2010 Nautical News Archive
1/10/10
A) For the first time in Boston Harbor, next month tankers from Yemen, home to some al-Qaida, are scheduled to arrive with shipments of liquified natural gas. The Mayor of Boston does not want the tankers to enter Boston Harbor. Instead he wants the tankers to unload the gas offshore. Coast Guard officials in Boston say they have not decided yet what to do. House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, whose hometown is Winthrop, called the imminent arrival of ships from Yemen "a matter of grave concern for all Boston Harbor communities."
B) Minnesota and Ohio have now joined Michigan in a lawsuit against Illinois to keep the alien species of Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes through a historic Chicago canal and lock. The waterway was built in the 1920s to provide a shipping route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The local shipping industry has argued that closing the canal locks will cause the shipping industry great financial harm whereas the Great Lakes fishing industry claims their industry will harmed if the locks are not permanently closed. The lawsuit is on the high court's agenda for January 8th.
C) A deckhand working on a tugboat was crushed to death while towing another vessel on the Hackensack River near Secaucus, New Jersey. Ricardo Young, 50, of Queens, New York was killed after he became entangled in the towlines being used in the tow.
D) Fishermen claim that not many younger guys are working New England waters these days. Fishermen say that because of years of onerous regulations that have reduced the number of days at sea that they are allowed to work to 24, and the rising cost of permits, fewer and fewer young people are becoming fishing boat captains. According to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, since the year 2000, the median age of Massachusetts holders of commercial fishing permits has climbed from 46 to nearly 51 years old. Fishermen say it won't be long before only large corporate owned trawlers do the fishing as the older generation retires.
E) The captain of the Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas cruise ship called the Coast Guard after a passenger reported his wife missing. A review of the security cameras showed the 23 year old woman jumped overboard from the 12th deck shortly before dawn wearing a tank top and white skirt. Although the water was warm and weather favorable when she disappeared, the Coast Guard has now stopped looking for her, saying there's no longer a reasonable expectation that she would be found alive. The ship left Port Canaveral, Florida before New Year's for a five-day cruise through the Bahamas.
F) The Coast Guard Academy is opening its gates to the public for several events in 2010 as they celebrate 100 years in New London, Connecticut. The academy moved to its present location on the Thames River in 1932, but the school originally came to New London in 1910 after the War Department turned over historic Fort Trumbull to the Revenue Cutter Service, the predecessor to the Coast Guard.
G) China, the world's leading producer of farm raised fish is predicting an increase in their exports of seafood in 2010. However, as a result of the global economic slowdown, the value of China's seafood exports is expected to decline for the first time in five years. Japan is China's number one customer, followed by the United States, South Korea, Germany, and Russia. By the way, carp is China's most popular farmed fish, but folks in the United States want more tilapia and catfish.
H) And last on today's nautical news, in Braintree, on the Fore River, a steward at a yacht club is being hailed a hero after saving the lives of two dogs that fell through the ice on the river. While shoveling snow off the docks, the steward told Nautical Talk Radio that he saw a dog struggling to stay above the surface of the river. Waving his arms and calling for the dog to come closer, the steward was able to grab the dog's collar and hoist him on to the dock. Reading the tags on the dog's collar, the steward called the family to tell them he had found their dog. The family was thrilled at first, but then asked if their other dog was with him. They said their son accidentally let both of their dogs loose, so the steward, who wishes to remain anonymous, went back on the docks, calling the other dog by name. Miraculously, he spotted a nose and a pair of eyes sticking up above the surface and then going under. The dog was struggling to get close to him, and finally got close enough so that the steward was able to pluck the dog out of the water, but the dog collapsed on the dock and couldn't stop shaking. The steward, using all his strength, carried the 90 - 100 pound dog back to the warm clubhouse and again called the family. The family rushed the dog to the vet who treated it for severe hypothermia. At last report, the dog had made a full recovery, and they wrote a letter to the local newspaper calling the yacht club's steward their Christmas Angel.
1/10/10
A) A Beverly Hills, California investment group called Platinum Equity, with more than $27 billion in annual revenue, bought most of bankrupt Genmar Holdings' boat companies barring any objections from the bankruptcy court. It is expected papers will pass on January 20th. Among the boat companies Platinum purchased were Ranger Boats, Glastron, Lund, Wellcraft, Champion, Stratos, and Four Winns. Irwin Jacobs, the former Genmar CEO, bought control of Carver and Marquis. It was speculated that he and a partner would try to buy back Larson and Seaswirl as well. Meanwhile, Hydra-Sports was sold to a third bidder.
