Marine Link
Friday, March 29, 2024
SUBSCRIBE

Gill Net News

28 Oct 2022

NOAA Sued Over Whale Injuries from Drift Gillnets off California

© Enrique / Adobe Stock

Environmentalists on Thursday sued the agency overseeing U.S. fisheries, claiming it had failed to protect endangered humpback whales from entanglement in drift gillnets - sprawling curtains of nylon mesh - used in commercial fishing off California.The lawsuit accuses the National Marine Fisheries Service of violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing drift gillnets without safeguards and failing to take into account the harm posed to whales already at risk of extinction.The suit…

26 Jun 2020

Shipyard Profile: North River Boats

A 27’ Alaska Fish & Game patrol boat (Photo: North River Boats)

One of the United States’ largest and most productive heavy-gauge aluminum boat builders has been humming along at its recently expanded manufacturing facility in Roseburg, Ore.Last spring, North River Boats added a new 33,750 square foot manufacturing building to house all commercial and large boat recreational fabrication. Additional remodeling of the existing factory was completed shortly after to expand small boat fabrication. The yard relocation of its canvas/upholstery shop and received new paint preparation bays…

09 Apr 2018

Indonesia Nabs Elusive Criminal Fishing Boat

Indonesia, acting on a request from Interpol, has seized a fishing boat carrying 600 illegal gillnets that can stretch up to 30 km (18 miles) after it evaded capture in several countries, the Fisheries Ministry said. The vessel, the STS-50, had targeted Antarctic toothfish, the ministry said, a cod species that plays an important role in the Southern Ocean ecosystem. Gillnetting, which uses walls of finely meshed nets, has been banned in Antarctic waters since 2006 and is described by Australia as posing a huge risk to “almost all marine life”. Officially stateless, the STS-50 evaded authorities by flying eight different flags at different times, including those of Sierra Leone, Togo, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Micronesia and Namibia, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

02 Aug 2017

Playing Catch: Northern Europe Fisheries Fleet Review

Out to Sea: Offshore aquaculture has arrived. (Illustration: Handout)

Record hauls of wild fish, an unprecedented return on farmed salmon, finance and subsidy garner new orders, new designs and emboldened suppliers. In Scandinavia, particularly Norway, rich, carefully managed fisheries raise just one question for the commercially minded — which wave of business to ride. A growing number of large and small players are in on the action, as historic profits are heralded up and down the supply chain. For the hardened makers of gear that know tougher times, this is the golden age.

12 Jan 2016

World Fishing Fleet: Vietnam Grows the Fleet

Owner Capt. Trinh Van Hung is justifiably proud of his new boat. (Haig-Brown photos courtesy of Cummins Marine)

In keeping with their reputation as a nation that can overcome all obstacles, Vietnam is rebuilding its aging fishing fleet. With a government program of soft loans, designated Decree 67/ND-CP, fishermen are building boats along 28 coastal provinces from the north to the south of Vietnam. Capt. Trinh Van Hung, grew up in a fishing family and, after completing his schooling, he fished briefly with his father. His curiosity took him into business as a trader but the call of the sea was strong. At 25, he returned to the fishing.

10 Apr 2015

US Fishermen Seek Federal Action against Illegal Fishing

Florida Rep. David Jolly listens to Mark Hubbard, CEO of Hubbard's Marina in John's Pass, Fla., explain how foreign illegal fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is hurting commercial fishing throughout the Gulf region. (Photo: Gulf Coast Leadership Conference)

Gulf of Mexico fishermen are threatened by a daily wave of foreign illegal fishing vessels and the U.S. fishing industry is calling on Congress to take action, Florida business owners said April 8 at an event hosted by the Gulf Coast Leadership Conference. Mexican fishing boats enter U.S. sovereign waters and illegally poach hundreds to thousands of fish at a time. Although the U.S. Coast Guard and Gulf state maritime law enforcement agencies have taken aggressive action to find and destroy these illegal Mexican vessels, the frequency of such incursions continues to escalate.

