Category Archives: Mid Atlantic
Will small boats soon have to slow down off NC to protect North Atlantic Right Whales?
Vessel speed limits to help avoid fatal collisions between ships and one of the most endangered animals in the world that has fallen to around 350 individuals have gone back into effect off the U.S. Southeastern coast, including parts of North Carolina. The seasonal-management areas, or SMAs, limit the speed of most vessels 65 feet or longer to 10 knots, about 11.5 mph, in areas known to have heavy ship traffic that are also migratory routes or known calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale. The go-slow zones, which run from November through April and have been in effect for more than a decade, extend about 20 nautical miles, or 23 miles, offshore and include areas around Morehead City and Beaufort and within 23 miles from shore between Wilmington and Brunswick, Ga. >>click to read<< 15:46
Fishermen in Maine lobbied to keep wind farms out of crucial fishing grounds. Will it happen in N.S.?
A no-compromise lobbying campaign by Maine lobster harvesters has helped keep wind farms out of a crucial lobster fishing area in the Gulf of Maine. And that has some fishermen in Nova Scotia casting an envious eye south of the border. “I’m pleased to see that happen in Maine. We’d like to see the same sort of diligence taken in Nova Scotia,” said Tommy Amirault, a fisherman from Pubnico and president of the Coldwater Lobster Association. “Maine obviously has concerns. It would be nice to 
see both provincial and federal governments take our concerns into practice,” Amirault said. “We didn’t mince words that we opposed offshore wind anywhere in the Gulf of Maine. It’s one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. And we really didn’t think that this is the place to solve the renewable energy crisis,” said McCarron. In Nova Scotia, the process has just begun. He said it’s no surprise fishermen have concerns about where it happens. >>click to read<< 06:57
Cape May County Declares Victory Against Wind Farms
Jubilant Cape May County officials Wednesday celebrated the decision by Danish energy giant Orsted to scrap plans for two wind energy farms off the South Jersey coast, but expressed caution about the possibility that the projects could be resurrected later. “You know, there were many people that said to us, ‘Don’t take on this company. Don’t take on Orsted. They have the White House. They have the Statehouse.’ But unfortunately, they didn’t know about the courthouse,” Cape May County Board of Commissioners Director Leonard Desiderio said. During a news conference, Desiderio and other Republican Cape May County officials repeatedly said the tiny county was able to overcome the political support of President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration and Gov. Phil Murphy in favor of Orsted and the wind farm industry. >>click to read<< 10:32
New Jersey reacts to Ørsted Ocean Wind cancellation shocker
The aftermath is still unfolding Wednesday afternoon — and causing a lot of questions, drama and uncertainty in the state. It all comes against the backdrop of next week’s legislative elections (with offshore wind a central campaign issue in many races), when all 120 seats are up for grabs.Gov. Phil Murphy and legislative leaders all responded with strongly worded statements and reactions, which came ripping through email boxes and across social media accounts in the evening hours on Halloween, which you can read more about here. That continued Wednesday — especially from Republican lawmakers and leaders, who have long questioned the feasibility of offshore wind as well as its potential impacts, leaning into the issue heavily on the campaign trail. >>click to read<< 17:20
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 56′ Duffy Dragger, CAT 3408, Northern Lights Auxiliary
To review specifications, information, and 10 photos’, >click here<, To see all the boats in this series, >click here< 10:56
10:51
Biden approves largest offshore wind project in US history
Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is located 23.5 nautical miles off Virginia Beach and marks the fifth such offshore wind plan under the Biden administration, which has come under fire from environmentalists for also greenlighting several new major fossil fuel leases. The approval comes on the heels of an announcement last month the administration would auction three new oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, triggering a furious reaction from environmental groups who said the move would accelerate climate change. The approval comes on the heels of an announcement last month the administration would auction three new oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, triggering a furious reaction from environmental groups who said the move would accelerate climate change. >>click to read<< 15:51
A Small Fish and an Uncollected Fee Add Up to Big-Government Challenge at the Supreme Court
The case could undercut the power of federal regulators on major issues including air pollution and securities fraud. It also exemplifies the way many of the high court’s biggest fights are born these days — driven less by the practical aims of the litigants than by the ideological vision of the interest groups behind the suits. The fight concerns a federal requirement that some herring boats host government-approved observers aboard their vessels and cover an estimated $710 daily cost. The fisherman say that would be an onerous burden on their family-owned businesses — so onerous they are suing even though the fee is on hold and might never kick in. “We have not had to pay. We’re just nervous about this hanging over our head,” said Bill Bright in an interview in Cape May, New Jersey, where he runs his two-vessel fishing business. “So we feel that we need to solve this problem now.” Photos, >>click to read<< 11:14
Federal bailout coming for failing offshore wind companies?
