Daily Archives: January 3, 2019
Fishing industry could be endangered by planned wind turbines
Whatever the future for large scale off-shore wind farms in New England, New Bedford and its first in the nation fishing industry will feel the effects. Renewable energy from sources which include off-shore wind, are an undeniable part of our future. It’s a fair question though whether commercial fishing as it now exists in southern New England, will survive the installation of the largest and most extensive array of ocean based wind turbines in the world. The offshore wind lease areas in federal waters overlay some important fishing grounds and navigation transit areas for the commercial fishing fleet which sails from our coast. The project furthest along in the leasing process is being pursued by Vineyard Wind,,, >click to read<21:41
ADF&G releases terms of new Pacific Salmon Treaty
A new Pacific Salmon Treaty negotiated between the United States and Canada, and critical to fisheries and the economy of Southeast Alaska, is now in effect for the decade ahead, as state and commercial harvester entities wrestle with how to deal with it. Acting Commissioner of Fish and Game Doug Vincent-Lang notes that his agency released the actual language of the negotiated terms, which were several years in the making, to allow affected users the opportunity to review them, “especially given that the terms adopt new metrics for management of fisheries in Southeast Alaska. This was done to improve transparency,” he said on Jan. 2.>click to read<20:08
Ghost Fishing Off Long Island’s Coast
On the deck of the vessel Christine & Jennifer, a dozen tiny mud crabs, each smaller than a fingertip, scuttle out of a rusty lobster trap. The crabs move sideways, exploring the edges of these newly discovered surfaces with their long thin legs. Dan Kuehn, a research technician at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, a nonprofit agency affiliated with Cornell University, inspects the next lobster pot. Something is moving among the wires. He peers inside and says: “One undersized lobster.” Kuehn cradles the small lobster in his hands. This one is lucky — it’s still alive. >click to read<15:46
New Jersey: Offshore-wind developers and officials won’t reveal key details of proposals
There’s a lot at stake for utility customers who may end up subsidizing projects to the tune of billions of dollars. Three developers are vying to build offshore-wind farms aimed at achieving the Murphy administration’s goal of building 1,100 megawatts of capacity off the Jersey coast in a process that is emerging as increasingly opaque. Details of the projects, to be subsidized by potentially billions of dollars from electric customers in New Jersey, were not forthcoming from either the state Board of Public Utilities nor the developers. The lack of transparency about the offshore-wind projects is not a new development. >click to read< 14:22
R.I. Legislators back Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
Twenty-five members of the Rhode Island General Assembly, including the Jamestown delegation, are calling for President Donald Trump to preserve the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The statement is in response to threats made by the administration that would alter boundaries to allow industrial fishing and oil drilling in the area, which is about 100 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. >click to read<12:25
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 50′ Split Wheelhouse FBR Offshore Lobster, CAT 3406 B, Onan 8.5 kW Genset
Specifications, information and 9 photos >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >Click here< 11:35
NIOSH Announces Availability of $6 Million in Commercial Fishing Safety Research and Training Grants
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), announced the availability of $6 million dollars in grant funding for commercial fishing safety research and training. The grants, which are supported and administered by NIOSH, will provide funding to qualified individuals in academia, members of non-profit organizations, municipalities, and businesses involved in the fishing and maritime industries. The funding will support research on improving the occupational safety of workers in the commercial fishing industry and critical training for this high-risk occupation. >click to read<10:52
Commercial crab fisherman sues harbor district over access
A man is suing the San Mateo County Harbor District over alleged access issues at the Ketch Joanne Restaurant and Harbor Bar in November. John Schulz requires the use of a wheelchair due to quadriplegia, according to the complaint. He says he needed to wash his hands but the restaurant didn’t have an accessable sink. He added that his attempts to use the non-accessible facilities, caused a series of embarrassing situations that affected him physically and emotionally. In the complaint — dated Dec. 10, 2018 — Schulz is described as a commercial crab fisherman who came to the restaurant on Nov. 14 with two employees after a long day of fishing. >click to read<10:07
