Talbot County Watermen's Association

News, events & issues affecting watermen on the Eastern Shore.

Watermen are hardworking, God fearing Christians October 10, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 6:22 am
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Watermen are hardworking, God fearing Christians

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Watermen are hardworking, God fearing Christians

As president of the Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association, I have become increasingly angered and frustrated by the various news media leaving the general public with such a negative impression of the watermen community. There have been numerous stories involving illegal fishing activities both in print and even as specials on our local television shows.

Unfortunately, some of the facts are true, though at times misleading, and we as an industry are not proud of it. To combat such activity, our industry has supported increased fines and penalties for violators, requested additional funding through our legislators to support the efforts of the NRP and have worked with the Department of Natural Resources in implementing various regulations to limit the opportunity to participate in illegal fishing activities without penalizing the honest fisherman.

 
 

The untold version in most all of these news releases is the fact that the overwhelming majority of all commercial fishermen do not condone any form of illegal fishing activity. As a whole, we are hardworking, God fearing Christians who still say the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the national anthem and are not afraid to use the words “one nation under God” at most all of our public functions. We still embrace traditional values and are patriots of our country.

I will be the first to admit that certainly, we share some of the same problems as other industries, communities and professions, but please do not judge us as a group because of the actions of a few. For the most part, we are family men and women who take pride in our occupation, honor its tradition and cherish our heritage. We care as much or more about the health of the Chesapeake Bay than anyone else and want to see this treasure flourish through eternity for all to enjoy. We want our children to be brought up thinking that their parents were part of an honorable profession and to be proud of what they did for a living and not to be depicted as anything less.

Why doesn’t someone write a good article about our watermen sometime? Why doesn’t someone write an article about how you will never find another group of individuals, despite their differences, give one another the shirt off their backs, money out of their pockets and food off their tables to help someone in need?

This is why I am proud to be a part of, honored to represent and humbled by the friendship of our commercial watermen. Enough is enough.

GIBBY DEAN,

President, Chesapeake Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association

 

lifelong waterman and Maryland Watermen’s Association advocate, J.R. Gross, passed away July 15, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 11:52 am

It is with sadness that we report that lifelong waterman and Maryland Watermen’s Association advocate, J.R. Gross, passed away on Saturday, July 9th, at the age of 43. J.R. was a fourth generation waterman and his father was one of the founders of the watermen’s association. Watermen across the state have been calling the MWA office about funeral details and we are reporting them here:

 

The visitation and viewing will be held from 9:00 -10:00am am, Saturday, July 16.

The wake will be held at 10:00 – 11:00am

The celebration of life service will be held at 11:00am

The repast to follow at The West River United Methodist Church Camp, 5100 Chalk Point Road, West River, Maryland 20778.

 

All activities will be held at Franklin United Methodist Church 5345 Deale Churchton Road, Churchton MD

Flowers may be sent to the church.

Condolences may be sent to J.R.’s mother, Patricia Gross.  1141 W River Cove Rd., Churchton, MD 20733

 

 

Thanks,

 

Melissa Boe

Office Manager

Maryland Watermen’s Association

 

Edgar Hansen of the F/V Northwestern comes to CBMM for TCWA’s Watermen’s Appreciation Day June 20, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 2:03 pm
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Edgar Hansen of the F/V Northwestern comes to CBMM for Watermen’s Appreciation Day this August 14

Edgar Hansen of the fishing vessel Northwestern—as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” is coming to St. Michaels, MD and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum on Sunday, August 14 for the 2nd annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day.

Hansen agreed to attend the event after learning of some of the parallels both Alaskan fisherman and the Chesapeake’s watermen are facing. “With fishing being my livelihood for over 25 years,” said Hansen, “it is a pleasure any time I am able to help others in the industry and support them in the challenges they face.” “I was floored when they returned my phone call,” said Talbot County Watermen’s Association’s event coordinator, Lisa Gowe. “He is really looking forward to coming to the museum, and getting on a couple of boats during the docking contest.” Watermen’s Appreciation Day is scheduled for Sunday, August 14 from 10am to 5pm along the waterfront campus of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The event celebrates the Chesapeake watermen’s heritage and features the days catch of crabs in a Maryland crab feast; live toe-tapping and get-up-anddance music with Bird Dog & the Road Kings; and a spirited “Watermen’s Rodeo” boat docking contest which begins at 11am.

