2010 Nautical News Archive

1/31/10

A)    The New England Fishery Management Council bowed to political pressure and reversed their recent decision that drastically reduced the scallop catch. The federal fishery management council in a 10 - 5 vote, now agree that the scallop stock is fully restored and will now allow 47 million pounds of scallops to be landed in 2010. Rhode Island Council member David Preble - who voted against the larger allocation - blamed "filthy political maneuvering that produced a campaign of propaganda from a malignant and ignorant press." The motion to up the allocation was made by David Pierce, deputy director of the Division of Marine Fisheries. He had the approval of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. In a statement released by Governor Patrick he said "the council did right today by Massachusetts scallopers."

B)    A Nantucket scrimshaw artist has been convicted of smuggling whale teeth and elephant ivory into the United States in violation of international treaties and federal endangered species protection laws. Fifty four year-old Charles Manghis was found guilty in a U.S. District Court in Boston after a four-day bench trial. He now faces a lengthy federal prison sentence. Prosecutors claimed Manghis etched pictures onto ivory and whale teeth for sale after conspiring with a Ukrainian man to import the parts into the United States.

C)    The U.S. Supreme Court "took no action" regarding the lawsuit to close the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal to prevent the invasive species Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Every state bordering the Great Lakes participated in the lawsuit hoping that the Supreme Court would save the Great Lakes. Experts testified that Asian carp will within 10 years consume all other fish species in the Great Lakes, devastating the sport fishing and recreational boating industries. Another problem for boaters will be Asian carp jumping out of the water into passing boats, causing personal injuries and damage to boats. Officials of the Federal Fish and Wildlife department have already said it is just a matter of time until someone is killed by a flying Asian carp.

D)    It appears all the legal challenges in court about the America's Cup are over and the 33rd America's Cup race will start in Valencia, Spain on February 8th. This year there are only two teams racing - the defender of the Cup, Team Alinghi from Switzerland, and the challenger for the Cup, Team BMW Oracle from California. It will be a best of 3 series and for the first time will feature very large, 91 foot long  multi hull boats that can reach a speed of 50 miles per hour.

E)    Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the head of NOAA, has directed the agency to take steps to promote greater transparency in law enforcement, ensure fairness in penalties, and improve lines of communication with commercial and recreational fishermen. The action comes in response to the Inspector General's recent criticism of the agency's enforcement operations. Dr. Lubchenco also announced that NOAA will convene a national summit on enforcement policies and practices in order to hear from constituents and experts in the field.

F)    Thirty shipping containers fell off a freighter off the coast of the Florida Keys. The shipping company that owned the freighter said there was no hazardous cargo in any of the containers that fell off the ship. Most of the containers were empty refrigerated units that quickly sunk. However, there were containers on the ship that carried "severely hazardous chemicals"   such as chlorine gas and a pesticide called cyfluthrin, but it is believed these containers were placed in the bottom of the ship's hold. It is not yet clear what caused the 544-foot ship bound from Miami to South America to begin listing about 30 miles south of Key West. The Coast Guard said the seas were not rough, but believed ocean currents could carry some of the containers that didn't sink as far north as Palm Beach if they are not found.

G)    Management at Target stores announced that farm raised salmon will no longer be sold in their 1,744 stores in the United States. This includes fresh, frozen, and smoked farm raised salmon. Only wild Alaskan salmon will be sold at Target stores. Target is the second largest discount retailer in the United States. The Minneapolis-based company consulted with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to make this decision.

H)    The third annual Creative Clam Challenge will be held at the upcoming 2010 International Boston Seafood Show. Sea Watch International is the sponsor of the event. Sea Watch is the largest U.S. processor and marketer of offshore clams. Culinary students from across the United States will be participating in the contest and the person who has created the year's tastiest clam dish at the Boston seafood show wins $2,500.

I)    Eels in Europe are getting harder to find. Researchers from the Zoological Society of London claim that eels in London's Thames River have declined by 97 percent in the past five years even though that river has been dramatically cleaned up and other species of marine have made a significant recovery. Now, conservation groups across Europe are calling for a ban on the sale of eels, hurting eel fishermen, whose businesses have been hit hard by their actions. Along with oysters, eel was once a staple food in London's East End, where jellied eel - cooked and set in its own juice - remains a favorite. The Spanish love fried glass eel, the Belgians, French and Italians have stewed eel, the Germans and Dutch prefer it smoked, and the Poles have it roasted.

J)    And last on today's nautical news, police in Florida said a 20 year old burglary suspect wearing only his underwear used a pedal boat to escape from deputies after a homeowner caught him breaking into his house. Deputies said the young man jumped into a docked pedal boat and attempted to cross the waterway. Police got the help of a nearby pontoon boat owner to apprehend the burglar. One veteran deputy said, "We've had suspects try to jump in the water to get away, but never before have I seen a pedal boat used as a means of escape."

2/14/10

A) U.S. Department of Interior's Secretary Ken Salazar visited the Cape and Islands to review the site of the proposed of Cape Wind Farm. Secretary Salazar went for a boat ride with Native American tribe members who claimed the proposed site on Horseshoe Shoal would upset their spiritual beliefs. An alternative site suggested is an area south of Tuckernuck Island. Proponents of that site claim the wind farm would have little impact on residents, preserve the livelihoods of commercial fisherman and those dependent on tourism, would avoid dangers to aviation, ferry and recreational boat traffic, as well as protect the Native Americans.

B) Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials will discuss plans to rebuild the Fore River Bridge at a meeting Wednesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Hingham Town Hall. Construction is expected to begin in 2011, but officials still have not decided on the design of the bridge because the Coast Guard wants the width of the channel widened from 175 feet to at least 250 feet. Engineers say that span would be too wide for a draw bridge like the one that was previously there.
 
C) Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has expressed extreme disappointment with the Coast Guard's decision to allow Yemen based LNG tankers to make deliveries into Boston Harbor. Homeland Security officials acknowledge that Yemen is the staging ground for terrorists and the home of Al Qaeda training camps. The Mayor said the tankers put the traffic on the Mystic River Bridge and residents and workers in Everett, Charlestown, Winthrop, Chelsea and downtown Boston at severe risk. However, Robert Healey, the Coast Guard's Captain of the Port of Boston, said that he was confident that the Yemen tankers will be as safe as any others that come through the port.

D) In a related story, U.S. Congressman Frank LoBiondo, the chairman of the House Coast Guard & Maritime Security Subcommittee, criticized President Obama's drastic reductions in port and maritime security. Under the President's proposed Fiscal Year 2011 budget, the Coast Guard would eliminate five maritime safety and security teams, including the team stationed at the Port of New York/New Jersey, the nation's second largest port. Additionally, President Obama's FY2011 budget calls for the Coast Guard to mothball five HH-65 Dolphin helicopters in the Great Lakes region. These helicopters were just re-powered three years ago. LoBiondo said, "If not for the critical importance of securing our ports and protecting our nation, these proposed cuts would be laughable. Terrorists will have an opportunity to exploit this weakness."

E) Meanwhile, the Coast Guard seized more than $5 billion worth of illegal drugs last year. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said his crews helped the FBI and other federal agencies seize or disrupt delivery of 175 tons of cocaine and 35 tons of marijuana on the sea in 2009. Fifty-eight vessels were seized, and 322 people were arrested.

F) Stephen Schafer, 38 years old, was kiteboarding about a quarter-mile offshore in Stuart, Florida, when he was attacked by at least three sharks. A lifeguard pulled Schafer from the water. The victim was bleeding profusely from bite marks on his buttocks and his right thigh. He died a short time later at a hospital. An autopsy revealed he lost more than half of his blood. In many cases, a shark attack on a human is simply a case of mistaken identity, but that didn't seem to be the case with Schafer. A Florida shark expert who keeps the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida's Museum of Natural History said, "This one here clearly is an event where the shark knew what it was doing." This was the first fatal shark attack in Florida in five years, but every year Florida leads the world in the number of shark attacks.

G) One of the stars of the TV reality show "Deadliest Catch" suffered a stroke while the boat was in port. Phil Harris, the captain of the fishing vessel Wizard was flown to Anchorage, Alaska where he underwent emergency surgery. His sons, Josh and Jake, joined him there. At last report, Captain Phil was resting comfortably and hopefully on the long road to recovery. A family friend, Derek Ray, will temporarily take over the role of captain for the remainder of the crab season.

H) And speaking of TV reality shows, whale wars are back in the news. You might recall a few weeks ago, one of the Japanese whaling ships ran over the Sea Shepherd's small boat and sank it. Now Captain Paul Watson of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society reports that the Japanese whaling vessel Yushin Maru 3 "intentionally rammed" the anti-whaling ship, Bob Barker, endangering the lives of its crew and putting a hole in its hull above the waterline. However, the Japanese are claiming that it was the Bob Barker that did the ramming after a green laser beam was shined at them. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but Captain Watson said the incident demonstrates "a continued escalation of violence by the illegal whalers in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary ever since they got away with the sinking of our small boat." Captain Watson is demanding that the governments of Australia and New Zealand intervene and start enforcing their maritime laws before someone gets killed. But the governments of Australia and New Zealand have shown no sign of getting involved in the whale wars other than demonstrating that it is possible to do research on whales without killing them.

I) An underwater volcanic eruption was detected in the Pacific Ocean about 745 miles south of Tokyo, and it is now speculated by an expert in geoscience that the eruption could form a new permanent island. This was the first time since July 2005 that volcanic smoke had been seen rising from the ocean. Before that, the underwater volcano erupted several times creating an island, but each time the island washed away. This time, it is predicted the newly formed island is here to stay.

J) Every year, Boat/US comes out with a list of the top ten boat names. They make the list from the number of orders of names their graphics department receives from new boat owners. This year, the number one most popular boat name is Second Wind. It is followed by Seas the Day, Lazy Daze, Jolly Roger, Bail Out, On the Rocks, Pegasus, Serenity Now, Namaste (Na-ma-stay), and Comfortably Numb. New to the list are Bail Out, Namaste, and Comfortably Numb.

K) And last on today's nautical news, calamari lovers will love this story. Jumbo squid have again invaded the waters off San Diego, California. Fishermen haven't seen squid like this in years. They are catching squid 4 - 5 feet long, weighing between 20 - 40 pounds, and say squid that size makes for real good eating, but catching one is definitely a messy challenge. Part of the fun catching a squid they say is getting squirted by its ink. Usually everyone on the boat is covered with ink.

2/21/10

A) Larry Ellison's Team BMW Oracle won back the America's Cup for the United States by defeating two-time defending champion Alinghi of Switzerland in a two race sweep in Valencia, Spain. The America's Cup, the oldest trophy in international sports, will now go on display at the San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club.

B) Fishermen from around the country are planning to protest in front of the U.S. Capitol on February 24th. These are both recreational and commercial fishermen who claim new changes to the federal fisheries laws will put them out of business. Fishermen claim that the numbers set for the fish stocks to recover are impossible to attain and are based on flawed science. Organizers of the "United We Fish" rally expect up to 3,000 people to participate in the protest. The rally comes as the courts hear claims about unfair and unequal treatment by law enforcement officials in the northeast and just a few months before a new catch share and sector management system starts May 1st for these same fishermen.

C) In a related story, U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe from Maine and U.S. Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank sent a letter to NOAA head Dr. Jane Lubchenco, requesting an independent review of the science that supports the current 10 year timeline for rebuilding fish stocks. They claimed the "10 year timeline" was arbitrarily chosen and not based on science. Congressman Frank also called the rebuilding period "rigid" and "excessively punitive." The legislators want an independent study done by the National Academy of Science to validate or invalidate the 10 year mandate.

D) A Canadian tall ship, the Concordia, a sailing ship that operated as a floating classroom for a Nova Scotia school, sank 300 miles off the coast of Brazil. All 64 persons on board the ship got into lifeboats and drifted for 48 hours before being saved by the Brazilian navy. There were 48 students, 8 teachers and 8 crew on board and no injuries were reported. The ship's EPIRB, the emergency transmitter sent a distress signal as soon as it got wet. The captain said the ship had sailed around Cape Horn and some of the roughest seas in the world. For some reason, Mother Nature claimed her.

E) The owner and captain of the biofuel boat that was sunk by a Japanese whaling ship, secretly boarded the whaling ship and confronted its captain, demanding 3 million dollars in damages for payment for his vessel. The Japanese crew quickly overpowered the intruder and locked him in a private room. Under Japanese law, intruding on a Japanese vessel without a legitimate reason can bring a prison term of up to three years or a fine of $1,100. Meanwhile, the Sea Shepherders want the Japanese captain charged with attempted murder. Although the International Whaling Commission's has a ban on commercial whaling, Japan has six whaling ships in Antarctic waters killing whales under the allowed exception of scientific research. The whale meat not used for research is sold for consumption in Japan, which critics say is the real reason for the whale hunts.

F) A wrongful-death lawsuit has been filed against the Coast Guard after an 8-year-old boy was killed in a boat collision. The accident happened in San Diego Bay during the city's annual Christmas Bay Parade of Lights. It is alleged that a 36-foot Coast Guard boat left the parade area at a high rate of speed to help a boater aground when it crashed into the rear of a spectator's boat. The lawsuit further alleges that Coast Guard officials knew the crew aboard their boat   was not properly trained or supervised. So far, no monetary damages have been demanded. The family's lawyer said his client only wants to make sure that no other family loses a child due to the negligence of the Coast Guard.

G) Scientists at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science announced that they believe diseases found in dolphins are similar to those diseases found in humans. They believe the dolphins can provide clues to how human health might be affected by exposure to coastal water or seafood contaminated by PCBs. In simple terms, the scientists agreed that if the dolphins are healthy, then humans cannot get sick from anything in the sea. Also another study involving dolphins has led to a possible treatment for type II diabetes, a disease that accounts for an estimated five percent of all human deaths globally. These studies have found that healthy dolphins appear to readily turn on and off a diabetes-like state as needed. This mechanism is likely caused by the dolphins' very high-protein and very low-carbohydrate fish diet.

H) And last on today's n nautical news, in preparation for Lent, which begins February 25th, many fast food restaurants are preparing for their customers' abstinence from meat by promoting seafood specials on their menus. Hooters is running an eight-week Lenten special that includes a Blackened Mahi Sandwich, Daytona Shrimp, and Grouper Bites. Wendy's is promoting its Premium Fish Fillet. Popeyes is offering a special on Butterfly Shrimp and Captain D's is promoting several seafood specials. In recent years, Captain D's has reported record sales during the Lent and they just increased their wait staff.