Team Biden is preparing a bailout package for the offshore wind industry that it already heavily subsidizes, a report said. The Biden Administration’s plan is to have offshore wind provide enough power to meet the annual demand of 10 million American homes by 2030, according to the White House. Writing in his “Energy Absurdity” Substack, David Blackmon, an energy analyst with over 40 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, said that lobbying is likely to soon begin for Team Biden to dip into taxpayer coffers to pony up more billions in funding for failing wind farms. “Everyone should prepare themselves to see an effort in Washington, D.C. to allocate billions more dollars to bail out Big Offshore Wind developers soon,” Blackmon wrote. >>click to read<< 10:55
County lawmakers request fishery resource disaster determination amidst nationwide shrimp disaster
On Sept. 18 the Pamlico County Commissioners adopted a resolution urging North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper to consider submitting a request for a fishery resource disaster determination to the NC Secretary of Commerce. Craven County followed suit and adopted a similar resolution on October 2. According to these resolutions, the global supply of farm-raised shrimp imports into the United States has reached record highs. This imported shrimp now dominates cold storages, distribution hubs, and the American market at a level that is devastating to US operators. This influx of imported shrimp into the American market has caused significant revenue loss, and loss of access to the shrimp fisheries themselves, for small family-owned supporting businesses, and other supporting businesses. >>click to read<< 09:47
Families of missing boaters continue search without Coast Guard’s help
A group of friends has now been missing at sea for nearly two weeks, and despite the U.S. Coast Guard calling off its search for them, the fishermen’s families are still holding out hope the group will be found. Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow left the port city of Brunswick, Georgia, on a 31-foot fishing vessel named Carol Ann Oct. 14. They planned to travel 80 miles into the open sea to a popular fishing spot before heading back Oct. 18, but they have yet to turn up. Chris Barlow, the father of missing boater Tyler Barlow, told Scripps News an initial possible sighting of the boat turned out to be a different vessel. He also said the Coast Guard’s assumption that the boat would self-deploy an emergency signal if submerged was false; the signal would instead need to be manually deployed. >>click to read<< 07:28
F/V Carol Ann: Coast Guard will continue its search for missing Brunswick fishermen Thursday morning
The Coast Guard planned to end the search at sunset Wednesday, but family members of the men are begging for the Coast Guard to search further north. The Coast Guard says it hasn’t found any sign of the boat or a debris field so far. Dalton Conway, Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow left for a fishing trip aboard a 31-foot boat named the ‘Carol Ann’ on October 14th from Brunswick. The Coast Guard says the EPIRB it has not yet been activated. “We are focused on the search and rescue efforts of this case but, we do have investigators that will be looking at all aspects of of why this EPIRB is not going off,” Hide said. Video, >>click to read<< 06:55
An Opportunity for Neighbors in Ocean City to Voice Opinions on Offshore Wind?
