Fund created for U.S. Sailor stabbed in Halifax

Nova Scotians have respond tremendously, donating more than $34,000 for the family of Petty Officer 1st Class Damon Crooks, the American sailor from the USS Doyle stabbed to death in Halifax while trying to break up a fight. The Chronicle Herald opened up the Damon Crooks Family Fund to help his fiancee Ms. Washington and her baby in Jacksonville, Fla. (atlanticcanadalive.com)

NEXUS Program for Travel to the U.S.A.

NEXUS trusted traveler programs for air, marine and highway are now a single program. Canadians who get a NEXUS card ($80 good for 5 years) can cross the border more easily. Applicants must submit to a background check, be interviewed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, have their iris photographed, and be fingerprinted. A NEXUS membership can be used instead of a passport for travel to the U.S. after January 23, 2007.

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B.C. Smuggler Set Free --Twice

Twice, police have seized vessels owned by Phil Stirling, carrying million of dollars worth of illicit drugs headed for the Canada. Both times, Phil Stirling and his crew were set free.

In 2001, American authorities seized the drug-laden Western Wind, owned by Phil Stirling, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They handed Stirling and his three crew over to Canadian authorities - B.C. police set them free. (Phil Stirling had a prison record on cocaine conspiracy-related charges.)

Last May, the RCMP seized the MV Bakur, a fishing vessel registered to Phil Stirling bound for B.C. They arrested Stirling and four men after finding $6.5 million worth of marijuana. The Crown entered stays of proceedings on all charges and set them free - again. Be careful sailing out there...
[The Vancouver Sun]

New Fish and Bait Viruses in Ontario

A new virulent fish virus, viral hemorrhagic septicemia, has been found in fish in the lower Great Lakes - Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. This virus has been linked to die-offs of four fish species so far, and could decimate fish if allowed to spread. The U.S. banned the import of 37 live fish species - including rainbow trout, chinook and coho salmon - from Ontario and Quebec, and also banned movement of fish between eight states. The Ontario government is putting restrictions on transport of live bait from the Great Lakes area to stop the virus from spreading north and west. (cbc.ca)

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will prohibit the sale of crayfish and frogs as bait sometime in 2007. Testing of bait-shop frogs found a 100% infection rate of ranavirus, which research has found can spread to fish. (fishontario.com)

2006 Nova Scotia Sailor of the Year dies

Peter Brock, 73 - Sailor, author, artist, musician whose journey through the Northwest Passage in his 14-metre (42') sailboat led him to be named 2006 Nova Scotia Sailor of the Year. In December, the sailing community was saddened to learn he was killed by a truck blinded by the sun. Read Peter's "thank you" message to the NSYA.