Saving Seafood

Prepping for busier season

May 14, 2021 — Your sailboat or center console runabout probably doesn’t have much in common with the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Key Largo that calls Gloucester its homeport.

The Key Largo is 110 feet long and supports a crew of 17. It features state-of-the-art technology and a trident mission of search-and-rescue, homeland security and fisheries enforcement as far as 200 miles offshore. Its power plant consists of two Paxman turbo-charged, 2,800-horsepower diesel engines that can send the Key Largo through the water at 38 knots.

The Island-class patrol boat also sports two Browning .50-caliber machine guns and an MK38 25-mm machine gun that allow the 32-year-old cutter, when necessary, to announce its presence with authority. If your boat does boast comparable firepower, it’s not just the Coast Guard that would like a little chat.

There is one area where you and you vessel of choice share the nautical realm with Lt. Tara Pray and her crew on the Key Largo — a necessary commitment to safety whenever you venture onto the water.

“In 2020, there were 50 recreational boating deaths in the Northeast, which was a significant increase from the 30 in 2019,” Pray said Wednesday morning while standing on the bridge of the Key Largo as it was tied up at the Everett R. Jodrey State Fish Pier. “In a way, that goes back to the increase in popularity and the pent-up demand for recreational boating.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Maine Marine Patrol Urges Safety Heading into Recreational Boating Season

May 23, 2016 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:

May 21 to 27 is National Safe Boating Week, and the Maine Marine Patrol wants to remind recreational boaters to stay safe while enjoying Maine’s waters.

“This summer, thousands of boaters will spend time with friends and family on Maine’s coastal waters, rivers and lakes,” said Maine Marine Patrol Colonel Jon Cornish. “As we near Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the boating season, we want to remind people about safe boating practices.”

In Maine, all children 10 and under must wear a life jacket. Adults don’t have to wear them but they must be available on board for every occupant. “Life jackets do save lives,” said Colonel Cornish. “If you end up in the water unconscious for some reason, a properly-fitting life jacket will keep you afloat, which is especially important this time of the year when the water is still very cold. Life jackets should be looked over to make sure they are serviceable and have no rips, tears, broken straps or snaps that could make them ineffective.

“Before your first day on the water, go over your vessel and make sure you have proper safety equipment on your boat,” said Colonel Cornish. “In addition to life jackets, safe boaters should have working navigation lights, visual distress signals, sound signalling devices, VHF radio, cell phone, proper ventilation, and properly displayed registration numbers. A thorough check of fire extinguishers and flares should be done to make sure they’re in working order.

“It’s also a good time to take a boating safety course,” said Colonel Cornish. “The US Power Squadrons, a non-profit, educational organization that offers classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary both offer excellent public boating courses.”

Boaters should also be sure to file a float plan with a friend or relative. “It’s important to let someone know where you are going and your approximate time of return,” said Colonel Cornish. “Always make sure you check the local marine forecast before heading out on Maine’s coastal waters.

Another important safety issue to consider is drinking and boating. According to the most recent Coast Guard statistics, alcohol was the leading contributing factor in deadly boating accidents.

“People should be aware that the Marine Patrol has zero tolerance for boating under the influence,” explained Colonel Cornish.  “Alcohol use can be even more dangerous in a marine environment than on land. The motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind, and spray all accelerate and increase a drinker’s impairment. A boater becomes fatigued more quickly than a driver, which leads to a decline in the boater’s coordination, judgment, and reaction time, especially when under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

“Boaters under the influence are just like motorists under the influence – and we are going to prosecute those people who make the waters unsafe for the rest of us,” stated Colonel Cornish.

“The Marine Patrol will be working throughout the coming months to make sure boaters stay safe on Maine’s coastal waters.”