B) This Thursday, January 14th at 11 am, there will be a public hearing at the Massachusetts State House in Room 2A, to ban all commercial fishing for Striped Bass in Massachusetts waters. The hearing will also focus on creating a slot limit that would allow the taking juvenile fish as well as trophy fish. The members of the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association have unanimously voted to oppose this bill. At this time, the MSBA urges all fishermen to attend this hearing.
C) The New England Fishery Management Council voted not to reconsider the new restrictions that they have imposed on scallopers, despite protests from fishermen and public officials. The new regs reduce the number of fishing days from 37 to 29. Fishermen claim the cuts will cost each scallop boat up to $300,000. A thousand people signed a petition agreeing with the fishermen, and 17 Congressmen called for the Council to reconsider.
D) Rhode Island legislators voted to override the governor's veto to create the Ocean State's first recreational saltwater fishing license. The license, which will cost $7 for state residents, will be required for those fishing recreationally in the coastal waters of Rhode Island. Lawmakers said they overrode the Governor's veto because the federal recreational fishing license annual fee would have cost more than three times the state's fee. In his veto message, the governor stated that fishing was a birthright for all Rhode Islanders, and that people who occasionally go fishing should not be subject to a fee.
E) The United States Navy has selected Boston as the host city for its 2010 Navy Week Celebration which will be held from June 30th through July 7. 2010 Navy Week will be in conjunction with Boston's Harborfest Week and 4th of July celebration. The purpose of Navy Week is to allow area residents to become up close and personal with some of the U.S. Navy's most modern ships and allow the public an opportunity to meet some of the Navy's sailors including those on the Leap Frogs Parachute Team, the Navy's Band, and the Navy's divers. Also on exhibit will be submarines, aircraft, and aircraft flight simulators. So far, Boston's Mayor has not said a word about who will pay for security and clean up as he did during the most recent tall ship visit.
F) The Cape Cod Times newspaper reports that Pilgrim Monument officials in Provincetown have invited President Obama to come to the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the monument on August 5th. The 252 foot tall granite monument was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims in America in Provincetown on November 21, 1620. The 100 or so Pilgrims spent five weeks in the harbor on the Mayflower before sailing on to Plymouth. While anchored in Provincetown Harbor, the Pilgrims signed the Mayflower Compact, considered one of the foundations of the U.S. constitution. The 252-foot granite monument cost about $90,000 to build and so far has brought two presidents to Provincetown. In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt arrived by presidential yacht for the laying of the monument's first cornerstone and in 1910, President Taft attended the dedication ceremony for the monument.
G) Recreational boating and paddling fatalities on waters of the Northeast's First Coast Guard District have decreased for the second year in a row. The First Coast Guard District recorded a total of 50 boating deaths for the year in 2009 - 25 of them in motorized boats and 25 of them in boats without motors. Most of the power boats were less than 21 feet in length and some of them were jetskis. The 50 boating deaths in 2009 compare to 55 fatalities in 2008 and 58 fatalities in 2007. The Coast Guard said capsizing or falling overboard while not wearing a life jacket seemed to be the main factor in most of the fatalities.
H) Fifty-nine year old Marshfield resident Leo Rosette is again trying to row across the Atlantic Ocean. If he succeeds he would be the oldest American to accomplish such a feat. Last year he had to quit after 3 days because of excruciating stomach pain. Rosette is rowing his specially built 24 foot boat named Halcyon from the Canary Islands 3,132 nautical miles across the Atlantic to Antigua. His boat offers enough space to lie down and stand up and has a toilet, navigation equipment, 100-day supply of dehydrated food, and a desalinator to make fresh water. Unlike last year when he tried to do it alone, this year he is among 31 other boats competing in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2009. Listeners can monitor Leo Rosette's progress by going to www.atlanticrowingrace09.com.
I) A crab fisherman who appeared on the TV reality show The Deadliest Catch was arrested and charged with committing 2 bank robberies in 2009 and a bank robbery in 2007 according to the Associated Press. The fisherman charged is a 23 year old, greenhorn deckhand who worked on the Wizard crab boat. He was arrested after a vehicle he was riding in was pulled over for a routine traffic stop. The detective investigating the case told reporters what an incredibly stupid thing it was for this man to go on national TV show and then rob two banks. The detective quipped, "He should be on the Dumbest Criminal show."
