Daily Archives: September 12, 2017

Mayport shrimpers rode out storm on board their vessels in Jacksonville

Sixty-year-old Charles Long road out the storm with other shrimp fisherman and a lone grouper fisherman who moored about 20 boats in the St. John’s River near the Maxwell House building in downtown Jacksonville. Long, who told his girlfriend of 25 years that fishing comes before ladies — and everything — said weathering the storm on the 75-foot boat named “Judge” was a breeze. “Just another storm,” said the man who has been hauling in shrimp for 42 years. “We fared good. It all worked out. “ If history repeats itself as it has for the past four decades, it should work out very well for Long. He said after a good storm, shrimping is great. click here to read the story 18:23

Dongwon chairman had direct control in price fixing say lawsuits

Dongwon Enterprise chairman Jae-chul Kim, a legend in the tuna sector, directly controlled US subsidiary and tuna brand Starkist Co during the years of the alleged price-fixing conspiracy, a new wave of class-action lawsuits against the big players in the sector claim. Two lawsuits filed on Aug. 29 by retailers Moran Foods and Dollar General Corporation and a third filed on August 30 from Krasdale Foods are the latest to make allegations that the involvement in a price fixing conspiracy went right to the top at the South Korean firm, which owns US-based Starkist via its Dongwon Industries operation. click here to read the story 18:00

Fisheries group blasts drilling regulations proposal ‘nobody knows about’

A Nova Scotia-based fisheries organization is raising concerns about changes the federal government is quietly proposing to the regulations governing oil and gas extraction in Canada’s offshore and northern regions. Environmental and fisheries groups say they only found out about the proposed changes by happenstance, even though the consultation process has been ongoing for over a year and is nearly complete. Consultation on the third phase of the initiative closes Sept. 20. John Davis, the director of Clean Ocean Action Committee, said his group was told about the initiative by the World Wildlife Fund, which only learned of it this summer. click here to read the story 16:54

Grand Bank council to discuss new Arctic surf clam licence with LeBlanc

Last week’s announcement by federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc a new Arctic surf clam licence will be issued for next year is concerning news for the Town of Grand Bank. Mayor Rex Matthews raised the topic during the town’s council meeting on Monday afternoon. Matthews said a council delegation has a 30-minute meeting scheduled with LeBlanc on Wednesday afternoon in St. John’s, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal cabinet ministers are meeting this week for an annual retreat. “The problem is it’s taking away existing quota from our fish plant here in Grand Bank,” Matthews said, adding the change could have a major impact on the facility. click here to read the story 15:33

Film tells story of Nova Scotia fishing village’s relentless battle with Ottawa

They feared being swallowed by ocean, but the 78 residents of Gabarus, N.S., never waved a white flag before the federal government. For decades, a seawall made of timber and rock protected the tiny 300-year-old fishing village in Cape Breton from the punishing waves of the Atlantic. But as the 70-year-old structure started to crumble, the very existence of Gabarus was under threat and governments were not helping, each level claiming the wall was not its problem. The plight of Gabarus sparked a years-long battle with Ottawa and kindled a community spirit that has banded together life-long residents with newcomers who settled in the scenic town for its beauty and simplistic way of life. click here to read the story 14:38

Hatteras Island: Day at the Docks Celebrates Coastal Culture

The annual Day at the Docks, a celebration of Hatteras Island Watermen, is a chance for those who live and work here to share their traditions with visitors and illustrate how the fishing industry works, from using the equipment to preparing the fresh catch. The free, two-day event set for Friday and Saturday will feature seafood cooking demonstrations, fishing boats and gear, fishing industry skills contests and competitions, live music, the Blessing of the Fleet and activities for children.,, Fishermen and their families are encouraged to take advantage of free health screenings provided by the N.C. Agromedicine Institute. click here to read the story 13:58

Why did a trawler run aground on Lady Musgrave Island?

Marine authorities are investigating what caused a 50m fishing trawler to run aground on Lady Musgrave Island on Friday. Two men and a dog were forced to spend the night on board the stricken ship after an initial attempt to free themselves failed when their anchor line and boom broke. Mana is a Bundaberg-based fishing trawler. They were retrieved by crew from a passing boat on Saturday. The vessel remains grounded in the intertidal zone on the south side of the island, between the low and high water marks. click here to read the story 12:39

South Africa – Disgruntled small scale fishermen, ‘Suspend lobster fishing rights allocation process immediately’

Police were called to maintain order when a group of disgruntled fishers stormed the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries offices on the Foreshore yesterday. They were demanding the immediate suspension of the West Coast rock Llobster fishing rights allocation process. They want the West Coast rock lobster offshore allocations shifted from big companies to near shore and small scale fishers.  click here to watch video, read the story 11:19

Coast Guard rescues five Fishermen from sunken boat east of Cape Charles

US Coast Guard crews rescued five people Monday after their boat sank 60 miles east of Cape Charles. Coast Guard officials say watchstanders in Elizabeth City were alerted to the situation by an emergency beacon from the fishing boat Langley Douglas. A Jayhawk helicopter crew already in the area was diverted to the beacon. Officials say the crew found the boat had sunken, and everyone on board was in the water. video, click here to read the story 10:20

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina Reeling After Irma’s Historic Assault; Navy Dispatches Ships, Aircraft Carrier to the Keys

An aircraft carrier has been dispatched to the Florida Keys to help with relief efforts as Irma after its historic assault on Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, killing at least nine people. Five deaths have been attributed to the storm in Florida, including two deaths in Hardee County, one death Orange County, one in St. Johns County and one in Winter Park. Deaths were also reported in Georgia’s Worth and Forsyth counties and the Atlanta suburb of Sandy Springs. click here to read the story 09:59

Canadian power crews head to Irma-hit Florida to help restore service – Dozens of Canadian power crews are heading to Florida to help restore power to millions of people affected by Hurricane Irma. click here to read the story

Canadian Coast Guard names new SAR boats as Bay-class

The first in a fleet of Canadian Coast Guard’s new search and rescue (SAR) lifeboats will be named after Conception Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canadian minister of fisheries Dominic LeBlanc announced on Monday. Following the lead ship in the class, up to 20 new “Bay”-class boats will be named after geographical bays across Canada. The CCGS Conception Bay will be stationed in the Atlantic region. The new high-endurance, self-righting search and rescue lifeboats will operate up to 100 nautical miles from shore, delivering improved search and rescue capability. click here to read the story 08:42