Monthly Archives: January 2021
Russia and NZ in ‘knock out brawl’ over fishing vessel in protected Antarctic waters
Russia has accused New Zealand of falsifying evidence in a diplomatic clash over illegal fishing in protected waters around Antarctica. New Zealand and many allies rejected the accusation,,, On January 19 last year, a routine New Zealand surveillance flight over the Southern Ocean spotted a Russian-flagged ship called FV Palmer fishing in a marine protected area where fishing is banned by international agreement. The Palmer’s satellite tracker, officially called a “vessel monitoring system” ,or VMS, indicated the vessel was about 800 nautical miles (1500 kilometres) from that spot. >click to read< 15:44
Scottish seafood left to rot with exports tangled in Brexit bureaucracy, exports could grind to a halt
The Scottish Seafood Association said exports to the EU are being hindered by “red tape” delays in Scotland and France. It claims as many as 25 trucks were backlogged for clearance due to IT problems in Boulogne on Tuesday. Jimmy Buchan, chief executive of the Scottish Seafood Association, said: “Trucks laden with fresh seafood are being held up in central Scotland due to problems with customs barcodes and lack of veterinary service capacity. >click to read< 12:25
President-elect Joe Biden has chosen Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as his commerce secretary
The Biden transition team announced the president-elect’s choice of Raimondo for this key economic position Thursday night. The agency has a critical role in everything from technology policy to climate change to promoting American industry. Beyond that, the statement said she has “worked to quickly bring the state economy back from the depths” of the pandemic; “expanded clean energy jobs and put Rhode Island on a path to achieving 100% renewable energy.” >click to read< 10:40
New Jersey Offshore wind developer is hosting a webinar for recreational fishermen this coming Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting is to get feedback from recreational fishermen. The group has brought on for-hire vessel operator Captain Adam Nowalsky as the recreational fisheries representative and liaison. >click to read<
Stay calm under pressure. You may not be a trauma surgeon, but you can use some of the same coping mechanisms.
While being a human is rarely a stress-free endeavor, this level of anxiety is new for many of us. But for people with the world’s most intense and dangerous jobs—occupations that can involve life-and-death decisions—such tension is a fact of life. We reached out to a few of them to learn about how they cope without freaking out, and to hear what advice they have for the rest of us. From the land to the air to the sea, the terrain—both literal and psychological—these folks navigate can be tough. Here’s what it’s like for Air Traffic Controller Nichole Surunis, Coast Guard Rescue Pilot Jared Carbajal, Fishing Boat Captain Dick Ogg, Trauma Surgeon Daniel Hagler. >click to read< 10:10
Report: Lifejackets for Lobstermen a success
The folks from the Lifejackets for Lobstermen campaign had a challenging mission: spread the word to more than 500 lobstermen of the life-saving benefits of wearing personal flotation devices while fishing. And they weren’t sure how they’d be received by the lobstering community that largely has resisted wearing lifejackets and other safety devices because they were uncomfortable, impeded their work or were regarded as too expensive. “When we first hit the road, we weren’t sure what to expect,”,, “From Day One, the lobstermen were very open to talking with us and trying on the different styles of lifejackets.” photos, a pdf report, >click to read< 08:47
F/V Emmy Rose owner claims no responsibility for sinking of vessel
The Portland fishing vessel Emmy Rose sank in November, and according to a new limitation action in federal court, the owners of the boat say they shouldn’t be held responsible. A lawyer for Boat Aaron & Melissa, Inc. is asking the court to exonerate or limit the company’s liability. Four fishermen were lost, including three from Maine. Video, >click to read< 07:48
Obituary: Grant Thompson, 40+ years owner operator of commercial fishing vessels, industry innovator in Bristol Bay
Grant Thompson, 73, passed away on September 14, 2020, while playing tennis with friends at Zephyr Cove, Nevada. He grew up in Seattle, and at age 15 was invited by neighbor Erling Thomason to work on purse seiner Betty in Petersburg, which proved to be a life-changing experience. He spent the next 40+ years owning and operating commercial fishing vessels, became a founding partner of Norquest Seafoods in 1982, and contributed to revolutionizing the commercial fishing industry in Bristol Bay. >click to read< 15:15
Sonar tech company says RCMP declined offer to help find F/V Chief William Saulis
