. Renderings submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management indicate what the horizon could look like on a clear day. The proposed wind farm has ignited controversy among locals, leading to the formation of the Stop Offshore Wind movement. “They’re not good for the environment and if they want to save the environment because of climate change, why would you go destroy an environment to try to save something?” said Sonny Gwin, a waterman who has fished these waters for 40 years. He expressed concern about the construction and operational impacts on marine life. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:32
National Shrimp Day is this Saturday: How to support local families keeping our coastal heritage alive
Shrimping isn’t just an industry in Louisiana’s Bayou Country—it’s a tradition passed down through generations. This National Shrimp Day, Explore Houma invites you to honor our rich coastal heritage by getting to know the people and places keeping it alive: local shrimpers like Faith Family Shrimp and the unforgettable experience of Down the Bayou Shrimp Tours. Faith Family Shrimp, located in Chauvin, Louisiana, offers a unique glimpse into the world of shrimp fishing and processing. Owned by Chad and Angela Portier, this family-operated business at 8167 Redfish Street showcases the journey of Louisiana wild-caught shrimp from their commercial fishing vessels to the consumer’s table. They emphasize the finest quality of shrimp, underscoring their commitment to the local seafood industry. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:56
EXCLUSIVE: Trump To Sign Executive Order ‘Unleashing’ New England Fishing Industry
President Donald Trump continues his record-setting pace of issuing executive orders, and his latest, which he’s scheduled to sign later today, is designed “to unleash commercial fishing in the Atlantic, advancing the America First Fishing Policy. President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen in order to strengthen the U.S. economy, support coastal communities, and restore fairness to an industry disadvantaged by overregulation and unfair foreign competition,” according to a White House fact sheet obtained by NHJournal. “I don’t know much about fishing, but I love what they do, and they’re brave people,” Trump told a Concord, N.H. crowd during a 2024 campaign stop. “I’ll fight for the fishermen like never before.” On Friday, Trump is expected to sign an order rolling back prohibitions on commercial fishing in a 4,913 square mile area that President Barack Obama declared the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. more, <<CLICK TO READ<< 18:50
Commercial Fisherman Robyn James Parks of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, has passed away
Robyn was born at the Prince Rupert General Hospital on June 2, 1950 to Jennie (Pallister) Parks and Bob Parks. Robyn had a lifelong love for the outdoors and sports, especially hockey, with his loyalty to the Montreal Canadiens never wavering. A passionate athlete, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, basketball, curling, golf, swimming, and weightlifting. Later in life, he became known as “The Wanderer” for his love of walking. Robyn coached his daughters in soccer and basketball, was an avid “fan” of dance and enjoyed bringing them skiing on the weekend. Robyn was very proud of his girls and the life they built for themselves. They were his pride and joy. For nearly 40 years, Robyn worked as a commercial fisherman on seiners, draggers, gillnetters, and trollers along the coast. He loved fishing and the people he met and worked with over the years. He especially loved his work as beach man and skiff man. He was one of the last fishermen on the coast to row a wooden skiff to tie up and could spot a jumper a mile away. In his younger years, he spent the off-season in Mexico with his “crew”. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:04
MEDIA RELEASE: ASP Cartel Resorts to Intimidation & Bad Faith as Industry Control Slips
FFAW-Unifor, representing over 13,000 professional fish harvesters and processing workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, is condemning the actions of the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) and its member companies for escalating intimidation tactics. In recent days, ASP has blocked Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters from offloading snow crab in other Maritime provinces and pressured a non-member buyer to disclose private business information and comply with baseless demands. “ASP’s recent actions expose a desperate cartel struggling to maintain its grip on an industry opening to competition,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street. “Their attempts to undermine an independent buyer and their blatant threats to companies against purchasing from Newfoundland and Labrador harvesters reveal a corrupt system fighting to suppress fair market practices.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:20
Shrimp demand is growing, and tariffs could help local industry
Americans are buying more shrimp these days, and U.S. tariffs could help the local industry, experts say. “Americans love shrimp, and shrimp is taking an increasing share of U.S. seafood consumption,” said University of Florida professor Andrew Ropicki, who specializes in marine resource economics. Ropicki was part of a group that met this week in Mayport to take stock of issues in the industry. The meeting was led by the Northeast Florida Regional Council. Cassidy Taylor of NEFRC explained that the group has a grant to conduct a shrimping industry market study and has been holding public meetings for the past seven months to get input. Fourth-generation shrimper David Cook from Fernandina Beach liked the idea of a cooperative, but his main concern was infrastructure for the industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:35
From Seafood Harvesters of America: NOAA Sign-on Letter
