Tag Archives: Fred Mattera

Point Judith fishermen optimistic as Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument restrictions ease

Removal of restrictions for an underwater national park sealed off from commercial fishing trawlers and lobstermen will now provide a bonanza of opportunities for fishing boats in Point Judith, said Fred Mattera, advocate for commercial fishing. According to Mattera, executive director of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island, this once lucrative fishing spot will now again enable them to bring back large hauls to be sold to for restaurants, grocery stores and ingredients for other foods. Last Friday President Trump removed those restrictions and opened the area once more to fishing, but the decision has produced an outcry from various environmental groups warning of the potential destruction to unique marine life. >click to read< 14:49

Port of Galilee: Fishing Industry getting hit hard economically by Coronavirus

Hundreds of people have been going to Galilee to buy seafood right off the boat, and there will be more help on the way. As of Thursday, the catch of the day by commercial fishermen in the Port of Galilee were sold out. “It’s been a process trying to find markets again for our product,” said Captain Brian Thibeault on the Ashley Anne II boat. Fishermen will be going out again on Friday to haul lobster and Jonah crab, to be sold at wholesale prices dockside Saturday. Video, >click to read< 10:03

Mark Phillips wanted to bring up some low points of a special Vineyard Wind meeting

A Rhode Island fishing board on Saturday voted in favor of a revised compensation offer from offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind in a decision that boosts the New Bedford company’s chances of securing a key approval from state coastal regulators later this week. >R.I. fishermen, Vineyard Wind reach deal on compensation<. After letting Fred Mattera give glowing praise to the Fishery Advisory Board for 3 minutes. Lanny shutout industry from commenting even though the audience was asking to be heard and had been told two days before that they would be allowed to speak at this public meeting. The meeting two days earlier had the media and state representatives kicked out. Also the attorney never disclosed that she was attorney for two of the FAB members and Fred Mattera group who will ultimately control the funds. Capt. Mark Phillips 17:16

R.I. fishermen, Vineyard Wind reach deal on compensation

A Rhode Island fishing board on Saturday voted in favor of a revised compensation offer from offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind in a decision that boosts the New Bedford company’s chances of securing a key approval from state coastal regulators later this week. In a unanimous vote at the special meeting, the Fishermen’s Advisory Board accepted the new offer that includes $4.2 million in payments over 30 years for direct impacts to commercial fishermen from Vineyard Wind’s 84-turbine wind farm proposed in Rhode Island Sound, as well as the creation of a $12.5-million trust set up over five years that could be used to cover additional costs to fishermen resulting from the project The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council is now set to vote Tuesday night on whether it believes the $2-billion project is consistent with state coastal activities, including fishing. >click to read<19:25

Vineyard Wind loses backing of a fishing board, decision may have serious consequences for proposed offshore wind farm

The Fishermen’s Advisory Board, which advises the Coastal Resources Management Council on fishing issues related to offshore wind, voted unanimously Monday to deny its support out of fear that the layout of the project’s 84 towering wind turbines in Rhode Island Sound would close off fishing grounds that are considered some of the most productive for the state’s commercial fleet.,,, The disagreement could have broader implications for the offshore wind industry and its relations with fishing communities all along the Northeast coast that are already fearful of being shunted aside in the interests of new energy development. >click to read<20:53

R.I. squid fishermen fear wind power

Rhode Island fishermen say a patch of the Atlantic Ocean south of Martha’s Vineyard is among the best places around to catch squid. They are also the same waters in which a developer selected by Massachusetts plans to install up to 100 giant wind turbines that would supply clean, renewable energy to the state. Now, Rhode Island coastal regulators and the state’s fishing community are raising concerns that the offshore wind farm that Vineyard Wind wants to build in 250 square miles of federally-owned ocean may affect access to the squid grounds that are critical to the Point Judith fleet. >click to read<09:13

Longtime Fisherman Weighs In On New England Fishery Management Councils Recent Votes

The New England Fishery Management Council made the right move recently, voting to ask the federal government to suspend an at-sea monitoring program required of the groundfish industry, according to long-time fishermen Fred Mattera, who said shifting the cost to fishermen could decimate the industry. Mattera said fishermen area also pleased with the council’s vote to re-open areas in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank to commercial fishing. (photo)  Read the rest here 09:49