Daily Archives: July 19, 2019

Canada: Two more right whales found dead off east coast, bringing total to eight this year

One of the dead whales was first observed Thursday by an aerial surveillance flight drifting west of the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in a news release. It was located Friday by a vessel in the area, and a necropsy is scheduled to take place Sunday. Also Friday, the body of a second dead right whale was sighted off Glace Bay, N.S., according to the fisheries department. “Neither of these whales have yet been individually identified,” the department said in a news release, adding that the government “takes this issue very seriously.”,,, No right whales died in Canadian waters last year, but 12 were found dead in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2017>click to read<  20:18

SUNDAY! Lobstermen to rally in Stonington, Collins, Pingree, and Golden to speak

Maine’s top-grossing commercial fishing port will be the site of a rally this Sunday, July 21, as fishermen from across the state come together to bring attention to an issue that could affect the livelihood of lobstermen: pending National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regulations to reduce the number of vertical trap lines used by lobstermen in the Gulf of Maine. The rally will also be used to educate the public about the impact those regulations could have on Maine’s fishing fleet, said Captain Julie Eaton, a lobsterman who turned an idea into an event. “We have a voice and we need to use it now,” said Eaton. “There is big power when we come together and this is a chance for our politicians to hear our voice.”  >click to read< 18:18

Canada joins global pact to stop illegal fishing trade, plans more inspections

Foreign vessels arriving in Canadian ports can expect more monitoring by officials hunting for contraband fish now that Canada is part of an international agreement to combat illegal fishing. As of Saturday, Canada will be part of the Port State Measures Agreement, which seeks to put a dent in the US$23-billion global industry in illegal fishing. Liberal MP Sean Casey, the parliamentary secretary for the minister of fisheries, says Canada signed on to the agreement when it was developed almost a decade ago but it took five years for the previous Conservative government to pass legislation to implement it,,, >click to read< 15:41 After long delay, Canada joins global pact to stop illegal fishing trade>click to read<

To the Gloucester Fish Commission, I propose that you request Markey and Warren vote in favor of this new bill

MSA Reauthorization: To the Gloucester Fish Commission, I am asking you to vote in favor of H.R. 3697, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act, co-sponsored by Congressman Don Young, and Congressman Jeff Van Drew.,,, I propose to you that you request that Senator Ed Markey, and Senator Liz Warren vote in favor of this new bill, and that they recognize the importance that the agency they fund, use other credible science from other sources, such as SMAST, and fisherman funded science. The agency holds all the cards, and by law does not have to consider any other science at all, let alone the what really could be the best available that is excluded by NOAA, by default. This is unacceptable moving forward. By Sam Parisi  >click to read< 14:35

Policymakers unite around lobstermen, By Reps. Billy Bob Faulkingham and Will Tuell

Unless you have had your head stuck in a bait pocket the past few months, you know by now that Maine’s lobster fishing industry is facing two major crises – a shortage of available and affordable bait, as well as a set of new rules and regulations designed to protect rare right whales while at the same time devastating the very fishermen who have fueled our local and state economy for generations.,,, That is why it is so refreshing to see folks across the political spectrum — arch foes on many things — united with fishermen (who themselves have been splintered over the years) to put our fishing industry first. >click to read<11:10

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for July 19 , 2019

Legislative updates, Bill updates, Calendar, >Click here to read the Weekly Update<, to read all the updates >click here<, for older updates listed as NCFA >click here<08:50

The President has seen the sticker, signed it, and heard your concerns, thanks to Rob Simmons!

First Selectman Rob Simmons, who was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday for the Northeast State Leadership Day, said he had an opportunity to speak directly with President Donald Trump about local issues and concerns. He also talked about the troubles Stonington’s fishing fleet has had with over-regulation.,,, Simmons said he also told the president that when he came to the Coast Guard Academy two years ago speak at graduation, local fishermen had 15 boats in the Thames River with flags, banners and other symbols of support in the hope that he would help them out.  Simmons then showed Trump a bumper sticker he had made up during that time that said, “President Trump, make commercial fishing great again.” >click to read<07:55 Here is a collection of photos from Flotilla 2017 >click here<

On this page find the stories from beginning to end of the flotilla, and a very nice note from A nice note to the Fishermen of Flotilla 2017 from Sargeant Steven Stanko, >click to read<