Saving Seafood

The gear fishermen can’t afford to leave behind

March 18, 2025 — A recent informal survey on FaceBook asked fishermen what gear they would never go offshore without. Many responded that they’d never leave port without a survival suit. “That’s smart,” says John Roberts, director of safety training at Fishing Partnership Support Services, a Massachusetts-based non-profit dedicated to improving the health, safety, and economic security of commercial fishermen. “A survival suit is probably the most important piece of safety gear you can have on the boat.”

After 30 years doing search and rescue for the U.S. Coast Guard, Roberts joined the Massachusetts-based Fishing Partnership two years ago and has been running safety trainings for fishermen around New England. “We teach them how to don and doff the suit, that is, get in and out of it, and how to get in the water,” says Roberts. “We encourage them to bring their own suits, and we go over how to store and maintain them,” Roberts notes that zippers should be waxed and lights in working order. “The reflective tape shouldn’t be peeling off. Sometimes a guy might have bought a suit and not used it, and we unpack it, and it’s got dry rot, or the zipper is rusted.”

The Coast Guard has a table—based on length, registration, and distance from shore—that indicates which vessels are required to carry survival suits for the crew, but Roberts recommends having your own suit, even if the vessel is not required to have one for you. He adds that certain vessels are required to conduct safety drills once a month, and thoseneed to be conducted by a certified drill instructor. He also notes that the survival suits should be serviced every two years. “They blow them up with air and look for leaks, dry rot, and open seams, and make sure everything is working.”

When it comes to brands, Roberts can’t make recommendations. “When you look around, Kent and Imperial seem to be the most popular brands, but Guy Cotton is making suits [Piel brand], and Viking is still making them, and Mustang. The important thing is not the brand, it’s that you have it with you and that it’s in good working order.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Illegal Wildlife Smuggling Operation Shut Down in Puerto Rico

November 27, 2024 — NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement led a joint investigation resulting in the sentencing of two Dominican nationals. They were sentenced to a combined 4 years in prison for smuggling live American juvenile eels. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico and the Environmental and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section successfully prosecuted Simon De la Cruz Paredes and Saul Enrique José De la Cruz. Paredes was sentenced to 24 months in prison and De la Cruz was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Coast Guard identified and intercepted the two smugglers in February. They were transiting in a high speed panga in federal waters north of Puerto Rico. The smugglers refused to heave to and follow USCG orders, ultimately leading USCG to disable their vessel’s engines through force. Upon boarding, USCG officers noticed large bags containing live eels and aerators, in addition to a firearm and ammunition. USCG officers contacted NOAA Enforcement officials to aid in determining the bag’s contents and jurisdiction. Our close collaboration and cross-training with partner agencies aided in identifying the suspects intent to smuggle wildlife and started the joint investigation.

Our enforcement agents and officers train USCG personnel at their regional training centers. They develop close working relationships with local sector Living Marine Resource officers, who specialize in fishery related boardings. USCG personnel are trained to identify and inspect vessels and persons potentially engaging in illegal fishing activities. In this case, USCG officers informed NOAA enforcement of a potential fisheries violation. We consulted with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources biologists to determine the species seized. American eels spend part of their lives in freshwater, which falls under the responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We worked with USFWS agents in the investigation. DNER rangers assisted with transport of the suspects and evidence upon USCG’s arrival in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “Our joint enforcement partnerships expand our ability to enforce marine resource laws more efficiently,” said Paige Casey, acting Assistant Director of NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “In this case, we saw how effective our partnerships are with the successful arrest and prosecution of two individuals who illegally harvested eels. Our collaboration is vital in ensuring that individuals who violate marine resource laws are held fully accountable.”

The harvest of juvenile eels, commonly known as glass eels, are a lucrative business. They typically yield $2,200 per kilogram in a legal market. Black markets supported through operations similar to Parede’s and De la Cruz’s actions can increase retail prices of glass eels and encourage illegal activity. The Coast Guard seized more than 100,000 eels, estimated at $132,000. The two suspects spent months illegally harvesting eels at a freshwater creek in Puerto Rico. After illegally harvesting the eels, they attempted to transport the catch to the Dominican Republic. The eels would then be sold in Asian markets where the product would ultimately be worth more than $1 million.

NOAA Fisheries enforces fisheries and seafood regulations. Illegal wildlife trafficking, such as these eels, falls under the Lacey Act. Identifying and putting a halt to illegal seafood coming into or leaving the United States is integral in protecting our domestic fisheries. This successful prosecution is credited to the close working relationship we have with our partner agencies. It aids in ensuring a level playing field exists for U.S. seafood dealers and distributors.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries 

RHODE ISLAND: U.S. Coast Guard investigates report of diesel spill from vessel that ran aground in Narragansett

November 19, 2024 — The United States Coast Guard is investigating the report of diesel in Narragansett Bay around Austin Hollow after a vessel ran aground Monday morning.

Virginia Wave, a commercial fishing vessel, ran aground 1 nautical mile north of the Beavertail Light, and was reported listing, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Motor vessel Deep Cygnus responded and aided in the rescue of all four of Virginia Wave’s passengers, and the Jack M commercial fishing vessel took the passengers on board.

Later that morning, the Virginia Wave was able to successfully float due to the incoming tide and the crew was transferred back to the vessel.

