Saving Seafood

ALASKA: 5 crew members rescued from fishing vessel that runs aground in Southwest Alaska

November 2, 2026 — A Coast Guard helicopter crew early Thursday rescued five crew members from the 58-foot Oracle, a fishing vessel that ran aground near False Pass in Southwest Alaska.

The crew members, some of whom sustained minor injuries, were taken to a clinic in Cold Bay, according to a statement from the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard received a distress report at 4:48 a.m. Thursday, and by 6:16 a.m., an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew — based in Kodiak and deployed to Cold Bay — was on scene. Coast Guard video shows surf breaking around the Oracle as a crew member is brought up in a rescue basket to the helicopter.

Read the full article at Anchorage Daily News

MASSACHUSETTS: Gloucester remembers the crew of the Andrea Gail, 35 years after they were lost during ‘Perfect Storm’

October 29, 2026 — This week marks 35 years since a Gloucester-based fishing vessel bound for home was lost at sea in a massive tempest that was later dubbed “The Perfect Storm.”

Six fishermen were lost aboard the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing vessel, which had been out on the waters off of Canada, when a massive storm hit New England.

On board at the time were Captain Frank “Billy” Tyne, Robert “Bobby” Shatford, David “Sully” Sullivan, Michael “Bugsy” Moran, Dale “Murph” Murphy, and Alfred Pierre.

David Sullivan’s sister, Catherine Sullivan Mustone, still lives in Gloucester, and told NewsCenter 5 that the loss of her brother is a wound that will never be fully healed.

Read the full article at WCVB

Missing at sea: $5,000 reward offered for research vessel tracking algal bloom in Gulf of Maine

October 26, 2026 — A $5,000 reward is up for grabs in a real-life treasure hunt at sea, but the prize is not buried treasure or a giant fish.

Researchers are searching for a yellow, uncrewed vessel that went adrift while monitoring a harmful algal bloom in the Gulf of Maine.

The SeaTrac research vessel lost communications with its operators on the night of Oct. 12 while holding position about 30 nautical miles southeast of Frenchman Bay, Maine.

Read the full article at Fox Weather

MASSACHUSETTS: Gloucester honors Lily Jean crew at Fisherman’s Memorial

August 13, 2026 — Six months after the F/V Lily Jean sank off Cape Ann, Mass., the Gloucester fishing community gathered Saturday, Aug. 8, to remember the seven people lost aboard the vessel and other mariners who died over the past year.

The annual remembrance at Gloucester’s Fisherman’s Memorial carried particular weight this year following the Jan. 30 sinking of the 72-foot Gloucester-based groundfish trawler Lily Jean about 25 miles off Cape Ann.

All seven people aboard were lost: Capt. Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo, Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short, Sean Therrien and NOAA fisheries observer Jada Samitt.

Family members, state officials and members of the community gathered Saturday at the memorial, where generations of Gloucester fishermen lost at sea are remembered.

“It feels like every time they do something like this, you relive it, that day in January,” Tiffany Leigh, girlfriend of Short, told WCVB.

State Sen. Bruce Tarr also spoke about how deeply the loss has affected a community accustomed to the dangers of working at sea.

Read the full article at National Fisherman

MASSACHUSETTS: Navy says it can’t help recover wreckage of Gloucester fishing boat Lily Jean

August 6, 2026  — In a letter to Gov. Maura Healey, the US Navy said it will not be able to help with the recovery of data and remains from the wreckage of the Gloucester-based fishing vessel Lily Jean, which sank off the coast of Cape Ann in January, with seven people aboard.

“We are deeply sympathetic toward the families affected by this tragedy,” read the letter dated July 27, which was received by the governor Wednesday. “However, the U.S. Navy is unable to fulfill your request for salvage and recovery.”

The response comes months after Gov. Healey wrote to the US Navy asking for assistance in investigating.

According to the Boston Globe, Healey wrote to the Navy in May that the boat had a hard drive and video recorder that the manufacturer believes might have information if recovered.

The US Navy, in its letter from Acting United States Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, said that it remains in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard, which is leading the investigation into the sinking, alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.

The letter said, “It is our understanding both the USCG and the NTSB have the requisite information to conclude the investigation.” It is unclear if the two organizations found any evidence of what caused the sinking.

Read the full article at Boston.com

MASSACHUSETTS: ‘Call from God’: New Bedford man recounts saving overboard fisherman

July 23, 2026 — A fisherman spent hours stranded in the water after falling overboard, until a New Bedford fishing crew rushed to his aid.

Joao Dasilva told 12 News that it was a normal day for him and the rest of the crew on the Seel Jr. as they were nearing the end of a nine-day trip.

They heard a call for help about a man overboard and didn’t hesitate to step in.

“So, we haul back … and once we got there, Sammy’s like, ‘go out on the bow and see if you can see anything,’” Dasilva recalled.

Read the full article at WPRI