2/28/10

5000 FISHERMEN PROTEST IN WASHINGTON DC
An estimated 5000 men, women, and children gathered in Washington DC for the "United We Fish" demonstration that protested NOAA's law enforcement's heavy handedness in enforcing the ever changing fishing rules and regulations. The protesters also called for a scientific review of NOAA's arbitrary 10 year timeline to rebuild all the different species of the stocks at the same time when the same goals could be accomplished over a period of 15 or 20 years. For the first time, the government was not able to divide and conquer the various types of fishermen. Both recreational and commercial fishermen from Alaska to Florida were present. Massachusetts newly elected Senator Scott Brown surprised the crowd with his support and speech. Also addressing the protesters were Massachusetts lawmakers Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante. The only Massachusetts legislator who disagreed with his colleagues over the re-writng of the Magnuson-Stevens fishing law was Senator John Kerry.

THREAT OF RED TIDE RETURNING TO NEW ENGLAND
Marine biologists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution say that the threat of a severe red tide this year exists in New England waters. They say that it could be as bad as 2005's historic algae bloom that shut down shellfishing from Maine to Martha's Vineyard and led to $20 million in losses for the Massachusetts shellfishermen. The dire prediction was based on the greater number of cysts researchers found in the water as compared to what they found back in 2005. However, local shellfishermen claim that red tide rarely enters our south shore bays, and wants consumers to know that all shellfish sold in Massachusetts at reputable markets and restaurants is safe to eat.

COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR MARBLEHEAD BOY
A Marblehead woman reported her 12 year old son missing to the Marblehead Fire Department after the boy failed to return home from school. When the Fire Department found the boy's bike on a road leading to Marblehead's Brown's Island, they called in the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard spent the better part of two days searching off the coast of Marblehead for the boy, but fortunately, the next day, the boy was found safe on land.

DIVERS SEARCH FOR MISSING RAYTHEON ENGINEER
Not such good luck for a missing 25 year old Raytheon engineer who was celebrating with friends at Boston's Faneuil Marketplace. He was last seen on the hotel Marriott Long Wharf's surveillance camera, leaving the hotel at 2:24 in the morning last weekend. Divers spent three days searching nearby waters in Boston harbor to no avail. A $10,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the safe return of the young man.

WHALE CARCASS WASHED UP ON COHASSET BEACH
Last week's powerful n'oreaster that produced hurricane force winds and big surf delivered a decomposed whale carcass on to Black Rock Beach in Cohasset. Authorities remind everyone that federal law prohibits the removal of whale parts and bones. It wasn't clear who or how the whale carcass would be removed.

SENATORS OPPOSE CUTS IN COAST GUARD BUDGET
Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut and Senator Susan Collins from Maine are objecting to the proposed Obama administration's cuts in the Coast Guard's 2011 budget. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said he would partially offset the cut in his budget by eliminating more than 1,100 uniformed personnel. Lieberman suggested that at least $200 million be added to the Coast Guard's budget, claiming that the Coast Guard was essential to the nation's maritime and homeland security.

COAST GUARD'S ANTI-TERRORISM MISSION TO BE CUT
In a related story, President Obama's choice to replace Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen next month said he would make major cuts to the agency's counterterror mission. In an internal memo from Vice Admiral Robert Papp Jr., the Coast Guard commandant nominee wrote that he would slash funding for programs in the agency's homeland security plan, including homeland security patrols and training exercises. The memo which was marked '"sensitive - for internal Coast Guard use only," was obtained by the Associated Press.

WOMEN TO JOIN U. S. NAVY SUBMARINERS
Women have been assigned to U.S. Navy surface ships for the past 17 years, but have been kept off submarines in fear that the small space would create problems. For years, the Navy said it was too expensive to refit the submarines with separate living quarters so women could serve. Defense Secretary Robert Gates notified congress that he wants women to be allowed to serve on submarines for the first time in the Navy's history. Congress has 30 days to pass a law to stop or delay the policy. If they do not act on it within 30 days, women could be aboard Navy submarines in 18 months.

SOLAR POWERED CATAMARAN TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE THE WORLD
The largest solar powered catamaran was just unveiled in Germany. The boat is 102 feet long, 50 feet wide, and has 5,382 square feet of solar panels. Its name is Planet Solar and will soon depart for a voyage around the world. The captain hopes to navigate at a speed of 8 knots.

CLINTON TRIES TO SELL INVASIVE ASIAN CARP TO ISRAEL
And last on today's Nautical Talk news, one of the more traditional Jewish foods on the Passover table is gefilte fish, which is made from Asian carp, the same species of fish that is now threatening to invade the Great Lakes. An Illinois legislator wants to catch the Asian carp before it enters the Great Lakes and sell them to Israeli seafood distributors. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has been asked to make this trade happen. She got a few chuckles from a congressional panel when she said that getting nine containers of Asian Carp filets from an Illinois fishery to a processing plant in Israel in time for the Jewish holiday next month "is one of those issues that should rise to the highest levels of our government." She made a pledge to take that mission on.

3/7/10

NOAA's TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL ASKED TO RESIGN 
Four Massachusetts congressmen have called for the nation's top fisheries law enforcement officer to resign after he deleted files and shredded documents while his agency was being investigated. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Congressmen Barney Frank, John Tierney, and Bill Delahunt have all asked that Dale Jones to step down as director of the NOAA's law enforcement office. At a minimum, they want NOAA head Jane Lubchenco to at least remove Jones from authority until an Inspector General's review of his office has been completed. The investigation began after New England fishermen complained of unfair and heavy handed enforcement by the NOAA law enforcement office.

FISH FALL OUT OF THE SKY WITH RAIN
And last on today's nautical news, residents of a small outback Australian town have been left speechless after fish began falling with the rain from the sky. Hundreds of live perch fell on the 650 residents in the small Australian town of Lajamanu. Meteorologists said the incident was probably caused by a tornado that sucked up water and fish from a river and then dropped them hundreds of miles away. This was not the first time residents of this small town have experienced fish falling out of the sky. They say it happened once before in the 1980s.

3/21/10

FISHING SUMMIT HELD IN NEW BEDFORD
About 300 people attended The Northeast Fisheries Summit at the New Bedford Whaling Museum and gave the new NOAA fisheries director, Eric Schwaab, an earful. From 9AM to 5PM, one speaker after another, some angry but still very articulate, criticized NOAA for its policies, its attitude, and its law enforcement. The summit was organized by the University of Massachusetts and the New Bedford mayor's office, and followed on the heels of a "United We Fish" protest in the nation's capitol, an inspector general's report blasting NOAA Fisheries law enforcement, and after sworn testimonies that revealed NOAA's top law enforcement official shredded documents while under investigation. Even Congressman Barney Frank and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick asked NOAA to re-write their laws and policies.

3/28/10

BLUEFIN TUNA BAN DEFEATED
A proposal to ban the international trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna was rejected at the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species held in Qatar. Out of the 175 countries voting, only the United States, Norway, and Kenya supported the ban. Japan and Canada strongly opposed the ban. Bluefin tuna is one of the most sought after seafood species around the world, and approximately 80 percent of all bluefin tuna landed in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea ends up in Japan to supply its sushi and sashimi restaurants.

CAPE COD BOATER DISAPPEARS WITHOUT A TRACE
A massive search by police and the Coast Guard failed to find 36 year old Jonathan Hemingway of Nantucket who disappeared from his 23 foot boat during a night voyage from Hyannis to Nantucket. Accompanying the man on the trip was his wife and 2 children. The missing man’s wife said they departed Hyannis at 9PM and fifteen minutes later she and the kids went down below into the cabin to sleep. She said she woke up at 3:15AM and found the boat aground on a Nantucket beach. She didn’t call anyone for help because she thought her husband was ashore getting help. The police were finally notified around noon time, but they waited another 2-3 hours before calling the Coast Guard because they weren’t sure that a water rescue was necessary. Once notified, the Coast Guard searched for 21 hours covering more than 767 square miles. The Coast Guard searched between Hyannis and Nantucket using four small boats, two large cutters, a helicopter, and a jet plane, and the police used K-9 dogs to search the beach, but Hemingway had disappeared without a trace.

HARBORMASTER PROPOSES NEW RULES AND FEES
There are new rules and fees being proposed for boaters and marina owners in the town of Hingham. A public hearing was held in Hingham Town Hall Wednesday night where the harbor master pitched his plan. A crowd of over 100 people turned out for a question and answer session with Hingham Harbor Master Ken Corson about moorings, anchoring and docking.  Many people left the meeting after they found out that the issue of fees was not on the agenda. One proposed regulation requires marina owners to submit personal information to the harbor master about their customers that stay overnight. The harbor master cited homeland security issues as the motivation, but Jane Hirsh, owner of the Hingham Shipyard Marinas, said she might lose business if that regulation goes through. Hirsh said she’s also concerned about high mooring fees for transient boaters and the effect it might have on local businesses. The proposed rules and regulations will be tweaked and updated before being submitted to selectmen for final approval.

AMERICAN WOMAN YOUNGEST TO ROW ACROSS OCEAN
Katie Spotz says she was the worst rower on her college team, but last week she became the youngest person to row across an ocean alone. It took Katie 70 days, five hours, and 22 minutes to row across the Atlantic. The 22 year old departed from Dakar, Senegal, in Africa, on January 3rd and rowed to Georgetown, Guyana, a distance of 2,817 miles. The previous record for the youngest person to row across the Atlantic was held by Oliver Hicks, a British man, who was 23 when he rowed from New Jersey to England in 2005.

3/28/10

NOAA DIRECTOR CALLED TO BOSTON
NOAA director Jane Lubchenco was called to Boston by the Massachusetts congressional delegation for a private, closed door meeting with fishing industry leaders. The issues dealt with recent charges brought by the U.S. Inspector General that included allegations of document shredding, witness tampering, misappropriations of funds by NOAA law enforcement agents, refusal to use the proper collected data, and unusually large and unfair fines levied against New England fishermen. Although during the meeting some felt that there might be some flexibility and relaxation by NOAA on some of its fisheries management rules, by the end of the day others felt that NOAA's director was staying the course.

GULF OF MAINE OIL SPILL PRACTICE DRILL
The U.S. Coast Guard and 50 other federal, state, and commercial organizations participated in SONS 2010. SONS is an acronym for Spill of National Significance. The practice drill was designed to test the readiness and response to contain and clean up a major oil spill. This year's drill simulated a 2.3 million gallon crude oil spill in the Gulf of Maine that had the potential to impact an area of 500 miles along the coast. The drill was especially important for the cities of Boston and Portland, the two largest oil ports on the East Coast. The timing of the drill coincided with the 21st anniversary of the most infamous oil spill in American waters, the Exxon Valdez, which spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince Williams Sound in Alaska. If a spill of that magnitude occurred here, officials said our shellfish and lobsters would be decimated for decades.

THREE DIE ON HOUSEBOAT - CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING SUSPECTED
Carbon monoxide poisoning is suspected in the deaths of three people found dead on a houseboat on Long Island Sound. All three adults were from Port Jefferson, New York. Police were called by a friend of the victims, and when they arrived, they found the three unconscious. A gas generator on the boat that provided heat and electricity is believed to be the cause of the carbon monoxide.

MORE DOLPHINS STRANDED ON CAPE COD
This past week, another eight dolphins stranded themselves in Wellfleet Harbor just before low tide. Volunteers from the International Fund for Animal Welfare who were trying to reach the dolphins constantly lost their boots as they walked in the deep mud. Six of the dolphins were eventually saved by hoisting them out of the mud and trucking them over to the oceanside of Provincetown where they were released. A similar rescue effort of stranded dolphins in Wellfleet occurred two weeks ago. Rescuers knew that these were different dolphins than those saved two weeks ago because those saved two weeks ago had tracking tags implanted in them.

HUMPBACK WHALE IN BISCAYNE BAY
A humpback whale has been seen in southern Florida's Biscayne Bay where the water is only 15 feet deep. Eyewitnesses told the Coast Guard they thought the whale may have been entangled in a rope with an anchor or grappling hook attached to it. NOAA scientists believe this is the same whale they were following last week off St. Lucie County before they lost track of it.

GLASTRON BOAT COMPANY RELOCATES
Glastron Boat Company, one of the oldest fiberglass boat companies, announced they are moving their production to the Four Winns facility in Cadillac, Michigan. Now, both boat companies will be building boats under the same roof. As a result, the companies reported that they have called back to work 100 previously laid off employees, and there is hope that an additional 2,000 new jobs will be created. As one official said, "people still want to go boating." Glastron Boats began building fiberglass hull boats in 1956 near Austin, Texas.

CITES DEFEATS CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR BLUEFINS AND SHARKS
Aggressive lobbying from Asian nations led by Japan killed all efforts to protect marine species at a U.N. meeting called CITES, an acronym that stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The 175 nations that participated in the convention defeated the United States motions to conserve blue fin tunas and certain species of sharks. Environmentalists were fuming that their efforts to conserve bluefin tunas and sharks lost out to commercial interests. The bid to regulate the trade was also hampered by concerns from poor nations that such measures would devastate their fishing economies at a time when many were just coming out of the recession.

BOAT MADE OF PLASTIC BOTTLES TO CROSS PACIFIC
And last on today's nautical news, a boat made of 12,500 plastic bottles has set sail on a voyage from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. The 12,500 used water bottles are filled with dry ice to make the 60 foot long vessel durable, solid, and buoyant. Self proclaimed environmentalist and banking heir David De Rothschild, along with a 6 person crew, departed this past week on the plastic catamaran boat named Plastiki, to spread awareness about pollution in the world's oceans. Their course to Sydney will take them right through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - a sea of waste about twice the size of Texas. The 31-year-old adventurer, who has completed expeditions to both the North and South Poles and various jungles, was already tweeting on his computer powered by an exercycle. The catamaran is powered by solar, wind, and sea turbines.

4/4/10

WOMAN'S BODY FOUND FLOATING IN GLOUCESTER HARBOR
The body of a 43 year old Gloucester woman was found floating in Gloucester Harbor just off the rocks in front of the Beauport Museum by a museum worker. Gloucester Police arrived on scene and asked the Coast Guard to retrieve the body from the water. The woman was eventually identified but the cause of death has still not been determined. However, Gloucester Police chief said there was no indication of foul play. Relatives of the woman said she recently had moved to Gloucester a few years ago from Weymouth.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS OPPOSED TO DRILLING IN ATLANTIC OCEAN
Environmental groups have voiced strong opposition to President Obama's plan to expand oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic on the outer continental shelf. Although no drilling would be allowed from New Jersey north, areas from Delaware south could be developed. In 2008, the Minerals Management Service estimated the site could contain as much as 130 million barrels of oil and 1.14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Both the gas and the oil have an estimated economic value of at least $340 million.