During the Jamestown Police Marine’s initial response, units reported it noticed the smell of diesel and a visible sheen coming from the Virginia Wave.

Read the full article at ABC 6

Mayday at sea: How fishermen rely on distress calls for life-saving help

November 13, 2024 — In the summer of 2021, a mayday call went out from the captain aboard a fishing vessel who needed Narcan to help save a life due to an overdose on board. There happened to be another vessel in the vicinity that was able to respond, and they tossed a box of the over-the-counter drug on board. The captain administered several doses and was able to send his crew member back onshore alive.

While not all mayday calls result in a positive outcome, the use of the mayday distress call is important for fishermen to know.

In a life-threatening emergency situation, fishermen out to sea rely on the mayday distress call system for help. A mayday call informs the United States Coast Guard, local emergency officials and other fellow boaters of the need for help.

Read the full article at The Standard-Times

Coast Guard Seeks Public Comment Until Nov. 21 On Empire Wind 1

November 12, 2024 — The U.S. Coast Guard is currently seeking public comment regarding their installation of “temporary safety zones” for a wind farm off New York and New Jersey.

The proposed wind farm is Empire Wind 1, which would be located about 13 miles south of Long Island and 19.5 miles off Long Branch. It is highly unlikely that Empire Wind’s turbines will be seen from the shore; the proposed wind farm is located too far out.

The Coast Guard says they are required to set up temporary safety zones during construction. They propose establishing 55 temporary safety zones during the development of the Empire Wind 1 Wind Farm project area.

Read the full article at the Patch

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter combats illegal fishing in Pacific waters

October 4, 2024 — U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Berry crew traveled more than 7,600 nautical miles from the Hawaiian Islands to the west coast of Fiji where they began their patrol in support of Operation Blue Pacific — promoting security, safety, sovereignty, and economic prosperity in Oceania.

During their patrol, the cutter’s crew moored in Pago Pago, American Samoa, Nadi, Fiji, and Apia, Samoa.

In Apia, the crew participated in multiple community relations events, including subject matter exchanges with the First Canoe Club and the Paddling Club. During a Partnership in Education event at a local school, the Oliver Berry crew held a first aid and CPR demonstration, demonstrating basic life-saving techniques. The crew also hosted the entire Samoa School of Maritime Training to show the students life on the Oliver Berry and convey the cutter’s capabilities.

Read the full article at Samoa News

Chinese military vessels spotted in Alaskan waters, drawing US Coast Guard response

July 22, 2024 — On 6 and 7 July, the United States Coast Guard encountered three Chinese military ships in the Bering Sea near the U.S. state of Alaska in the U.S.’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The U.S. Coast Guard Kimball vessel reported detecting three Chinese vessels about 124 miles north of Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, and an HC-130J aircrew from Kodiak Air Station detected another vessel about 84 miles north of Amukta Pass. All four of the Chinese vessels were transiting in international waters but still inside the U.S. EEZ, which extends 200 nautical miles from the U.S. coast.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Coast Guard Hears Vessel Transit Safety Concerns From Commercial Fishing Industry

April 30, 2024 — Roughly 14 miles from the nearest beach, in a semi-secluded Stockton University classroom, the impact of planned offshore wind power farms on the commercial fishing industry’s ability to safely navigate took center stage during a U.S. Coast Guard meeting soliciting feedback on its plan for safe shipping fairways along the eastern seaboard. Among the concerns raised are how the size, scope and proximity of wind farms will alter traffic flow on the water.

“We appreciate the fact that commercial fishing is still going to be allowed to occur within the fairways,” Scot Mackey, executive director of Garden State Seafood Association, said at the April 17 meeting. “We do question the decision with the design of the fairways and the collision analysis, whether or not the amount of lost fishing grounds and lost space that occur in the process has been included in the analysis.”

The association represents 1,200 commercial fishermen, supporting docks and supporting facilities. Mackey was one of 11 members of the public to address the Coast Guard during the 70-minute meeting.

A shipping safety fairway is a lane or corridor in which no fixed structure is permitted, setting aside areas of sufficient depth and dimensions to accommodate vessels and to allow for the orderly and safe movements of vessels transiting to or from ports. Safety fairways were identified in the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study and are expected to safeguard reliable transit for vessels in an area with well-established traffic patterns and routes.

However, vessel operators would not be required to use the safety fairways.

“What is going to happen is the commercial fishing that is still being placed out there isn’t going to be able to happen,” Mackey said of areas the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has set aside in offshore wind lease zones. “The spacing of those turbines is too close. … We asked for transit lanes through most of them. We didn’t get it in the first four (offshore wind projects) off New Jersey. So, New Jersey’s scallop fishing will be impacted against the rest of the coast.”

Read the full article at The Sand Paper

MASSAHCUSETTS: USCG responds to fishing vessel that ran aground

February 5, 2024 — The United States Coast Guard responded to a fishing vessel that ran aground on Friday at Ballston Beach in Cape Cod.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. when USCG Sector SE New England was notified by the fishing vessel Miss Megan. There were three people onboard a the time.

USCG Station Province Town, USCG Air Station Cape Cod and USCG inspections and pollution response staff were called to the scene.

Read the full article at WPRI