Saving Seafood

Bad hull, flooding led to fatal sinking of Orin C

February 24, 2017 — The deadly sinking of the Gloucester-ported Orin C nearly 15 months ago probably was caused by structural problems with the vessel’s wooden hull and subsequent flooding, according to reports from the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard released Thursday.

The two reports detailed the marine tragedy that resulted in the drowning of 47-year-old Capt. David C. “Heavy D” Sutherland during the final stages of the Coast Guard’s rescue that saved crewmembers Rick Palmer and Travis Lane on the night of Dec. 3, 2015.

Neither Palmer nor Lane could be reached Thursday for comment.

The Coast Guard report did not recommend any changes to its training, rescue procedures or the equipping of its rescue vessels. That, however, does not mean it won’t make changes in the future, according to District 1 Deputy Commander Brad Kelly.

“That is something the Coast Guard is always looking at in trying to determine what should be included into all of our rescue platforms,” Kelly said. “That is an ongoing process.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Fishing center hosts hands-on activities

February 23, 2017 — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will offer free, hands-on activities during February vacation, Feb. 23 to 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities will include knot-tying, scallop-shell decorating and a scavenger hunt.

Visitors of all ages can try their hands at knot-tying, a skill needed by all who make their living on the water. Budding artists can decorate a scallop shell in the make-and-take craft area while learning more about scallops. A scavenger hunt will provide an opportunity for all to learn more about the commercial fishing industry while exploring the center’s exhibits.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Island fishermen implore state to protect squid

February 23, 2017 — For the past couple of years, Nantucket fishermen have had a hard time finding striped bass in the rips and alongshore where they were accustomed to catching them.

They think they know why: no squid.

“This was where all the bass were caught. Now, no bait, no fish, no stripers to speak of,” said Pete Kaizer, a charter boat captain and commercial tuna fisherman.

Kaizer and other Nantucket fishermen petitioned the state Division of Marine Fisheries to prohibit fish draggers and scallopers that tow nets or large metal dredges along the ocean bottom from state waters, up to 3 miles out from shore all around the island. The ban would run from May 1 to Oct. 31 with the idea of protecting spawning longfin squid.

Kaizer said squid boats target the squid when they spawn because they come together in large schools and are easier to catch. Following mating, female squid drop to the bottom and put down a sticky substance that adheres to the sandy bottom, rocks or vegetation. They then deposit tubelike sacks containing over 100 embryos apiece, that stick to that patch and can resemble an underwater chrysanthemum, but are prosaically known as “squid mops.”

Nets or dredges towed across the bottom can dislodge these mops or even bring them up to the surface along with fish or squid. There is some debate about whether any young can survive this, but some lab studies have shown that older embryos hatch prematurely when the mop is dislodged from its adhesive anchor and tend to die, said Lisa Hendrickson, a fishery biologist specializing in squid with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Times

As seas rise, city mulls a massive sea barrier across Boston Harbor

February 21, 2017 — It would be a massive, highly controversial wall sure to cost billions of dollars. But this barrier would be much closer to home — and potentially more expensive — than the one President Trump has proposed along the Mexican border.

As rising sea levels pose a growing threat to Boston’s future, city officials are exploring the feasibility of building a vast sea barrier from Hull to Deer Island, forming a protective arc around Boston Harbor.

The idea, raised in a recent city report on the local risks of climate change, sounds like a pipe dream, a project that could rival the Big Dig in complexity and cost. It’s just one of several options, but the sea wall proposal is now under serious study by a team of some of the region’s top scientists and engineers, who recently received a major grant to pursue their research.

With forecasts indicating that Boston could experience routine flooding in the coming decades, threatening some 90,000 residents and $80 billion worth of real estate, city officials say it would be foolish not to consider aggressive action, no matter how daunting.

Read the full story at the Boston Globe

$3M to ‘enhance’ marine research

February 17, 2017 — Gov. Charlie Baker traveled to Gloucester on Thursday to bestow nearly $3 million in Massachusetts Life Sciences Center state grants to the Gloucester Genomics Institute and four North Shore schools — including two in Gloucester.

Moments into his remarks, while discussing the $109,154 going to Gloucester High School and the $56,933 headed to the O’Maley Innovation Middle School, Baker hit a particularly dense passage about “providing the O’Maley students the unique opportunity to study disease processes through aquaponic systems.”

The governor leaned his towering frame toward the audience.

“Now I have absolutely no idea what that means,” he said to great laughter from the approximately 70 people gathered in the GMGI conference room. “But it sounds wicked good.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Chatham Dogfish Goes To College

February 16, 2017 — Dogs are going to college and it’s not a case of affirmative action run amok. The Cape Cod Commercial Fisherman’s Alliance is spearheading a new program to get dogfish into university dining halls.

A new “from boat to campus” version of a fish-to-table program is putting the fish on the tables of some of America’s leading universities including Yale, UMass, and Ohio State.

UMass has already ordered thousands of pounds for this academic year, and Yale plans to feature spiny dogs for their next Thanksgiving feast.

Christopher Howland is director of purchasing for UMass. He says, “Supporting local and regional farmers and fishing communities is extremely important to our team at UMass Dining. We’re very excited to be able to feature local and sustainable dogfish on the menu. Our talented chefs have been able to develop creative recipes that our students love.”

