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WATERFRONT BUSINESS In brief… Man drowns at Bayswater Marina A man has died after falling off a boat in a marina on Auckland's North Shore. The man, in his 50s, was drowned around 1am on September 20, at Bayswater Marina. He had been living on the boat and was reported missing by family members. The police launch Deodar searched the water and the man's body was found at dawn. The death was not being treated as suspicious. An autopsy will be carried out and the case will be referred to the coroner. New Zealand Seafood Industry Council chief executive resigns The Chairman of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council has announced the resignation of its Chief Executive, Peter Bodeker, who will leave the organisation in mid November 2012. Bodeker has accepted the role of Chief Executive of the Otago Regional Council. Dave Sharp, Chairman of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council said that Peter had done a great job of leading SeaFIC through a significant restructuring process. "Peter leaves the organisation in a strong position to achieve its goals around the effective promotion and representation of the New Zealand seafood industry at a national and international level. On behalf of the Board, we have appreciated Peter's leadership and input into wider industry issues and wish him all the best in his new role. " Body recovered from Takapuna beach Police have identified a body recovered off Takapuna Beach on September 1 as Mark Thomas, 52, of Auckland. Thomas' body was recovered off Takapuna Beach following a combined NZ Navy and police operation using sonar equipment. Police Maritime Auckland duty sergeant Graham Jex said, "The body was located about 700m east of Thorne Bay between Takapuna and Milford. We believe it is the missing paddle boarder." Jex said there is no indication as to how the man died. The missing paddleboarder, in his early 50s, entered the water at the northern end of the beach on Wednesday afternoon and his family alerted police after he failed to return. His board was found by the police launch Deodar near where he entered the water. Police are referring the matter to the Coroner. 40 Professional Skipper November/December 2012 Tiritiri Matangi Island loses iconic takah¯e ONE OF TIRITIRI Matangi Island's best known and loved endangered birds died on August 12 while being assessed for health problems at Auckland Zoo. The exact cause of death is yet to be determined, but Greg, the 19 year old takahē ambassador had been showing the signs of old age, losing weight and had been ousted from his territory by younger and fitter birds on the island. Thousands of New Zealanders and international visitors came to know and love Greg who was an exceptional advocate for his species and the island's conservation efforts. Greg was the personal face of rare species, he was great at engaging the public, an expert at winning people over and at times even stealing their lunch. Wherever there were people Greg was there. Takahē were first introduced to Tiritiri Matangi in 1991 as part of the national recovery programme, with Greg arriving in 1994. Department of Conservation Island Ranger Jess Clark says, "He was just 18 months old when he came to the island but quickly got down to the job of breeding, fathering many chicks over the years. When you have a national population of just 260 birds, his contribution and legacy has to be considered significant." 13 takahē remain on Tiritiri Matangi. Young juvenile birds from the successful island breeding programme have been taken back to the Murchison Mountains to help boost the mainland wild population and ensure the genetic diversity of island populations which is crucial to the success of the takahē recovery programme. A fund is being set up in Greg's memory to be used for future conservation projects on the island. SAFETY MESSAGES IGNORED WITH TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES MARITIME NZ SAYS the sentencing of Timaru man David Lloyd Batchelor following the death of a friend in a boating accident highlights the tragic consequences of not following basic safety guidelines. Mr Batchelor was fined $500 in the Timaru District Court on Friday August 31, and ordered to pay $2,500 in reparations to the widow of Frank Sanders, 59, who died on Lake Alexandrina in April 2011 after Mr Batchelor's 4.7m dinghy, carrying him and three other men, capsized. Maritime NZ maritime investigations manager Steve van der Splinter said, "The men did not have the right equipment, had not done something as simple as checking the weather forecast, and they had been drinking. This was an avoidable tragedy." MNZ recommends that boaties: • avoid alcohol • carry emergency communications that will work when wet • check the weather • and that everyone onboard a boat under six metres in length wears a lifejacket at all times None of these recommendations were followed on the day Mr Sanders died. Mr Batchelor's dinghy had just one lifejacket aboard and nobody was wearing it. On July 1, 2011, Environment Canterbury introduced a by law making it mandatory for lifejackets to be worn at all times on vessels under six metres in length. Similar bylaws are in place for: Hawke's Bay, Greater Wellington and Waikato regional councils, Queenstown Lakes District Council, Environment Canterbury, and Environment Southland.