Category Archives: International News
Federal judge to deny Trump administration’s motion to dismiss lawsuit over block on wind projects
A federal judge in Massachusetts said Wednesday he plans to deny a motion by the Trump administration to dismiss a lawsuit over its blocking of wind energy projects, siding with a coalition of state attorneys general. Led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C. are suing in federal court to challenge President Donald Trump’s Day One executive order halting leasing and permitting for wind energy projects. Judge William G. Young said during a hearing that he plans to allow the case to proceed against Interior Secretary Doug Burgum but will dismiss the action against Trump and cabinet secretaries other than Burgum named as defendants. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:54
Quota increase: DFO more than doubling total allowable catch for NL northern cod
One year after lifting the moratorium on the commercial northern cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador, the quota for the second season has been more than doubled. The increase from 18,000 metric tonnes to 38,000 metric tonnes, announced by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on Wednesday, June 18, is still a far cry from the heyday of the province’s iconic fishery. The restart of the commercial fishery one year ago also triggered Canada’s obligation to NAFO to provide foreign offshore fleets with a percentage of what was being made available to the domestic fishery. So, in addition to the 18,000 tonnes allocated to Canadian harvesters, foreign vessels were given 1,000 tonnes. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:20
Northern cod commercial fishery from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. >>CLICK TO READ<<
Brixham Trawler ‘Race’ returns — with a twist
A spectacular event which was one of the highlights of Torbay’s seasonal calendar is making a welcome return. But there will be one major change — the Brixham Trawler Race won’t be a race, it will be a time challenge to fall in line with safety requirements. That won’t stop 24 of the port’s fishing vessels from taking to the seas off the Bay on Saturday as part of a special celebration weekend to raise money for the Fishermen’s Mission. The last trawler event was in 2019 after running safely and successfully for 55 years, raising many thousands of pounds for charities and communities. Darren Passmore, who owns and skippers the trawler Resolute, said: “It’s a tradition that has been going for many years and brings the fishing fleet and families together to celebrate the fishing industry. The funds raised go towards the fishermen’s mission and other charities. In particular, the Mission is there to support us when times are hard.” More, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:23
Plymouth fisherman calls for ‘reset’ as industry hit by ‘exploding costs’
A Plymouth fisherman has joined a call for his peers to have their say over vital changes urgently needed to halt a “slow decline” brought about by “exploding costs”. The Great British Inshore Fishing Survey, hosted by the Lyme Bay Fisherman’s CIC, wants all small-scale fishermen across England, Scotland and Wales to have their voices heard. It aims to let the Government know what needs to be done to make the lives and livelihoods of small-scale fishermen, their families and community, better. Plymouth fishermen Brian Tapper said: “Owner operators and other small scale fishing fleets do not have the time or PR machines to be heard where it matters, this is our chance to make sure that the Government and its regulators can be in no doubts about what we think, what works well, and what needs changing. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:26
Strength in Numbers: American Food Industries Join Forces to Fight Unfair Competition
The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) has partnered strategically with other domestic food producers facing similar trade challenges to advocate together as a coalition. Last week, SSA joined representatives from the American Honey Producers Association (AHPA) and the Catfish Farmers of America (CFA) for meetings in Washington D.C. to seek stronger enforcement against unfair foreign competition devastating the U.S. honey, catfish, crawfish, and shrimp industries. The ad hoc coalition met with the offices of Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) (featured in a social media post), Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) to present the substantial economic impact these industries have on the economies of Alabama and Mississippi and how that value has been eroded by foreign competitors’ unfair trade practices. Senator Tuberville identified the common challenges faced by Alabama catfish, honey, and shrimp producers in a recent Newsweek editorial. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:22
‘Making decisions closer to the wharf’ can ensure the sustainability of Canada’s fisheries and oceans