Read the full story at The Cape Cod Chronicle

MASSACHUSETTS: Fishing Heritage Center hosting Scanning Day

February 15, 2017 — The following has been released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will offer free, hands-on activities during February vacation, February 23rd to 26th, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Activities will include knot tying, scallop shell decorating, and a scavenger hunt.

Visitors of all ages can try their hand at knot tying, a skill needed by all who make their living on the water.   Budding artists can decorate a scallop shell in the make and take craft area while learning more about scallops.  A scavenger hunt will provide an opportunity for all to learn more about the commercial fishing industry while exploring the Center’s exhibits.

In addition to the vacation week activities, visitors are invited to try on foul weather gear; explore the wheelhouse; and race the clock while donning a survival suit.  The Working Waterfront Photography of Peter Pereira will be on exhibit in the Center Gallery.

Admission to the Center is free.  The Center is located at 38 Bethel Street with free parking in the adjacent lot.   Open Thursday – Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and by appointment.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through archives, exhibits, and programs. For more information please contact the Center at info@fishingheritagecenter.org or call (508) 993-8894.

Fishing regulators look to reduce tangled turtles

February 15, 2017 — By Aug. 1, Chatham fisherman Jamie Eldredge has pulled the 200 conch pots he has in Nantucket Sound.

He has made the summer switch to fishing for dogfish in the Atlantic Ocean.

In doing so, Eldredge has avoided what has become a major headache for conch fishermen — large leatherback turtles that get tangled up in conch and lobster lines while pursuing jellyfish. In Nantucket Sound, a significant number of those turtles die, three times more than anywhere else in Massachusetts, and state fishery scientists are worried they may be targeted by a lawsuit charging they are not doing enough to protect an endangered species. In a series of public hearings held in coastal and island communities this month, they asked conch fishermen for ideas on how to deal with the problem.

State Division of Marine Fisheries officials think they know the answer: pull all conch pots in August.

“There’s something about that overlap of animals at that time of year, and what’s happening in the fishery, that’s very deadly for them (leatherbacks),” said Erin Burke, a Division of Marine Fisheries aquatic biologist specializing in endangered species.

Read the full story at The New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Working Waterfront Festival Returns September 23, 2017

February 13, 2017 — New Bedford, MA – The following was released by the Working Waterfront Festival:

The Working Waterfront Festival returns to the working piers of New Bedford, the nation’s most valuable fishing port, on Saturday, September 23, 2017.  This free, family friendly event celebrates the history and culture of New England’s commercial fishing industry in a way that is authentic, hands-on, and educational.  The flagship event is back with a new co-producer, a new format, and a new festival director.

This year, the Festival is partnering with the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Located in the heart of the City’s historic downtown, the Fishing Heritage Center opened its’ doors last June.  Its mission is to tell the story of the fishing industry past, present, and future, through exhibits, programs, and archives.  This partnership is a natural fit for two organizations dedicated to celebrating the commercial fishing industry.

The 2017 Festival will be presented in two locations: on Steamship Pier and at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.  These two sites will be linked by a free shuttle bus, allowing visitors to enjoy all the Festival has to offer. 

Steamship Pier will host the Contest Stage; demonstrations of industry skills and fisheries science; dockside vessel tours; kids’ activities; a tug boat muster, whaleboat races; corporate and non- profit exhibitors; maritime artisans; and a Food Court featuring fresh, local seafood and cooking demonstrations. The Fishing Heritage Center will host performances of music and fisherpoetry; author readings and signings; kids activities; and the exhibit – Nautical Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them. Visitors will also be able to visit the Center’s gift shop and main exhibit ­­­­From Boat to Table, featuring a full-sized wheelhouse and a variety of hands-on activity stations.

In addition, the Festival is pleased to announce long time Development and Exhibits Manager, Jessica Bailey, has been named Festival Director. Ms. Bailey brings a wealth of knowledge about the industry as well as significant experience in event production.  Founding Director, Laura Orleans, will continue to be involved as Director Emeritus during this transition year, focusing on Festival programming.

To learn more or become a sponsor, visit www.WorkingWaterfrontFestival.org or like us on Facebook.

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The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA,  a non-profit organization, and is co-produced by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Navigate to us at www.WorkingWaterfrontFestival.org.

MASSACHUSETTS: Regulators: Loophole in striped bass fishery needs closing

February 9, 2017 — Massachusetts fisheries officials want to to close a loophole in state regulations that resulted in what they believe were illegal landings of striped bass last year.

At a public hearing at Massachusetts Maritime Academy Wednesday night, Division of Marine Fisheries Deputy Director Dan McKiernan said the state is looking to reduce the number of striped bass that commercial fishermen could land from 15 down to two, if they’re fishing from shore.

“What happened last year was disgusting,” said Patrick Paquette of the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association, which is composed of both commercial and recreational fishermen. “There was a rampant black market at the (Cape Cod) canal. Plenty of guys were taking fish from friends, putting them in coolers, and selling them under their boat permit.”

Under state striped bass fishing regulations, a commercial fisherman can buy a boat permit that allows him or her to catch and sell up to 15 fish a day. There is also a less expensive individual permit under which he or she can land two fish a day from shore. The state limited commercial fishing to two days a week. In bad weather, some fishermen with boat permits fished from shore, and could technically land their 15 fish.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Times