Daily Archives: May 9, 2018
Chesapeake Bay’s blue crabs made it through tough weather, survey finds
Despite the seemingly unending winter weather, Maryland found that the population of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay are “healthy and sustainable.” According to this year’s Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, even though around 35 percent of adult female blue crabs didn’t make it through the cold, icy weather, there was a marked increase of young crabs returning to the bay this year. “The population is showing more resiliency to those ups and downs and those stresses,” said Chris Moore, senior regional ecosystem scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. >click to read<23:36
Fishermen frustrated as Placentia lift bridge leaves boats stuck in harbour
The $50-million Sir Ambrose Shea Lift Bridge in Placentia works great — if you drive a car or a truck. The current problem is a cable reel that broke April 30, and the replacement isn’t due for about a month. Ken Viscount, a Placentia-area fisherman for more than 30 years, says it feels like they’ve been dealing with bridge problems day-in, day-out since it opened almost a couple of years ago. “It seems like every time it’s a good fishing time, like crabbing is now, I mean, that’s the fishermen’s moneymakers, eh? The bridge is broke,” >click to read<20:29
Clearwater throws cold water on surf clam rival’s prospects in 2018
Halifax-based Clearwater Seafoods spoke for the first time Tuesday since losing a valuable arctic surf clam quota and raised doubts about whether a new Indigenous rival will be able to live up to its promise to harvest in 2018. The company suggested the licence for about 9,600 tonnes of the shellfish, worth an estimated $29 million, is on hold while the award is challenged in Federal Court. “Our understanding is with a judicial review process, the Department [of Fisheries and Oceans] would pause in issuing a licence until that process plays itself out,”,, >click to read<18:02
Commercial fishers’ plight needs more attention – the plight of our neighbors
I’ve lived in northeastern North Carolina for almost two decades now, and I am ashamed I know very little about the fishing industry. Why am I ashamed? Because as a region, fishing has a very big impact on our economy, tourism and recreation. I remember a few years after I moved here we had a season with a lot of crabs in Elizabeth City’s harbor. I was amazed at all the folks who lined up shoulder to shoulder to bring them in. I have Canadian relatives who were heavily involved in the sardine industry in Saint John, New Brunswick and I have vivid childhood memories of visiting there and smelling the heavy salt in the air and eating bags of dried dulse (seaweed) like popcorn. The sense of community in that fishing village was so evident. By Holly Audette>click to read<15:41
Kodiak man killed in Bering Sea fishing accident
A 55-year-old Kodiak resident died last week aboard a fishing vessel during a transfer operation in the Bering Sea, according to Alaska State Troopers. Alaska State Troopers said in an online dispatch that they learned Wednesday of Christopher O’Callaghan’s death aboard the 95-foot F/V Ocean Hunter. “O’Callaghan was on the deck while the vessel was tied off to another vessel in the open sea, transferring fish,” troopers wrote. “A slack line suddenly went taut, striking O’Callaghan on the chest, causing bruising and internal injuries, resulting in his death. >click to read< 13:15
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 85′ Steel Scalloper/Longline/Shrimper, Cat 3412, Kort Nozzle
Specifications, information and 16 photos >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >Click here<12:28
The Future of Lobstering May Mean Fishing by Computer
Lobster fishing used to be pretty straightforward. But there may be big changes ahead for fishermen in New England. “First thing you have to remember is, you’re taking the lobster industry and flipping it around on its head and shaking it,” Mike Lane said, sitting on his lobster boat in Cohassett Lane. Lane is a life-long fisherman. His dad fished for lobster before him. He’s concerned about the proposals. “How are you going to teach 60-year old men that don’t use computers to use a computer?” >click to read<08:51
