Daily Archives: April 30, 2015
Coast Guard lifts vessel draft restrictions at Oregon Inlet, NC
The Coast Guard lifted restrictions and enforcement of the regulated navigation area Thursday at Oregon Inlet between Bodie and Pea Islands. The captain of the port for Sector North Carolina lifted vessel draft restrictions and enforcement of the regulated navigation area at the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge in Oregon Inlet as outlined in 33 Code of Federal Regulations 165.520. Read the rest here 22:20
Massachusetts Lobstermen go back to work after three-month closure
Just a few weeks ago, Green Harbor was mostly empty just a few weeks – aside from the unoccupied mooring balls dotting the water. But the harbor has suddenly come back alive. Lobster boats teeming with traps and buoys sit ready to go, while captains prepare their equipment on the pier. After a three-month closure, the lobstermen are finally back in business. “We’re just ready to get back out and work,” said lobsterman Scott Leddin, who keeps his boat Decisive in Green Harbor. Read the rest here
Canada lobster fishery delayed; Maine prices start to drop
While Maine lobster prices have been high throughout the winter and spring because of rough weather conditions, they started to decline this week in anticipation of the Canadian lobster fishery opening soon. However, the Canadian lobster opening has been delayed because of harsh, icy conditions. Meanwhile, in Maine,,, Read the rest here 18:49
Board of Fisheries seat open again after Ruffner rejection
Editorial note: this article has been updated. Roberta Quintavell possesses a certificate from Harvard School of Business’s Program for Management Development in 2001. It is not a degree. Gov. Bill Walker has yet another appointment to make to a shorthanded Board of Fisheries, and this time the Legislature won’t be in the equation. After the second of his two board nominations failed to replace resigned chairman Karl Johnstone, Walker will have to appoint a new name from a long list of applicants by May 19. Read the rest here 16:16
Newburyport pair’s custom fishing rods used on ‘Wicked Tuna’
Every TV show needs its support team that works behind the cameras, and a small Newburyport company finds itself supplying Reel Easy custom rods to a series that focuses on catching the huge Atlantic bluefin tuna. Ed Fontes and his son, Jeff, make the custom rods that are used on the show “Wicked Tuna,” a reality series about commercial fishermen based in Gloucester who fish for the tuna. The show covers their work in the North Atlantic. Read the rest here 15:26
Canadian government announces funding to improve commercial fishing safety
The Canadian government has announced a new Commercial Fishing Safety component of the Government of Canada’s Boating Safety Contribution Program. Under this new component, up to $300,000 per year for the next three years will be available to support education and awareness initiatives that promote safe boating practices onboard small commercial fishing vessels across Canada. Read the rest here 14:58
Gloucester Fleet readies for ‘Year of No Cod’
The 2015 season will dawn at 12:01 a.m. Friday, bringing with it all of the uncertainty and angst that have become the Gloucester inshore fleet’s constant seagoing companion. Same stuff, different season. Vitale was asked what his plan was once he got his boat seaworthy. “Plan?” he said, sounding a little like former Colts coach Jim Mora when asked about making the playoffs. “There really is no way to plan. The way things are going, you can’t really plan because they just keep changing everything.” It’s familiar refrain along the Gloucester waterfront. Video Read the rest here 11:32
Russian trawler’s demise spurs questions from U.S. competitors.
Seattle-based pollock producers say the sinking of a Russian trawler with dozens of fatalities earlier this month raises disturbing questions about a Sea of Okhotsk fishery that has a sustainable fishing certification through the Marine Stewardship Council. Russian criminal investigators are looking into allegations that the ship, called Dalny Vostok, had numerous safety violations and went to sea with illegal crew from Myanmar who lacked work permits. It sank April 1, leaving 65 dead and 12 missing among its crew of 132, according to reports,,, Read the rest here 10:35
Commercial Fishermen Unified Against Gulf Red Snapper Takeover
Commercial fishermen throughout the United States have stood up and opposed the plan by the Gulf of Mexico state managers to take over red snapper management and eliminate the commercial quota system. “It’s incredible the response we’ve gotten,” said Buddy Guindon, Executive Director of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance based in Galveston, TX. “From Alaska to Maine, California to South Carolina, our brother and sister commercial fishermen have united ,,, Read the rest here 09:30
Revolutionary range and resolution with new Simrad HALO pulse compression radar
Navico Commercial Marine Division today announced the launch of Simrad HALO Pulse Compression Radar, the world’s most affordable solid-state, open-array radar system with pulse compression technology for non-SOLAS applications aboard commercial vessels. Combining the advantages of Simrad FMCW Broadband Radar™ and traditional pulse radar systems, HALO radar detects targets as close as 20 feet (6 metres) – well within pulse radar’s short-range “blind spot” – while delivering exceptional long-range performance up to 72 nautical miles. Read the rest here 08:58
Our view: New fishing limits another blow to the New England fishing industry
One might think that the lifting of the emergency cod regulations imposed by NOAA last November would bring sighs of relief across the Gloucester waterfront and elsewhere as the new commercial fishing year dawns Friday. But there is little relief and there are no cheers being heard among groundfishermen here and elsewhere across the North Shore and New England. For in lifting a number of the area closures that kept many fishing boats tied to the docks late last year, NOAA and the New England Fishery Management Council have replaced those rules,,, Read the rest here 08:43
House committee takes up fisheries bill today
The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources will take up a bill Thursday that could potentially change the way fisheries are managed in the U.S. through an amendment to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Yes. For the better! “We’ve been working for seven years to get some flexibility in the Magnuson-Stevens Act,” (Pam) Anderson said. “It’s desperately needed.” Read the rest here 08:08