PROTESTERS CHAIN THEMSELVES TO SHIP'S DOCK LINES
And overseas, fifteen Greenpeace activists chained themselves to the tight dock lines of a container ship that was docked in the Netherlands. The fifteen prevented the ship's crew from untying the lines and departing. The ship was on its way to Japan from Iceland carrying 7 containers of whale meat. The ship's owner decided it best to give in to the Greenpeacers rather than risk injuries to them and ordered its crew to offload the 7 containers of whale meat. The 15 protesters then unchained themselves after the whale meat was unloaded and the ship then departed.

INVESTIGATION INTO FROZEN SEAFOOD PACKAGE WEIGHTS
U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now reviewing the results of an undercover investigation in the pricing and weighing of frozen seafood packages. Apparently some seafood processors were including large amounts of ice in the weight of their frozen seafood packages. The investigation was conducted by weights and measures inspectors in 17 states. The two New England states included Maine and Connecticut. In some instances, the investigation found that ice accounted for as much as 40 percent of the product's weight and price. The best way to protect yourself is to buy fresh fish that isn't pre-packaged and is weighed on a piece of paper in front of you.

HUNDREDS OF SOUTHERN ATLANTIC BABY RIGHT WHALES FOUND DEAD
Marine scientists are trying to determine what has caused the deaths of hundreds of baby south Atlantic right whales off the coast of Argentina. More than 300 dead south Atlantic right whales were recently found in the Atlantic along Argentina's Patagonian Coast and 90 percent of those dead whale calves were younger than 3 months old. The scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission has called for an emergency meeting in Argentina later this month.

COAST GUARD'S RESCUE SWIMMERS CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY WITH WATER RESCUE
The U.S. Coast Guard's Rescue Swimmer program celebrated its 25th anniversary Friday with what else? - a rescue. Just hours before several hundred current and past rescue swimmers along with their families and friends gathered at Air Station Elizabeth City to mark the program's silver anniversary, a mayday call came in. A Virginia fisherman radioed that his boat had struck something and was sinking about 15 miles south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach. A couple of minutes later, the fisherman called again and said he was putting on his survival suit, abandoning ship, and getting into his lifeboat. He set off his EPIRB and that was the last the Coast Guard heard from him. About 13 minutes later, the Coast Guard helicopter was on scene and lowered a rescue swimmer into the water. The rescue swimmer determined the fisherman was hypothermic and assisted him into the rescue basket. After bringing the fisherman to the hospital, the helicopter crew returned to its station and rejoined the ongoing celebration of the Coast Guard's 25th anniversary of its rescue swimmer program. Since its inception, there have been 782 Coast Guard rescue swimmers who have saved more than 25,000 lives.

CALLING ALL SAILORS TO CELEBRATE SUMMER SAILSTICE
And last on today's nautical news, as we approach the summer solstice, the Summer Sailstice event will mark its 10th anniversary this year. From June 19-20, sailors will be encouraged to get out on the nearest body of water to celebrate the sport with their friends and family. The goal this year is to get as many sailboats in as many time zones as possible on the water during a 24-hour period. Almost 4,000 sailboats and 15,000 sailors around the world participated last year.

4/18/10

NOAA's CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STEPS DOWN
Dale Jones, the chief law enforcement officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was removed from his job after allegations of document shredding were investigated by the U.S Inspector General. The documents that were shredded pertained to the handling of law enforcement cases involving New England fishermen. Local and federal legislators urged the head of NOAA, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, to replace Jones and transfer other law enforcement agents out of the Gloucester regional fisheries office after the inspector general's investigation concluded that the fishermen were right in their years of complaints of unfair and uneven enforcement, excessive fines and penalties, often handed out in retaliation. Lubchenco would not say whether Jones had been fired, demoted, suspended, or if he had resigned.

MASSACHUSETTS LT. GOVERNOR VISITS SCITUATE MARINE PARK
A new harbor walk is in the works for Scituate Harbor. Massachusetts Lt. Governor Tim Murray will be viewing the plan when he visits Scituate harbor today, and I understand that the Lt. Governor will also be inspecting the new Scituate Marine Park building.

NOAA AGENT SHOOTS WHALE IN THE HEAD
And last on today's nautical news, would you believe it if I told you that a NOAA marine biologist used a high powered rifle and shot a 30 foot long humpback whale in the head to kill it? That is exactly what happened off the coast of Long Island, New York. The once very respected governmental science agency said the shooting was done with the proper protocol because the adolescent whale was stranded and the NOAA's agent attempt to euthanize it with drugs failed after he tried three times. During the second attempt, the dart with the deadly drugs ricocheted off the whale and is now missing and could be a potential health risk. Police are now searching for that dart and that area is closed to the public until further notice. A New York marine-life organization called Riverhead Foundation was critical of NOAA, stating that NOAA's marine biologist did not have the proper equipment or personnel to properly euthanize the animal. They pointed out that many of NOAA's marine biologists were convened at a conference and training session in West Virginia at the time. Coincidentally, the poison dart delivery system came from NOAA's Gloucester, Massachusetts office, which headlined this week's nautical news.

4/25/10

MARSHFIELD RESIDENT BECOMES OLDEST PERSON TO ROW ACROSS ATLANTIC OCEAN
Fifty-nine year old Marshfield resident Leo Rosette has done it. He has rowed his boat named Halcyon across the Atlantic Ocean to become the oldest American to row across an ocean alone. Leo departed from the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa on January 4th and reached a small island near Antigua in the West Indies on April 15th, a distance of more than 2,500 nautical miles. When Leo touched ground, he told a reporter the first thing he was going to do was to take a shower and then he was going to church. Leo said he started rationing his food on his boat about a month ago and lost 30 pounds in the process. Only 4 other Americans have ever done what Leo just accomplished.

MORE DREDGING NEEDED FOR MARSHFIELD'S GREEN HARBOR
The 2 million dollar dredging project in Green Harbor Marshfield is not quite finished as was previously announced a couple of weeks ago. Harbormaster Mike Demeo warns that the entrance channel has sustained substantial shoaling of sand due to the relentless Nor' Easters this past winter and therefore has issued an advisory for mariners to use caution while transiting the Green Harbor entrance channel, especially during low tide. The United States Army Corps of Engineers will return to do maintenance dredging of the narrows during the first week in May and it is hoped that the channel will not be impeded while they are working. All mariners are to use caution while transiting the Harbor and entrance channel and if necessary to contact the dredging crew on channels 16 & 13 on their marine radios.

NEW CATCH SHARE/SECTOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STARTS MAY 1ST
New England fishermen are hoping that the catch share system that is to go into effect on May 1st will be delayed or postponed for at least another year because of a lack of support from credible scientists. They fear the new system will lead to job losses and possibly foreign ownership of the catch shares. NOAA director, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, has heard these concerns, but is still pushing for the May 1st deadline even though NOAA has acknowledged that it has been unable to accurately determine the size of the catch shares assigned to some of the fishermen.  The chairman of the New England Fisheries Management Council wrote a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce stating that Dr. Lubchecno was more interested on the process and protocol of catch shares rather than its devastating outcome. Prior to being appointed the head of NOAA, Dr. Lubchenco supported the European catch share management system as vice chairwoman of the board of directors for the conservation group called the Environmental Defense Fund.

HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF ON OBAMA'S SHORT LIST FOR SUPREME COURT JUDGE
This past week, Janet Napolitano, secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, flew into Boston and had a meeting with Boston's Mayor and police commissioner, Boston and Cambridge firefighters, and the Coast Guard about LNG tankers arriving in Boston Harbor from Yemen, the home for many terrorists. Apparently more LNG deliveries from Yemen are planned despite protests from Boston's Mayor Menino. After that meeting, she talked about her name appearing on President Obama's short list to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens. She declined to say whether she would accept the position if she was in fact nominated.

TEXAS MAN PUTS LEAD WEIGHT IN FISH AND GOES TO JAIL
A Texas man must serve 15 days in jail and forfeit his fishing license after admitting he placed a one pound lead weight into a nine pound bass he caught during a fishing tournament. Fishing tournament officials became suspicious of the fish after feeling a lump inside it. Law enforcement officials in Texas said the crime was considered a felony because the first place prize in the tournament was a boat worth more than $55,000.

5/2/10

1000 BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY LEAKING INTO GULF OF MEXICO
An oil well at the site of a drilling platform that exploded and sank is leaking up to 1,000 barrels of oil per day into the Gulf of Mexico, and is now only 40 miles from Louisiana's coast. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry said the leak was discovered Saturday morning at a well that had been connected to the destroyed oil rig and previously had been considered secure. She said the well is leaking from the sea bed, 5,000 feet below the gulf's surface and is a very serious spill. Earlier in the week, the oil rig known as Deepwater Horizon exploded and burned until it sank two days later. Eleven workers are presumed to have died in the disaster. The disaster is one of the deadliest offshore drilling accidents since 1964, when 21 workers died aboard a drilling barge that exploded about 80 miles off Louisiana.

CAPTAIN DIES TRYING TO RESCUE CREWMAN
A Cape Cod fishing boat captain died while trying to rescue one of his crewmen who fell overboard off the coast of Nantucket. Captain John Zuzick, 53 years old, put on a survival suit and dove into the chilly water to rescue one of his crewmates after the crewman fell overboard while trying to untangle a line that was wrapped around the propeller of the Silver Fox, a 60-foot clam boat. The fouled line had disabled the vessel, and it had gone adrift, making it impossible for the two men in the water to get back on board. A third crewman on the boat radioed the Coast Guard for help. A Coast Guard rescue helicopter made it on scene in about 20 minutes and quickly found the two in the water. A rescue swimmer helped hoist the two aboard the helicopter which flew the men to the hospital where doctors declared the captain dead. The crewman was treated and released. The captain's wife said that her husband suffered a heart attack when he went into the cold water.

WHALE BLAMED FOR DEATH OF CANOEIST
A whale, or possibly a dolphin, is being blamed for the death of a canoeist in Provincetown harbor. Apparently, one of the animals bumped into canoe with two paddlers aboard, causing the canoe to capsize. The two in the canoe were tossed into the 44 degree water, and were in the water for at least 10 minutes before officials were notified and arrived on scene. They were brought to shore where medics were waiting to treat them. Unfortunately, one of the paddlers never regained consciousness. Police investigating the accident said the deceased victim was 47 years old, was wearing shorts, no shoes or shirt, and didn't know how to swim. It was unclear if he was wearing a lifejacket as required by law.

APPEAL MADE TO U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY TO STOP CATCH SHARES
New England's congressional delegation went over the heads of NOAA and National Marine Fisheries officials and appealed directly to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke for relief from the new commercial fishing regulations called catch shares that will take effect May 1st. The bureaucracy created by the government has placed both NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service under the control of the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. At a minimum, the legislators want an increase in the quotas or catch shares assigned to fishermen. The co-signers of the letter included all of the senators from Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, and four House members from Massachusetts. Renowned scientist Dr. Brian Rothschild said that the new regulations are based on old data and poses a great risk to the local economy and the fishing industry.

HAND GRENADES HAULED IN WITH CATCH
A clam boat working off New York hauled in as many as 100 WWII or Korean vintage hand grenades in their catch, and didn't realize it until the clams were offloaded and handled by employees at the Fair Tide Shellfish Company in New Bedford. The incident prompted the business to evacuate its employees and authorities to shut the road down and stop boat traffic in the area. The state police bomb squad and Navy demolition experts were called and they detonated all the grenades in a hastily made sand pit near the city's hurricane barrier.

RECORD NUMBER OF RIGHT WHALES SIGHTED IN RHODE ISLAND SOUND
A NOAA marine mammal aerial survey team out of Woods Hole has sighted 98 North Atlantic right whales feeding in Rhode Island Sound, the largest group ever documented in those waters. All of the whales were actively surface feeding on large patches of copepods. Last week, officials from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries reported seeing more than 70 right whales feeding in Cape Cod Bay. During this time of year, right whales are migrating through southern New England waters, heading to summer in Canada's cooler waters.

SHIPMENTS OF NEW MODEL YEAR BOATS DELAYED
Brunswick Corporation, the nation's largest maker of recreational boats, has told its dealers that it will delay shipment of new model year boats until September as was done last year. Traditionally, the next year's boat models are introduced in June, but with the decline in boat sales, Brunswick has extended the introduction date until September to give the dealers a chance to sell some of their existing inventory. It is expected that other boat manufacturers will follow Brunswick's lead.

MAINE WILL SOON BE PROCESSING LOBSTER CLAWS AND MEAT
In the past, tens of millions of pounds of lobsters caught in Maine were shipped each year to Canada, where they were turned into value added products, but that will soon change. You see, in Maine, the only lobster products that could be sold were whole lobsters, whole lobster tails with the meat still inside the shell, and lobster meat picked out of the body of the shell. That's all going to change come July 1st when a new law will go into effect. Maine seafood processors will then be able to sell lobster claws, lobster tail meat without the shell, and a variety of other lobster products. They couldn't do this before because of concerns that vendors might sell claws and tails from lobsters smaller than the legal minimum size. Maine seafood distributors have complained for years that up to 80 percent of the lobsters caught in Maine were sent to Canada, where most of it was processed under a Canadian label. Not only did this misrepresent the statistics for imported products and the nation's balance of trade, but it cost Maine - jobs. Maine is the number 1 lobster producing state, with last year's catch totaling a record 75.6 million pounds.

PASSENGERS INJURED AFTER CRUISE SHIP TAKES SUDDEN TURN
Sixty passengers aboard a Carnival cruise ship sustained minor injuries when the boat leaned way over suddenly as it dodged a large buoy submerged in the waters off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Although none of the passengers required hospitalization, one passenger described the boat leaning over as jarring and frightening. Passengers in bed ended up on the floor while passengers in the dining rooms or in the halls all started running back to their rooms to get their lifejackets. The Coast Guard was notified of the incident.

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT LOOSENING THEIR FISHING REGULATIONS
And last on today's nautical news, Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he wants to help Russian fishermen by giving them tax credits and easing up on the bureaucracy and rules for his country's fishermen. Russian fishermen are now catching more and more fish, but a large amount of the fish sold in Russian markets is still imported. The reason for this is that Russia's shore-based infrastructure for storage, processing, and transporting went out of business after Russia's tough fishing regulations took effect. Today, even after Russia offered one billion rubles for credit subsidies to build a fish house, there were no takers because of the lack of fish caught. Russia's Deputy Head of Fisheries had to explain to the prime minister that fish caught by Russian vessels in the Russian Economic Zone had to be declared in customs as imported because the catch shares were foreign owned. "Russia's fish - our own fish is being counted as imported?" Putin shouted. Putin ordered a cut down on "superfluous regulations" and promised to change his country's fishery sector management system to make it more efficient.

