The Twine Loft – May 2020

Passed On: Tom Best – Petty Harbour, N.L. fisherman

Best, 74, passed away on March 31 at the Miller Centre in St. John’s following a battle with cancer. He became a licenced inshore fisherman in Petty Harbour in 1963 after finishing high school. He was a fiercely proud inshore fish harvester who dedicated his life’s work to advocating for sustainable fisheries and communities. He chaired the Petty Harbour Fishermen’s Committee for many years and was the founding president of the Petty Harbour Fishermen’s Co-operative, serving as President for most of the past 36 years. He served on multiple local and national committees related to the fishing industry and was privileged to support others around the globe in their quest for sustainable fisheries and co-operative development. In 2012, he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal. He will be missed by his friends in the waterfront sheds in Petty Harbour, with whom he shared a special bond.

Passed On: Milton Burgess – Port Mouton, N.S. fisherman

Burgess, 80, passed away on March 23 at the Queens General Hospital in Liverpool. Born in Southwest Port Mouton, Queens County, he was a son of the late Gilbert and Frances (Bowers) Burgess. He was a life-long commercial fisherman working on the west coast until 1980, then returned home to Port Mouton to fish with his brother Gerald until his retirement in 1998.

Passed On: James Bateman – Shediac Cape, N.B. fish processor

Bateman, 86, passed away on April 1 at his home in Shediac Cape. He was born in Shediac, the only son of Edward J. and Gladys (Dewitt) Bateman. Since his early 20s, he had been active in the seafood industry. As a manager and owner with National Sea Products and Paturel, he enjoyed deal-making from fishermen’s wharves in the Maritimes, Maine, the Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands, to boardrooms in Europe and Japan. He loved his work, and never really retired. His dedication to his community led to involvement with many organizations and boards, among them the Fishermen’s Loan Board, the Fisheries Council of Canada (past president), the New Brunswick Fish Packers Association (past president), the Canadian Lobster Promotion Association (past president), the Public Utilities Board, the Shediac Rotary Club, the Friends of the Moncton Hospital, the Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre and Trinity United Church. In 2012, he was inducted into the Atlantic Canada Marine Industries Hall of Fame.

Passed On: Ralph Amirault – Meteghan Centre, N.S. fisherman

Amirault, 68, passed away on February 28 at the Yarmouth Regional Hospital. Born in Meteghan Centre, he was a son of the late Victor and Antoinette (Comeau) Amirault. He was a fisherman for 50 years in the lobster, scallop and fish dragging sectors. He was the youngest captain on a scallop boat. He became the first captain of the fish dragger Venture 2000 and remained in that position until his retirement in December 2014. The Venture 2000 was built in 1998 for BCD Fisheries, Little Brook and at the time he was part owner of the company.

Passed On: Jane Hanson – Mill Village, N.S. fish plant worker

Hanson, 54, passed away on March 8 at the QEII Hospital in Halifax. Born in Liverpool, she was a daughter of the late Willis and Doris (Huphman) Roy. She worked for Bud MacLeod’s Fisheries as a fish cutter.

Passed On: Bernard MacLeod – Judique, N.S. fisherman

MacLeod, 65, passed away on February 26 at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital. Born on June 29, 1954, he was the oldest son of the late Dan Allan and Margaret MacLeod, Port Hood. He was a fisherman’s helper most of his life. He fished with his long-time employer and friend Ronald Joseph MacDonald of Long Point until he had to retire due to illness.

Passed On: Gilford Harnish – Mill Cove, N.S. fisherman

Harnish, 92, passed away on March 3 at the Melville Lodge in Halifax. Born in Mill Cove, he was son of the late William and Stella (Jollimore) Harnish. He started working in the fishing industry in St. Margaret’s Bay at a very young age and he became a very accomplished fisherman.

Passed On: Gerard Hare – Miramichi, N.B. fisheries scientist

Hare passed away on March 12 at the Miramichi Hospital after a sudden illness. He had been a research biologist with a specialty in microbial diseases of fish. He worked for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and later as a professor at the University of New Brunswick. He was a world-renowned salmon expert and his research supported the First Nations fishing rights in cases brought before the federal courts. His environmental impact analysis helped in the preservation and promotion of fishing rights for First Nations people. He was also an avid fisherman and inventor. He developed a prototype and patented unique fishing rods.

Appointed: Baffin Fisheries Board Members

The Board of Directors of Baffin Fisheries recently announced the election of David Alexander, of the Amaruq Hunting and Trapping Association (HTA), as Chairman of the Board at a regular meeting of the Board held on March 3, 2020, in Iqaluit. The following HTA representatives have been elected or confirmed as Baffin Fisheries Board members:

Member HTA

• David Alexander, Chair Amaruq
• Leo Maktar, Vice-Chair Mittimatalik
• Mikidjuk Kolola, Secretary Mayukalik
• Billy Etooangat, Chair, Finance Committee Pangnirtung
• Maliktoo Lyta Mayukalik
• Eric Ootoovak Mittimatalik
• Roger Etuangat Nangmautaq
• Noah Alookie Amaruq
• Kelly Karpik Pangnirtung
• Joamie Apak Nangmautaq