During the federal election campaign, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that if elected, he would look into restructuring Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). Carney stated that he understood the importance of DFO and of “making decisions closer to the wharf.” Carney’s statement was made in response to protesting fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador who decried recent DFO decision-making for multiple fisheries, including Northern cod and snow crab. Although addressing industry concerns is important, any change to DFO decision-making must serve the broader public interest, which includes commitments to reconciliation and conserving biodiversity. Major reforms could fundamentally reshape fisheries science and management in Canada, yet most Canadians are unaware of how DFO’s science-management process works, or why change might be needed. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:05
LEGAL ACTION INTENSIFIES AGAINST OFFSHORE WIND
A coalition of commercial fishermen, seafood processors, fish buyers and environmental groups from New Jersey to Massachusetts have filed an emergency motion in federal court to halt construction of Empire Wind 1 offshore wind project, citing imminent, irreversible harm to marine life, fishing grounds, the seafood supply chain and coastal economies. The motion seeks a preliminary injunction to immediately halt pile driving and construction activities. Plaintiffs argue the project threatens endangered whales, destroys seafloor habitat, and cripples a multi-generational American industry that provides food, jobs, and economic stability across the East Coast. “To allow Empire Wind to continue construction is to abandon us fishermen and our coastal communities who have, for generations, fed our great country and kept local economies thriving,” said Captain Shawn Machie of the F/V Capt. John in New Bedford, MA. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:55
Fresher trawler for Rawson
Mar del Plata’s Contessi shipyard has launched Siempre Don Oscar, the yard’s 152nd newbuild, which hits the water as Argentinean fishing industry faces a number of challenges. A fresher trawler designed to target Argentine red shrimp and other species, Siempre Don Oscar has been built for Oscar Martella’s Alamar, a fishing company based in the Patagonian port of Rawson. In his speech during the launching ceremony, yard director Domingo Contessi criticised the government and touched on the serious crisis facing the fishing industry – including mentioning that President Javier Milei’s decision to allow Argentina to import used capital goods may include second-hand fishing vessels. Photos, video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:44
G7 summit: Who is attending and what’s on the agenda?
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) countries – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US – will meet on Sunday in the remote town of Kananaskis, Alberta, nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, for three days of intense discussions. This will be the 51st G7 summit meeting. The first took place in 1975 in Rambouillet, France. Back then, it was known as the G6 meeting, as Canada did not become a member until the following year. Russia joined the forum in 1998, making it the G8, but was effectively expelled in 2014, following its annexation of Crimea. Since then, the forum has been known as the G7. Tensions at this year’s gathering, taking place June 15-17, are likely to be high for many reasons. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:53
Australia to boost aerial surveillance of Pacific for illegal fishing fleets
Australia plans to significantly boost surveillance of Pacific Islands territorial waters, spending A$477 million ($310.72 million) on aerial patrols for illegal fishing fleets, tender documents viewed by Reuters show, as China takes steps towards sending its coast guard to the region. Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit Fiji on Friday, the Fiji Times newspaper reported, after the government of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last week approved a maritime security agreement that will see Australia fund a patrol boat for Fiji. Australia will operate commercial aerial patrols to support Pacific Island countries monitoring exclusive economic zones which span millions of kilometres of ocean. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:47
Kodiak fisherman testifies about illegal fishing at U.S. Senate subcommittee meeting
Gabriel Prout and his family have fished the Silver Spray, a Kodiak-based commercial fishing boat, for about 20 years. But on Thursday, he traded his Xtratufs and fishing gear for a suit to represent Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers, a trade association that represents the Bering Sea fleet, for a meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. He was the only fisherman on the panel to discuss the impact of illegal, unregulated and unreported – or IUU – fishing on American fishing fleets. Prout presented a few ideas to the subcommittee he thinks could help, like better monitoring seafood imports and mandating labels for countries of origin. Prout also said other countries have more subsidies for fishermen than the U.S. does and asked for programs to help fishermen facing rising costs. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:02
Fishermen’s voices must be heard amid Attenborough ocean propaganda