J) And here is news about another popular TV reality show called Whale Wars. The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's anti-whaling interceptor boat, the Ady Gil, sank in the icy waters off Antarctica after it was rammed on purpose by a 1,000-ton Japanese whaling vessel. Video tape of the incident shows the Japanese whaling boat suddenly changing course to ram the Sea Shepherd's boat. The sleek, carbon-fiber speedboat, the newest addition to the Sea Shepherd fleet, was donated to the Sea Shepherd Society, after it set the world's speed record for circumnavigating the world using only biofuel. The Ady Gil's six crew members were rescued after the collision by the crew of the Bob Barker, another one of the boats in the Sea Shepherd's fleet. Meanwhile, the Japanese boat steamed away without offering any assistance, and at last report, the Sea Shepherds have filed a "piracy lawsuit" against the Japanese whalers.
K) And last on today's nautical news, a 513 pound bluefin tuna fish caught off the coast of northern Japan sold at a Japan fish auction house for $177,000. This was the highest price paid for a tuna since 2001 when a 440-pound tuna sold for the record amount of $220,000. The fish was bought and shared by the owners of two Japanese sushi restaurants. Japan is the world's biggest consumer of seafood with Japanese eating 80 percent of the Atlantic and Pacific bluefins caught. Bluefins are the most sought after by sushi lovers.
1/17/10
A) The Coast Guard says it has evacuated nearly 250 U.S. citizens from Haiti while Coast Guard cutters are offloading relief and medical supplies, sending support personnel ashore to provide humanitarian assistance. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft said the big problem with deliveries by plane is that the airport has only one runway that can be used. However, barges with a 6 month supply of food for two million people are now entering the port.
B) A decision on the deliveries of liquified natural gas into Boston harbor from tankers leaving from Yemen could come soon. Meetings are being held between the Coast Guard, federal, state, and city of Boston officials, but the Coast Guard will make the final determination. Shipments of liquefied natural gas from Yemen into Boston Harbor are expected to start next month. US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has spoken with both Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and told them she is also reviewing all plans personally. Even Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray expressed her opinion saying that if the LNG tankers were arriving in her district she would be out there fighting for a safer place and not allow them to enter a highly populated area.
C) Both recreational and commercial striped bass fishermen filled a large hearing room at the State House this week. Most of them were opposed to state eliminating the commercial striped bass fishery. House Bill 796, proposed by Representative Matt Patrick of Falmouth would abolish all commercial fishing of striped bass in Massachusetts' waters. The bill is now currently under review by the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture and a decision is pending.
D) The bankruptcy court approved the sale for all of Genmar Holdings' boat companies. Platinum Equity, out of California, purchased the majority of Genmar Holdings' boat companies which included such well known brands as Larson, Wellcraft, Seaswirl, and Glastron. Genmar's Hydra Sports Boats was sold separately to the same group that owns Master Craft Boats. Genmar's former CEO, Irwin Jacobs, along with his new billionaire business partner, formed J & D Acquisitions, and they purchased Carver and Marquis Yachts. Bankruptcy records revealed that the total of the three bids offered will not pay the secured creditors in full, so therefore the estimated 4000 unsecured creditors, owed more than $100 million, will receive nothing, zilch, nada.s assets.
E) Cape Cod Maritime Academy's annual sea term cruise in now underway. The academy's president said 599 cadets are aboard the training ship Kennedy. That's the largest number of cadets ever to make the annual cruise. Also on board are 99 officers and crew. The ship will be at sea for 43 days, cruising 7,000 miles, with stops at ports in Curacao, Tortola, and Miami. And while that sounds like a great vacation, it's anything but for the cadets. They will spend time in classrooms, do hands-on training, and even take their final exams at sea.
F) Officials from Illinois say they want to settle the Asian carp lawsuit before it goes to the Supreme Court this week. Michigan, Minnesota, and Canada want Michigan to permanently close the Chicago Canal and Locks to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Scientists claim the carp will become the dominant fish in the Great Lakes, killing their sportfishing industry. Illinois claims closing the canal and locks would cause economic hardship for the shipping industry as well as flood thousands of homes. Instead they suggest why not let the fishermen catch the carp and let people eat them.
G) Did the Town of Hingham buy the buildings on the harbor and knock them all down so that the town could own a nice waterfront restaurant and marina? The answer to that question might be known at the Town Meeting January 20th. Some folks say open space and parks are nice, but expensive to maintain and don't produce any tax dollars. They believe a nice restaurant and marina would bring more business to the other local shops and be a lot better to Hingham taxpayers than a year after year override.
