The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2020 minimum random drug testing rate at 50 percent of covered crewmembers. The minimum random drug testing rate is effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

The Coast Guard requires marine employers to establish random drug testing programs for covered crewmembers in accordance with 46 CFR 16.230. Marine employers are required by 46 CFR 16.500 to collect and maintain a record of drug testing data for each calendar year, and submit this data to the Coast Guard in a Management Information System (MIS) Report by March 15 of the following year.

Each year, the Coast Guard will publish a notice reporting the results of random drug testing for the previous calendar year’s MIS data and the required minimum annual percentage rate for random drug testing for the next calendar year. The purpose of setting a minimum random drug testing rate is to promote maritime safety by establishing an effective deterrent to drug misuse within the maritime workforce. Intoxicated operations poses a serious threat to life, property and the environment in the maritime commons. As such, the minimum random drug testing rate is intended to deter and detect illegal drug misuse in the maritime industry.

The Coast Guard announces that the minimum random drug testing rate for the calendar year 2020 is 50 percent. The Coast Guard continues a 50 percent minimum random drug testing rate for 2020 as a result of MIS data for the most recent reporting year which indicated that the positive rate continues to be greater than one percent. 46 CFR 16.230(f)(2) requires the Commandant to set the minimum random drug testing rate at 50 percent when the positivity rate for drug use is greater than 1 percent.

For questions about this notice, please contact Mr. Patrick Mannion, Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Investigation Program Manager, Office of Investigations and Analysis (CG-INV), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, via email; DAPI@uscg.mil.

Commerce Twp., Mich., November 26, 2019 – The Michigan Boating Industries Association (MBIA) will honor Captain Denny Grinold, former president of the Michigan Charter Boat Association for his outstanding contributions to the recreational boating and fishing industries through leadership, dedication, innovation, and personal motivation with the Ray L. Underwood Lifetime Achievement Award for 2019. The award presentation will be made during the Awards Dinner at the Recreational Boating Educational Conference on December 4 in Lansing, Mich.

“Denny has spent a lifetime tirelessly advocating for fishing, boating, and tourism in Michigan and has been recognized by many,” said MBIA Executive Director Nicki Polan. “His list of accomplishments is long, and we are grateful for his advocacy on important legislative issues and his innovations and partnership building, which have brought us promotions like the “Catch and Cook” program in Michigan.

In addition to owning and running an auto repair business in Lansing, Grinold is a 30-year veteran charter boat captain based out of Grand Haven is an avid Salmon fisherman. Outdoor Life Magazine has included Grinold as one of the 20 best anglers in the planet more than once. The Michigan United Conservation Clubs named Grinold as the ‘Fisheries Conservationist of the Year.’ He has also been honored by the Michigan Salmon and Steelhead Fisherman’s Association with the Dr. Howard Tanner Award, named after the man behind Great Lakes Salmon. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission honored Grinold with the C.D. “Buzz” Besadny Award for fostering Great Lakes partnerships. He also has been appointed to the Michigan State Waterways Commission.

“Denny’s advocacy has always aligned with our MBIA mission to promote, protect and advance the recreational boating industry in Michigan. Because of his dedication, the MBIA Board of Directors has unanimously voted to award him the prestigious Ray L. Underwood Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Polan.

MBIA is the official, state-wide marine industry association which serves as the voice for Michigan’s $7.8 billion marine industry and the four million people who enjoy Michigan’s nearly one million registered boats. The MBIA is dedicated to the advancement, protection and promotion of boating across Michigan. The MBIA produces three association-owned boat shows, the Detroit Boat Show at TCF Center, the Novi Boat Show in Novi, and the Metro Boat Show in Harrison Twp.  The proceeds from these shows benefit boating in Michigan through MBIA programs and promotions. For more information about the MBIA, and a full list of award recipients go to www.mbia.org or call 734.261.0123.

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Contact: Nicki Polan | MBIA Executive Director npolan@mbia.org | 734.261.0124 ext. 4
Amanda Wendecker, VP of Marketing awendecker@mbia.org | 734.261.0123 ext. 3

On behalf of fellow members of the Michigan Charter Boat Association, this award is presented to Captain Trevor Castonia in recognition of his actions of bravery and heroism.

On June 2, 2019, Trevor and his crew aboard Sportsmen Charters rescued two people from their sinking boat on Lake Michigan, waters near Pentwater, Michigan. His quick-thinking actions and servant attitude saved the lives of these individuals.

Read the full story here http://www.oceanacountypress.com/2019/06/03/charter-boat-fishermen-save-couple-from-sinking-boat/

The Pistis Award is given in honor of Chuck Pistis, former Michigan Sea Grant Program Director.

It honors an individual or organization outside MCBA who is a defender of our Great Lakes and natural resources.

This year the Michigan Charter Boat Association proudly presented the Annual Pistis Award at our fall awards banquet to Donna Wesander.

Donna started work for Fisheries Division in 1991 as a Data Coding Operator at the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station. She then worked as an Environmental Quality Analyst for MDNR Environmental Response Division, before returning to Charlevoix as a Fisheries Technician in 1993. She was first responsible for the tagged fish collection, tag extraction, and evaluation of natural reproduction by Great Lakes salmon, but later shifted duties to support the Division creel survey and charter boat programs. She was promoted to the Fisheries Technician Specialist in charge of the statewide Charter Boat Reporting Program in 2003.

Since 2003, Donna has worked to significantly improve Charter Boat Survey Program operations and products. These improvements include the development of the Charter Boat Survey Program web page, development of a searchable online creel/charter results database, and development of an online reporting system for charter captains. Donna’s work has helped us keep pace with technology, cut costs for both the Division and for charter captains, and has opened up Great Lakes fisheries management options that were previously unavailable due to lack of timely data delivery. The MDNR Charter Boat Survey Program is a model for other similar programs throughout the country, and Donna is an outstanding ambassador for Michigan, the MDNR, and the state’s charter boat industry.

In 2012, Donna Wesander was the recipient of the “Tanner & Tody” award for her work on improving data quality and access to the state Charter Boat Survey Program. The Tanner & Tody award is given to Fisheries Division employees who have worked on specific projects which were of outstanding benefit to the Division, Department, and resource users of Michigan. This award’s name comes from two former DNR Fisheries Division Chiefs (Howard Tanner and Wayne Tody) who were willing to take major risks on projects that have had a significant impact on the fisheries we know today.

Donna represents everything that is good about public service. She has always worked tirelessly to do what is right for the resources and people of the state. Hallmarks of her career have been the way she has constantly worked to provide information and products that are useful to charter captains, and her consistent attention to providing data of the highest quality to Great Lakes fisheries managers. Reliability, accuracy, and timeliness of Charter Boat Survey Program products have improved greatly in the almost 20 years that Donna has been leading this program, as has the strength of the collaboration between the charter industry and Fisheries Division. Much of this improvement can be directly attributed to Donna’s hard work, her vision, and her strong relationship with the MCBA. Congratulations Donna, and thank you for all of your hard work!