June 9, 2015 — OCEAN CITY, Md. (WUSA9) — The Coast Guard rescued a 20-year-old man Sunday from a fishing boat in Maryland waters after getting a call for help.
The crew of the fishing vessel Apollo called Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay watchstanders in Philadelphia at 3:36 p.m. to report the man was having respiratory issues.
June 4, 2015 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:
The Maine Marine Patrol and the US Coast Guard responded this morning to a report of a recreational fishing vessel with a deceased individual on-board.
The Maine Marine Patrol was notified by the US Coast Guard Sector Northern New England at 5:15 a.m. that they were towing a fishing vessel, registered in Maine, into York Harbor with one deceased individual aboard. One other individual who had notified the Coast Guard was also on board.
Marine Patrol Sergeant Tom Hale responded by truck and went to York Harbor Town Dock where the 28 foot recreational fishing vessel had been towed by US Coast Guard.
According to initial investigation conducted by Coast Guard, the two were fishing approximately 13 miles off York Harbor near Jeffrey’s Ledge last night when they experienced engine problems and dropped an anchor. One individual on-board fell asleep and when he woke in the morning he found the other individual deceased near the open engine compartment. He then contacted the Coast Guard by VHF radio about the deceased individual and explained that the vessel had become inoperable, at which point the Portsmouth Coast Guard responded.
The names of the two individuals, who are both from Vermont, are not being released until notification of next of kin.
The details of what caused the engine failure and the cause of death are under investigation.
June 2, 2015 — NEWARK, N.J. — Officials are warning residents not to catch or eat fish that washed ashore following heavy rainfall that started Sunday across New Jersey, according to a report.
The Department of Health and Community Wellness issued a statement Monday warning residents the fish that washed ashore may have come into contact with sewer drains or other contaminants.
“This is a dangerous practice and residents are urged to refrain from trapping, catching, and eating any fish caught on the streets,” said Dr. Hanaa Hamdi, the department’s director.
June 1, 2015 — The California Department of Public Health on Monday warned consumers to avoid eating several kinds of fish and shellfish caught in Monterey Bay due to high levels of a neurotoxin currently being found in the water.
Public health officials advised consumers to avoid recreationally harvested mussels and clams, as well as anchovies, sardines and the internal organs of crabs. High levels of domoic acid, a toxin that comes from naturally occurring algae, have been confirmed, which can have impacts up the food chain.
May 23, 2015 — The Coast Guard responded early Saturday morning to a fishing boat taking on water 130 miles east of Nantucket.
At about 12:45 a.m., the fishing vessel Athena’s crew reported to Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England watchstanders in Woods Hole that the Miss Shauna, a 51-foot fishing boat with seven people aboard, was taking on water through a hole in the boat’s engine room. The Coast Guard established communications with the crew of the Miss Shauna, who reported their pumps were keeping up with the flooding, but the rate of flooding was increasing.
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times
SOUTH PORTLAND –– Maine fishermen who were taught skills designed to improve safety in one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
The session, hosted by Fishing Partnership Support Services in cooperation with the Coast Guard and the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership, taught such skills as fire-fighting, damage control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation – and even how to swim in a bulky immersion survival suit.
Jeff Riccio, a fisherman for 10 years, said the program was useful.
May 20, 2015 — Those who have watched The Perfect Storm will not likely be surprised to hear what the deadliest job in America is.
Bloomberg Business analyzed U.S. occupations based on the rate of on-the job fatalities and found that fishermen and women— “fishers” — made the top of the list, with 131.52 fatalities per 100,000.
Using data released in April 2015 from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bloomberg looked at numbers for the last seven years through 2013 to track how many people die at work. Loggers and aircraft pilots took the second and third-deadliest spots on the list, while business and financial operation jobs were ranked as least deadly.
May 15, 2015 — In the 11th season of Discovery Channel’s flagship show “The Deadliest Catch,” the title’s fallacy still goes largely unnoted. Crab fishing on the Bering Sea isn’t the deadliest fishery in the United States, and it hasn’t been for the entire run of the show; it’s not even in the top three. Two East Coast fisheries are the ones where fishermen are most likely to become fish food.
Groundfish—including cod and flounder—on the East Coast was the deadliest fishery in the U.S. from 2000 to 2009, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, followed by Atlantic scallops. The third, with which I have personal experience, is Dungeness crab fishing on the Oregon and Washington coasts. Data from 2010 to 2014 shows the trend continuing through this decade. The rankings are based on workforce estimates and their full-time equivalents.
Aside from an inaccurate title for a “reality” program, we should cheer the fact that fishing in an inhospitable environment is becoming safer by the year. Far fewer people are dying so vacationers in Las Vegas and affluent businessmen and bureaucrats in China can gorge themselves on what appear to be overgrown spiders. Commercial fishing is becoming safer. From 1990 to 2014 there was a 74 percent drop in commercial fishing fatalities in Alaska, according to NIOSH. Furthermore, in 2013 commercial fishing dropped to No. 2 — behind logging — in the list of deadliest occupations, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
May 15, 2015 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:
National Safe Boating Week is a great way to kick off what will be a fun and safe summer on the water. From May 16-22, 2015, the Maine Warden Service and Maine Marine Patrol are asking boaters to pay EXTRA attention to their boating safety behaviors, and to especially ALWAYS wear their lifejackets. Remember…even the most experienced boaters can fall victim to boating crashes.
News conference:
Who: The Maine Warden Service and Maine Marine Patrol
Where: Bug Light Boat Ramp, South Portland
When: Tuesday, May 19th at 11:00
What: News conference with representatives from both the Maine Warden Service and Maine Marine Patrol will be available for interviews. Boat rides will be available depending upon weather conditions.
What is the goal of National Safe Boating Week? The goal of the National Safe Boating Week is to heighten awareness among recreational boaters of the importance of ALWAYS wearing a life jacket. This includes informing boaters that they have options when it comes to life jackets, such as the new inflatable versions that offer comfort and a complete range of movement. There are no excuses for not wearing a life jacket. For children and many adult activities on Maine waters, it’s the law.
The Maine Warden Service and Maine Marine Patrol are asking all boaters to properly prepare their watercraft before heading out on the water. Be sure that all necessary safety devices are both on your boat and in good serviceable condition. In addition to life jackets, safe boaters should have working navigation lights, sound signaling devices, and properly displayed current registration numbers. A thorough check of fire extinguisher and flare expiration dates should be done to be sure they are in working order. A list of safety requirements can be found here at Maine boater safety requirements, laws, and rules.
More information related to the National Safe Boating Week campaign can be found here.
May 8, 2015 — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Legare has returned to Portsmouth, Va., following a 36-day patrol in the Atlantic Ocean, which included the rescue of a Gloucester fishing boat.
The ship arrived in Virginia on Friday.
During the patrol, Legare’s crew also conducted multiple vessel boardings and volunteered in two ports during their free time.
Read the full story from the Gloucester Daily Times