H) And last on today's nautical news, authorities are having a hard time keeping the pipe that supplies water to Boston's George's Island submerged. Several times the plastic pipe that runs between the town of Hull and George's Island has floated to the surface and then run over and broken by a tanker entering the harbor. State police boats with flashing blue lights have been stationed around the broken pipe to prevent further damage. One local official remarked that you would think the engineer who designed the system would have realized that the plastic pipe would float.
1/24/10
A) A report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Inspector General on how the nation's fisheries have been policed revealed that fishermen in the Northeast were given double the fines of other regions. The Inspector General urged reforms to make the penalty process appear "less arbitrary and unfair." Commercial fishermen in New England have claimed for years that regulators and enforcement officials have been abusing them. Fishermen said that the fines imposed amounted to a "bounty on their heads" because NOAA got to keep the money. The Inspector General's report also questioned why there were so many criminal investigators on a law enforcement staff that deals mainly with misdemeanor infractions. Massachusetts state Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante said the first step that should be taken is to change the mentality of the regulators so that they see the fishermen as small businessmen and not as criminals. Both state and federal legislators were shocked by what the report revealed and want immediate changes made.
B) The crew of a Hingham to Boston commuter boat Aurora called the Coast Guard reporting that a fire broke out aboard their vessel in the engine compartment and was quickly extinguished by the boat's built in CO2 fire fighting system. At the time, the boat was near Spectacle Island and had no passengers on board. The Coast Guard said the five crew members aboard took quick action and made it safely ashore on the island. The Coast Guard will continue to monitor the situation to ensure repairs are made before the vessel returns to service.
C) The Coast Guard issued a warning to all duck and goose hunters on the inland and coastal waters of the Northeast's First Coast Guard District. Nationwide, in the past month the Coast Guard has rescued close to 20 hunters and there have been 5 fatalities resulting from capsizing or falling overboard. Al Johnson, the recreational boating specialist with the First Coast Guard District in Boston, said that here in the Northeast there have been seven duck hunters who have capsized. Fortunately they all survived. Hunters need to know, if you're on the water, it is essential to wear life guard and be prepared for falling into the cold water.
D) Weymouth Harbormaster Paul Milone notified Braintree officials that a tugboat named Jenkins had sunk on the Braintree side of the former Quincy shipyard and may have caused fuel oil to spill into the Fore River. Braintree and Weymouth fire departments responded to the scene along with the Department of Environmental Protection and Coast Guard and reported an oil slick extending from the former shipyard. Officials are looking into how the tugboat sank and at last report, the boat was re-floated and hauled out of the water.
E) In the business world of boating, Irwin Jacobs, the former CEO of Genmar, announced that his new corporation, J&D, has agreed to buy back some of his former boat companies that were sold at a bankruptcy auction. The boat companies purchased are Larson, Seaswirl, Triumph, and FinCraft boats. These companies will be in addition to Carver and Marquis Yachts which he purchased the day of the auction.
F) While in New York at the boat show, I learned some sad news. The man who will always be remembered as a legend in the Montauk charterboat fishing industry, and as one of the last of the "old-timers" who helped make Montauk one of the world's famous fishing capitals that it is today, Carl Darenberg Jr. passed away at the age of 84. Captain Carl was one of the owners of the Montauk Marine Basin and one of the first to sponsor a Long Island shark tournament 40 years ago.
G) An 800 foot long oil tanker collided with a tug boat causing an estimated 450,000 gallons of crude oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico. The accident happened in Port Arthur, Texas, which is about 90 miles away from Houston. No injuries were reported by either captain. The Coast Guard is investigating how the accident happened and said the oil spill was "pretty much contained" to a 2-mile stretch of the waterway.
H) A new medical study has shown that patients in the ICU who received intravenous fish oil had shorter hospital stays compared to those given standard treatment. The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil allowed the patients to get better faster and go home sooner. Heart disease patients have long been encouraged to eat more fish or take fish oil supplements containing omega 3 fatty acids. In a related story, the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that omega-3 fatty acids slow down the body's biological aging process.
I) And last on today's nautical news, it was reported by the Boston Herald that Harpoon Brewery of Boston and Island Creek Oysters of Duxbury will be teaming up to make a beer called Island Creek Oyster Stout. A spokesperson for the brewery said there will not be an intense oyster flavor in the beer. The oysters will be poached in the heat of the liquid during the brewing process and disintegrated. The Island Creek Oyster Stout will be on the shelves of stores and restaurants in a couple of weeks.
