Burnham's Ledge Dive Report and Request for Help

[TimK]

If I can do anything to help please PM me. That means diving or contacting government agencies. I love Burhnam's and I hate the thought of an abandoned net continuing to kill sealife for no reason.

 

[oceancurrent]

Good plan.

1. Contact NMS
2. Contact a harbor master
3. Get out and take care of the net once and for all
4. Publicize the operation, the dead sea life, and the careless attitude of the locals

Who's got a worthy boat and is willing to help?

 

[matt_unique]

Thanks for the suggestions, I've also had some PM's and I appreciate that.

I plan to return soon to see if we can make any progress. I was hoping those who were interested could dedicate a few minutes at the end of their dive if they happen to be at Burnham through a charter or such.

Assuming we can cut it free there is also the issue of weight and disposal....the net itself would be no big deal but with say 100lbs of sea life it will be a bit more difficult. I don't see us throwing a net complete with sharks and a seal carcass into a dumpter on shore.....hmmm.

--Matt

 

[TimK]

I don't see us throwing a net complete with sharks and a seal carcass into a dumpter on shore.....hmmm.

--Matt

Maybe carefully placing it on Main Street so as to not lose a single dead creature so the Gloucester residents can see one of the by products of their fishing industry. Lets see them blame divers for that.

I know we can't do it but it might get a point across to some...

Maybe the best thing to do might be photograph the net with everything in it and then cut the animals free if possible either as the net is being cut free at depth or as it's being pulled into the boat, and add them back into the ocean food chain and just bring the net to shore for disposal.

 

[oceancurrent]

I don't think that the charters go to Burnham's these days because of the net. Furthermore, it sounds like they would mind if people work on the net.

 

[dave4868]

Thanks for the suggestions, I've also had some PM's and I appreciate that.

I plan to return soon to see if we can make any progress. I was hoping those who were interested could dedicate a few minutes at the end of their dive if they happen to be at Burnham through a charter or such.

Assuming we can cut it free there is also the issue of weight and disposal....the net itself would be no big deal but with say 100lbs of sea life it will be a bit more difficult. I don't see us throwing a net complete with sharks and a seal carcass into a dumpter on shore.....hmmm.

--Matt

Knowing how distracted I might get on the project, dedicating some time at the beginning of the dive would be safer for me....

I could see taking a few minutes to cut a section of net, remove the animals, ball up the section and tie the ball off with some nylon cord, eventually bringing the ball of net up.

Dave C

 

[pdive]

Does the Boston Globe have a science/nature section anymore? Maybe someone there would be interested in the story.

 

[mello-yellow]

Does the Boston Globe have a science/nature section anymore? Maybe someone there would be interested in the story.

Yes, it still does. On Tuesdays, if I am not mistaken.

 

[coldsquid]

Wow, I guess relations are tense between the dive community and commercial fisherman in Gloucester. I come from a family of commercial fisherman and can tell you that you don't just carelessly loose a net. That net represents thousands of dollars to a boat, and that is thousands of dollars that will not be available to feed their families. Is there a feeling on this board that the fishing community of Gloucester does not care about the ocean? It's their livelihood.

I would definitely get some legal advice on removing that net before attempting it, and please, be careful if you do try to remove it.

btw, I am not trying to stir anything up, just wanted to present the other side.

 

[TimK]

There were quite a few threads on the ongoing disputes between divers and primarily lobstermen in Gloucester, covered by a media that seems biased towards the lobstering industry. Don't know if those threads survived the recent server issues and upgrades but will give you some history.