Kraken Robotics offered to deploy its ultra-high-resolution sonar system in effort to find the Chief William Saulis, which went down last month in stormy seas near Digby, N.S., with six men on board. “We just wanted to help. And that’s what’s confounding us,” said Karl Kenny, CEO and president of Kraken Robotics.,, Sgt. Andrew Joyce, a spokesperson for the RCMP, said the force frequently gets offers to assist in high-profile cases. He said the force may still take Kraken up on its offer, but for now it has the resources it needs, including sonar. >click to read< 12:57
Meet the Merchant: Kurt Englund, Englund Marine & Industrial Supply
Describe what Englund Marine & Industrial Supply does and who it serves. “We supply fishing gear and boat parts for commercial and recreational fishermen and marine applications. We also stock a full line of industrial supplies. A lot of it goes to our local mills, loggers, construction companies, fabricators, municipalities and so on. And we get a lot of general residents in for home projects as well.” Tell me about the history of Englund Marine,,, >click to read< 11:05
Price strike drags on for California crab fleet holding out for better price
“We can’t afford to do these operations with the price they’re offering. We go backward,” said Ben Platt, president of the California Coast Crab Association. “That’s why everyone’s holding together, holding strong. We were starting at $3 a pound 10 years ago, and our costs have definitely gone up.” The additional two bits that crabbers are seeking before they’ll be wiling to leave dockside makes an enormous difference when multiplied by thousands of pounds.,, Veteran Bodega Bay crabber Tony Anello, part of a family long tied to the industry. “You’re not going to be able to keep your crew long, because you can’t sustain them. >click to read< 09:01
China’s lobster ban helped lift Australian Christmas seafood purchases by 30 per cent
It was a difficult 2020 for Australian fishermen with COVID-19 affecting both food service and export markets. “We needed a bumper Christmas period to help us claw our way back,” Veronica Papacosta, CEO of Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) said. It seems that SIA’s campaign calling on consumers to support the struggling sector, by switching one meal on the Christmas table to seafood, worked. “We’re hearing from retailers and producers right across the country that they’re up, on average, 30 per cent from last year’s December sales,” >click to read< 07:49
Oregon: Commercial Dungeness crab fishermen reject another offer from processor
Commercial Dungeness crab fishermen declined another offer from Pacific Seafood on Wednesday.,, It’s been three weeks since the commercial Dungeness crab season started. With prices still in question, boats continue to float at the docks. Russell’s Marine Fuel and Supply hasn’t sold fuel to the commercial fleet in two weeks. “Everybody can be off work for a month, but you start getting into month two, month three and you do start seeing that effect,” says operations manager Curtis Green. >click to read< 07:04
Proposal to help young fishermen becomes law
The bill, co-authored in the House by Rep. Seth Moulton and signed into law Tuesday by President Donald Trump, addresses the succession void that many traditional fisheries are experiencing as the pipeline of entry-level crew and prospective captains has dried up. The new law provides $2 million in funding to distribute grants of up to $200,000 to support and enhance local and regional training, education and technology development for entry-level commercial fishermen. >click to read< 17:14
Businessman who backed Brexit says eel business has been sold down river
A businessman who backed Brexit and appeared in a UKIP video says exiting the EU could see his £2m a year elver farming business go under and he regrets voting ‘Leave’. UK Glass Eels, whose base at Over on the edge of the Forest of Dean, was part-funded by the EU, has links with Severn and Wye Smokery in Westbury-on-Severn and is supplied by elver fishermen on the Severn and in Wales. The 40-year-old sustainable fishery business, which won funding from the European Fisheries Fund to move to its current base between Highnam and Gloucester in 2012, >click to read< 13:29
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 60′ Fiberglass Longliner, Cummins 855TA, Kubota Genset
To review specifications, and information, and 23 photos, >click here<, To see all the boats in this series >click here<12:15
New DFO regulations, 30 major commercial stocks have been identified for rebuilding
Canada is putting into law a requirement that it rebuild depleted commercial fish stocks, starting with 17 stocks that include Atlantic cod off Newfoundland, spring spawning herring in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and three Pacific salmon stocks. They account for more than half the 30 major commercial stocks identified for specific protection in amended Fisheries Act regulations published Jan. 2. >click to read< 11:33