He is our national treasure, embraced by kings, princes, prime ministers and celebrities too many to mention. This week, it is his campaign to save the ocean that is driving the UN Ocean Conference as it tries to ratify the High Seas Treaty. Who would dare to denounce David Attenborough, beloved around the world for his conservation crusade, feted in the highest echelons and trusted to such an extent that his every word is gospel? Step forward one Elspeth Macdonald, little known outside her Scottish homeland but a strident, often lone, voice of dissent in the Attenborough global love-in. Macdonald is the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) but she speaks for the industry across Britain when she calls out the “anti-fishing propaganda” of Attenborough’s recently released film, Ocean. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:42
Nova Scotia’s offshore wind transmission line could cost $10 billion: Houston
It could cost between $5 billion and $10 billion to build a transmission line that would connect Nova Scotia’s proposed offshore wind farms with the rest of the country, Premier Tim Houston says. The rough estimate follows his announcement last week that Nova Scotia wants to license enough offshore turbines to produce 40 gigawatts of electricity — eight times more than what was originally planned. “It’s a concept,” Houston said after a cabinet meeting Thursday. “It’s a very powerful concept …. My objective, initially, was to capture the imagination of Nova Scotians.” He said he floated the idea on June 2 also to get the attention of Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has asked provincial and territorial leaders to submit bids for big infrastructure projects that could be fast-tracked to kick-start the economy — if deemed in the national interest. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:26
Grassroots Lawsuit Seeks to Stop Wind Farm Off Long Branch
A coalition of environmental groups and fishing cooperatives has filed a federal lawsuit to block the construction of Empire Wind 1, the offshore wind farm that will be located about 19 miles east of Long Branch. “We are asking the federal court to reinstate the stop work order because the project’s federal approvals were incomplete and failed to safeguard the ecology of our seacoast and the livelihoods it supports,” said lead counsel Bruce Afran in a news release. The stop-work order was reversed in May, just over a month after it was imposed, without explanation from the federal government. Now, the plaintiffs are seeking to block the project entirely, arguing it violates federal environmental regulations, and the lease violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) by awarding U.S. offshore territory to a company controlled by a foreign government. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
Kennedy to HHS: Fight foreign shrimp imports that hurt Louisiana and threaten Americans’ health
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging his department to work with its partners to prevent unsafe foreign shrimp from reaching American consumers. While U.S. shrimp manufacturers comply with bans on antibiotic use and numerous environmental regulations, not all shrimp producers in countries like India, Ecuador, Indonesia and Vietnam abide by the same standards. A recent decline in transparency among members of the foreign shrimp industry has raised further concerns. “I write to express my concern regarding the ongoing public health risk posed by the importation of farmed shrimp into the United States. In 2021, the United States imported approximately 1.9 billion pounds of shrimp, accounting for over 90% of the nation’s consumption,” Kennedy began the letter. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:52
Fishing chiefs furious over Sir David Attenborough ‘propaganda’
Aberdeen-based fishing chiefs have launched a scathing attack on a film narrated by “national treasure” Sir David Attenborough. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) denounced it as a work of “anti-fishing propaganda”. And it accused its makers of using “the full panoply of Hollywood tear-jerk techniques”. The movie is called Ocean, with David Attenbourough. It’s co-produced by two Bristol-based companies, Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios. Ocean was released as a “global cinema event” on May 8, Sir David’s 99th birthday. But its narrative on “destructive” fishing techniques has triggered fury at the SFF. A statement from the Granite City-based federation said: “Once again the fishing industry is in the position of defending its legitimate business activity in the face of a fresh onslaught from environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) designed to influence delegates to the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France from June 9-13.Trailer, Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:26
Right whale detection in Gulf will mean restrictions for some P.E.I. lobster boats
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association says the sighting of a North Atlantic right whale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence region will mean some lobster fishing crews on the North Shore will have to remove their gear. The affected boats will have to have their equipment out of the water by Sunday at 5 p.m. AT at the latest. Fisheries and Oceans Canada said the endangered whale had come close enough to the northern boundary of Lobster Fishing Area 24A, off the west end of Prince Edward Island, to mean some parts of that region would have to be closed for 15 days in order to prevent the whale from becoming entangled in gear. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:25