“Edgar is planning on being with us the entire day,” said Gowe. “He’ll be participating in the boat docking contest, eating crabs, handing out trophies to our winners, helping with items for our silent auction, and signing autographs for a couple of hours that day.” Edgar Hansen is the youngest Hansen brother on the fishing vessel Northwestern, which fishes for Alaskan king crab and opilio crab out of Alaska’s Dutch Harbor. The boat and crew are featured on Discovery Channel’s #1 show, Deadliest Catch.

Edgar is one of the most talented men on deck, according to his brother, Captain Sig Hansen. On the show since the series started airing seven years ago, Edgar began fishing at age 18 and came into his own on deck after only a few seasons. He is known as the “deckboss”—an informal title given to the senior man on the fishing deck.

The August 14 event is sponsored by the Talbot County Watermen’s Association in cooperation

with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, with proceeds benefitting both organizations.

Admission includes the crab feast and other foods and is $25 for adults, or $16 for children ages

6-17, with kids under six fed and admitted for free.

 

Edgar Hanson to come to Watermen’s Day June 20, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 1:49 pm
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2nd Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day is August 14 at CBMM

 

Come to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD on Sunday, August 14 from

10am to 5pm and meet Chesapeake watermen celebrating their heritage at the 2nd Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day.

Edgar Hansen of the fishing vessel Northwestern—as featured on Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch,” is also coming to the August 14 event.

Hansen agreed to attend the event after learning of some of the parallels both Alaskan fisherman and the Chesapeake’s watermen are facing. “With fishing

being my livelihood for over 25 years,” said Hansen,“it is a pleasure any time I am able to help others in

the industry and support them in the challenges they face.”

“Edgar is planning on being with us the entire day,” said Gowe. “He’ll be participating in the boat docking

contest, eating crabs, handing out trophies to our winners, helping with items for our silent auction, and

signing autographs for a couple of hours that day.”

Beginning at 11am, you can watch professionals in a spirited “Watermen’s Rodeo” or boat docking contest along

Foggs Cove. At noon, the day’s catch of crabs will be steamed up and served in a traditional Maryland crab feast, with live music beginning at 1pm from one of the Eastern Shore’s favorite bands, Bird Dog & the Road Kings. Check out the working watermen’s boats along the waterfront during this event, or tour the museum’s 18-acre waterfront campus and ten exhibit buildings, including the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse and the Oystering on the Chesapeake exhibits.

The event is sponsored by the Talbot County Watermen’s Association in cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Admission includes the crab feast and other foods and is $25 for adults, or $16 for children ages 6-17, with kids under six fed and admitted for free. Museum members get into the event for free, with crab feast wristbands available for members at $15 per adult, or $6 for children ages 6-17. For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

 

June 9, 2011

Filed under: EASTERN SHORE,NEWS,ST MICHAELS,TALBOT COUNTY,WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 1:54 pm
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For more information, contact:

Tracey
Munson, director of marketing

Chesapeake BayMaritime Museum

410-745-4960

tmunson@cbmm.org

(ST
MICHAELS, MD – June 9, 2010)

 

Watermen’s Appreciation Day is August 14 at CBMM

 

Come to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
in St. Michaels on Sunday, August 14 from 10 to 5pm and meet Chesapeake
watermen celebrating their heritage at the 2ond Annual Watermen’s Appreciation
Day. Watch professionals in action at a 3pm Boat Docking Contest or take a
chance in the silent auction, featuring the artwork of Marc Castelli. Participants
can attend a crab feast, or enjoy hot dogs & cold beer. Live music by Bird
Dog & the Road Kings will entertain guests from 1-5pm. The event is
sponsored by the Talbot County Watermen’s Association in cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Museum members receive free admission. Otherwise, $10 adult admission, $6 for children
ages 6-17, and five and under free. Crab feast tickets are $15 each, or $10
each with a commercial fishing license shown. For more information, visit
cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

 

meeting reminder May 14, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 12:10 pm

TCWA will have our Membership meeting Sunday 5/14/2011 at 7 am.The meeting will be held at Cheasapeake Landing.Breakfast will be served.