On Tuesday night, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held a public meeting at Ocean City Elementary. However, many thought it was a public hearing, which caused some confusion and frustration. By 5:00 p.m., hundreds of people had funneled into Ocean City Elementary, eager to voice any complaints or compliments. Ocean City’s Mayor, Rick Meehan, said the lack of opportunity to speak out loud did not allow the meeting to start off on the right foot. “They were mad and a lot of people left,” said Meehan. “They were very discouraged by the opportunity that was presented to them to speak on something that is very important to this area.” Commercial fishermen like Jimmy Hahn are worried about the future. “I’m scared to death that the windmills are going to kill our fishing industry,” said Hahn. Hahn said the lease area is the primary fishing spot out of Ocean City and is also used by fisherman from Delaware and New Jersey. >>click to read<< 15:54
Biden admin’s new rule could put pinch on lobster fishermen while letting others off the hook: critics say
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is planning to enact a new federal rule under the Marine Mammal Protection Act – which would expand an existing restricted area off the coast of Maine where lobster fishing is already banned for three months each year. The move would cut the lobstermen’s’ business by at least 25% of the already declining industry, critics say. The plans come as an attempt to protect the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, but a group of fishermen say the agency have no data to support the tightening restrictions. They also claim the federal agency is playing favorites by greenlighting offshore wind developments even though recent studies show can be harmful to marine life. “The federal government treats foreign offshore wind developers much better than lobstermen. The corporations have official authorization to disturb and displace marine life. Working lobstermen aren’t as lucky as our friends,” Video, >>click to read<< 07:55
F/V Carol Ann: Families praying for best in search for missing fishermen
Dalton Conway is no stranger to the waters offshore of Brunswick. As the Brunswick-based captain of a commercial fishing vessel and the son of a commercial fishing captain, he has made hundreds of trips in search of fish to sell to merchants and local restaurants. That is why it was alarming when he and his crew of two – Caleb Wilkinson and Tyler Barlow, both of Kingsland – didn’t return home as expected last Wednesday aboard the Carol Ann, said Stevie Conway, Dalton’s sister and Wilkinson’s girlfriend. Wednesday arrivals from fishing trips are normal, Conway said, because the bounty of the catch can be sold to vendors and merchants on Thursday. “My brother goes anytime the weather is good,” Stevie Conway said. “This is his career. He does this for a living.” Hordes of search and rescue crews from multiple area U.S. Coast Guard stations, Coast Guard cutters and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources continued searching Monday for the boat and the men after they were reported missing on Friday by the owner of the Carol Ann, Josh Morgan of Brunswick. >>click to read<< 20:05
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update: October 23, 2023: The ASMFC
Last week I had a reader who was interested in understanding more about what the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is and how they fit in with North Carolina fisheries management. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) held their 81st Annual Meeting in Beaufort, NC last week. Although no hot button issues were on the agenda last week, a lot of other necessary fisheries management issues were discussed and voted on. In fact, many of the rules and regulations on how North Carolina manages our inshore species comes directly from ASMFC decisions. The ASMFC began in 1942 when the Atlantic Coast States realized that their shared migratory fish stocks would be more sustainable and better managed as coast-wide stocks rather than being managed solely at the state level. This is expressed in the ASMFC vision statement, “Sustainable and Cooperative Management of Atlantic Coastal Fisheries”. >>click to read<<,10: 50
North Atlantic right whale population has steadied, scientists say
The population of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales appears to have levelled off after a decade of steep decline, according to updated data released this morning by Canadian and American scientists. Every fall, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium releases its best population estimate of the world’s most threatened large whale. Scientists in the consortium said Monday that the 2021 estimate of 340 North Atlantic right whales in existence has been recalculated to 365 primarily because of the number of calves born that year. The estimate for 2022 is 356. >>click to read<< 09:52
Brigantine Joins With Long Beach Twp. to Oppose Wind Farm Project
