Tag Archives: commercial fisherman David Goethel
A fisherman’s view of the state of commercial fishing
If the control cord for the hoist at the Hampton State Pier had been the correct length and David Goethel had not lost his balance in reaching for it and had not fallen head-first to the floating dock 20 feet below, we may have never had the chance to read “Endangered Species,” just out from Peter Randall Publishing. That would be a shame. Goethel’s memoir of his life as a commercial fisherman on the Atlantic Ocean is by turns funny, scary, and educational. You may wince as he tells of the rough times and seas that fishermen sometimes face, where a high wave can cause a sharp knife to be impaled in one’s leg. It happened to Goethel, whose oldest son, Eric, had to use the Boy Scout life-saving skills he had just learned to help stop the bleeding. You may feel as frustrated as does Goethel when federal government and non-governmental actors force rules and regulations that make no sense and where the bureaucrats are dismissive of the fishermen who — spoiler alert — actually do know something about fishing and fish. >>click to read<< 08:07
‘We are the endangered species’: Hampton fisherman David Goethel shares story in new book
For 40 years, David Goethel rode his 44-foot fish trawler the Ellen Diane from Hampton-Seabrook Harbor to Jeffreys Ledge off the coast of New Hampshire. His new book “Endangered Species,” published by Peter Randall of Portsmouth, shares his life story as well as a warning that today’s federal regulations are putting small boats out of business. “We are the endangered species,” Goethel said. Goethel, 69, retired last year to focus on treatment for cancer that is now in remission. A voice for the New Hampshire fishing community, Goethel said he was encouraged by his son to write his story so future generations can learn how small-boat trawlers were brought to the brink of extinction. “So that when that happens, they’ll at least have some accurate portrayals of lives,” Goethel said. “But also how they ended up in that position.” Photos, >>click to read<< 07:46
U.S. Commercial fishermen are frustrated by mask mandates from Maine to Alaska
Commercial fishing crews must be masked at all times, regardless of the number of people. The requirement stems from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rule issued in February saying all those on public transportation must be masked. The Coast Guard interpreted the rule to apply to all vessels, including commercial fisherman who sometimes work with crews of just three to five people. There are around 39,000 commercial fishermen in the United States. In a hearing with top administration health officials yesterday, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) brought this up. saying they’ve heard deep frustration from fishermen who argue that wearing a mask while doing their work is unsafe. >click to read< 12:43
Hastily assembled meeting gets New Hampshire Fishermen face to face with NOAA Administrator Sullivan
While no promises for action were made by the official — Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association — those who met with her said they appreciated the hour and a half sit-down she gave them at the Ashworth by the Sea Hotel. “I said (to Sullivan) I felt that I’m very patriotic, I love my country, but I feel my government has completely failed us in New Hampshire and in the fishing industry, and the public process has been non-existent,” said Ellen Goethel, Hampton marine biologist and wife of commercial fisherman David Goethel. Read the rest here 19:01