Deadliest Catch deckhand Mahlon Reyes’ cause of death has been reported as acute cocaine intoxication
Deadliest Catch star Mahlon Reyes sadly died at the age of 38 following a drug overdose, it’s been reported. The television personality – known for being a deckhand on one of the crab fishing boats – died in July 2020 after reportedly suffering from a heart attack. According to TMZ, Reyes’ cause of death has since been linked to acute cocaine intoxication. Flathead County Sheriff and Coroner, Brian Heino, also reportedly told the publication that Mahlon’s death has been ruled as accidental. Confirmation of Mahlon Reyes’ cause of death comes just one week after co-star Nick McGlashan was found dead at the age of 33. >click to read< 10:25
The Deadliest Disease – A lifestyle of the Bering Sea Crabber is a dream for many, but a reality for few. Hard work and fast money make this a lucrative industry enviable for the hopeful masses. By Nick Mcglashan >click to read<
Gloves Come Off In Fight Over Commercial Fishing In Michigan
The few commercial fishing businesses that remain in Michigan are suing the state’s Department of Natural Resources over changes to industry rules. They say the new provisions will make commercial fishing all but impossible. The lawsuit, filed by the Michigan Fish Producers Association, claims the actions of the state threaten to deprive its members and their employees of their livelihoods. “Here in Leland, you can’t fish,” says Joel Petersen, the last state-licensed fishermen working out of Fishtown. >click to read< 09:35
Safety on the Water Must Take Precedent
The year 2020 is nearly in the rearview mirror. Feel free to take a moment and let out a collective sigh of relief here. Who knows what 2021 has in store for us, but could it possibly be any more strange, troubling or unprecedented than the last 12 months? This past year will go down in history as one of the most turbulent for the fishery in Southwest Nova Scotia. Not only was the industry rocked by the global impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the self-regulated, moderate livelihood lobster fishery by First Nations led to protests, disputes and dissention across the breadth of the Nova Scotia fishing community. >click to read< 08:45
Gulf of Maine: Fishermen Worry About Rapid Pace Of Wind Development
In late November, the Mills administration announced that the state would seek a federal lease for up to 12 floating wind turbines off southern Maine that could produce enough energy for more than 70,000 homes. “We think there’s a real opportunity for Maine to be a leader in the country on floating offshore wind,” says Dan Burgess, (you’re full of crap, kid!) who leads the governor’s energy office. But if Gov. Mills wants to be in the driver’s seat, fishermen say she should take her foot off the gas, and step on the brakes. >click to read< 07:45
Boris Johnson’s Brexit Deal Under Fire From British Fishermen, More
Boris Johnson’s Brexit negotiations are being heavily criticised by UK fishermen who are faced with the possibility of going out of business, thanks to the terms of the Brexit fishing deal,,, >click to read<
Fishermen brand Brexit trade deal a ‘betrayal’ – new year may not bring the hoped for Brexit bounty for Scottish fishermen as industry leaders 
express their misgivings. >click to read<
EU crumbles as Irish fishermen turn on allies. ‘Macron got what HE wanted!’ – Irish fishermen have turned on their European allies over their English Channel access and quota allowances, arguing France got what they demanded in the post-Brexit trade deal with the UK. >click to read< 17:00
Modernizing a Fishing Vessel for Optimal Performance
Elliott Bay Design Group (EBDG) is supporting O’Hara Corporation as they modernize their 204′ factory trawler, Alaska Spirit. The vessel has been successfully fishing Alaska’s Bering Sea since 1989 when it was converted from an offshore supply vessel to a head and gut factory trawler. O’Hara has committed to a complete vessel overhaul to improve habitability, efficiency and optimize vessel performance. The multi-year project kicked off in 2017,,,The modernization work completed thus far has occurred during normal down time, meaning no seasons have been missed during the process. >click to read< 12:46
Bluefin tuna sells for low pandemic price at Toyosu’s 1st 2021 auction
The most expensive bluefin tuna sold under the hammer at 2021’s first auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market failed to land a million-dollar bid or anything close on Jan. 5, reflecting the chill the novel coronavirus pandemic has on the restaurant industry. The 208.4-kilogram fish caught off Oma, Aomori Prefecture, went for just 20.8 million yen ($202,270) to Yamayuki, the market’s intermediary wholesaler.,,, Minoru Tanaka, 65, the captain of a tuna trawler based in Oma, caught the fish. 5 photos, >click to read< 10:30
Would throwing the big ones back keep Atlantic halibut fishery on a roll? DFO considers changing the rules!
