The Cornelia Marie and crew, featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” series, moored in Kailua Bay on Friday.
The 128-foot fishing vessel based out of Alaska is in the area as filming wraps up for the second season of “Deadliest Catch: Bloodline.”
Filming began in early August following quarantine of mainland crew and has taken place mostly on private property, said Hawaii Island Film Commissioner Justin Finestone. Permits for county beaches were pulled in accordance with Mayor Harry Kim’s amended Emergency Rule No. 11 that closed state and county shorelines until 7 a.m. Sept. 19.
“Their productions tend to be very safe because they have to follow industry guidelines — they take all the precautions that the CDC has out there that we all take in our daily lives and they ramp it up to a higher a level,” he said. “The other good thing is they hire local people, so it does provides some jobs and they do spend money on the island for food and lodging and other things. It is good for the economy.”
The show is a spin-off of “Deadliest Catch” that premiered in April. It follows fishermen Josh Harris, his business partner Casey McManus and Jeff Silva as they investigate old fishing charts from the leeward waters of the Big Island left by Josh’s late father, Phil Harris.
The crew posted a message to the vessel’s official Facebook page this week expressing their gratitude to the Aloha State.
“Huge mahalos. We couldn’t do this without the support of the community around here — especially the entire state of Hawaii supporting what Josh and I and Jeff are doing right now,” McManus said, speaking from the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. “We can’t even say thank you enough. We just appreciate all the support and everything that everybody has put into this show to make it awesome.”
Harris said it has been amazing learning about the “honor, respect and the history of this island.”
“I can’t thank everyone enough that’s met us or that has had to deal with us — like for helping, showing us the right way it’s done out here. I love it. I appreciate it. I’m thankful for you guys. Thank you very much man,” he said. “Keep watching our show and we’ll keep respecting the island. Teach us, we want to learn and thank you for letting us be here.”