5/9/10

COAST GUARD COMMANDANT NOW IN CHARGE OF OIL SPILL
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has ordered Coast Guard Commandant Thad W. Allen to take over the clean up response of what has now become the nation's worst oil spill. Admiral Allen was in charge of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Admiral Allen reported that a new technique using chemicals to disperse the oil 5,000 feet beneath the sea before it can reach the surface is showing some promise. Although the Admiral said he couldn't estimate the number of gallons of oil already spilled, others are estimating the oil spilled based on the Coast Guard's aerial overflight map now exceeds the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Prince Willams Sound. As of today, it was estimated that 12.2 million gallons of oil have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico making this spill the largest oil spill in U.S. history. The current estimate exceeds the Exxon Valdez spill by a million gallons.

CATCH SHARES FISHERY IN EFFECT IN NEW ENGLAND
Despite all the protests and letters written by local and federal legislators opposing the new fishery management system called catch shares and sector management, the new system is now in effect for New England groundfishermen. Fishermen expect lots of confusion and uncertainty for at least a couple of weeks before new onboard software systems installed on their boats will be integrated with the new software system at the regional offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service. Fishermen also complained that mistakes in paperwork by fish dealers or the National Marine Fisheries Service had left them with a much lower quota allocation than they should have had, and that the fisheries service officials told them they couldn't fix it until next year. Industry leaders are predicting up to 40% of the fleet will be out of business before the end of this summer.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS ASIAN CARP LAWSUIT
The Supreme Court has made its final decision not to take up the case of closing the Chicago Shipping Canal in an effort to keep the invasive Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, but that doesn't mean the issue is over. New York Senator Chuck Schumer is asking the EPA, the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Fish and Wildlife Service to conduct a study to determine what the economic and ecological impacts would be on the Great Lakes if the Asian carp establishes a significant population. Officials in the states that border the Great Lakes claim that the Asian carp would destroy the recreational fishing industry in the Great Lakes by devouring food resources utilized by native fish.

NORTHERN SHRIMP SEASON CLOSED EARLY
Fisheries regulators have decided to close the northern shrimp season three weeks early because fishermen in the Gulf of Maine have exceeded their quota. The shrimp season will end Friday May 5th. Officials said fishermen in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts had already surpassed their quota by nearly 60 metric tons and would have exceeded it by almost 6000 tons if they continued to fish till the end of the season Memorial Day weekend.

JAPAN ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR SEA SHEPHERD CAPTAIN
The Japanese government has issued an arrest warrant for Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson for harassing that country's whaling operations in the Southern Arctic Ocean. Watson readily admits to the charges and wondered why it took the Japanese 5 years to issue the warrant. Watson said that he has been obstructing whaling operations since December 2005 and that last year he saved more whales than the Japanese whalers killed, costing them tens of millions of dollars. Watson promised that as long as there is a Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary, his Sea Shepherders will continue to defend the whales.

BOAT SALES REBOUNDING FOR NATION'S LARGEST BOATBUILDER
Good news in the business world of boating. Brunswick Corporation, the nation's largest recreational boat builder, just reported an increase in boat sales for the past 3 months, and announced they are calling more boat builders back to work. This could signal the end of the decline in boat sales and the beginning of a new upward trend. However, one analyst did point out that international sales accounted for 37 percent of Brunswick's last quarter's increase in boat sales.

16 YEAR OLD GIRL QUITS ATTEMPT TO BREAK RECORD CIRCUMNAVIGATION
A 16-year-old Southern California girl, attempting to sail all by herself around the world non-stop, has ended her quest to become the youngest ever to make the trip. She reported that she is now heading toward South Africa to make some boat repairs and expects to arrive there next week. Abby Sunderland wrote on her blog that she could not keep going after the boat's autopilot stopped working. However, even though her nonstop record attempt is officially over, the young girl writes that she will still try to complete her voyage around the world. Her older brother Zac recently completed a westerly solo circumnavigation at the age of 17, and would have been the youngest person to do it, if it weren't for a British boy, a few months younger than Zac, that also just finished the trip.

GET YOUR VITAMIN D FROM FISH
It has taken about 30 years for people to get the message about how healthy it is to eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Now nutritionists tell us there is another important reason to eat fish - Vitamin D. Fish are a good source for vitamin D, especially for those who can't stay out in the sun. The typical diet is "useless" for providing vitamin D. One dietitian explained, "Unless you have a herring a day, or a mackerel, or something, you really cannot get enough of it from food."

CARTOONIST WINS NOAA ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARD
NOAA announced the winners of its 2010 Environmental Hero awards. The Environmental Hero Awards honor individuals and organizations that volunteer their time to help NOAA carry out its missions. This year the NOAA Environmental Hero awards went to Dr. Dale Vance Holliday for his underwater acoustic studies, Dr. Baptista Barros for his marine mammal studies, and Jim Toomey for his artwork depicting NOAA's marine sanctuaries program.

KENNEDY'S BOAT MYA IN FIGAWI RACE
And last on  today's nautical news, the 39th annual Hyannis to Nantucket Figawi Race will take place Memorial Day weekend. Among those who have registered for the race is Ted Kennedy, Jr sailing his father's boat, Mya. One of the big changes in the event is the Figawi Race logo. It was changed this year to better respect Native Americans. The logo used for the past two years was an image of a Native American boy wearing only a feather, looking through a telescope held backwards. This year's logo is of a dressed Native American boy, without a feather, holding the telescope the correct way. Figawi Charities raises close to $200,000 annually and has donated more than $2.2 million to local charities over the years.

5/16/10

Lawsuit Could Stop Catch Shares and Sector Management
The two biggest fishing ports in Massachusetts are supporting a federal lawsuit to stop the ongoing switch to catch shares and the new commercial fisheries sector management system. Gloucester attorney Steven Ouellette has been working on the lawsuit, claiming the federal government's new fisheries management system is dishonest and fraudulent and designed to collapse the industry. The head of NOAA so far has refused to listen to any of the protests against catch shares, and instead has allowed the system to go into effect as of May 1st. However, most Gloucester boats, according to state Senator Bruce Tarr, have not fished yet because they have not received the computer software that will allow them to comply with NOAA's notification requirements. Senator Tarr also said at least one boat who went fishing already exceeded its tiny quota of one of the 19 groundfish species, which means he has to stop fishing for the rest of the year even though there are still 18 other species available for him to catch. Congressmen and senators have taken their protests to Lubchenco's boss, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who has scheduled a meeting with them for this Wednesday, May 12th.

Thousands of Herring Found Dead in Weymouth Herring Run
Since the beginning of April, more that 200,000 herring have been counted in the Weymouth herring run in Jackson Square, as they swam from the Back River into Whitman's Pond to spawn. However, this past week, the town's herring warden reported that thousands of herring were found dead as a result of becoming trapped in a flood control pipe. A gate designed to prevent the fish from entering the pipe had been propped open by debris that came after the area's recent flooding. However, town workers were able to save and release tens of thousands of herring by herding them with a net out of the pipe.

Airplane Crash Drill In Boston Harbor
As part of an exercise drill of an airplane crash in Boston Harbor, a hundred Massachusetts Maritime Academy cadets played the roles of passengers aboard the plane. The practice drill used a barge and floating docks to simulate a partially submerged Boeing 747 with more than 300 people on board. About 30 to 40 boats from various agencies took part in the search and rescue portion of the drill. In all, more than 600 people from 50 state, federal and local agencies participated. The Coast Guard, Massport, the Federal Aviation Administration, the FBI, the Boston Fire Department, the Boston Police and the Massachusetts State Police, the Red Cross, and even the Animal Rescue League were all represented.

Oil Spill Keeps Lawyers Busy
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is keeping lawyers busy. At least half a dozen class action lawsuits have been filed on behalf of fishermen, shrimpers, restaurant owners, property owners, and other Gulf coast residents including all the workers on the oil rig when it burned and sank. The oil spill threatens severe damage to the coastal wetlands and intertidal zones on the Gulf Coast, destroying the habitats where fish, shellfish, and crustaceans breed, spawn, and mature. One attorney said the livelihoods of shrimpers, fishermen, and persons in the tourist and hospitality industries are all at risk. NOAA's director said 5% of the Gulf is now closed to fishing.

Coast Guard Decontaminates Ships Navigating Gulf Oil Spill
In a related story, the Coast Guard has equipment in place between Mobile, Alabama and Gulfport, Mississippi to decontaminate any ships that pass through an oil sheen. If a vessel has oil on its hull, the decontamination team will spray it with water and a chemical dispersant, and scrub it before it enters its next port of call. The Port of Mobile Harbormaster has required all ships entering the harbor to first submit a form certifying that they did not pass through an oil slick. The Coast Guard has also set up decontamination stations, similar to the one for Mobile, on the Mississippi River as well.

Pink Dolphins Photographed
A wildlife photographer is showing off his pictures of rare Amazon River dolphins, which are unusual not only because they live in freshwater, but because the male dolphins are a shade of pink. Scientists say that the reason they are pink isn't from the food they eat or the fresh water they live in. They explained that the male dolphins are born gray, but the pink color is from the scar tissue they get from fighting with other male dolphins over a female dolphin.

5/23/10

Tragedy Off The Coast of Plymouth
Just before midnight, the Coast Guard and the Plymouth Harbor Master responded to a Mayday call from a 15 foot boat taking on water and sinking about two miles east of Plymouth Harbor with two people on board. About two hours later, a Coast Guard boat crew from station Point Allerton in Hull found one of the persons hanging on to a buoy. He was identified as 20 year old Wayne Carlson of Kingston, Massachusetts. About a half hour later, a Coast Guard helicopter crew spotted the other person, 19 year old David Hanson, also of Kingston, floating in the water. Hanson was recovered unconscious by the Point Allerton boat crew who immediately began CPR and transferred the man to awaiting paramedics. Unfortunately, the young man was pronounced dead at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth. The Coast Guard said both men were wearing life jackets. The air temperature was 46 degrees, the water temperature was 57 degrees, and the wind speed was around five miles per hour.

New Government Rules Keep Fishing Boats Tied To Dock
This year's groundfishing season started May 1st under the new catch shares, sector management system, but many New England fishing boats have yet to leave the docks. With a quota of fish for the year that represents less than a month of full time work, fishermen claim there is no need to rush out there. Furthermore, many fishermen say the new software they must now use to file their reports isn't working. The region's fish exchanges are reporting a sharp decline in landings. The Gloucester Seafood Display Auction reported local groundfish landings have dropped 80 percent, from 150,000 pounds a week last year to about 30,000 pounds a week this year. "It is pretty devastating to the small-boat fleet," said Larry Ciulla, owner of Gloucester Seafood. Consumers are now also starting to complain as the drop in landings has driven up the price of fish. A meeting last week between 13 members of New England's congressional delegation and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke seeking to increase the catch share quotas has produced no results so far.

Nantucket Lightship LV-112 Arrives in Boston Harbor
The Nantucket Lightship LV-112, the largest lightship ever built, arrived back in Massachusetts waters after spending 7 years in New York's Oyster Bay. The LV-112   is one of only three known Nantucket lightships still afloat. It went to New York after the National Lighthouse Museum purchased it with the hope to make it part of a planned museum complex on Staten Island, but that never happened, so the lightship was sold to its new owner for $1. Look for the lightship to be eventually docked on the East Boston side of Boston Harbor at the Boston Shipyard and Marina where it will be open to the public as a museum.

Town of Scituate Debates New Fee For Boat Launch Ramp
The Town of Scituate's Waterways Commission is debating whether or not to charge boaters a fee for using the public boat launch ramp on Jericho Road. The chairman of the commission felt it was not fair for boaters to use the public boat ramp for free and reap the same benefits as other boaters who pay for slips and moorings and need the help of the town's harbormaster. However, selectman Rick Murray warned the commission that the ramp is owned by the state Office of Fishing and Boating Access and that the state might be entitled to the revenue the town would collect.

First Coast Guard District Gets New Commander
The First Coast Guard District has a new commander. Rear Admiral Daniel Neptun has taken command of the district from Rear Admiral Joseph Nimmich who retired from active duty after serving 33 years in the Coast Guard. Rear Admiral Neptun is joining the First Coast Guard District from the Coast Guard's Personnel Service Center in Arlington, Virginia. The First Coast Guard District, headquartered in Boston, encompasses an area of eight states from northern New Jersey to the Maine/Canadian border, more than 2,000 miles of shoreline.

Renovation Project On George's Island Includes Restaurant
Massachusetts' Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Boston Harbor Alliance are close to completing an $8 million construction project on Georges Island in Boston Harbor. The island's original brick administration building was transformed into a visitor center with restrooms and a gift shop. On the second floor will be a conference room, a caretaker's apartment, and rooms for the park rangers. A new building next to the visitor center will feature a Jasper White's Summer Shack restaurant. On the menu will be clam and lobster rolls, chowder, hamburgers, and French fries. Visitors can get to the island by private boat or by a ferry boat.

Fish In Gulf Of Mexico Must Pass Sniff Test
Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico, will undergo testing by food inspectors using one of the oldest, efficient tools ever created, the human nose. That's right. Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico will now have to pass the sniff test by federal regulators before they go to market. Scientific instruments could perform the same task, but would take much longer to get the results and would also be much more expensive. Food and Drug Administration agents are now undergoing special nose sniffing training.

Sea Serpent Washes Ashore
A giant oarfish, the world's longest bony fish, also known as the "king of herrings" washed up on a beach in Sweden. The last recorded sighting of an oarfish in Sweden was back in 1879. The fish is believed to live in deep water, and it may have inspired past tales of sea serpents. A marine expert said the giant oarfish can grow up to 36 feet long. The one found on the Swedish beach was only 12 feet long.

Lead Singer of "Michael Row The Boat Ashore" Dies
And last on today's nautical news, we are sad to learn that Dave Fisher, the lead singer of the Highwaymen, the popular 1960s folk group whose hit song "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore," has died at the age of 69. Dave Fisher died at his home in Rye, New York of a bone marrow disease, with his former band mates, at his bedside.

5/30/10

TOP KILL FAILS TO STOP OIL LEAK
BP has announced that its Top Kill method to stop the oil leak in the Gulf has failed. They now say only relief pressure wells are the surest way to stop the leak, but it will be August before this can be accomplished. In the meantime, BP will be trying to place another cap over the well head this week.

ALCOHOL BLAMED FOR BOATERS' DEATHS
A New Bedford man is being held on $10,000 bail facing five felony charges, two counts of operating a boat to endanger, death resulting; two counts of operating a watercraft under the influence, death resulting; and one count of reckless boating causing personal injuries. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Investigators say that alcohol played a major role in the boat accident that happened two weeks ago on Despair Island in Narragansett Bay. Two young Massachusetts women lost their lives and all five on board were injured after the mechanic claimed he "borrowed" a 22 foot motor boat and took it out for a midnight joyride. According to court papers, the five had been drinking at three different places for several hours before taking the boat out and crashing it on the pile of rocks known as Despair Island in Narragansett Bay. Blood tests taken at the hospital after the boat crash showed that the operator's blood-alcohol content was above Rhode Island's legal limit of .08. The reckless driving charge was for driving too fast at night and not being able to stop in half the distance of what could be seen. When the boat hit the rocks of small Despair Island, it continued 106 feet across the island and landed upside down with its throttle wide open and the speedometer needle stuck at 39 mph. The maximum speed limit for nighttime boating in Rhode Island 25 miles per hour.