27 Oct 2014

Burger Boat Delivers R/V Arcticus

R/V Arcticus (Photo courtesy of Burger Boat Company)

Burger Boat Company delivered the R/V Arcticus, a 78-foot research vessel for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), on Friday, October 17, 2014. The Arcticus replaces the 38-year-old R/V Grayling and brings the USGS Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) large vessel fleet up-to-date. The Arcticus will be stationed at the USGS base in Cheboygan, Michigan and incorporates modern marine standards and state-of-the-art technology to more safely and effectively conduct fisheries research.

22 Oct 2014

New Research Vessel Delivered on the Great Lakes

Arcticus

The new oceanographic research and fisheries assessment vessel, Arcticus, completed her sea trials and was delivered to the U.S. Geological Survey's Great Lakes Science Center on October 17. The Arcticus, designed by JMS Naval Architects (JMS) and constructed at Burger Boat Company, replaces the R/V Grayling and becomes the newest member of a five-vessel fleet owned and operated by the Great Lakes Science Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. JMS completed the concept and contract design and provided all technical representation at the shipyard during construction.

18 Jun 2014

W. Palm T-Ball Flies “Maritime Reporter” Flag

The Maritime Reporter 6U T-ball team.

West Palm Beach - The boys of summer are now proudly wearing the red & black of Maritime Reporter. With this publication’s backing, a 6U T-ball team is setting course for a championship. This fleet of tiny titans drops anchor at Phipps Park in West Palm Beach each weekend, followed by a flotilla of fans. The boys, some of whom have played together for three seasons running, are seeing their hard work pay off. New to the squad, first baseman Robert Howard is formidable at the plate and has a glove like a gill net.

04 Oct 2012

Alaskan Stabicraft Fleet Covers 18,000 Nautical Miles

659 Wheelhouse Fleet

The fleet of nine Stabicraft 659 Wheelhouse vessels delivered to Alaska at the beginning of the year have just completed their first 6 months of service. The vessel orders came at a special request from Saltwater Inc, a private organization that gathers data on wild life and fish stocks for the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game and by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The boats were sent to the US in semi assembled form from Stabicraft Marine’s Invercargill factory in New Zealand, where once in the US, went through final assembly and fit out before being launched in May.

19 Jan 2012

Stabicraft Delivers 9 Fishery Vessels

The Stabicraft 659 Wheel House destined for fishery monitoring duties in Alaska.

New Zealand’s Stabicraft Marine has delivered 9 custom 659 Wheel House vessels to Alaska where they will be used as observation boats to monitor the gill net fishery and the fishery’s interaction with sea mammals and sea birds. The vessel orders came at a special request from Saltwater Inc, a private organization that gathers data on wild life and fish stocks for the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game and by the National Marine Fisheries Service. The order is a coup for New Zealand based Stabicraft Marine, as the vessels had to meet stringent US criteria.

18 Apr 2011

Burger Launches 60′ Research Vessel “Coregonus”

Motor yacht “Coregonus” Launched – A 60’ Research Vessel by Burger Burger Boat Company

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, U.S.A. – April 8, 2011 Burger Boat Company launches the R/V Coregonus, a 60’ Research Vessel for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. R/V Coregonus is replacing the R/V Barney Devine, a steel Fishing Tug built by Burger in 1937. SeaCraft Design in Sturgeon Bay, WI designed the R/V Coregonus for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to meet the demanding requirements of the department. Powered by twin Caterpillar C12 diesel engines, the all welded aluminum R/V Coregonus will provide a cruising speed of 20 knots.

