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Captain Lou's Nautical News Headlines

Capt Lou's Nautical News May 12, 2019 PROTEST WORKS FOR SOUTH SHORE LOBSTERMEN South Shore lobstermen staged a protest in Plymouth Harbor complaining the state's regulations on fishing and speed limits in Cape Cod Bay were unfair to them. Current regulations shut down the lobstermen between February 1st and May 1st because of the presence of right whales, but when that closure was extended an additional two weeks, it was just too much for the lobstermen to take. The extra two week closure really meant an additional month closure because it takes two weeks to set the traps and two weeks before they harvest. Lobstermen have claimed they have done everything possible to avoid entangling a whale by modifying their trap lines so they will break away and using non-floating rope, but regulators have ignored these efforts, and are unfairly penalizing them. This time, their protest caught the attention of the local legislators. State Senator Vinny deMacedo said in 20 years, there hasn’t been a death from entanglements from their lobster pots. All of Cape Cod Bay is closed, but just north of Marshfield, they’re all fishing. As of Friday, Cape Cod Bay was officially opened to lobstermen. DEAD WHALE WASHED UP ON BEACH The carcass of a 45 foot long humpback whale washed up on a Cape Cod beach Monday after reports of it floating for days in Cape Cod Bay. Officials said the whale weighed about 40 tons and was a regular visitor to the bay. Folks from the International Fund for Animal Welfare's stranding team claimed NOAA Fisheries gave them permission to be in charge of the carcass and to perform a necropsy on Wednesday to determine cause of death. A boat from Plymouth was hired to tow the dead whale to a location where the necropsy could be performed. As of yesterday, the whale's cause of death had not been publicly released. STORM SURGE WALL OUTSIDE BOSTON HARBOR PROPOSED An organization called National Institute for Coastal & Harbor Infrastructure sponsored a cruise to show how a storm surge barrier could protect the City of Boston and fifteen suburban communities from flooding. The group spoke of rising sea levels, climate change, frequent violent storms with big storm surges. They claim reducing the shoreline by building a storm barrier outside of the harbor in between the towns of Hull and Winthrop would not only protect the City of Boston, but would protect properties in Quincy, Weymouth, Hingham, Milton, Braintree and the communities along Boston's North Shore. It might be possible that flood insurance would no longer be required in those communities. The storm-surge barrier would be similar to the one built in New Bedford's harbor. So far, Quincy has been the only community to actually invest in the idea, offering $100,000 to begin the planning for the sea gate. During the second half of today’s program, we will hear from one of proponents for the storm barrier. AUTONOMOUS BOAT MAKES FIRST CARGO DELIVERY An autonomous 40 foot boat completed a cargo run across the North Sea from the United Kingdom to Belgium. Its cargo was oysters, and then it returned to its port with a cargo of beer. According to the owners of the vessel, this was the first time an unmanned ship completed a commercial delivery and returned back to its port. The boat traveled at just a couple of knots transiting one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Using a system called Global Situational Awareness via internet, the boat was able to communicate with its operator who could access a monitor and used thermal imaging and radar from the vessel. The operator could also listen to the vessel’s surroundings in real-time and communicate with others in the area. ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES FILED AGAINST BOATER FOR REMOVING RACCOON OFF BOAT A Florida agency is investigating potential animal cruelty charges after a lawyer posted video of himself kicking a raccoon off his boat into the water. Finding the raccoon hiding on the boat was a complete surprise. The boater posted the video to Facebook, issuing an apology for his actions, saying he wished he could have returned the animal to shore, but when he discovered the animal, he was about 20 miles offshore and the raccoon was growling and hissing. What made officials mad was the video includes a man's voice yelling at the raccoon, "So long, sucker." An official with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said that "these vile acts of animal cruelty" are intolerable. NOMANS ISLAND TO BECOME ISLAND FOR BUNNIES And last on today's nautical news, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to convert an uninhabited island off the coast of Martha's Vineyard that was once used by the Navy for target practice to be a sanctuary for cottontail bunnies. Last week scientists delivered 13 New England cottontail bunnies to Nomans Island with hopes that the bunnies will do what bunnies do. Cottontail bunnies are the only species native to our area. This is not the first time scientists have tried to convert the island full of bombs to an island full of bunnies. It has been tried several times in the past 10 years. Maybe the bunnies aren't happy about hopping over the bombs. 27 YEARS ON RADIO STATION WATD 95.9 FM Listen to the live broadcast of "Nautical Talk Radio" with Capt Lou and crew Sunday mornings 11-noon (Boston time) on radio stations 95.9FM and 1460AM WATD, and soon to return on 1510AM WMEX. Also streamed around the world on www.959watd.com. Listen anytime to replay of recent shows at www.NauticalTalk.com. Recipient of 2018 Mass Boating & Yacht Clubs "Gannett Award" Winner of MASS/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW" Winner of Boston's Achievement in Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" award Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY" award Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service Nominated Boston's A,I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM" Judge of IBEX Innovation Products Judge of NMMA's Progressive New England Boat Show's Exhibitors 25 Year Retired Status U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Member of Boston Harbor Islands National Park Advisory Council Member of South Shore Harbormasters Association Member of Mass Marine Trades Association Member of Quincy Bay Race Week Member of Mass Boating and Yacht Club Association Member of Stellwagen Bank Charterboat Association Member of Boat Writers International Member of Boat/US Life Member of Mass Striped Bass Association Life Member and Past Commodore of Metropolitan Yacht Club

 

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS ON RADIO STATION 95.9FM WATD"

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, streaming around the world on www.959watd.com. You can also listen to a replay of recent shows anytime during the week a www.NauticalTalk.com.

* Winner of Mass/Rhode Island Associated Press "BEST TALK SHOW"
* Winner of Boston's Achievement In Radio "BEST INTERVIEW" AWARD
* Recipient of American Lighthouse Foundation's "LEN HADLEY AWARD"
* Recipient of Coast Guard's Joshua James Lifesaving Medal for public service
* Nominated Boston's A.I.R. "BEST PRODUCED PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM"
* Judge of IBEX Innovation Products
* Judge of New England Boat Show's Best Exhibitors
* Member of Boston Harbor Islands National Park Advisory Council
* Member of South Shore Harbormaster Association
* Member of Quincy Bay Race Week Association
* Member of Stellwagen Bank Charterboat Association
* Member of Boat Writers International
* Life Member of Mass Striped Bass Association
* Life Member and Past Commodore of Metropolitan Yacht Club