Daily Archives: May 11, 2020

No Charges Laid in Connection with Weekend Protest at FFAW: RNC

Despite concerns over the large gathering of protesters outside the FFAW offices on Saturday, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary indicates that no charges were laid in connection with the protest. Frustrations boiled over as crab harvesters face what they call an uneconomic future for their fishery, due to low crab prices and trip limits of 1,500 pounds weekly. Hundreds of harvesters gathered outside the FFAW-Unifor offices in the capital city, calling for the fishery to be shut down and for the federal government to step in with assistance. photos, >click to read< 16:38

Part 1: Port Canaveral – Culmination of A Long Awaited Dream

The original charter in 1939 established a seven-member board of port commissioners but it was not until 1941 that the Port Authority was authorized to advertise the levying of a tax with a three mill cap within the Port District, which consisted of an area bounded in the south by present-day Pineda Causeway and in the north by the southern boundary of the City of Titusville. In 1945, Congress approved the construction,,, Voters Say “Yes!” to Canaveral Harbor,, Fishermen especially were eager to see it happen and worked hard to get it approved because it would be such a quick outlet to the ocean. The closest other inlets were Ft. Pierce and Mayport (Jacksonville). In November 1947, freeholders of the Port District went to the polls and overwhelmingly approved a bond issue that would pave the way for the digging of Port Canaveral. first of a five-part series, photo’s >click to read< 15:23

Just in! Reminder: Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment Webinars – Today @ 2:00 p.m. and Thursday @ 6:00 p.m.

Reminder: Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Two Scoping Webinars for Black Sea Bass Commercial State Allocation Amendment, Monday, May 11, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold two scoping webinars to gather public input on a management action to consider potential modifications to the allocations of the black sea bass commercial quota among the states of Maine through North Carolina. Learn more about this action in the scoping announcement or at the links below. Links, and info. >click to read< 13:35

Coast Guard searching for a fisherman in the water offshore Marsh Island, Louisiana

The Coast Guard is searching for a person in the water offshore Marsh Island, Louisiana, Monday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at about 3 a.m. that a 52-year-old male was missing from the crew of commercial fishing vessel Guiding Light 3, approximately 18 nautical miles south of Marsh Island, Louisiana. He is presumed to have fallen overboard. Involved in the search: Coast Guard Cutter Skipjack, Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew, Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew -USCG- U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Heartland Contact: 8th District Public Affairs, Office: (504) 671-2020 ,After Hours: (618) 225-9008

Hybridization – New test identifies lobster hybrids

American lobsters have occasionally escaped or been released into European waters after being imported for the seafood market. Experts have long feared they could threaten European lobsters by introducing disease or establishing as an invasive species. Hybridization – when a “pure” species is threatened at a genetic level via interbreeding with a different but related species, had been less of a concern because lab studies suggested European and American lobsters were reluctant to mate. However, when an American lobster female was found bearing eggs in a fjord in Sweden, University of Exeter researchers tested the offspring and found they were “clearly distinct” from both European and American lobsters. >click to read< 11:42

Inland Commercial Fisheries: Commercial fishing falls due to Coronavirus restrictions on restaurants says Bay Port Fish Company

One of Michigan’s traditional industries is facing a changing tide during the COVID-19 crisis. Commercial fishing operations like the Bay Port Fish Co. are seeing a dramatic decrease in wholesale demand, leading them to have to adjust their strategy this season. Lakon Williams of Bay Port Fish Co. said the fall off is due to restrictions on restaurants under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders. Another problem for Bay Port Fishing Co. is that they are set up in a old-school manner. Fish are normally hand filleted at their facility in a close-quarters workspace. 50 photo’s. >click to read< 10:51

Two Hands blockchain marketing alternative to wet markets for SA southern rock lobster fishers

SA Northern Zone Rock Lobster Fishermen’s Association executive officer Kyri Toumazos said SA fishers would welcome the new system. “To some degree we are behind when it comes to product traceability and have a long way to go,” Mr Toumazas said. “Any time the consumer knows their product come from a sustainable fishery then we have a win.” He said the coronavirus pandemic had caused huge disruption for the industry, but demand had picked up and boats were back fishing off Kangaroo Island now that the northern zone season had been extended out to October 31. Perhaps the Two Hands system could help get more product on limited air freight available, he said. Video,  >click to read< 08:46

Staying Afloat: Fishermen cast for new customers amid coronavirus pandemic

The Massachusetts’ commercial fishing industry is finding new ways to stay afloat as the coronavirus pandemic has shuttered restaurants and halted seafood shipments, shaking up the normal course of business and leaving fishermen looking for customers to buy their seafood. “We had a wholesale business and like the stock market, we were up, up, up and dependable — and then all of a sudden it went away,” said Nick Giacalone,,,  Restaurant closures amid the pandemic and the grounding of hundreds of planes that typically carry local seafood to overseas markets have decimated the demand globally and threatened to send prices crashing. It’s a sobering reality that has led many fishermen and related industries to tap an obvious but previously neglected market: Direct-to-consumer sales. >click to read< 07:28