Tag Archives: Capt. Mark Phillips

Fishermen brace for cuts to striped bass fishing

East End fishermen are speaking out against proposed cuts that could reduce the harvest of striped bass,,, The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which regulates fishing in coastal states from Maine to North Carolina,,, Commercial fishermen must adhere to strict limits on striped bass. Capt. Mark Phillips of the Illusion in Greenport, for example, was issued tags for 219 stripers this year, according to his wife, Mary Bess.,,, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) is an outspoken critic of the proposed cuts. >click to read<  08:42

Mark Phillips wanted to bring up some low points of a special Vineyard Wind meeting

A Rhode Island fishing board on Saturday voted in favor of a revised compensation offer from offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind in a decision that boosts the New Bedford company’s chances of securing a key approval from state coastal regulators later this week. >R.I. fishermen, Vineyard Wind reach deal on compensation<. After letting Fred Mattera give glowing praise to the Fishery Advisory Board for 3 minutes. Lanny shutout industry from commenting even though the audience was asking to be heard and had been told two days before that they would be allowed to speak at this public meeting. The meeting two days earlier had the media and state representatives kicked out. Also the attorney never disclosed that she was attorney for two of the FAB members and Fred Mattera group who will ultimately control the funds. Capt. Mark Phillips 17:16

Capt. Mark Phillips and the Illusion, the last of its kind

‘It’s not fish you’re buying – it’s men’s lives.’’ – Sir Walter Scott. The Predator sits dockside in Greenport, behind Alice’s Fish Market, a rusting hulk of a fishing trawler, 75 feet long and with no certain future to speak of. It is Mark Phillips’ boat, but he is away most days trolling offshore for squid in his other trawler, the Illusion. “It is not going to sea anytime soon,” Phillips said by cellphone, an edge of weary disgust in his voice. “The Predator’s days have come and gone.” The Illusion was dragging for squid near Nantucket on a hot day in mid-July. Phillips had started that week near Jones Inlet on western Long Island, but the ocean had heated up and the squid, which don’t like warm water, were scarce, so he moved the Illusion farther east in pursuit of success. >click to read<09:41