Massive Offshore Wind Boondoggle Dead In Water
A massive offshore wind project set to be built off the New Jersey coast will be abandoned after its developer had a key Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit pulled in March, according to multiple reports. Atlantic Shores filed to cancel its contract with New Jersey utility regulators to provide electricity to the state on June 4, according to multiple reports. The company cited EPA’s decision to pull its permit and President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking permits for new offshore wind projects as major factors in its decision to walk away from the project, according to E&E News. “This filing marks the closing of a chapter,” Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Chief Executive Officer Joris Veldhoven said Monday,,, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:24
US shrimp fishers see Trump tariffs as a lifeline: ‘We’re basically on our knees’
Sandy Nguyen has strong opinions about where the best shrimp in the US is produced. Her family moved to the Gulf Coast from Vietnam during the Jimmy Carter administration, and her dad, like many such immigrants to the area, worked as a fisher. But things have changed drastically since the 1980s, when the Nguyen family settled in Louisiana. So, when Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs, a move that threw global markets into tumult and caused consternation among many industries, some American shrimpers instead expressed optimism. “I know it’s going to affect a lot of other industries. But for us, it’s good,” said Aaron Wallace, who helps run Anchored Shrimp Company in Georgia. “Really, our battle is the farm-raised shrimp industry overseas,” Wallace added. “We’re basically on our knees [due to] what the imports do.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:05
NJ Commercial Fishermen Sue Trump Admin. For Allowing Wind Farm To Proceed
Last Tuesday, multiple New Jersey fishermen and other groups, including Belford Seafood Co-op in Middletown, sued U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Borgum for his sudden reversal to allow construction on Empire Wind farm to proceed. The June 3 lawsuit seeks to have the stop-work order reinstated. In addition to Belford Seafood Co-op, many recognizable Jersey Shore names and commercial fishing companies signed on, including: Clean Ocean Action (the same group that hosts beach clean-ups every spring); Fisherman’s Dock Cooperative in Point Pleasant Beach; the “Miss Belmar” fishing and sightseeing boat, which docks in Neptune under Captain Alan Shinn; Lund’s Fisheries in Cape May and Seaside Park Mayor John Peterson, a Republican. Commercial fishermen in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island also joined the lawsuit. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:08
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A LOW BLOW TO THE LOW COUNTRY
The Holy City, revered for its historic charm and signature shrimp and grits, now finds itself at the center of a troubling food fraud scandal. A new investigation reveals that most restaurants promoting “local” shrimp in Charleston are, in fact, serving imported product, often farm-raised and falsely marketed as fresh-from-the-boat local fare. From May 19-22, 2025, SEAD Consulting—commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance =conducted genetic testing on shrimp dishes served at 44 Charleston-area restaurants using the patented RIGHTTestTM (Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test). This testing determined whether restaurants were serving authentic South Carolina wild-caught shrimp or imported substitutes. The results are stark: only 4 out of 44 restaurants were found to be serving genuine domestic wild-caught shrimp. The remaining 40 were misleading consumers in their branding, menu descriptions, or proximity to local docks, with 25 found to be outright fraudulent. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:46
Big octopus catch ‘does fishing industry a favour’
A massive haul of Mediterranean octopus has helped a Cornish trawler land a catch worth a record £158,000. The Newlyn-based beam trawler Enterprise was fishing close to the Channel Islands when its crew made the huge catch, a port record in terms of value, crew members said. About 90% of the catch, some £142,000-worth, was the octopus, which has seen its population explode in UK waters this year. The influx has caused problems for the shellfish industry in south-west England because octopus eat crabs and lobsters out of fishing pots. Enterprise skipper George Stevens said he had “done the industry a favour” by getting rid of a few. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:21
Offshore wind power company asks to cancel its New Jersey project
A company developing an offshore wind power project for New Jersey has filed a request to cancel its plans, citing economic and political headwinds. Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, based in Brooklyn, petitioned the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on June 4 to terminate its OREC order, or Offshore Renewable Energy Certificates order. The company, which is a partnership between power and fuel company Shell and EDF Renewables North America, was in the process of developing a 1.5-gigawatt wind turbine power project east of Atlantic City. Had it been constructed, the project would have powered about 700,000 homes across the state. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:35