NO RED TIDE DESPITE DIRE PREDICTION
And remember a couple months ago, marine biologists warned of an impending severe red tide that would affect New England. The warning back in February was said to be based on samples of the red tide algae taken off the Maine coast. Thankfully, the dire prediction didn't happen. The seeds never blossomed despite the warm weather and springtime floods. Scientists now say with every passing day, the chances are less and less of a red tide affecting New England this summer.

MASS ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAIN SUES COAST GUARD
And still another old story back in our news. The state is again suing the Coast Guard. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is continuing her fight against the Coast Guard even though lower courts have ruled in favor of the Coast Guard. It is all about a state law that was passed after the 2003 Bouchard barge oil spill in Buzzards Bay. The state law stipulated that all barges carrying oil, whether single or double hulled, must have a tug boat escort when navigating through Buzzards Bay. The law also called for additional crew and lookouts on vessels towing tank barges. The Coast Guard regulations require tug escorts only for single-hulled vessels, and the Coast Guard regulations do not require the additional crew and lookouts. So far, federal laws have trumped the state's laws, but Coakley claims she will eventually beat the Coast Guard.

BOAT HITS SUBMERGED PIPE
Two fishermen were injured on the Parker River in Yarmouth Cape Cod when their boat ran over an unmarked pipe left over from a dredging project. The men said they were headed out to go fishing a little after noon when their boat hit a 300 foot long pipe floating about 6 inches below the surface of the water. The impact tore the motor off the boat's hull. One fisherman hurt his chest and rib cage after being thrown into the steering wheel and the other man hurt his when he fell down when the boat suddenly stopped. Both were treated at Cape Cod Hospital.

CREWMAN FALLS OFF WORLD'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP
The world's largest cruise ship, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas, skipped a port call at St. Thomas to search for a crew member who went overboard. Security cameras did indeed show the person going overboard off Nassau. The captain turned the ship around to search for the person and notified the Coast Guard. The ship returned to Fort Lauderdale after two days at sea with passengers receiving a rebate for time lost at sea.

TITANIC MEMORIAL CRUISE
And last on today's nautical news, tickets are still available for a Titanic Memorial Cruise, scheduled on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy. The cruise, organized by a British travel agency, will take 1,350 passengers on the exact same route the RMS Titanic followed 100 years ago. The cruise will begin April 8th, 2012, and hopefully will not end a week later as it cruises across the Atlantic. On April 14, the ship will be positioned at the actual site where the Titanic hit an iceberg and sank.

BOATING INDUSTRY STILL VITAL TO U.S. ECONOMY
Data published by the National Marina Manufacturers Association shows the boating industry still remains vital to U.S. economy, generating $30.8 billion in sales/services in 2009. However, that is 9% less than in 2008. Also, adult participation in boating dropped by only 6% compared to last year, but that 6% represents 4 million people who no longer have a boat.

BOAT SINKS 9 MILES OFF ROCKPORT
And yet another rescue. This one on the North Shore. The Coast Guard rescued two men after their pleasure boat sank about nine miles north of Rockport, Mass. Coast Guard Station Gloucester received a cell phone call from the men reporting their boat, the 30-foot Happy Days, was taking on water. The station advised the men to put on their life jackets and the boat sank shortly thereafter. The Coast Guard worked with the cell phone company to determine the approximate location of the men's last known position. Soon thereafter, a Coast Guard crew in a jet plane spotted the two in the water. Putting on the lifejackets before the boat sank is credited with saving both of their lives.

KAYAKER RESCUED IN QUINCY
Closer to home, a 31-year-old man fell out of a kayak off the coast of Quincy, but was found safe on Thompson Island. A cut off cell phone call to his mother at 10PM made his mother believe her son was in trouble. She called Quincy police, and they called the State Police Marine Unit and the Coast Guard. Using a heat-sensing device and night vision goggles, state police found the man standing at the water's edge on Thompson Island. He told them he had gotten caught in a strong rip tide and fell out of his kayak. It took him about 30 minutes to swim to shore.

FIGAWI RACE THIS WEEKEND
The 39th annual Figawi Race, Hyannis to Nantucket, took place yesterday. The Memorial Day Weekend spectacular, which signals the start of the on-the-water season, included 230 sailboats, about 3,000 sailors, and another 28 powerboats. Although it wasn't stormy, the wind was blowing, making sea conditions quite rough. Today, everyone recovers, and then on Memorial Day, the race resumes back to Hyannis. The late Senator Kennedy's boat, the Mya, a 50-foot Concordia, was also in the race with Kennedy's son, Ted Jr., at the helm.

6/13/10

NEARLY 40% OF GULF OF MEXICO CLOSED TO FISHING
NOAA has now closed nearly 90,000 square miles or about 40 percent of the Gulf's federal waters to fishing. The closed fishing area includes a zone off southwest Florida just to the west of the Dry Tortugas. Officials said this underwater oil spill is much worse than a tanker spill because there is so much oil in the water column that hasn't reached the surfaced. The government now estimates that between 25 million gallons to as many 50 million gallons of oil have already poured into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20. Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and now Florida are reporting oil on their shorelines.

FOOD INSPECTORS USE NOSES TO FIND TAINTED FISH
In a related story, safeguards have been implemented by NOAA and the FDA to ensure no tainted fish and seafood from the Gulf will reach the marketplace.  Officials are using their eyes, mouths, and mostly their noses to look for any oil on the fish. Consumers should feel confident that it is safe to eat the fish. However, Gulf fish dealers say their orders for seafood have dropped by more than 50%.

BODY FOUND IN MERRIMACK RIVER
Closer to home, two fishermen found the body of a 22-year-old female floating near the mouth of the Merrimack River. They tied a rope around it and called 911. The Coast Guard immediately responded and recovered the body. The body is believed to be that of the young woman who was swept out to sea this past week along with seven of her friends. Officials were able to rescue her friends, but unfortunately this young woman quickly disappeared underwater.

BOSTON'S "B" BUOY OUT OF SERVICE
And this important notice to mariners. The B Buoy, the buoy at the entrance to Boston's shipping channel, is no longer transmitting data. Ships entering Boston harbor depend upon the buoy's signals to guide them safely into the Boston harbor channel. The Coast Guard said the buoy will be restored to service when it can be worked into its maintenance schedule. Several other important buoys along the northeast coast are now also being reported as needing maintenance.

MAN FALLS THROUGH ROOF OF BUILDING ON PEDDOCKS ISLAND
A 23 year old man was seriously injured after he fell 30 feet through the roof of a building on Peddocks Island off the coast of Hull. The man broke his leg and possibly both wrists and some ribs. The Coast Guard took him by helicopter to the Mass General Hospital in Boston. State police, Boston police, Massport firefighters, and the Hull Harbormaster all responded to the island because the call for help came from a cell phone and nobody knew where the man was on the 184 acre island. It wasn't clear what the man was doing on the roof of one the abandoned buildings.

DRAMATIC INCREASE IN HOAX DISTRESS CALLS
Coast Guard reports a dramatic increase in hoax distress calls this year in sector Southeast New England. The Coast Guard said it's actively pursuing the person or persons responsible for the fake calls with a new tracking system. Making a hoax distress call is a felony with fines and jail time and the person found responsible will also be liable to cover the costs of the search. Furthermore it puts the lives of the searchers in jeopardy, takes away valuable assets from a potential real emergency, putting those lives in danger as well.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS RETURNING TO CAPE COD
Great white sharks are heading back to Chatham Cape Cod where their favorite food, seals are abundant. There is a prolific seal colony on the Monomoy islands, just south of Chatham and not too far from the very popular Lighthouse beach. Massachusetts shark expert Greg Skomal said the state will not be paying this year for spotter planes to locate sharks that may be near beaches and bathers. Beach goers and swimmers must assume the risk that the great white sharks are present and will remain present until September. The job of warning the public of sharks will be primarily the responsibility of the harbormaster and lifeguards. Last year, sharks in shallow water closed Lighthouse Beach and all south-facing beaches in Chatham in late August and early September. Nautical Talk Radio called the Chatham Harbormaster department for a response, who referred us to the town's director of Parks and Recreation Department. Our phone calls were not returned.

OIL SPILL PLAN BEING FORMULATED FOR BOSTON HARBOR
Bay State officials are now formulating a response plan to handle any future oil spills that might occur in Boston Harbor. State officials, Coast Guard personnel, and environmentalists are all determining which areas of the harbor should be considered priorities in the event of a spill. High priorities include marshes, breeding areas for birds, spawning areas for fish, and shellfish beds. Other Massachusetts coastal communities are now also making oil spill clean up plans a priority.

TALL SHIP DOCKS IN HINGHAM HARBOR
On June 11 and 12 the Lincoln Maritime Center located in Hingham Harbor will kick off its 40th Season with a weekend celebration that includes bringing the Tall Ship, Liberty Clipper into Hingham Harbor. The Liberty Clipper will arrive at the Lincoln Maritime Center at noon on Friday, June 11. The Liberty Clipper is a 125-foot Tall Ship that is a replica of the famed Baltimore Clippers.

TV's "DEADLIEST CATCH" STAR TRYING TO "DANCE WITH THE STARS"
Captain Sig Hansen, one of the stars in the TV reality show "Deadliest Catch," is trying to get on another TV reality show - "Dancing with the Stars." Over 15,000 signatures are on Sig's Facebook fan page trying to help him get on the show. The skipper of the Northwestern even appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where he got a dance lesson from a professional. The dance instructor said that Sig learned the dance steps quickly and that his hip action was brilliant. Sig who has been described as "tough but lovable" said he does not take criticism well, and joked that if Bruno, a "Dancing with the Stars" judge, came after him, he would probably put him in a strangle hold.

6/13/10

16 YEAR OLD SOLO SAILOR RESCUED AT SEA
Abbey Sunderland, a 16-year-old California girl, who was feared lost at sea while sailing solo around the world, was rescued and taken aboard a fishing boat about 400 miles off the coast of Madagascar. Her $90,000 40 foot sailboat, named "Wild Eyes," given to her by her parents on her 16th birthday, was left behind. The girl said wind and waves knocked her boat's mast and satellite phone antenna down and that is why she manually activated her emergency beacon signals. The Australia Maritime Safety Authority responded to the signals by chartering a commercial jet to locate her. Upon arriving on scene, it was determined the girl's boat was still floating with plenty of food and supplies on board, so a call was made to a fishing boat 450 miles away to rendezvous with her, which it did as we just reported. Originally, Abbey departed this past January to attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop around the world, but less than a month later, mechanical problems made her pull into port and end that quest. After repairs were made, Abbey decided to continue her voyage around the world until this latest setback. 

FISHERMEN EXPOSED TO MUSTARD GAS
Two fishermen were taken to the hospital with mustard gas exposure after pulling up about 10 canisters in their net. One of the canisters broke open and two of the crew members aboard the New Bedford clam dredger, the E.S.S. Pursuit, began experiencing blistering and difficulty breathing. The crew threw the other canisters overboard. The Coast Guard is working with the captain of the boat to try to determine where those canisters were thrown back into the ocean. The crew's catch was confiscated and probably will be destroyed, while the boat was ordered to back to port where officials decontaminate it.

5 YEAR MORATORIUM ON CATCHING LOBSTERS PROPOSED
Fishermen south of Cape Cod, (Vineyard Sound, Rhode Island Sound, and Long Island Sound), are facing a possible five-year moratorium on the catching of lobsters. If the moratorium should pass, it would take effect next year. Lobstermen claim after 5 years, their business infrastructure would be gone. The buyers, distributors, and marketplaces would be gone. Furthermore many fishermen believe that the lobster population is cyclical and that a moratorium would have absolutely no effect on the growth rate of the lobster stock. Many reasons have been given for the decline in lobsters in Long Island and Rhode Island Sounds, but scientists have never been able to pinpoint the cause for the decline. At its peak lobsters caught in these waters accounted for as much as 25% of the total lobster catch in the Northeast. Today, it is only 5 to 7 percent with the bulk share of the lobster landings coming from the Gulf of Maine.

COAST GUARD TOWS FISHING BOAT BACK FROM GEORGE'S BANK
The Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba went to the rescue of the 65 foot, Gloucester based fishing vessel Grace Marie and took the boat in tow after the captain reported the boat was broken down and adrift on George's Bank in gale force winds. The Escanaba towed the Grace Marie about 178 miles to just north of Provincetown where another fishing vessel rendezvoused with the Coast Guard and assumed the job of towing the boat back to port. No injuries were reported.

SHARKS HEADING FOR FLORIDA'S SHORE TO ESCAPE OIL SPILL
More than two dozen sharks have been seen swimming near Florida's Gulf coast in the past few weeks. Scientists say it is too early to tell whether the sharks near Florida's beaches is connected with the oil spill, but they are beginning to think so. If it true, Florida's tourism and real estate values will suffer. Marine scientists also have reported sightings of sailfish, dolphin fish, mahimahi and other deep water fish that normally do not come close to shore.

COAST GUARD NEEDS MORE HELP AND MONEY TO FIGHT SPILL
Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said he is considering asking for more Coast Guard personnel from other parts of the country to deal with the Gulf oil spill. That's a change from a month ago, when Allen said that one of his biggest concerns in fighting the oil spill was not to leave another area of the country vulnerable should a problem occur there. Allen said that as of right now he has 25,000 people working on the spill. Allen also said there were 400 skimming vessels, 500 barges, 2,500 contracted vessels, and 66 aircraft. These numbers do not include BP hired workers or vessels.

ENGINE MANUFACTURER WARNS OF OIL SPILL DAMAGE TO ENGINES
Engine manufacturer Volvo Penta of the Americas is warning their customers that the Gulf oil spill could damage their marine inboard and sterndrive engines, even affecting those boats that just sit at the dock. Volvo Penta claims that ingestion of small amounts of oil into the engine's cooling system could cause damage, and sterndrive components and other running gear could also be damaged if submersed in oil contaminated water. Owners are encouraged to contact their Volvo Penta dealer for service recommendations if their boat has been operated or exposed to oil contaminated water.

LOTS OF NEW EVENTS AND BUILDINGS FOR BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS
And last on today's nautical news, the Boston Harbor Islands will feature lots of new activities for visitors this summer. There will be free yoga classes, an artist pavilion, a concert by the Dorchester Symphony Orchestra, and rock concerts featuring local bands. Plus Spectacle and George's Islands will feature Jasper White Summer Shack cafes, new visitor centers, guided tours, and new docks. Tomorrow, Flag Day, free ferry rides from Boston's Long Wharf to the islands will be offered all day long.

