Seiners ~ New Jersey Scuba Diving

Seiners

A small commercial fishing vessel of unknown type, although the bushels on deck would imply that she was after some kind of shellfish.

There are three basic types of commercial fishing vessels found in the Mid-Atlantic region: trawlers, seiners/gill-netters, and long-liners. A trawler or "dragger" operates by towing its fishing gear across the bottom. Weighted nets take bottom fishes, while cage-like steel dredges take clams and scallops. A seiner uses a floating net to encircle schools of surface-swimming fishes such as herring and tuna. A long-liner sets out miles of buoyed line with baited hooks to catch sharks, tuna, and swordfish. One could also add lobster boats and charter fishing or "head" boats to this list. And of course, dive boats.

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Atlantic Mist PCE-880

Type:: artificial reef, purse seiner, formerly Navy patrol craft
Built:: 1943, Albina Engine & Machine Works, Portland OR USA
Specs:: ( 185 x 33 ft ) 850 tons
Sunk:: Saturday, Jan 16, 2010 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.063' -74°30.271'
Depth:: 100 ft

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Beach Haven

Type:: artificial reef, purse seiner, clam dredge, USA
Built:: 1949, RTC Shipbuilding, Camden NJ USA
Specs:: ( 125 x 21 ft )
Sponsor:: Gifford Marine Company, Fish America Foundation, Artificial Reef Association
Sunk:: Thursday August 6, 1992 - Atlantic City Artificial Reef
GPS:: 39°15.340' -74°14.017'

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Beth Drydock No. 5

Type:: artificial reef, drydock (3 sections)
Built:: ?
Specs:: ( 133 x 96 x 54 ft )
Sunk:: May 20, 1985
GPS:: 38.515281 -74.525933
Depth:: 120 ft

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Gregory Poole AM-215

Type:: artificial reef, minesweeper, US Navy, later converted to purse seiner
Built:: 1944, Tampa Shipbuilding, Tampa FL USA as AM-215 Cruise
Specs:: ( 184 x 33 ft ) 650 tons
Sunk:: Monday, Dec 10, 2007 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°30.910' -74°30.597'
Depth:: 120 ft

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John S Dempster Jr FS-355

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1944, J.K. Welding, Yonkers NY, as FS-355 (US Army)
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:: Thursday, Jan 21, 2021 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.340' -74°30.671'
Depth:: 125 ft

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Reedville FS-278

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1944, Wheeler Shipbuilding, Brooklyn NY USA, as Army FS-278
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 gross tons
Sunk:: Friday, August 14, 2020 - Delaware #11 Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°40.423' -74°44.295'
Depth:: 80 ft

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Shearwater FS-411

USNS Shearwater reef — *Shearwater*, with *Tamaroa* behind

Type:: artificial reef, freighter, purse seiner
Built:: 1945, Hickinbotham Brothers, Stockton CA USA as FS-411 (US Army)
Specs:: ( 166 x 32 ft ) 542 tons
Sunk:: Dec 11, 2015 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef
GPS:: 38°31.661' -74°30.607'
Depth:: 120 ft

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Double-Crested Cormorant

What do you get when you cross a pigeon with a duck?

Phalacrocorax auritus

This large ( 27", wingspan 50" ) seabird is more likely to be seen around backwaters than in the open ocean. Cormorants seem rather poorly adapted to their lifestyle - they barely float, and their feathers are not waterproof like other waterfowl. As a result, they can often be seen standing on rocks and pilings or in trees in just this pose, sunning themselves to warm up and dry out after diving for fish. Despite this apparent disadvantage, they are quite successful and even manage to over-winter in the area. Cormorants are amazing swimmers and divers, able to catch fish underwater in their own environment.

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