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Top Nautical Talk Stories of 2008
LOCAL - NEW ENGLAND
1) Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the Oceans Act of 2008, making Massachusetts the first in the nation create zoning laws for its coastal waters. A 17 member ocean advisory commission and an ocean science advisory council will help create the zones.
2) For the first time in history, recreational fishermen in New England will need a saltwater fishing license. National Marine Fisheries officials said the license is necessary to improve the collection of fishing data from the 2.5 million recreational fishermen.
3) NOAA released a comprehensive draft management plan and environmental assessment for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary for public review and comment. The new draft plan is a major revision to the sanctuary's original management plan that was published in 1993. The new management plan focuses on what environmentalists consider key issues affecting the sanctuary such as commercial fishing, large vessel traffic, threats to marine mammals, water quality, and invasive species.
4) Local commercial fishermen received $1.3 million in federal aid. The federal aid package was passed by Congress after the Bush administration denied Massachusetts' request to declare the state's fishing industry an economic disaster because of the new stricter fishing regulations
5) Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law the "abandoned vessel legislation." The new law makes it easier for Massachusetts boat storage yards to seize, auction, or otherwise dispose of boats left behind by deadbeat boat owners.
6) Island Creek Oysters was the overall winner of the Invitational Oyster Tasting Event in Providence, topping a field of 19 "Eastern oyster" varieties. The victory gives the company the right to boast that they have the best oysters in America.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
1) Biggest news of the year is the economy. New boat sales dropped, manufacturers closed their factories and laid off 1000s of workers. Boats were repossessed. Prices for lobsters also dropped due to lower consumer confidence. Seafood dealers said the credit crisis forced major seafood processors to go out of business. The only good news is the drop in the price of gas.
2) Dozens of ships hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The super tanker Sirius Star, the biggest ship ever hijacked, was seized. The tanker was fully loaded with 2 million barrels of oil, worth around $100 million. Its crew of 25 is still being held as hostages by the pirates.
3) The Alaska Ranger, a Seattle based factory ship working in Alaska with a crew of 46 on board, sank. Five men including the captain, a former Weymouth, Massachusetts resident, were killed. The captain was said to be the bravest of them all, helping everybody else off the ship, while constantly using the marine radio on the ship, calling for help.
4) With just 39 days left in office, President Bush weakened the Endangered Species Act by no longer requiring Fish and Wildlife Service scientists to review federally approved logging, mining, and road-building projects. Now those reviews will be conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers or the Federal Highway Administration. Environmentalists and congressional Democrats say these agencies usually want the projects moved along despite concerns about endangered species.
5) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the U.S. Navy instead of the whales and dolphins. In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that U.S. national security interests trumped the lives of marine mammals and that the Navy could continue with their use of SONAR. Environmentalists from the group known as the Environmental Defense Fund claimed that the Navy's use of sonar hurt and/or killed the whales and dolphins.
6) The Senator whose name is half of the nation's fisheries management act, Senator Ted Stevens from Alaska, was convicted in a federal court on charges of corruption. Stevens is the co-author of the Magnuson-Stevens act. The 84 year old senator didn't disclose more than $250,000 worth of gifts and services he received from an Alaskan oil services corporation.
7) Fish fraud is on the increase in the United States. The substitution of one type of fish for another, the mislabeling of a fish calling it wild when it's farm raised, and falsifying the weight of the fish are all examples of fish fraud.
8) "Semi-submersibles" with the same characteristics as military submarines, are the latest tools for smugglers. This past year, the Coast Guard encountered at least 27 semi-submersibles, some as long as 80 feet, carrying drugs headed toward United States. Far more are believed to have gone undetected.
9) The Miami charter boat named Joe Cool. Two men chartered the boat for a day of fishing, and when aboard the boat, ordered the captain to take them to Cuba. The captain refused, so the two shot him, and then killed the other three crewmembers. Both were arrested and convicted of murder, but one of them had his conviction overturned and is now awaiting a new trial.
10) A Houston man became the 15th diver to die exploring the wreck of the ocean liner Andrea Doria. Terry DeWolf, 38 years old, who paid a New Jersey dive boat to take him to the wreck, failed to surface. He was eventually found on the bottom near the wreck by other divers aboard the dive boat named John Jack. The Andrea Doria lies on its side in 250 feet of water 40 miles south of Nantucket. The wreck is considered the Mount Everest for advanced shipwreck divers.
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.
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