6/20/10

STELLWAGEN BANK SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN RELEASED
NOAA released its final management plan for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which they say will guide the sanctuary's resource protection and conservation efforts over the next five years. Stellwagen Bank has for centuries been one of the richest fishing grounds on the east coast. The new management plan focuses on key issues affecting the sanctuary, including ecosystem alteration, wildlife disturbance, vessel traffic and its potential threat to marine mammals, water quality and invasive species. Craig MacDonald, the sanctuary's superintendent said that the plan provides a roadmap for what can be done to protect the sanctuary's valuable resources for future generations. In developing the new management plan, the sanctuary relied on data and expertise from NOAA's Fisheries Service.

POLLOCK QUOTA INCREASED IN NEW ENGLAND
Unfortunately, in some cases, NOAA's Fisheries Service's data has proven to be either wrong or out of date. This past week, fishery regulators increased the quota of pollock five to six times the original limit after New England fishermen complained that something was amiss. For months, fishermen claimed there were a lot more pollock, but the federal scientists disagreed. Now the feds admit they made a mistake and increased the quota for pollock from 6 million pounds to 35 million pounds starting in July. Now fishermen are saying that limits are far too low for other species of fish as well.

COMMERCIAL WHALING VOTE THIS WEEK
Next week the International Whaling Commission will vote on a plan to legalize commercial whaling. Japan, Norway, and Iceland support the killing of whales for profit and trade, and now there are reports that President Obama will also join those countries and support the plan to reopen commercial whaling.

BP CEO GOES YACHTING
In yet another public relations gaffe, BP CEO, Tony Hayward spent yesterday off the coast of England on a megayacht, watching his sailing yacht compete in Britain's "Round The Island Race," a yacht race around the Isle of Wight. Critics said Hayward's behavior was the height of arrogance and that he should have been on a boat in the Gulf skimming the oil instead of snubbing his nose at America by participating in a rich man's yachting race. A race official said that a man by the name of Tony Hayward had entered his 52 foot sailboat named Bob, and that the boat finished in fourth place in a class of 45 other competitors.

SEAFOOD SEIZED FROM BOAT IN GULF OF MEXICO
Despite assurances from President Obama that Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe to eat, the Coast Guard seized 19000 pounds of shrimp from a fishing boat and returned the shrimp back to the sea. The fishing boat was issued a written warning for fishing in a closed area. Officials from the Coast Guard and NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement said they are working together to prevent the harvesting of any adulterated seafood.

BOATERS IN CONTROL OF FOGHORNS
Lake Michigan boaters now have the ability to activate foghorns whenever they wish, as the result of a new system implemented by the Coast Guard. To activate the fog signal, boaters must tune their marine radio to channel 79A and depress the microphone five times. This new system can be extremely useful, especially if the foghorn doesn't automatically activate. This new system could soon be implemented in other parts of the country whenever a boater needs to find a lighthouse.

FISHERMEN EYE TO EYE WITH SUBMARINE PERISCOPE
Three fishermen were about 4 miles off Hollywood Beach in Florida when one of them noticed what appeared to be just a mast sticking above water a short distance away. They decided to investigate, thinking it might have been a sunken sailboat. As their 31 foot center console boat named Fishy Business got closer to the object, they realized they were looking at a submarine's periscope. Suddenly, down it went as it took off very fast. They reported what they saw to the Coast Guard who said they would get back to them, but they never did.

SEA TURTLE WITH VIDEO CAMERA
A sea turtle in the Caribbean, entangled in the strap of a waterproof camera, somehow activated the camera and started taking a video of itself underwater. The video is now the latest sensation on YouTube. Now here is the story behind the story. Last May, the camera in a waterproof case was found on a beach in Key West, Florida. The person who found the camera attempted to find its owner by posting the pictures on the camera's memory stick on the internet. It appeared that whoever owned the camera was a diver who was possibly attacked by a shark. Later, it was determined that the camera was entangled with a sea turtle. Eventually, the owner of the camera was found. The owner was a Dutch navy sailor who said he lost the camera when he was diving off the island of Aruba in November. The camera, with the help of the turtle, made its way to the beck on in Key West. Now you know the rest of the story.

7/11/10

TWO BP OIL CLEAN UP WORKERS DIE FROM FUMES
The Obama administration received even more bad news from the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard confirmed that two workers involved in the Gulf oil spill clean up have died. As of June 11th, nearly 3 weeks ago, 71 oil spill clean up workers in Louisiana had to be hospitalized due to exposure to vapors from toxic dispersants. Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is now saying she is very concerned about the impact of the disaster on the public health of people in the gulf region. Originally, officials attributed the clean up workers' sickness to food poisoning. No details have been released about how the two clean up workers died, but many of the clean up workers now want face masks to be distributed to them.

OFFICIALS CRACK DOWN ON BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
More than 5000 marine law enforcement officers will be out in full force from now until July 4th participating in Operation Dry Water, a nationwide crackdown on those boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Boaters found to be impaired can expect severe penalties, including fines, jail time, loss of boating privileges, and even loss of their automobile driving licenses. According to the Coast Guard, each year approximately one of every five fatalities from recreational boat accidents is directly related to drunk boaters. Experts claim that the sun, wind, noise, and rocking of the boat intensify the side effects of alcohol and drugs.

JIMMY BUFFETT DONATES BOATS FOR BP OIL CLEAN UP
And last on today's nautical news, Jimmy Buffett, along with his sister Lucy, have donated a 17 foot boat to the University of Southern Mississippi so that students can help with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup. The 17 foot boat is designed to operate in as little as 8 inches of water. Buffett, a Southern Miss alumnus, teamed with Dragonfly Boatworks in Vero Beach, Florida to build the boat. Word is that an additional 3 boats will be built and donated to the university by Buffett and his sister.

7/18/10

CONGRESSMEN ASK HEAD OF NOAA TO RESIGN
Congressmen Barney Frank and John Teirney are asking Dr. Jane Lubchecno, the head of NOAA to resign because she has failed the fishermen and continues to treat them as criminals. Frank said Lubchenco has shown indifference toward fishermen and refuses to let up on the all the new regulations. He also said she was responsible for some of the problems at NOAA's fishery enforcement division, which has included bad science, allegations of corruption, and cover ups. The Inspector General detailed the misuse of funds and her abusive powers toward fishermen. Lubchenco was previously one of the directors of the Environmental Defense Fund before being appointed to head NOAA by President Obama.

TWO KILLED IN PHILADELPHIA DUCK BOAT CRASH
Thirty-five of thirty-seven people were rescued from the water after a sludge barge collided with a Duck boat on the Delaware River. The two other passengers, both young tourists from Hungary, were killed and their bodies recovered. Ironically, Navy divers and SEALs were arriving by boat for a ceremony in Philadelphia when they heard the distress call come over their marine radio and were one of the first responders to the scene. Apparently, the Duck boat was adrift after a fire broke out in the engine room. It was literally a "sitting duck" as the barge ran over it. The amphibious tour vehicle sank in about 40 feet of water.

COAST GUARD HELICOPTER CRASHES
Investigators in the state of Washington are trying to determine the cause of a Coast Guard helicopter crash that took the lives of three crewmen and injured the fourth. One of the victims was from New England. The hope is that the surviving crewman will be able to recall how the crash occurred. The low flying Jayhawk helicopter apparently hit power lines and went down into the water about 100 yards off the coast of Washington. A Coast Guard spokesman in Seattle said divers are still trying to recover pieces of the wreckage from the water.

HINGHAM  TO BOSTON COMMUTER BOAT COLLIDES WITH SAILBOAT
For the second time in less than a week, a Hingham to Boston commuter boat was involved in an accident, albeit a minor one. It happened in Weymouth, on the Back River, as the commuter boat Nora Victoria collided with a sailboat. The Coast Guard called the collision "minor" and said there were no injures.

GRANT GIVEN TO QUINCY, HINGHAM, AND WEYMOUTH FOR NEW PATROL BOATS
The cities of Quincy and Weymouth and the town of Hingham have teamed up to win a $2 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security for new patrol boats, security cameras, and underwater recovery equipment. Each of the municipalities will receive a new boat and communications equipment that will work with that of the State Police, Coast Guard, and FBI in order to better protect the ships, ferries, and maritime infrastructure in Quincy Bay. Quincy's new boat is expected to arrive by year's end.

OWNER OF BOSTON PR FIRM RESCUED FROM BOAT FIRE
The Cape Cod Times reports that George Regan, the owner of Regan Communications, a well known public relations firm in Boston, was rescued by the Coast Guard from his 26-foot boat after it caught fire off   a Mashpee Cape Cod Beach. Neither Regan nor his passenger on the boat was injured, and the fire was extinguished quickly.

ANOTHER GREAT WHITE SHARK SPOTTED IN MASSACHUSETTS
Passengers aboard a Gloucester whale watching boat got a special treat after a 12 foot long great white shark circled the boat. This was the second sighting of a great white shark this summer off the coast of Massachusetts. Over the July 4th weekend, the Coast Guard issued a shark warning to all New England boaters and swimmers. The captain of the whale watch boat, Capt. Jay Frontierro, took pictures to show to a marine biologist to confirm that it was indeed a great white shark before posting the news on his web site. He said this summer's shark infestation could be explained by warmer water temperatures and an abundance of bluefin tuna and seals.

BOSTON TALL SHIP BECOMES "BOAT AND BREAKFAST"
Tourists in Boston have found a new way to stay overnight in the city. Instead of a hotel, they are choosing to stay aboard a tall ship. The schooner Liberty Clipper, a 125-foot tall ship is renting out cabins for as little as $50 per night per person while it's docked at Boston's Long Wharf. The concept is called boat and breakfast. Check out time is at 10AM as the Liberty Clipper also offers day time cruises.

7/25/10

FIRE DESTROYS MENEMSHA COAST GUARD'S BOATHOUSE
Fire at a boathouse and pier at the Coast Guard Station in Menemsha on Martha's Vineyard destroyed several private boats, but no Coast Guard boats. The local harbormaster said at least 10 privately owned boats suffered heavy damage from fire while several others were damaged by smoke. At least one boat sank into the harbor. Miraculously, there were no serious injuries. The Coast Guard has 22 crew members stationed at Menemsha, but their base is separate from the boat house and it received no damage. The state's fire marshal said an investigation into the fire is now underway.

ANOTHER GREAT WHITE SHARK SPOTTED OFF MASSACHUSETTS
A 15-foot great white shark was spotted chasing seals into shallow water south of Nauset Beach near Chatham on Cape Cod. This is the third reported sighting of a great white shark in Massachusetts waters. Beachgoers and paddlers are warned to stay away from seals because that's what the sharks like to eat. A spotter plane pilot saw the shark chase seals into breaking surf, trap them against the shore, and then attack them. Experts say great whites are showing up here more frequently because of the large increase in the seal population.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND LOBSTERMEN PROTEST 5 YEAR MORATORIUM
Lobstermen in southern New England packed a hearing in Connecticut telling officials to leave them alone. They protested a proposed five year ban on lobstering claiming they all would be put out of business. Officials emphasized that the moratorium was not the only option on the table, but lobstermen and commercial fishermen spoke as if it were already decided. Another meeting is scheduled this week in Warwick, Rhode Island.

ISLAND USED FOR BOMB TESTING TO BECOME BIRD SANCTUARY
Three miles south of Martha's Vineyard lies Nomans Island, an island of dense brush, rocky beaches, lots of birds, and like its name implies no humans. Sort of ironic because the island's name supposedly comes from one of its owner's surnames, Nomans. No one has lived there for nearly 60 years, and the government has actually banned the public from its 628 acres. The government's reason is that there are too many unexploded bombs remaining on the island after tons of bombs were tested there by the U.S. Navy since WWII. However, Fish and Wildlife agents continue to walk the island and are now proposing it to be a bird sanctuary forever. Native Americans claim the island is a part of their heritage and are asking the government to allow them limited access.

SUPERTANKER OIL SKIMMER SENT HOME
After all the "hoopla" about the supertanker called "A Whale," which was supposed to suck up millions of gallons of oil a day in the Gulf of Mexico, the Coast Guard is sending the ship back home to Portugal because it is too big and the amount of oil recovered by the ship was negligible. Smaller vessels that could maneuver in crowded areas were far more effective. National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen said there now 593 skimmers working the clean up and more than a total 6,800 vessels on site, including tugs, barges, and containment vessels. Latest report claims that 33 million gallons of an oil-water mix have been recovered and 387 controlled burns have been conducted, efficiently removing an additional 11 million gallons of oil from the open water.

CREWMATE ABOARD PHILLY DUCKBOAT PLEADS THE FIFTH
A crew member aboard the tugboat that ran over the Philadelphia duck tour boat throwing 37 people into the water, killing two of them, is refusing to talk to federal investigators. The National Transportation and Safety Board said the mate "exercised his Fifth Amendment right and refused to meet with investigators." The NTSB also said review of the duck boat's radio calls to the tug received no response.

FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE H. W. BUSH GOES AGROUND
And last on today's nautical news, former President George H.W. Bush's 38-foot Fountain center console boat, Fidelity IV, ran aground in pea soup fog, right in the middle of a very popular beach in Maine. The same thing happened to a boat following it. No injuries were reported. It was not clear who was steering the boat, but the former President was aboard along with some guests. It was reported that the boats were headed to Bush's home in Kennebunkport. The Secret Service helped Bush's staff remove the boats from the middle of the beach, while hundreds of spectators watched. Neither boat was seriously damaged.

8/1/10

BAN ON LOBSTER FISHING FAILS
A proposal by the American Lobster Management Board to ban lobster fishing in southern New England for 5 years was killed after lobstermen said it would kill their industry and that there was no scientific evidence to justify such a ban. By the end of the day, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission apparently agreed with the lobstermen and voted instead to consider no new restrictions at all. Lobstermen suggested the downturn in the stock was cyclical. They said they're seeing more and bigger lobsters today, and urged the board to give more time to the current conservation measures rather than enact a ban.

OBAMA USES EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO PASS NEW OCEAN LAW
President Barack Obama used his presidential executive order privilege on July 19th and bypassed Congress again. This time he signed a new ocean protection law      called Oceans 21, which previously failed to gain Congressional support the past 10 years because it restricts access to public resources while creating a new bureaucratic hierarchy with unprecedented power to regulate fisheries and implement ocean zoning without public input. While environmental groups are hailing it a       momentous day for America's oceans, Recreational Fishing Alliance Executive Director, Jim Donofrio said these are sad times for America's democratic process.

