Daily Archives: February 17, 2016
High Liner to downsize New Bedford Plant, 200 jobs hit
(TSX:HLF) is ceasing some of its operations at an underused seafood plant in New Bedford, Mass., in a move that affects about 200 jobs. The plant’s value-added fish operation, which will end operations by September, has 35 salaried employees and 167 hourly workers. The scallop portion of that operation, which will continue to operate, has an additional 25 employees. The Nova Scotia-based company says its Lunenberg plant, and two other plants in the United States, have sufficient capacity to make up for the lost output at New Bedford, about 100 kilometres south of Boston. Read the rest here 21:42
Captain Glen Libby Needs Your Help!
Captain Glen Libby needs your help! You may recognize him from his years of fishing on the F/V Skipper out of Port Clyde. Afterwards, he joined the New England Fisheries Management Council to advocate for the small boat fishing/small business industry in Maine. In January 2016, Glen fell ill and after repeated visits to the local hospital, was transferred to Beth Israel in Boston where after lots of tests, the doctors have told him he needs a liver transplant. We wish you well Glen Libby! Click here, and please make a donation if you can.
Jensen provides engineering for fishing vessel conversion
Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp.’s Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering company, provided engineering services including structural and mechanical work for the conversion of a 170-foot long, 40-foot wide, fishing vessel for Global Seas LLC by shipbuilder Patti Marine Enterprises Inc., Pensacola, FL. The vessel, Western Venture, now named Defender, underwent significant conversion to make her the first fish pumping vessel in the Global Seas fleet. Because the vessel was being converted from fishing work on the East Coast (herring and mackerel) to West Coast fishing (pollock), a new fish pumping system was installed on the stern and a new full forward sheltered fish distribution room was constructed for protection during the fish sorting process. Read the rest here 17:58
By executive order, Gov. Walker merges Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission with Alaska F&G
The move, suggested by cost-cutters for several years, is estimated to save the state $1.33 million per year in administrative costs, the governor said by email Tuesday. The two commissioners for the entry commission and legal staff will continue to be an independent agency despite the merger. “With a $3.5 billion budget deficit, we are leaving no stone unturned as we look for efficiencies in state government,” Walker wrote in a statement.,, Read the rest here 16:24
‘Cold Water Cowboys’ returns to Discovery TV March 8
The popular Discovery TV series is returning, with a new Newfoundland fishing captain, Rick Crane, joining Richard Gillett, Conway Caines, Morris Anstey, Paul Tiller, Michelle and Andre Jesso, and their crews for an all-new, eight-episode season. Eager to fight the unforgiving waves to reach their weekly tallies and cash them in are returning fishermen Capt. Richard Gillett aboard the Midnight Shadow; Conway and Rick Caines aboard the Seadoo; Andre and Michelle Jesso aboard the Wave on Wave; Morris Anstey aboard the Sebastian Sails; Paul Tiller aboard the Atlantic Bandit; and newcomer Rick Crane aboard his new boat, Crane’s Legacy. Read the rest here 15:29
Dear Editor: Crab fishermen continue to suffer- Patti Grant, El Granada
The most recent crab testing still shows unsafe levels of domoic acid. For fishing to resume, levels need to be lower in the next three weekly tests; only then will the California Department of Fish and Game deem this seafood safe to eat. When that happens, commercial fishermen still won’t be able to fish because sport fishermen have always been given at least one week to fish before allowing the commercial boats to go out. The proposed mid-February opening date for commercial crabbing will now most likely be early March. Read the letter here 15:04
Maine Lobstermen divided on license proposals
The legislature’s Marine Resources Committee heard six hours of testimony Feb. 10 on a bill proposing changes to the commercial lobster licensing system. Those offering testimony were split between support for and opposition to the bill, which will be taken up next in a work session of the committee. The language was drafted by Department of Marine Resources (DMR) staff, but the bill officially was sponsored by Rep. Walter Kumiega (D-Deer Isle). Sen. Brian Langley (R-Hancock County) was one of several cosponsors. Read the rest here 13:26
ENGO aligned Hawaiians Press Obama To Expand NW Islands Marine Monument
A group of seven prominent Native Hawaiians has asked President Barack Obama to expand federal protections around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. President George W. Bush established in 2006 as the largest fully protected marine reserve on the planet at the time. Its protections, which include prohibitions against commercial fishing, extend 50 miles outside the island chain. The group didn’t say in the letter how much it wants to expand the monument, but federal jurisdiction extends out to 200 miles. That would make it nine times its current size of 139,797 square miles, which is bigger than all the country’s national parks combined. Read the rest here 12:44
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 45′ Dixon Gillnetter375HP, 6 Cylinder Detroit 60 Series Diesel
Specifications, information and 9 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 10:19
Center for Food Safety lawsuit challenge’s NOAA’s push for aquaculture in offshore U.S. waters
Center for Food Safety has filed a new lawsuit challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) new federal regulations permitting, for the first time, industrial aquaculture offshore in U.S. federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The plaintiff coalition CFS is representing in the case make up a broad array of significant interests in the Gulf of Mexico, including commercial, economic, recreational, and conservation groups. Read the rest here 09:09
6 things to expect at the Marine Fisheries Commission meeting in Wrightsville Beach
North Carolina’s Marine Fisheries Commission will host its first meeting of 2016 in Wrightsville Beach this week. The commission, responsible for overseeing fisheries management issues throughout the state, will meet for three days at the Blockade Runner Beach Resort. Here are a few of the topics commissioners will tackle between today and Friday: Flounder pound nets: The most contentious issue, Coastal protection, Oyster and clam rules, Eel farming, Shellfish licenses, Council appointments. Read the rest here 07:57