Charles ‘Jerry’ O’Malley: Fisherman who became synonymous with coastal communities along western seaboard
When Clare Island fisherman and ferry operator Charles “Jerry” O’Malley started fishing with his father at the age of 10 it was from the same little pier, Portaholia, on Clare Island, where he died on May 6th. The tragic accident consolidated a huge response from the coastal and island communities along the western seaboard marking the life of a Co Mayo islander whose seas were his highway throughout his life. Indeed, O’Malley was honoured with a Benemerenti Medal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 for his lifetime of bringing clergy to the islands of Inishturk and Clare in all sorts of weathers. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:26
US imposes anti-dumping duty on Vietnamese shrimp exporters
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a preliminary anti-dumping duty of 35% on shrimp exported by 24 Vietnamese companies. The decision follows from the DOC’s 19th administrative review, released on Saturday, of frozen warmwater shrimp imports from Vietnam, covering shipments between Feb. 1, 2023, and Jan. 31, 2024, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported. According to VASEP, the DOC determined that Thong Thuan Co., including its Cam Ranh branch, did not sell shrimp below fair value, resulting in a zero dumping margin for the company. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:46
Fisherman caught in diplomatic row with France breaks silence
A British fishing skipper whose boat was seized by the French has accused them of threatening his livelihood. Phil Parker said the French maritime authorities had seized 200 whelk pots and robbed him of £6,000 of fishing income by impounding the Lady T for six days before releasing it for a bond of €30,000 (£25,200). He also faces a fine of €45,000 (£38,000) on top of the bond if found guilty by a French court of “non-authorised fishing in French waters” in a boat from outside the EU. Speaking publicly about the incident for the first time, Mr Parker told The Telegraph that he intended to fight the case to the bitter end, claiming he had been only 288 metres into EU waters when his boat was stopped by the French. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:16
Long Island fishermen sue to stop Empire Wind
A coalition of Long Island fishermen are suing the Donald Trump administration over its decision to allow Empire Wind, the massive wind farm off the south shore, to continue construction. The suit comes weeks after the administration reversed course on its April stop-work order, which allowed construction to continue on Empire Wind despite President Trump’s January order requiring a new review of offshore wind projects nationwide. The plaintiffs — including Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, Inc. and several fishing boat captains — argue in court documents that the Trump administration had no legal authority to reinstate work permits for Empire Wind. The fishermen want a more thorough review of the potential impacts to the environment, fishing grounds, and local economy, according to Bonnie Brady, executive director of Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:27
Federal judge raises issues with states’ lawsuit against Trump offshore wind freeze
More than a dozen states, including Massachusetts, have an uphill battle if they are to succeed in their legal efforts to lift President Donald Trump’s memorandum against offshore wind development. Attorneys for the states of Massachusetts and New York appeared on Thursday before federal Judge William G. Young, prepared to argue that he should grant a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s effective freeze of offshore wind permitting. But the hearing didn’t happen, with the judge “collapsing” the injunction motion. Young said he needed more specificity from the states on the harm they’ve incurred and the alleged legal violations by federal agencies. The case will be heard again next week, but instead, with a hearing on a motion to dismiss it. (The judge is treating the Trump administration’s filing opposing a preliminary injunction as a motion to dismiss the case.) more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:05
Houston pitches ambitious ‘Wind West’ offshore wind energy project
In response to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s bid to make Canada an “energy superpower,” Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is floating the idea of dramatically ramping up the province’s nascent offshore wind energy industry. In an online video released earlier this week, Houston said he’s hoping Carney’s Liberal government will support a new megaproject the premier has dubbed “Wind West.” “Right now, Nova Scotia is on the edge of a clean energy breakthrough,” the Progressive Conservative premier says on the slickly produced video. “We’ve been handed a golden ticket …. We cannot afford to let this moment pass us by.” Meanwhile, Houston’s government has yet to release any details about how much his proposed project would cost. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:54