The investigation is being undertaken at the request of companies that fish halibut using hook and line from the Grand Banks off Newfoundland to Georges Bank off southern Nova Scotia. They’d like to see it happen. “Releasing large halibut is something that fishermen will say, and I will say, that’s just logical, because the majority of the large halibut are females. But you really don’t know just what goes on after you release a large halibut like that,” said Gary Dedrick, a halibut fisherman from Shelburne, N.S., and a founding member of the Atlantic Halibut Council. “So this is where there is monitoring on the bottom and how long they live.” >click to read< 09:45
Dungeness crab fishing industry adapts to climate shock event
The delayed opening of the 2015-16 crab-fishing season followed the 2014-16 North Pacific marine heat wave and subsequent algal bloom. The bloom produced high levels of the biotoxin domoic acid, which can accumulate in crabs and render them hazardous for human consumption. That event, which is considered a “climate shock” because of its severity and impact, tested the resilience of California’s fishing communities,,, The study is the first to examine impacts from such delays across fisheries, providing insight into the response by the affected fishing communities,>click to read< 08:25
California: Dungeness crab fishermen unite during uncertain times
Commercial fishermen from the Half Moon Bay Seafood Marketing Association, the San Francisco Crab Boat Owners Association and the Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association, have come together to broker an agreement that will ensure a safe and orderly start to the commercial Dungeness Crab season in California, once price negotiations are settled. Local groups are coordinating with all California ports,,, >click to read< 07:40
North Pacific Pollock fishing crews on edge after a tough 2020 of small fish and COVID-19
Skipper Kevin Ganley spent most of the summer and fall pulling a massive trawl net through the Bering Sea in a long slow search for pollock, a staple of McDonald’s fish sandwiches. The fish proved very hard to find.,,, Fishermen, for example, helped in taking bottom temperatures with equipment they brought on board their vessels. >click to read< And scientists figured out a way to roughly measure the pollock abundance through acoustic sonar mounted in three Saildrones, which are remote-controlled 20-foot boats. >click to read< 14:05
North Atlantic Right Whales – Proposed Pot/Trap Fisheries Regulations – Available for Public Comment
Today, we released our proposed modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan to further reduce the impacts of entanglement in fishing gear on right whales in U.S. waters. The proposed modifications focus on the Northeast Jonah crab and lobster trap/pot fisheries, which deploy about 93 percent of the buoy lines fished in areas where right whales occur. In 2021, the team will be asked to recommend risk reduction measures for other Atlantic trap/pot and gillnet fisheries. We also released the associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement. >click to read< 12:02
Bocaccio rockfish are still endangered, but a huge birthing event in 2016 has it popping up everywhere
A species of fish you’ve probably never heard about has made a major comeback from being endangered, but now B.C. fishermen can’t avoid catching it, threatening their ability to earn a living. “This is a great news and a terrible news story,” said Brian Mose, a skipper and representative of the Deep Sea Trawlers Association in B.C.,, Some fishermen are worried that if they go out on the water, they’ll catch their limit of bocaccio and then be prevented from fishing at all. >click to read< 08:49
New Zealand crayfish in hot demand in China, selling for $100, as China-Australia relations sour
Though this time of year is usually quiet a shift in global politics has made for a busier November and December than expected. A diplomatic stoush saw China refuse various Australian exports, including live crayfish, also known as kōura or rock lobster. Suddenly Chinese buyers are paying a lot more to get hold of New Zealand crays. The extra cash has been a welcome boost, after the industry’s $38m loss during lockdown. >click to read< 16:43
