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Capt Lou's Nautical News 7/25/10
Posted on: Mon 26-Jul-2010
| | BAN ON LOBSTER FISHING FAILS
A proposal by the American Lobster Management Board to ban lobster fishing in southern New England for 5 years was killed after lobstermen said it would kill their industry and that there was no scientific evidence to justify such a ban. By the end of the day, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission apparently agreed with the lobstermen and voted instead to consider no new restrictions at all. Lobstermen suggested the downturn in the stock was cyclical. They said they're seeing more and bigger lobsters today, and urged the board to give more time to the current conservation measures rather than enact a ban.
OBAMA USES EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE TO PASS NEW OCEAN LAW
President Barack Obama used his presidential executive order privilege on July 19th and bypassed Congress again. This time he signed a new ocean protection law called Oceans 21, which previously failed to gain Congressional support the past 10 years because it restricts access to public resources while creating a new bureaucratic hierarchy with unprecedented power to regulate fisheries and implement ocean zoning without public input. While environmental groups are hailing it a momentous day for America's oceans, Recreational Fishing Alliance Executive Director, Jim Donofrio said these are sad times for America's democratic process.
SENATOR JOHN KERRY AVOIDS PAYING MASSACHUSETTS SALES TAX
Boston Herald Inside Track gals reported that Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is avoiding paying Massachusetts sales tax on his new multimillion-dollar sailboat he had built in New Zealand by keeping her in Newport, Rhode Island, where boats are exempt from sales tax. It was rumored that Kerry's 76 foot long boat cost around 7 million dollars, which would mean he is depriving the Commonwealth of approximately $450,000 in sales tax revenue. The senior senator's chief of staff David Wade denied that Kerry was keeping his boat in Rhode Island to avoid the tax. He said the boat was designed by and purchased from a Rhode Island company, and that it was being kept at the Newport Shipyard for long term maintenance and charter purposes, and not for tax reasons.
"TUNA TANGLER TOO" BOAT WINS MONSTER SHARK TOURNAMENT
The 24th annual Monster Shark Tournament took place this weekend in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard. As many as 120 boats participated in the tournament in search of sharks that weigh at least 200 pounds. The rules of the tournament allow fishermen to catch only mako, thresher, and porbeagle sharks. The first place prize is a brand new 21 foot worth about $50,000. This year the winner was the crew from a boat named the Tuna Tangler Too took who brought in a 413 pound thresher shark. The Oak Bluffs Town Administrator said the tournament is the highlight of the summer not only for the fishermen, but also for tourists who flock to the docks to see the sharks as they are weighed and studied by government scientists.
WHALE JUMPS ON BOAT
A South African couple and their sailing instructor had the fright of their lives when a 40 ton Southern Right Whale jumped out of the water and onto their 33 foot steel hulled boat while they were sailing off the coast of Cape Town. The mast came down and the boat was in shambles, but no one was hurt.
17 FOOT BOAT SINKS IN MOUTH OF MERRIMACK RIVER
Three people were rescued from the mouth of the Merrimack River after their 17-foot boat sank. The Coast Guard is investigating the reason for the sinking. The people were in the water by the time they were rescued by another boat named the Captain's Lady III. The Coast Guard was immediately notified by the skipper on the sinking boat, but the Captain's Lady III got there first. At last report, the Coast Guard was still looking to find the sunken boat and warned mariners in the area of the possible hazard to navigation.
ANOTHER SHARK SIGHTING ON NORTH SHORE
And speaking of the Merrimack River, fishermen reported a shark swimming about 400 to 500 feet from land. Swimmers at nearby Salisbury Beach were immediately warned to stay out of the water. The sighting is one of several sharks seen in Massachusetts this summer. Coast Guard officials advise swimmers and boaters to be aware of their surroundings at all times.
BOAT CAPSIZES NEAR SAKONNET LIGHTHOUSE RHODE ISLAND
Seven people had to be rescued from their capsized boat near the Sakonnet Lighthouse in Rhode Island. The Coast Guard reported that four people were rescued from the water, and three others were rescued from the rocks at the lighthouse. Two of the four people in the water were saved by a kayaker who called the Coast Guard for help. Officials said luckily no one was injured. It's not clear what caused the boat to capsize, but overloading would be my guess.
AUDIT OF NOAA FORFEITURE FUND TROUBLING
NOAA Special Agent in Charge Andrew Cohen told the Mid Atlantic Council that the asset forfeiture fund audit would produce nothing significant or terribly damaging to the agency. He was wrong. The audit produced numerous examples of abuse and misuse of funds. It also revealed that for years NOAA used the Asset Forfeiture Fund to pay 60 percent of the judges' salaries that NOAA hired, a practice that now has ended. The fact that the money to pay the judges' salaries came from the penalties that the judges had ordered was so shocking that U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer from New York demanded that NOAA return the money to fishermen who were unjustly prosecuted and sell off the things they bought with the fines. Those items included hundreds of cars and a $300,000 boat. In addition, fifteen NOAA staffers also used the forfeiture fund to travel to Norway for a conference.
ONE THIRD OF CLOSED AREA IN GULF RE-OPENED TO FISHING
Approximately one third of the Gulf of Mexico that was previously closed to commercial and recreational fishing because of the oil spill is now re-opened. Researchers said that since mid-June, no oil has been found in the previously closed area, and projections of where the oil might spread in the future showed a low risk to the area. NOAA also said no fish caught in the area showed signs of contamination. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said that the reopening provides important assurance that the Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe to eat.
PLASTIKI MAKES IT TO AUSTRALIA
And last on today's nautical news, remember the story about the boat made out of 12000 plastic bottles that was going to cross the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness about plastic pollution? Environmentalists feared that if the boat had an accident and broke apart, it would have added to the plastic pollution problem instead of calling attention to it. Well, those fears were for naught, because the boat called Plastiki, made of 12000 plastic bottles, successfully reached Australia after its 8,000 mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. David de Rothschild, the expedition leader, and Jo Royle, the skipper, admitted that they had their hands full keeping all the plastic parts attached, but they made it to Australia.
Listen to the live broadcast of "Nautical Talk Radio" with Capt Lou and crew, Sunday mornings from 11 - 12 noon (Boston time) on radio station 95.9FM WATD, Marshfield, and streaming around the world on www.959watd.com. You can also listen to a replay of the most recent show anytime during the week at www.nauticaltalk.com.
* Winner of Mass/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW"
* Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service
* Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY AWARD"
* Winner of Boston's Achievement In Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" AWARD
* Nominated Boston's A.I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM"
* Recipient of Man of the Year Award - Metropolitan Yacht Club - 2009
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