Hello – We are contacting you because you have received periodic updates from Seafood Harvesters of America and are asking for you to sign a critically important NOAA letter. Seafood Harvesters of America is coordinating a U.S. seafood industry letter advocating for functional, stable NOAA/NMFS funding. Our industry’s current operations, and our fishing future, are at risk. We are hearing loud and clear from both sides of the aisle that having the U.S. seafood industry coalesce around a set of priorities is not only compelling but also very effective. As you know, projected budget cuts jeopardize programs, staff, and services critical to the safe and successful harvest, processing and distribution of U.S. fishery resources. Together, we can provide our nation’s leaders with a unified, streamlined vision for a thriving U.S. seafood sector. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:53
Fishermen battling with changing oceans chart new course after Trump’s push to deregulate
Virginia Olsen has pulled lobsters from Maine’s chilly Atlantic waters for decades while watching threats to the state’s lifeblood industry mount. Trade imbalances with Canada, tight regulations on fisheries and offshore wind farms towering like skyscrapers on open water pose three of those threats, said Olsen, part of the fifth generation in her family to make a living in the lobster trade. That’s why she was encouraged last month when President Donald Trump signed an executive order that promises to restore American fisheries to their former glory. The order promises to shred fishing regulations, and Olsen said that will allow fishermen to do what they do best — fish. But the support for deregulation is not unanimous among fishermen. Some say strong conservation laws are critical to protecting species that fishermen rely on to make a living. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:32
N.L. seafood producer hopeful for new markets at world’s largest trade event in Spain
The world’s largest seafood expo is drawing to a close in Barcelona, and one Newfoundland and Labrador seafood producer is optimistic he’ll walk away with new customers. Labrador Gem Seafoods president Danny Dumaresque is working the floor at the Global Seafood Marketplace. He says the expo has gotten off to a strong start. Dumaresque says the expo has five venues filled with companies from across Europe, Asia and the U.S. “Canada has a prominent presence here,” he said. “It’s a major event for the Canadian delegation.” The Newfoundland and Labrador government also has a booth there. Dumaresque says he had his eye on this event since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January. The expanding global trade war kicked off soon after. While Canadian seafood was not tariffed, uncertainty was felt throughout the sector for months. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:33
The Swansea fishing boat skipper ‘at the heart’ of £100m cocaine smuggling operation
A Swansea trawler skipper was “at the heart” of a £100million cocaine smuggling operation, a court has heard. Jon Williams was at the helm of the Lily Lola fishing boat when it was intercepted off the coast of Cornwall carrying more than a tonne of high-purity coke from south America. Asleep in a chair next to him was fellow Swansea man Patrick Godfrey. Williams and Godfrey along with two other men – Michael Kelly and Jake Marchant – had just fished more than 1,000 one-kilo blocks of cocaine out of the sea which had been dumped at an agreed rendezvous point by members of an international organised crime group. But unbeknown to the four men on the craft, the National Crime Agency had had them in their sights for several months. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:02
DON’T TAKE THE BAIT: FFAW CRITICIZES DFO MACKEREL PLAN, CALLS FOR REOPENING OF COMMERICAL FISHERY
The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), representing over 13,000 inshore fish harvesters and plant workers in Newfoundland and Labrador, is urging the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to establish a modest directed commercial mackerel fishery for the 2025 season. The Union has expressed strong concerns that the current 470-tonne personal-use bait fishery, announced for Atlantic Canada and Quebec yesterday evening, fails to meet the needs of Newfoundland and Labrador’s harvesters and coastal communities. FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street emphasizes the critical need for a commercial fishery, stating, “The bait mackerel fishery is useless to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Our harvesters have a long history of a fully monitored, high-quality directed fishery that supported livelihoods and provided top-tier product, especially in the fall. A small commercial fishery is not just necessary—it’s essential to sustain our rural communities and ensure the economic viability of our inshore fishery.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:54
A lobster fisher from Wellfleet talks about changes in the sea
For decades in the Gulf of Maine, Damien Parkington has seen lobsters follow the same migration pattern in the spring and early summer, coming in from deeper waters to find a more shallow spot to release their eggs. “The first migration of lobsters is generally egg-bearing females that are searching habitat to go lay their eggs,” he explained. “So the habitat is gonna be a certain type of water, it’s gonna have a certain temperature, it’s going to have a certainty salinity, and they like a certain sandy, gravelly bottom to do that. And they actually kind of nest up and they’ll hang out and fan their eggs, and when everything agrees, they’ll release them.” For as long as Damien can remember, female lobsters have been migrating in to do this at Stellwagen Bank — a sort of underwater shelf or plateau about 25 miles east of Boston and 5 miles north of Provincetown. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:28
US House Dems say NOAA cuts will harm weather forecasting, fisheries, Navy operations