SENATOR JOHN KERRY AVOIDS PAYING MASSACHUSETTS SALES TAX
Boston Herald Inside Track gals reported that Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is avoiding paying Massachusetts sales tax on his new multimillion-dollar sailboat he had built in New Zealand by keeping her in Newport, Rhode Island, where boats are exempt from sales tax. It was rumored that Kerry's 76 foot long boat cost around 7 million dollars, which would mean he is depriving the Commonwealth of approximately $450,000 in sales tax revenue. The senior senator's chief of staff David Wade denied that Kerry was keeping his boat in Rhode Island to avoid the tax. He said the boat was designed by and purchased from a Rhode Island company, and that it was being kept at the Newport Shipyard for long term maintenance and charter purposes, and not for tax reasons.

"TUNA TANGLER TOO" BOAT WINS MONSTER SHARK TOURNAMENT
The 24th annual Monster Shark Tournament took place this weekend in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard. As many as 120 boats participated in the tournament in search of sharks that weigh at least 200 pounds. The rules of the tournament allow fishermen to catch only mako, thresher, and porbeagle sharks. The first place prize is a brand new 21 foot worth about $50,000. This year the winner was the crew from a boat named the Tuna Tangler Too took who brought in a 413 pound thresher shark. The Oak Bluffs Town Administrator said the tournament is the highlight of the summer not only for the fishermen, but also for tourists who flock to the docks to see the sharks as they are weighed and studied by government scientists.

WHALE JUMPS ON BOAT
A South African couple and their sailing instructor had the fright of their lives when a 40 ton Southern Right Whale jumped out of the water and onto their 33 foot steel hulled boat while they were sailing off the coast of Cape Town. The mast came down and the boat was in shambles, but no one was hurt.

17 FOOT BOAT SINKS IN MOUTH OF MERRIMACK RIVER
Three people were rescued from the mouth of the Merrimack River after their 17-foot boat sank. The Coast Guard is investigating the reason for the sinking. The people were in the water by the time they were rescued by another boat named the Captain's Lady III. The Coast Guard was immediately notified by the skipper on the sinking boat, but the Captain's Lady III got there first. At last report, the Coast Guard was still looking to find the sunken boat and warned mariners in the area of the possible hazard to navigation.

ANOTHER SHARK SIGHTING ON NORTH SHORE
And speaking of the Merrimack River, fishermen reported a shark swimming about 400 to 500 feet from land. Swimmers at nearby Salisbury Beach were immediately warned to stay out of the water. The sighting is one of several sharks seen in Massachusetts this summer. Coast Guard officials advise swimmers and boaters to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

BOAT CAPSIZES NEAR SAKONNET LIGHTHOUSE RHODE ISLAND
Seven people had to be rescued from their capsized boat near the Sakonnet Lighthouse in Rhode Island. The Coast Guard reported that four people were rescued from the water, and three others were rescued from the rocks at the lighthouse. Two of the four people in the water were saved by a kayaker who called the Coast Guard for help. Officials said luckily no one was injured. It's not clear what caused the boat to capsize, but overloading would be my guess.

AUDIT OF NOAA FORFEITURE FUND TROUBLING
NOAA Special Agent in Charge Andrew Cohen told the Mid Atlantic Council that the asset forfeiture fund audit would produce nothing significant or terribly damaging to the agency. He was wrong. The audit produced numerous examples of abuse and misuse of funds. It also revealed that for years NOAA used the Asset Forfeiture Fund to pay 60 percent of the judges' salaries that NOAA hired, a practice that now has ended. The fact that the money to pay the judges' salaries came from the penalties that the judges had ordered was so shocking that U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer from New York demanded that NOAA return the money to fishermen who were unjustly prosecuted and  sell off the things they bought with the fines. Those items included hundreds of cars and a $300,000 boat. In addition, fifteen NOAA staffers also used the forfeiture fund to travel to Norway for a conference.

ONE THIRD OF CLOSED AREA IN GULF RE-OPENED TO FISHING
Approximately one third of the Gulf of Mexico that was previously closed to commercial and recreational fishing because of the oil spill is now re-opened. Researchers said that since mid-June, no oil has been found in the previously closed area, and projections of where the oil might spread in the future showed a low risk to the area. NOAA also said no fish caught in the area showed signs of contamination. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said that the reopening provides important assurance that the Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe to eat.

PLASTIKI MAKES IT TO AUSTRALIA
And last on today's nautical news, remember the story about the boat made out of 12000 plastic bottles that was going to cross the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness about plastic pollution? Environmentalists feared that if the boat had an accident and broke apart, it would have added to the plastic pollution problem instead of calling attention to it. Well, those fears were for naught, because the boat called Plastiki, made of 12000 plastic bottles, successfully reached Australia after its 8,000 mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. David de Rothschild, the expedition leader, and Jo Royle, the skipper, admitted that they had their hands full keeping all the plastic parts attached, but they made it to Australia.

8/8/10

11 SAVED FROM BURNING CHARTER BOAT
A 50th birthday party on Nantucket Sound turned into a harrowing ordeal when a chartered 42 foot Whisper Jet motorboat caught fire about three miles off of Wychmere Harbor, Harwichport, Cape Cod. A Coast Guard Station Chatham boat crew found the stern of the boat named the Bronze Monkey out of Hyannisport on fire with the 10 passengers and the captain standing on the bow. Nobody was wearing a lifejacket because all the lifejackets were stowed below in the burning cabin. A Coast Guard officer said they arrived in the nick of time because as soon as they got the people off the boat, it became completely engulfed in flames and some of the passengers said they couldn't swim. The boat eventually sank in 22 feet of water. The captain of the Bronze Monkey said he thought the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction. The Harwich and Dennis Fire Departments also responded to the scene and no injuries were reported.

REPORT RELEASED ON STELLWAGEN SANCTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN
The University of New Hampshire has released their report for the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The lead person doing the study was Dr. Andrew Rosenberg, former director of the National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Region. The superintendent of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary said the report showed that fish, birds, and mammals living within the 842 square mile sanctuary had amazing resilience and seemed to be plentiful, but landings of important commercial species declined by nearly 50 percent over the past 100 years. The superintendent said he would like to create no fishing zones in the sanctuary, reneging on the promise made to fishermen when the sanctuary was created that the sanctuary would always be open to fishing. In their quest to get a consensus on the fishing closure, the sanctuary's assistant superintendent Benjamin Cowie-Haskell got himself on the New England Fishery Management Council habitat committee.

KERRY PAYS SALES TAX ON 7 MILLION DOLLAR BOAT
Sen. John Kerry said he always intended to pay the sales tax to Massachusetts for his $7 million yacht, but conceded that he mishandled the public furor over his decision to dock the vessel in tax-free Rhode Island. Kerry said that he didn't think that he dealt with it fast enough or effectively, and that there was nobody to blame but himself. Kerry added that he did nothing legally wrong and that he would write a check for about $440,000 to Massachusetts whether he owed the money or not. However, Kerry admitted that it was never his intention to permanently dock his 76 foot sailboat in Rhode Island. His intention is to keep the boat in Falmouth. Of course actions speak louder than words, and Kerry never explained why the under boat's name Isabel is painted "Newport" as the boat's hailing port.

GREAT WHITE SHARKS TAGGED OFF MASSACHUSETTS
Shark experts are tagging numerous great white sharks seen swimming in Chatham. One great white was tagged just 100 feet from Chatham's very popular South Beach. Warnings were issued for bathers to stay at least 300 feet away from any gray seals - the main source of food for the great whites. Now we are being told, after five more great whites were spotted close to the beach, that the Chatham Harbormaster along with town officials have closed down the beach to all swimmers. The beach closing is the state's first because of sharks this year, although many sunbathers ignored the prohibition.

MAN FINED FOR SHOOTING FLARES ON 4TH OF JULY
A Gloucester man who admitted to shooting flares on July 4th even though he was not in distress received a hefty fine from the Coast Guard. Shooting flares for fun is considered the same as making a hoax mayday call on the radio. The Coast Guard takes these false distress calls very seriously and actively pursues those who make them. The person responsible can be ordered to pay restitution to the government in an amount equal to that spent on responding to the hoax. They can also be fined up to $250,000 and face up to 6 years in prison.

COMMUTER BOAT SERVICE COMES TO WINTHROP
The Town of Winthrop and Boston Harbor Cruises have entered into an agreement to provide experimental commuter boat service to Boston for North Shore residents. The boat departs Monday thru Friday from Winthrop's town landing on Shirley Street and the trip to Boston's Rowes Wharf takes about 25 minutes. The service will continue through the month of October and then continuation of it will be studied.

OBAMA AND COAST GUARD BLAMED FOR SINKING BP OIL RIG
A scathing report from the Center for Public Integrity claims that the ultimate responsibility for the BP oil leak disaster falls on the Obama administration, mainly because of a botched response to the initial fire by the Coast Guard and the fact that the President cut millions of dollars from the Coast Guard's budget. Coast Guard officials admit that they possibly erred in fighting the fire on the Deep Horizon oil rig using sea water instead of foam. The tons of sea water sprayed on the fire instead of the light weight foam probably caused the oil rig to sink, breaking the well head on the pipeline. If the rig had stayed afloat, the well head wouldn't have broken and the oil wouldn't have gushed into the Gulf. Coast Guard officials told the Center for Public Integrity that the service does not have the expertise to fight an oil rig fire, and couldn't possibly train for a new mission after the Commander in Chief cut its budget, reduced the Coast Guard's blue water fleet by one third, and reduced personnel by 1000.

OIL SLICK IN GULF GREATLY REDUCED
And now this update on the Gulf oil spill. After more than three months of oil pouring into the Gulf of Mexico, the one mile deep oil well seems to be capped, and conditions have dramatically improved. The massive oil slick once the size of Florida has shrunk faster than anyone expected, and the Coast Guard reported blue water over the oil well site. Initial field surveys found less than 400 acres of oiled Louisiana marsh, with most oil collected along the outer fringes. Scientists claim unlike the frigid Alaskan waters, the warm Gulf of Mexico teems with bacteria that can eat oil which in some cases naturally seeps from the oil rich bottom. Yet even combining these natural forces with months of burning, skimming, and siphoning, the most optimistic estimates suggest tens of millions of gallons of oil still remain in the Gulf, much of which will be difficult, or impossible, to capture or clean up.

FOUR ENDANGERED TURTLES WASHED ASHORE DEAD
Four large endangered sea turtles have been found dead off the coast of Massachusetts during the month of July. Three loggerheads and one leatherback turtle have washed ashore with fractured flippers and severed spines. Two of the turtles were found off Falmouth, and one each in Dennisport and Mattapoisett. Although no one reported seeing the turtles struck, the director of the Massachusetts Audubon Society's Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is blaming boat propellers for their deaths. On average, 12 to 20 sea turtles are found dead off the state's shores every year according to the project manager for the Massachusetts Leatherback Project. Loggerhead turtles can range in size from 20 pounds as a juvenile to as much 300 pounds as full-size adults, whereas leatherback turtles, which are the world's largest species of sea turtles and the second-largest reptiles behind saltwater crocodiles, have been known to grow as large as 2,000 pounds.

NEW LAW PROTECTS U.S. CITIZENS ON CRUISE SHIPS
President Obama signed legislation that requires cruise lines to contact the FBI and the U.S. Coast Guard as soon as a suspicious death, assault, or disappearance of an American passenger on a ship is reported. Ships will also be required to install peep holes on cabin doors. Until now, crimes committed against passengers on cruise ships were investigated by the police department in the country where the ship was registered.

SCIENTISTS SURVEY SEA SQUIRTS IN NEW ENGLAND WATERS
A team of 25 scientists from the U.S., Canada, and Brazil have been surveying piers, docks, and coves along New England's coast for invasive pests called sea squirts. The scientists wrapped up their survey in southern Maine after visiting sites in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. This is the fourth time since 2000 that scientists have surveyed the New England coastline to collect information on the sea squirts. The survey is coordinated by the MIT Sea Grant program, the Massachusetts Bays Program, and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. Scientists claim the sea squirts can cover the ocean bottom, killing the marine plants on the bottom and depriving fish from food.

YELLOW LOBSTER CAUGHT IN RHODE ISLAND
And last on today's nautical news, a yellow lobster was caught in Narragansett Bay by a Rhode Island lobsterman. Denny Ingram said he caught the lobster in the bay's East Passage. He described it as gold on the top and bright yellow on both sides and that he plans on putting the yellow lobster on display at the fishermen's co-op at the State Pier in Newport.

8/15/10

OUSTED NOAA LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL STILL ON PAYROLL
Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney said they were very disappointed with the outcome of yet another summit meeting with the NOAA officials in Washington regarding fishing. Even more disturbing to the two Congressmen was that they learned that ousted federal fisheries law enforcement chief Dale Jones remains on the NOAA's payroll after the nation's Inspector General found that Jones shredded documents and used excessive fines levied on fishermen as a slush fund. Congressman Tierney said that Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the head of NOAA, had kept it a secret about what happened to Dale Jones after he was replaced 5 months ago, and had to threaten Lubchenco with a lawsuit to divulge his status. Barney Frank said Lubchenco refuses to correct past law enforcement abuses against fishermen, nor provide relief from her new sector fisheries management policies.

TWO SMALL PLANES CRASH ON CAPE COD
In the span of about five hours, two small planes crashed off the coast of Cape Cod, but luckily, there were no casualties. The first crash occurred in the ocean off the coast of Mashpee when a single-engine plane carrying two men who were filming an inspirational video for their church went down. The second crash occurred when a small seaplane carrying a father and two children attempted to take off from the Cape Cod Canal. Witnesses said that the plane flipped over and sunk. The Coast Guard and the FAA said seaplanes are prohibited from landing and taking off from the canal.

MARSHFIELD GETS GRANT FOR PUMPOUT BOAT
Marshfield Harbormaster Mike DiMeo received good news from the state regarding his application for a grant to purchase a $75,000 pumpout boat, since Marshfield is already a no-discharge area. Now the $75,000 pumpout boat will have to be voted on at town meeting, and if approved, under the federal Clean Vessel Act, Marshfield would be reimbursed more than $59,000 from the grant. In addition to this money, the federal grant will also reimburse the town for annual maintenance of the pumpout boat and pay personnel for its operation. The service is provided free to all boats visiting or moored in Marshfield.

BEACHES CLOSED BECAUSE OF SHARKS
This might be shark week on the TV's Discovery channel, but it has been shark summer for most of Massachusetts. Horseneck Beach in Westport and all of New Bedford's beaches were closed to swimming this past week after two reported shark sightings in those local waters. New Bedford Mayor Scott W. Lang said his city's beaches will remain closed until he is assured that the sharks pose no threat to swimmers, but for now he preferred to err on the side of caution. And on Cape Cod, bodies of dead seals chewed up by sharks are washing up on beaches and two more great whites were spotted swimming off Chatham's beaches.

SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE FOR WINTHROP TO BOSTON COMMUTER BOAT 
Winthrop officials hope their new weekday ferry service from Winthrop to Boston's Rowes Wharf will attract at least 110 round-trip commuters daily during its trial run between now and October. If interest remains strong, the town intends to buy a boat and lease it to an operator for year-round service. Nearly five million dollars in state and federal water transportation subsidies is available for a new town pier, a boat landing, and a ferry terminal.

MENEMSHA OFFICIALS DISAPPOINTED WITH COAST GUARD
The damage estimates are in and the price tag for repairing the town's West Dock in Menemsha following the July 12th fire that destroyed it and the Coast Guard's boathouse may exceed $1 million. Selectmen are struggling to figure out how the town is going to pay for it all, claiming it could be years before they collect from the insurance company. The selectmen also have expressed their disappointment with the Coast Guard's effort to clean up their property that was the site of the historic boathouse. That fire site remains fenced off and untouched and according to officials will remain that way until the various government agencies complete their investigation.

GOVERNMENT REVISES ESTIMATE OF GULF OIL SPILL
The amount of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico was vastly underestimated. The government now estimates that more than 170 million gallons of oil went into the Gulf, making it the worst accidental oil spill in history. Previously, the Obama administration and BP claimed the spill was less than 20 million gallons, and clung to that figure for weeks despite protests from scientists and environmental groups.

COAST GUARD CELEBRATES 220TH BIRTHDAY
This past Wednesday, August 4th, was the U.S. Coast Guard's 220th birthday. The Coast Guard began in 1790 when the first Congress authorized the construction of 10 vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of federal revenue. The first vessel, the Revenue Cutter Massachusetts, was built in Newburyport and home ported in Boston. From the Revenue Cutter Service to the Lighthouse Service, from the Life-Saving Service to the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection Service, today's Coast Guard is a multi-mission, maritime, military service and the smallest of the five Armed Services.

ICE ISLAND BREAKS AWAY
And last on today's nautical news, scientists from the University of Delaware say a piece of ice four times the size of Manhattan has broken away from an ice shelf in Greenland. The ice island is about half the height of the Empire State Building, making it the biggest piece of ice to break away from the Arctic icecap since 1962. The scientists said that the freshwater in this ice island could provide all of the United States with enough tap water for 120 days and if it were to remain frozen, ocean currents could deliver the so called ice island to the Atlantic Ocean within the next two years.

8/22/10

MAN FOUND "UNRESPONSIVE" FLOATING NEAR GRAVES LIGHT OUTER BOSTON HARBOR
Last night the Coast Guard searched for a man off of Graves Light outside of Boston Harbor. Coast Guard Sector Boston received a radio call from a 21-foot boat with three people aboard that they were taking on water. Coast Guard Station Point Allerton responded to the call for help and found the boat with two of the three people on board. The two told the Coast Guard that the third person with them jumped overboard to swim toward the Graves Lighthouse. A helicopter crew from Air Station Cape Cod was called to search for the person. A MassPort Fire Department boat and a private tow company boat also assisted in the search. The man was found "unresponsive" floating near Graves Light in outer Boston harbor. He was identified as 47 year old John Burke from Weymouth, Massachusetts.

SEAFOOD BRANDING LAW PASSED IN MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts now has a so-called "seafood branding" law on the books. Marshfield state representative Jim Cantwell said the legislation he sponsored was signed into law this past week. Cantwell said the new law will allow people to select local seafood that is fresher, better, and healthier than fish farmed or caught in other parts of the country. Cantwell said the perfect example of this are the oysters farmed in Duxbury by Island Creek Oysters.

CO-AUTHOR OF MAGNUSON-STEVENS ACT KILLED IN PLANE CRASH
The co-author of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the grand daddy of fishing laws, was killed in a plane crash in Alaska. Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens died when his float plane crashed while on a fishing trip. The retired Senator saw to it that the Magnuson-Stevens Act became the law in 1976. Prior to that, there was no commercial fisheries management plan in place in the United States. This was the second plane crash for the Senator. In the first one, the Senator's wife was killed.

THOUSANDS OF DEAD FISH WASH ASHORE
This past week, reports of fish kills up and down the east coast have been reported with thousands of dead fish washing up on the beaches. It even happened in Massachusetts along the south coast in Fairhaven.   Scientists said the natural combination of an unusual rise in water temperatures and low oxygen levels in the water from Florida to Maine are the probable cause.

DRIVER OF BOAT THAT HIT ROCKS UNDER BRAGA BRIDGE FOUND DEAD
Last week, the Coast Guard received reports of a small 18 foot motorboat on the rocks under the Braga Bridge in Fall River. Only a dog was found safe on board. It was apparent that the boat struck the concrete bridge abutment and the driver of the boat was missing, probably thrown overboard. Rescue boats from Station Castle Hill in Newport Rhode Island and a Jayhawk helicopter searched a five mile square area without success. Then a couple of days later, the Bristol County District Attorney's Office said that 49 year old Stephen McMann of Berkely, Massachusetts was found dead in the water.

ANNUAL BOSTON LIGHT SWIM HAS VERY CLOSE FINISH
The annual Boston Light Swim took place yesterday with approximately 30 participants swimming from Boston Lighthouse to Carson Beach in South Boston. The Boston Light Swim has been a local tradition since 1907. It is the oldest open water swim marathon in the United States of America. Participants begin the race in the water at Boston Light on Little Brewster Island and continue past George's Island and Rainsford Island, under the Long Island Bridge, around Thompson's Island, finishing 8 miles later at the L Street Bathhouse in South Boston. All swimmers were accompanied by a support vessel that protected them from other ships and boats. The 8 mile swim is a non-wet suit event. Many swimmers in the past have used this swim to prepare for an English Channel crossing. This year, the race took 2 hours, 42 minutes, and 15 seconds. Four swimmers were neck and neck for the win - a rarity in long-distance swimming. They finished within seconds of each other. And the winner was: 24 year old Elizabeth Mancuso.

RESCUE SWIMMER DIES AFTER FALLING OFF BOAT
Back in October, 1992, in heavy seas, a Honduran freighter sank 80 miles off the coast of Florida. The Coast Guard helicopters arrived on scene and found survivors floating amid debris and oil in 8 to 10 foot waves. They lowered rescue swimmer Shawn Whaley into the water who swam from one exhausted survivor to the next under his arms saving 13 of the 15 people in the water. His lifesaving effort set the standard for all other rescue swimmers since the start of the rescue swimmer program in 1985, but his skill in the water couldn't save his own life. Shawn Whaley, a 22-year Coast Guard veteran, died last week after falling overboard from a boat. He was 43 years old. His death appears to be the result of drowning. The man who rescued so many others in the water could not be saved.

WORLD CHAMPION DRAG BOAT RACER KILLED
A 55 year old world champion drag boat race driver was killed when his boat flipped on Michigan's Grand River in the middle of a qualifying race. John Haas lost control of his boat going 217 miles per hour. The boat flipped onto its left side, rolled, and broke apart with pieces flying in the air. The boat was equipped with a roll cage like a race car and Haas was also wearing a helmet and safety harness, strapped inside a closed cabin with a 30 minute supply of oxygen. However, none of the safety gear did any good after the boat broke apart.

LARGEST YACHT EVER BUILT IN U.S. IS LAUNCHED IN CONNECTICUT
Derecktor Shipyards in Connecticut just launched the 281 foot long 47 foot wide motor yacht named Cakewalk. It is the largest yacht ever built in the U.S. based on cubic feet. The yacht with six decks took several years and many thousands of skilled labor hours to finish and is scheduled to make her much awaited debut at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show in October. The owner of the yacht is a mystery, but workers at the shipyard did admit that the yacht is privately owned.

SANCTUARY STILL SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary is still seeking applicants for its advisory council. Seats are available for the following categories: conservation, education, mobile gear commercial fishing, whalewatching, and at-large. Applicants are chosen based upon their particular expertise and experience in relation to the seat for which they are applying, and should expect to serve two and three-year terms pursuant to the Council's Charter. Applications are due by September 10th of this year.

PRESIDENT AND DAUGHTER SWIM IN GULF OF MEXICO
And last on today's nautical news, President Obama declared Gulf Coast beaches clean, safe, and open for business as he brought first lady Michelle, daughter Sasha, and the family dog Bo to the Florida Panhandle for a day at the beach. The President said he wanted to set an example for all Americans to follow, that they should come on down to the Gulf of Mexico and that the water is fine. To reinforce that message, Obama and Sasha went for a swim in the Gulf's waters, but Michelle and Bo stayed ashore.

8/29/10

CHARTER BOAT HITS DEVIL'S BACK ROCKS IN OUTER BOSTON HARBOR
A 50 foot wooden cabin cruiser named Wilhelmina out of Weymouth, hit the rocks known as Devil's Back, putting a hole in the boat. Devil's Back is the same rock formation that a whale watching boat with 168 people on board hit last month. This time it was a charter for a bride and groom who invited 16 of their friends along for a pre-bridal party. The boat was listing badly. Coast Guard Stations Boston and Point Allerton, the Winthrop Harbor Master, a Massport Fire boat, as well as private tow boat companies responded to the Wilhelmina. The Massport boat removed 18 of the 20 people on the boat and returned them to Marina Bay in Quincy. The captain and mate stayed behind on the boat. No injuries were reported. Divers were called to make temporary repairs, so that the boat could make it back to the boatyard. 

CAPTAIN SAVES WOMAN CHOKING
And the quick response by the captain and first mate of a Cape Cod charter boat named the R & R saved the life of a Swedish woman who was choking. The woman was part of a wedding celebration that was happening aboard the charterboat. Police and Coast Guard Station Provincetown received a call that one of the passengers aboard the R & R wasn't breathing. When the Coast Guard crew arrived on scene, they saw the captain of the charterboat performing CPR on the woman, and just as the Coast Guard crew prepared to board the boat, the woman coughed up a large piece of lobster and regained consciousness. The woman was taken by the Coast Guard to a waiting ambulance on shore that transported her to the Cape Cod Hospital where she was treated and released.

BOATING FATALITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS HIGHEST IN 13 YEARS
In Massachusetts, as of July 27th this year, the Environmental Police investigated 35 reported accidents, 11 of which were fatalities. Al Johnson, recreation and boating specialist for the First Coast Guard District in Boston said that eleven is the highest number of deaths the area has had at this time in 13 years. Boaters are urged to take a safe boating course offered by the state's Environmental Police, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the Power Squadron.

UNDERWATER OIL PLUMES DISCOVERED IN GULF OF MEXICO
A new study of underwater oil plumes in the Gulf of Mexico by scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution contradicts statements made by BP officials and federal scientists who claimed the oil remaining in the Gulf was rapidly biodegrading. The latest study, published in the journal Science, is the first peer-reviewed scientific study of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and it showed a massive oil plume lying deep in the water column that has persisted for months without substantial biodegradation. These findings directly contradict the now widely discredited NOAA report released in early August that implied dispersed oil would simply vanish from the Gulf. Although oceanographic scientists announced the existence of the plumes as far back as April, NOAA scientists did not confirm their existence until June. During that same period of time, Tony Hayward, then the CEO of BP, continued to deny the existence oil plumes deep in the water column, claiming that all the oil was on the surface. This past Thursday, a senior scientist with NOAA, admitted during a congressional hearing that 90 percent of the oil spilled into the Gulf still remains in the environment and that the Obama administration and BP continue to misrepresent the size of the oil spill.

HINGHAM SELECTMEN DEBATE FUTURE OF LINCOLN MARITIME CENTER
Selectmen in the town of Hingham are debating what to do with the Lincoln Maritime Center, a nonprofit sailing and rowing club that has been operating on town property for 40 years. The club is located by the Hingham Harbor Rotary and pays only $1 a year for rent, but has taught hundreds, if not thousands of kids how to sail. Selectmen said it is unfair for taxpayers to subsidize the program since in the past five years the town has had to lay off five police officers, four firefighters, and 20 to 30 teachers. Options being considered for the maritime center include merging the sailing center into the town's recreation department.

14 YEAR OLD FEMALE SAILOR ATTEMPTING TO BREAK RECORD
It is happening again! This time it is a 14 year old girl who is now trying to become the youngest person to sail alone around the world. Laura Dekker, a 14 year old Dutch sailor departed in secrecy from Portugal on a voyage that is expected to take a year or more. She said goodbye to her father and friends at an undisclosed Portuguese port in order to avoid the media and government authorities who last month took the child away from her father in order to protect her against what they called "child abuse." After she was released back to her father, it was disclosed that she will stop at various ports along the way, and will not spend the entire voyage at sea. It was also disclosed that her father had sold exclusive TV rights to a Holland firm to document the voyage. Remote controlled video cameras were installed on the girl's 38 foot sailboat.

INVASIVE SPECIES OF SHRIMP FOUND IN SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
An invasive species of European shrimp was recently discovered in American waters for the first time, and they are close to home in Salem Harbor. The shrimp is normally found in England and on the Atlantic coast of Africa. Researchers who believe in global warming say the warmer Atlantic temperatures allows for what they refer to as "Caribbean creep," in which warm water species migrate to previously cold water habitats. However, other researchers blame commercial ships that transport their bilge and ballast water from these foreign ports, and then pump that water overboard in U.S. waters.

HAZARD TO NAVIGATION REPORTED IN CAPE COD
The remains of Bronze Monkey, the 44-foot charter boat that caught fire July 30th and sank three miles off of Wychmere Harbor in Harwichport, still lies underwater and is now considered a safety hazard to mariners. Harwichport Harbormaster Tom Leach said he has received multiple reports of burned debris washing ashore. A Coast Guard spokesperson said the owner of the boat has the responsibility to hire a salvage company to remove what is left of the boat including its engines.

PLANS REVEALED FOR FLYING YACHT
Yelken Octuri, a French cabin designer for Airbus, has combined his knowledge of aircraft design with his love for boats to create a futuristic flying sailing yacht. The blueprints for the superyacht with wings were recently exhibited at the Paris Air and Space Museum, and although they are only a design at present, aircraft engineers claim it is a very feasible project. According to the plans, at the push of button the sailboat transforms into a jetplane by lowering its vertical masts and sails into horizontal wings.

BEACHES NEAR OBAMAS' VACATION SITE POLLUTED
And last on today's nautical news, President Obama, who took a plunge in the Gulf last week to show Americans it was safe to swim in the oil spill area, arrived on Martha's Vineyard to hear the beaches near his vacation estate were closed to swimming because of high levels of poop or in scientific terms, a high level of fecal coliform bacteria. However, the first family was able to find a clean beach in Edgartown on the other side of the island to frolic in the water.