Please plan to attend!Will will be voting in a new vice president.Also The EDF will be comming to talk about Catch Shares.See you then.

 

DNR Fisheries Service To Host Public Regulatory Scoping Meeting May 5, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 4:46 pm
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Annapolis, Md. (May 4, 2011) — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service will hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. on May 9 in the Fellowship Hall at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Annapolis to present and obtain input on several regulatory ideas, including:

  • Possible changes to the current commercial female blue crab closure periods and catch limits
  • A new regulation for egregious or repeat crab or striped bass violations related to using illegal gear, harvesting during a closed season, harvesting from a closed area, exceeding harvest catch or size limits and violating, tagging and reporting requirements. This action will also add oyster poaching penalties.
  • Elimination of a regulation that prohibits the commercial harvest of blue crabs on the second and third Thursdays in November.
  • Removal of the requirement to list a vessel number on a commercial crabbing license.
  • A clarification that all recreational crab pots are required to be marked with owner’s name and address.
  • Allowing temporary transfers of frozen and male only limited crab harvester licenses.
  • A clarification that oyster taxes only apply to oysters caught in the public commercial fishery.
  • A requirement of an individual to declare their intent to commercially harvest clams
  • Create consistency between regulations for the black sea bass, summer flounder and horseshoe crab commercial fisheries and allow some flexibility in coastal commercial permitting.
  • To prohibit all recreational and commercial fishing for river herring beginning January 1, 2012.
  • To allow leasing in sanctuaries on non-historic natural oyster bars.Additional information on these agenda items is available at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/regulations/draftregulations.asp

    Regulatory Scoping Meetings are held to discuss possible changes to fishing rules. Draft regulatory ideas are posted on the Fisheries’ Service website and comments are taken by email, fax, or mail by a specified date and at the Public Scoping Meeting. Based upon public input, the Department will determine whether or not to proceed with these regulatory ideas, as presented or modified, by submitting a proposed regulation.

    Sign language interpreters and other appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request.

    You may submit comments on these regulatory ideas by going to the Fisheries Draft Regulations Website, faxing them to 410-260-8310 or mailing them to Fisheries Regulations, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Ave., B-2, Annapolis, MD 21401.

 

Fisheries managers will be all ears next Wednesday April 7, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 4:43 pm

Fisheries managers will be all ears next Wednesday
Tongue tied? The Council’s news release has some suggestions: bycatch reduction, catch shares, recent assessment results, allocation issues, research set-aside program.

No? How about coastal and marine spacial planning or annual catch limits?

Don’t be shy. You can talk about “anything else that’s on your mind,” the news release says.

Hey, if you’ve attended a Sport Fish or Tidal Fish advisory commission meeting and not fallen asleep, this could be for you.

The one-hour session on April 13 begins at 5 p.m. It’s being held at the Governor Calvert House.

Can’t make it? Register for the webinar!

Questions, thoughts? Contact Jason Didden at 302-526-5254 or or jdidden@mafmc.org.

What is the MAFMC, you ask?

It’s the 25-member board (including Maryland’s Howard King, Tom O’Connell, Mike Luisi and Steve Linhard) charged with overseeing fisheries management in the Atlantic’s federal waters, three miles to 200 miles offshore.

 

Gill net fishing on the miles March 30, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 6:16 pm
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyiv7kIy8Ew

This is a great video on gill netting. take a look!

 

Thank You March 16, 2011

Filed under: WATERMEN — talbotwater @ 5:43 am

        The family of Wendell Lednum would like to thank our family, friends, and especially the community for all the donations and support given during the six months Wendell was sick and afterwards in our time of sorrow. You all have been very important to the care and well being of Wendell while he put up a good fight. Because of you all he had a reason to fight. His family appreciates everything that was given and also offered, whether it be a phone call, food, prayers, flowers, cards, or monitary donations. He was obviously very much loved and will be greatly missed. So on behalf of Wendell and his family we just wanted to say Thank You!

  Thank You

   May God Bless You All

  The Lednum Family

 

 
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