Perfect Storm Skipper Fined for Illegal Fishing

[Onshore]

Perfect Storm Skipper fined for Illegal Fishing
Florida Today, June 10, 2009

Celebrity Fishing captain and author, Linda Greenlaw, who survived the noreaster that was basis for the book and movie"The Perfect Storm" was fined Tuesday for illegally fishing in Canadian waters.

A judge in St. John's, Newfoundland, imposed fines of about $31,500 for entering Canadian waters and fishing illegally last fall. The Canadian government also seized her swordfish catch.

"I've got to either catch a lot of lobsters or sell a lot of books to pay the fine," Greenlaw said Tuesday from her home in Maine. She was not required to attend the hearing.

[CMP]

The cannucks have had a hard-on for Linda for over a decade. If you've ever been up in that Isle au Haut and Grand Manan area, you'd have seen the northern equivalent of the border war of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Cannuck fisheries guys are pretty much extortionists when it comes to our fish-folk in that neck of the woods...

CMP

[FlyFishFrostie]

I've read her two books, and my general impression (not always accurate) of LG is that she's smart and honest and probably would not intentionally or even negligently do something like this. My guess is that the Canadians were either overly aggressive or that her boat may have drifted slightly into "Canadian" waters after she had caught her fish.

What a lousy break for her. Maybe we can return the favor when some of their fishermen come close to the border.--123-3

[Onshore]

Linda is a very smart and savy skipper. If her boat was over the line, you can bet she knew about it. This is not her first fishing infraction. Her not bothering to attend the hearing in St. Johns says a lot. She had no case or excuse. Ever since the Haig-Line was set, the Canadians have patrolled it and our skippers are all aware of the dangers in crossing it.

She has a long record of decimating the swordfish stocks and a reputation for getting her fish by any means. And she is notoriously outspoken against ocean conservation. Here's the full AP report on her arrest.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linda Greenlaw arrested in Canada on fishing boat

By Associated Press
September 28, 2008 9:11 AM
ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland (AP) _ A world-famous fisherman from Maine faces charges in Canada following her arrest for allegedly fishing illegally inside Canada's 200-mile limit.
Linda Greenlaw, a commercial fisherman and best-selling author, was led into court in Newfoundland in handcuffs on Friday following her arrest.
Greenlaw, 47, of Isle au Haut, Maine, survived the so-called Perfect Storm of 1991 and was the last person in contact with the Andrea Gail, a swordfish boat from Massachusetts, that sank with all hands.

Greenlaw faced a barrage of reporters and camera crews as she made her way from her holding cell to court. Among the media was an American television crew from Original Productions of Burbank, Calif. They were on Greenlaw's boat, Sea Hawk, to film an upcoming NBC-TV series when the skipper was arrested Tuesday.
"But we didn't expect this," said one of the crew, who said the yet-to-to-be-named, eight-episode series will feature swordfishing.

Officials contend a fisheries patrol plane spotted Greenlaw's boat fishing inside Canadian waters. Fisheries officers boarded the vessel and arrested Greenlaw.
The boat, escorted by a coast guard vessel, arrived early Friday in St. John's.
Judge Joseph Woodrow released Greenlaw on a recognizance with a $10,000 cash deposit. She's due back in court Oct. 27.

Greenlaw is the author of several books about life as a commercial fisherman, including "The Hungry Ocean" and "All Fishermen Are Liars."

[CMP]

Ohh, I get it Bill. Due to her stance on politically-motivated fisheries issues, she's guilty in your mind. That's why you posted this to no fewer than 3 websites in multiple places. I guess the cannucks who hound her relentlessly aren't the only ones with a hard-on for Linda...

CMP

[Onshore]

Ohh, I get it Bill. Due to her stance on politically-motivated fisheries issues, she's guilty in your mind. That's why you posted this to no fewer than 3 websites in multiple places. I guess the cannucks who hound her relentlessly aren't the only ones with a hard-on for Linda...

CMP

Actually, I posted it on two websites and this is the only one I posted a link from one forum to another. Linda's record speaks for itself.

[FlyFishFrostie]

I'm torn on this. She probably knew what she was doing (thanks for the info, Onshore), yet I've always been a fan.

Not showing up at the hearing? What were the distances involved? Plus, Linda may have suspected it wouldn't be worth her while to bother showing up. Their word against hers, and on their turf. What's the use?

What happens if she does nothing, doesn't pay the fine, and never goes across the border again? Do the Canadians try to extradite her?

Maybe she could offer to write another book about the incident (this may have been her plan from the beginning) and about commercial fishing in general and promise the Canadians their 15 minutes of fame in her story and a percentage of the profits in lieu of the fine. A possible win-win, while yielding to some potential extortion.

However, she is a roll model of sorts, so she has set a poor example. I'd like to believe this will have a happy ending.

[Onshore]

No doubt, the boat owners will pay her fine. If not, there is an agreement between our two countries and a means to collect fines of that type or face suspension of commercial licenses. The fine will be paid and considered just a "cost of doing buisiness".