Since 2005, Deadliest Catch has tragically seen many of its cast members lose their lives. Three crab fisherman aboard the show’s Mary B II lost their lives at sea when the boat capsized in dangerous waters in 2019. Deadliest Catch paid tribute to the men during season 15 after the saddening loss.
Deadliest Catch may be classed as reality TV but the crew members putting their lives on the line for their livelihoods are real. Recent seasons have been harshly critiqued by some fans who suggest the storylines focus more on the “Captains’ drama” rather than the crew. But, the Discovery Channel series pays respect to those lost at sea.
Deadliest Catch: Mary B II
During Deadliest Catch season 15, the show pays tribute to the three men who lives lost at sea while aboard the Mary B II.
The crabbing vessel capsized in rough waters off the coast of Portland, Oregon on January 8, 2019, writes Daily Mail.
The three crew members who lost their lives were James Lacey, 48, Stephen Biernacki, 50, and Joshua Porter, 50.
The boat sank crossing the dangerous and notoriously known Yaquina Bay bar in waves that can reach 16 to 20 feet.
Speaking during season 15 episode 1, the show’s narrator says: “Crab fishing remains one of the world’s most dangerous professions. We pay tribute to all the fisherman and their families who have made the ultimate sacrifice including those lost this January 2019 off the Oregon coast.”
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Who was Stephen Biernacki?
Stephen Biernacki was Mary B II’s captain at the time it capsized.
He was 50 years old at the time of his death and hailed from Barnegat Township, New Jersey.
Stephen’s body “was found on the hull of the boat after it, too, washed up on a jetty,” writes USA Today.
The outlet adds: “His crew members, James, from South Toms River, New Jersey, was pulled from the ocean by helicopter and flown to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The body of Joshua Porter, of Toledo, Oregon, washed up on a beach early Wednesday.”
The tragic accident took place at a time when “crabbers were rushing to sea to try to catch up after the annual Oregon Dungeness crab season was delayed more than a month.”
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