February 20, 2026 — A woman who died in the sinking of the “Lily Jean” was remembered as “a spirited young woman” in her obituary.
Jada Mairin Samitt, 22, was a federal fisheries observer and one of seven crew members aboard the Lily Jean, a 72-foot fishing boat that sank off the coast of Gloucester on Jan. 30. There were no survivors.
February 19, 2026 — Lawyers for the Trump administration are challenging — in a Massachusetts court — a federal judge’s December ruling that struck down a freeze on all permitting for wind energy projects nationwide.
Issued in January 2025, the original presidential order temporarily halted all federal permitting while agencies reviewed wind energy leasing and permitting practices, according to court documents.
The December ruling overturning the order came after a coalition of 17 states — including Massachusetts — successfully argued that the administration’s permit pause violated federal law. U.S. District Court Judge Patti Saris ruled that the policy was “arbitrary and capricious.”
February 19, 2026 — A coalition of authorities is deploying technology to try to locate the wreck of a fishing boat that sank last month off Massachusetts, killing all seven aboard. But winter weather and sea conditions have thus far slowed their efforts.
The 72-foot (22-meter) vessel Lily Jean was returning to port early Jan. 30 to repair fishing gear when it sank in frigid Atlantic waters off the historic fishing port of Gloucester. Multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Massachusetts Environmental Police, are cooperating to try to find the wreck of the ship and potentially recover the bodies of the deceased, officials said Wednesday.
The Lily Jean sank in waters that were more than 300 feet deep and very inhospitable in winter. Environmental police have deployed side-scan sonar to try to gather data and detect anomalies on the ocean floor, officials said. They said they also hope to be able to send a remotely operated vehicle to the site to gather photos and video, but seas have thus far made that challenging.
February 19, 2026 — On any given day, research assistant Kelly Alves’ car is full of moon snails.
The little-understood marine species is thought to prey on sea scallops, and that’s as good a reason as any for Alves and her colleagues at the Coonamessett Farm Foundation to learn more about the animal — and all the ways to catch, kill, and potentially market it as seafood. The work comes with hazards.
“One time in New Bedford, I picked them up and there were 100 pounds or so of moon snails in these boxes with holes at the bottom, so the slime just oozed all over the back,” research assistant Emily O’Toole said.
The scientists’ foray into moon snail research is part of a larger federally funded initiative to adapt New Bedford’s scallop fleet for potential new frontiers. Scallop trawlers spend over 300 days a year tied up at the dock. Coonamessett Farm Foundation’s research is working to get them back in the water — even if it means chasing some far-flung fish.
Senior research biologist Samir Patel leads the team of scientists pursuing a number of projects to repurpose or retool scallopers for new uses and markets. Some, like the moon snail project, involve exploring entirely new species these boats could fish besides scallops. Others involve developing new user-friendly research technology that can make scallop trawlers operate more like research vessels.
“We’re not trying to make scallopers more adaptable,” Patel said. “We’re trying to take advantage of how adaptable this industry already is.”
February 19, 2026 — It’s been nearly three weeks since a Gloucester fishing boat sank off the coast of Cape Ann, killing all seven crew members. Federal and state investigators have searched for the 72-foot vessel known as the Lily Jean, but it has not yet been found.
Challenges such as harsh weather conditions have made finding the Lily Jean difficult. Officials are undecided about whether to try to recover the boat and the bodies of the six crew members who remain missing, they said during a Wednesday press conference.
The officials are hopeful but not confident they will be able to locate the Lily Jean, though they said ample resources are being used in the search. They hope that finding the boat will provide answers for the crew members’ families and help make fishing a safer profession.
“This was an experienced captain who was a good personal friend of mine and many of us,” Gloucester State Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-First Essex and Middlesex, said of Gus Sanfilippo, captain of the Lily Jean.
February 19, 2026 — Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America is returning to Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. from 15 to 17 March for the 44th edition of North America’s largest seafood trade event.
The event, produced by Diversified, is returning to the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, and will bring together seafood suppliers, processors, equipment manufacturers, and service providers from around the world to showcase products and close deals. [Editor’s note: Diversified also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
February 18, 2026 — State and federal agencies are still searching for details to explain what caused a commercial fishing vessel to sink off the coast of Gloucester last month, killing all seven people who were on board.
The 72-foot commercial fishing vessel, named Lily Jean, sank on Jan. 30 without sending any distress or mayday call.
Coast Guard crews spent days searching for survivors on dangerously high seas before calling off the search and rescue mission.
At a Wednesday press conference, officials stressed the need for patience as they work toward uncovering meaningful information. They said state and federal partners are collaborating on this phase of the investigation, which includes searching for the sunken ship. That effort is focused on an area about 20 minutes off shore, with waters up to 400 feet deep. Crews are hoping the search helps them understand what happened to the ship.
February 17, 2025 — A father and son who were killed when a fishing boat sank off the coast of Gloucester late last month are being remembered for their love of the ocean.
Gloucester residents Paul Beal Sr., 70, and Paul Beal Jr., 34, were among the seven crew members of the Lily Jean who died when it sank while returning from a fishing trip on Jan. 30.
Remembering Paul Beal Sr.
Paul Austin Beal Sr. was born in Rockport to the late Lloyd and Marilyn Beal on Oct. 11, 1955, according to his obituary. He grew up in Rockport with his two brothers and graduated from Rockport High School in 1974.
“After graduation, Paul followed his heart to the Ocean. It was a way of life for the Beal Family, dating back to ancestors in Beals Island, Maine,” his obituary reads.
Remembering Paul Beal Jr.
Paul Austin “PJ” Beal Jr., was born in Gloucester on June 22, 1991, to his mother, Denee, and father, Paul Austin Beal Sr., according to his obituary. He was raised in Gloucester and attended Gloucester Public Schools.
“As a child growing up, PJ instantly took a love to the ocean,” his obituary reads.
February 17, 2026 — Loved ones of a 33-year-old crew member aboard The Lily Jean, a Gloucester fishing vessel that sunk at the end of January, remember him as a loving and hard-working man who would “give the shirt off his back” to anyone who needed it.
John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Peabody, died on Jan. 30. He was one of seven people aboard the fishing boat when it went down off the coast of Cape Ann. The Coast Guard searched into the night for the missing crew members, discovering just one body, a debris field and the boat’s empty life raft.
February 12, 2026 — The following was released by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries:
The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is currently hiring Recreational Fisheries Surveyors for the 2026 season. We are seeking seven (7) surveyors for the South Shore, Cape Cod and Islands, and three (3) for the North Shore.
Links to the postings in MassCareers are provided below:
These seasonal positions run from April through November, with training scheduled for the last week of March. While we will review applications on a rolling basis until the roles are filled, first consideration will be given to candidates who apply within the first 14 days of the posting.