The agency’s climate and oceanic research supports the U.S. Navy’s operations and even the commercial fishing industry – described during the forum as having “a love-hate relationship” with the agency – depends on NOAA to open and close fisheries, the lawmakers and experts said. The group of Democrats, who met without involvement of the committee’s Republican majority, said the cuts would hurt a wide range of Americans who depend on the agency’s data collection and rulemaking. Magaziner was the one who called the commercial fishing industry’s connection with NOAA “a love-hate relationship,” but he and witnesses noted that the agency oversees the most basic functions the industry needs to operate. Sarah Schumann, a fisherman with operations in Rhode Island and Alaska, criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for allying too strongly with offshore wind developers, but said the new administration’s actions were also detrimental to the industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:24
Work halted on huge windfarm in North Sea amid rising costs
Energy giant Orsted has said it is stopping work on one of the UK’s biggest upcoming offshore wind projects, in a blow to the Government’s clean energy plans. The world’s largest offshore wind developer said it will halt its Hornsea 4 project, a massive, planned wind farm in the North Sea that could have powered more than one million homes. Orsted said the project had suffered rising supply chain costs, higher interest rates and increasing risk of not finishing the project on time. It said the problems had “increased the execution risk and deteriorated the value creation of the project”. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
Maine aunt turns tragedy into a mission for fishermen’s safety
After her family went through the loss of a family member in a fishing accident, Liz Michaud turned grief into action by founding a non-profit aimed at preventing similar tragedies among Maine fishermen. Michaud’s nephew, Tylar Michaud, went missing in July 2023 while hauling lobster traps alone. His body was found nearly a month later. The loss shook his family and the tight-knit coastal Downeast community. “It was so obviously impactful to all of our family and our community,” Michaud said. “I just felt like it was Tylar telling me, ‘Hey Auntie Liz, you’ve got to do something about this.’” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:10
Baby eel fisher calls for enforcement against illegal harvesting on N.S. river
A licensed baby eel fisher says he’s been sending evidence to the federal Fisheries Department of illegal fishing on a Nova Scotia River, but he says Ottawa is not acting. Stanley King, manager of Atlantic Elver Fishery, says he has sent videos and images of unlicensed fishers on the Ingram River, about 40 kilometres southwest of Halifax. However, King says he’s unaware of any fisheries officers showing up at the location to enforce the law. He says he believes the total allowable catch of the tiny eels — which have been selling for about $1,500 per kilogram — has been far exceeded on the river. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:32
Why Isn’t Big Fishing Putting America First?
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump proclaimed his love for America’s fishermen and coastal communities. He’s right to do so considering that the rank-and-file fishermen are part of our new Republican coalition of blue-collar workers that contribute enormously to our economy. While the president continues to do his part to deliver for them, most recently through an Executive Order, it’s growing clearer that the love isn’t reciprocated. So, it’s fair to ask: why isn’t commercial fishing doing their part to put America First? For decades, the elites have pushed policies that favor massive industrial fishing operations, many of which use foreign vessels and foreign labor. Meanwhile, hardworking American fishermen are pushed out of business by overregulation and unfair competition. It’s the same playbook they used with manufacturing – ship the jobs abroad, let foreigners overexploit our resources, and leave Americans holding the empty nets. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:15
Sullivan Presses Commerce Nominee on NOAA Surveys Needed for Alaska Fishermen
U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, today pressed the nominee to serve as deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce, Mr. Paul Dabbar, on concerns about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) ability to complete fisheries stock surveys in Alaska if staffing and approved funding from the department are not prioritized. Sen. Sullivan noted in the committee hearing that conducting surveys is one of the Commerce Department’s core responsibilities with regard to fisheries, and surveys are needed in order for Alaskans to harvest in various fisheries across the state. Sen. Sullivan also demanded that Dabbar and Commerce officials work promptly with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to sign the pending maintenance contract for the Kodiak, Alaska-based NOAA research vessel, Oscar Dyson, which conducts these critically important surveys. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:36
Blaming low P.E.I. lobster prices on low P.E.I. lobster prices not a good excuse, says marketing board
Some fishermen on the south shore of Prince Edward Island say there’s no good explanation for the low prices they’ve been getting for lobster so far this spring season. Charlie McGeoghegan, chair of the Lobster Fishers of P.E.I. Marketing Board, said smaller canner lobsters are selling for between $6 and $6.50 per pound. Larger market-sized crustaceans are fetching around $6.50 to $7. McGeoghegan said buyers are blaming the threat of U.S.-imposed tariffs on Atlantic lobster exports for the low prices — but without those actually in place at this point, he insists fishers should be getting more. “They’re saying, well, ‘Trump could do this and Trump could do that.’ Well, he could,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:40
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 72′ Steel Stern Trawler, 3408 Cat, with State and Federal Permits
To review specifications, information, with 25 photos, >click here<. To see all the boats in this series >click here< 06:18
