Daily Archives: August 18, 2021

Second phase of regulation changes to protect North Atlantic right whales include groundfisheries

The federal Large Whale Take Reduction Team instituted sweeping changes in the rules governing the Northeast lobster and Jonah crab fisheries to help reduce gear entanglements. Now, the team is turning its attention to other fisheries in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic The second phase is expected to significantly impact a number of commercial gillnet fisheries in New England and elsewhere along the East Coast, including monkfish, spiny dogfish, skate and other groundfish fisheries. The second phase also will address trap/pot fisheries not covered in the first phase, including Atlantic deep-sea red crab, slime eels, black sea bass, shrimp, scup and others. >click to read< 18:25

Held Hostage For Ropeless? Reject the Pew Petition for 3 lobster area closures that protect no Right Whale!

Maine Delegation Calls on Commerce Secretary to Reject Petition for Seasonal and Dynamic Closures in Parts of Maine’s Lobster Fishery – Maine’s congressional delegation today pressed Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to reject a petition by the Pew Charitable Trusts to impose seasonal and dynamic closures on parts of Maine’s lobster fishery. The lawmakers’ objections centered on the limited effects the closures would have on protecting right whales at significant economic cost on lobstering communities up and down the state’s coast. The rulemaking proposed in the petition would close three different areas of Lobster Management Area 1 to vertical line trap fishing. Pew proposed opening those areas to ropeless fishing, ignoring the reality that ropeless technology is not commercially available, financially viable for lobstermen, or proven safe and effective. >click to read<.  Read a copy of the letter here.

Something Fishy: Local seafood is first class. So, what has changed?

It was in 1983 that there were around 23 trawlers working to full capacity returning to port, day after day, with excellent catches of fish and prawns. Today the local fleet numbers three boats with a return far reduced from earlier years. So, what has changed? The introduction of the Marine Park reduced the area which could be fished. The cost of diesel increased along with the wages of crewmen. One of the biggest changes has been the introduction of farmed seafood and the importation of overseas product. The remaining trawlermen continue to work hard in difficult conditions. >click to read< 12:36

Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 62′ Steel Longliner, 500HP Cummins, with Federal Permits

To review specifications, information, and 7 photo’s >click here< , To see all the boats in this series >click here< 10:27

Record stocks disprove enviro mobster claims of overfishing

Shetland Fishermen’s Association is calling on government ministers and civil servants to resist any calls from environmental NGOs to slash fishing quota after the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) found that whitefish stocks in Scotland’s waters have doubled in size over the last 20 years. Analysis from the international body, which makes the annual recommendations for total allowable catches (TAQs), has now shown that fish stocks in Scotland are at record level while the amount of fish being caught has declined markedly. >click to read< 09:21

Chief Mike Sack – A Plea to Canadians Following Arrest

Today marks a new milestone in a long history of broken trust between Indigenous people and the Government of Canada. A government that pledged its commitment to truth and reconciliation has failed again to live up to its promise. On a day when we were to focus on our Treaty fishery my people had to watch their Chief be arrested and detained to further intimidate us and to send a hostile message to all Indigenous people. That message is that the government of Canada can and will continue to strip us of our dignity when the opportunity arises.,, I’m calling on all my Canadian brothers and sisters to recognize that this is the definition of systemic racism. >click to read< 08:24