Saving Seafood

People from Maine to Alaska raise thousands for families of fishermen lost at sea

December 4, 2020 — More than $100,000 has been raised to support the families of four Maine fishermen who were lost at sea last week.

The Coast Guard suspended its search off the coast of Provincetown, Mass. last Tuesday night.

Jeff Matthews, Ethan Ward, Mikey Porper, and Bobby Blethen were all on board, according to officials.

A GoFundMe page set up by the family that owned the vessel has raised upwards of $110,000.

“We have set up this page to support the families of the F/V EmmyRose and to ease their financial burden,” Rosalee Varian, whose father owns the boat, wrote on the page. “These four families lost a husband, a father, a son, a grandson, a brother, and a nephew right before the holidays. These families need all the love and support that our community can give.”

Read the full story at News Center Maine

Maine Fishing Community Mourns Loss of 4 Fishermen at Sea

November 25, 2020 — Maine‘s commercial fishing community is mourning the loss of four fishermen who went missing when an 82-foot (25-meter) fishing vessel sank off Provincetown, Massachusetts.

The Coast Guard said Tuesday it called off the search for the crew of the Portland-based Emmy Rose that sank early Monday morning while en route to Gloucester, Massachusetts. The four men aboard were all Maine fishermen, authorities said.

The Sustainable Harvest Sector, a group of 100 fishing vessel owners and operators, identified the crew members as Robert Blethen; Jeff Matthews; Michael Porper and Ethan Ward. Members of the fishing community contributed to a GoFundMe for the men’s families that had attracted dozen of donations by Wednesday afternoon.

The fishermen were harvesting groundfish such as haddock. The cause of the vessel’s sinking remains undetermined.

“My heart goes out to the family and community of the fishermen aboard the F/V Emmy Rose,” said Maine Rep. Genevieve McDonald, who is a lobster boat captain.

The Sustainable Harvest Sector said in a statement that it would release information about memorial services for the fishermen when they are available.

Read the full story at U.S. News