07 Mar 2011

Burger Boat Returns to Commercial Boat Building

Photo courtesy Burger Boat

Burger Boat Company is pleased to announce the upcoming delivery of a 60’ Fisheries Research Vessel, R/V Coregonus, to the Wisconsin Department of Resources in April 2011. This commercial vessel marks the reinstatement of commercial boat building for Burger Boat Company. Length, o.a. Designer SeaCraft Design LLC, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

09 Feb 2011

New Generation of Seine Skiffs

Photo courtesy Husky Boats

Tyler Boats of Sedro Woolley launched its second 22-ft by 11-ft Seine Skiff. Powered by a John Deere 6081, 375 hp engine, this seine skiff is designed to pull. Helped by a 32-inch nozzle steering these skiffs have a pull measurement over 9,500 lbs. This pulling power is harnessed within a stable designed platform for the operator. The seine skiff is often described as the “weak link” in a purse seine operation. Bad weather, pulling against the tide, or just holding the set on the beach the role the Seine Skiff plays can keep you in the game.

07 Dec 2010

Rapp Hydema Winches for USGS Research Vessels

Graphic illustrations courtesy of Great Lakes Shipyard

Great Lakes Shipyard this month awarded Rapp Hydema NW the deck machinery packages for two U.S. Geological Survey research vessels now under construction. Rapp’s award includes a pair of trawl winches, a centerline winch, side-sampling winches port and starboard, and a dual net reel, for each vessel. Rapp will be providing its state-of-the art PTS Pentagon Canbus system for winch control and monitoring, as well a Rapp Syd gillnet lifter for each boat. The centerline and side-sampling winches will be slip-ring capable.

14 Nov 2008

NOAA – Avoid Migrating Whales

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reminded mariners to keep a sharp lookout for North Atlantic right whales in southeast US waters from November 15 through April 15. North Atlantic right whales are among the most endangered marine mammal populations in the world. Vessel strikes and entanglement in fixed fishing gear are the two greatest threats to their recovery. This species is protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972…

21 Nov 2001

Harold Mathers Retires

After 50 years at the helm, founding President Harold Mathers has retired from ZF Mathers. Mathers signed papers a year ago transferring ownerships of the company to ZF Marine, the world’s largest supplier of marine propulsion systems. Russ Polansky, formerly branch manager of ZFI Marine in Seattle, was appointed to head up the AF Mathers facility. As part of the agreement with ZF Marine, Mathers stayed actively involved in day-to-day operations until a smooth transition had been made. Mathers credits the company’s long history and sustained profitability to a team that includes a core group of loyal employees. He reported that he did not seriously consider a buyout proposal until ZF Marine approached him two years ago. “I expected to retire some day, but I wasn’t in any great hurry.

21 Mar 2000

USCG Cites, Terminates Voyage

A USCG boat crew from Station Juneau cited and terminated a commercial fishing boat crews' operations in Stephen's Passage. The USCG crew stopped 31-ft. gillnet boat Lil' Lugger for a federal requirements compliance check. The boat contained only one immersion suit for three fishermen. The Station Juneau crew also noted an insufficient number of fire extinguishers and sound producing devices used for signaling help during distress situations. Following the boarding, the USCG crew terminated the vessel's fishing trip and escorted the crew to Auke Bay.

02 Apr 2007

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Award Conservation Grants

The Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises Ocean Fund awarded $796,000 on March 30 in 15 new grants to marine conservation and environmental organizations, including a $100,000 grant to The Conservation Fund for its Alaska land preservation program and a $100,000 grant to Conservation International for its campaign to conserve Caribbean biodiversity. Almost $9 million has been awarded to 64 non-profit organizations working to protect the marine environment since the fund’s inception in 1996. The mission of the Ocean Fund is to support efforts to restore and maintain a healthy marine environment, minimize the impact of human activity on this environment, and promote awareness of ocean and coastal issues and respect for marine life.

09 Feb 2005

Construction of Marine Science Vessels Up

Marine science is making great strides forward due in large measure to several new vessels that have delivered recently and others under construction Headlining this news is the Oscar Dyson, the first of four vessels loaded with scientific gear that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is having built at VT Halter Marine, Pascagoula, Miss. The first vessel was completed in September of 2004 and as the Oscar Dyson was being completed, the contract for the second vessel, Henry B. Bigelow was announced. These 208-ft. by 49-ft. vessels have cutting edge capabilities to gather scientific information on fish populations and the water quality of their habitat.