Voting 6-1, Brigantine City Council approved a resolution at its Oct. 18 meeting to enter into a shared services agreement with Long Beach Township to engage in litigation against the development of the proposed Atlantic Shores offshore wind project. Brigantine is joined by the Boroughs of Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City, Ship Bottom and Beach Haven, with Long Beach Township serving as the lead agent for the shared services agreement. “First and foremost, this is a nonpartisan issue, with people on both sides of the aisle, from all over the state, voicing their concerns about the negative impacts these offshore wind projects will have on the environment and our local economy,” Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera said in a news release. >>click to read<< 07:40
Landmark Legal Battle: Fishermen Challenge Regulatory Overreach Impacting Livelihoods
In a pivotal move, the Supreme Court has accepted a second challenge to the long-standing legal doctrine known as “Chevron deference.” This doctrine, born from a 1984 ruling, grants federal agencies substantial authority in formulating rules and regulations. The case, Relentless Inc. v U.S. Department of Commerce, represents a crucial juncture for Rhode Island fishermen who, along with those in the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo case, are fervently contesting a federal rule that mandates them to bear the financial burden of federal observers on their boats. >>click to read<< 12:23
Offshore Wind Is A Dangerous Pipe Dream Costing Taxpayers Billions
How many times have we heard that wind power, coupled with the sun’s energy, is going to save us from our fossil-fuel-burning ways? Maybe one day it will. But at no time soon will it happen. And by soon, we mean in most of our lifetimes. How can we say this? Look around at what’s happening with wind energy [emphasis, “California’s Central Coast residents work to stop — or at least slow down — offshore wind.”,,, “Orsted Threatens To Abandon U.S. Offshore Wind Projects.” Biden administration guarantees more support.,, “Electricity from wind isn’t cheap and it never will be.” The list above is no more than a start. There are many more stories we could have cited, and there are many more to come. Wind energy is unreliable, and its costs are not competitive at scale. Lots of links! >>click to read<< 18:22
Commercial Fisherman/Innovator Joseph J. Avila, Jr., 86, of Dartmouth, Mass. has passed away
Joseph J. Avila, Jr., 86, of Dartmouth, passed away Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at CareOne of New Bedford. He was the devoted husband of Dorothy (Costa) Avila with whom he shared 62 years of marriage. Born in Dartmouth and a lifelong resident, he was a son of the late Joseph J. Avila, Sr., and Mary (Motta) Avila. He proudly served in the United States Coast Guard. Mr. Avila was a pilot and commercial fisherman and served as president and CEO of Potpourri Marine Enterprises. He was an innovator, always had cutting-edge technology on his boat, and was one of the first people to use an airplane to spot swordfish back in the sixties. >>click to read<< 09:33
Local Legends in Fishing Boots: Founding Viking Village Dock
Utility green, calf-high dockside boots – “Daddy’s boots,” as Barnegat Light Historical Society President Karen Larson knows the sight – were the launch step into gripping stories of two local legendary captains and families who started the now-flourishing Viking Village commercial dock enterprise on a shoestring and a need to keep a town’s industry alive. The tribute program at the Barnegat Light Museum on Sept. 14 centered on the dock’s development by her late father, Barnegat Light Historical Society President Karen Larson the late Louis Puskas Jr. and their wives, Marion Larson, who died this year, and Frances Puskas. Viking Village Inc. Commercial Seafood Producers at the 18th Street bayside grew from Independent Dock, built in the 1920s by first-generation Norwegian fishermen plying their trade. It’s now an industry leader responsibly producing prime sea scallops and fish dinners for restaurant tables in New York, Chicago and internationally. The museum talk covered history but more so pulled up seats to memories told around the table, by no-fear fishermen themselves. Photos, >>click ti read<< 20:57
Another legal challenge to NJ offshore wind farm project
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, commercial fishing and tourism interests and a conservation group joined Cape May County in accusing federal agencies of ignoring and violating laws designed to protect the environment and marine life. The dispute is the latest that threatens to delay the project, which also faces stiff financial challenges that have led officials from Ørsted, a Danish company, to consider pulling out of building the 98-turbine project. Ørsted’s Ocean Wind I, a 1,100-megawatt project about 15 miles offshore from Atlantic City, is entangled in assorted court battles. Orsted has sued Cape May County and Ocean City over delays in obtaining permits while the state faces challenges over its approval of the project from local groups. >>click to read<< 07:09
Kelly Bullis: Fishermen might hurt the IRS
Now here is a whopper of a fishing story! The current session of the U.S. Supreme Court has an interesting case on the docket. If they rule in favor of the plaintiffs, it could end up changing a long-standing rule from a prior Supreme Court ruling of almost 40 years ago which underpins the ability of the IRS to do its job. The case is about regulation of fishing boats. And the old Supreme Court doctrine at risk is called the “Chevron Deference Doctrine.” The “Chevron Deference Doctrine” was a coined name that came from a famous landmark case “Chevron USA Inc vs. Natural Resources Defense Council Inc” back in 1984. The Supreme Court set forth a legal test as to when a court should defer to an agency’s answer or interpretation, holding that such judicial deference is appropriate where the agency’s answer was not unreasonable, so long as Congress had not spoken directly to the precise issue at question. >>click to read<< 13:38
Three Fishermen Rescued as Commercial Vessel Sinks Off Hampton Bays
Three commercial fishermen were rescued from the waters off Hampton Bays on Thursday afternoon after the 41-foot trawler they were aboard began rapidly taking on water and sank. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the fishing vessel Kary Ann sent out a mayday call about noon on Thursday from about one mile south of Shinnecock Inlet. By the time a Coast Guard launch reached the scene, the three fishermen who were aboard had abandoned ship. >>click to read<<< 13:30
Small town fisherman harpooned on federal charges for catch that’s legal in other states: lawyer
The 63-year-old captain of a Montauk, New York, fishing trawler has been convicted of federal conspiracy and fraud charges for violating local fishing rules that his lawyers say are outdated, wasteful and wouldn’t be a crime in other states. A federal jury found Christopher Winkler, who owns the 45-foot trawler named New Age that is based on Long Island’s East End, guilty of five counts last week – two each of mail fraud and obstruction of justice and one more for criminal conspiracy for an overfishing plot that racked up nearly $1 million in proceeds. The problem is, according to his defense, if Winkler had caught the fish in neighboring New Jersey, there likely wouldn’t have been a crime at all. Photos, >>click to read<< 07:53
New York Rejects Offshore Wind’s Request to Raise Rates
Offshore wind developers are reevaluating some New York projects after regulators rejected higher rates by Equinor ASA, Orsted A/S and others that would have added as much as $12 billion in costs. Developers planning to build more than 4 gigawatts of wind-power capacity off Long Island must abide by existing contracts to deliver power, the New York Public Service Commission unanimously ruled during a meeting Thursday. The ruling is the latest blow to the US offshore wind industry already contending with inflation and supply-chain issues. The future of projects such as Orsted’s Sunrise Wind is now in question after Thursday’s decision. >>click to read<< 17:06
Commercial fleet owner Julius Leroy Whorton of North Crolina has passed away
Julius Leroy Whorton, 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and friends on Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. Leroy, as he was known, was born in South Creek, North Carolina. on March 31, 1939, to the late Clara Myrtice Mayo Whorton and the late Julius Timothy Whorton. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Daniel Atwood Whorton. Leroy graduated from New Bern High School in New Bern, North Carolina, Georgia Military College and received scholarships to play football for Wake Forest and University of Georgia. After college, Leroy built his career in the seafood industry with a fleet of commercial fishing boats, working the oceans from Alaska to Texas, Key West to Virginia, and North Carolina to Nova Scotia. >>click to read<< 10:54
Marine Constructor/ Commercial Shrimper Arnold Roland Melton of Wilmington, N.C. has passed away
Arnold Roland Melton, 67 of Wilmington, NC affectionately known as Bimbo, quietly sailed away on Monday October 9, 2023, leaving behind a wake of laughter and cherished memories. Born in Wilmington, North Carolina on August 9, 1956, Bimbo was a true saltwater soul, forever tied to the shores and seas that he loved. Bimbo’s career spanned various marine adventures, from his days in Marine Construction to his time as a Commercial Shrimper. He rode the waves with a spirit of determination and grit, always ready to conquer whatever obstacles lay before him. When Bimbo wasn’t busy conquering the high seas, you could find him cheering on his favorite NASCAR drivers with a cold brew in hand. His passion for speed and competition was unmatched, and he took great pride in sharing his love for the sport with his family and friends. >>click to read<< 14:50
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 35′ H&H Osmond Beal Lobster Boat, Cummins QSL9 Diesel
To review specifications, information, and 14 photos’, >click here<, To see all the boats in this series, >click here< 10:23
Stevenson: It’s time for public comments on offshore wind
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