Monthly Archives: April 2021
Well, hush my puppies! Georgia Con groups boycott New England Lobster Industry
Maine’s lobster industry is keeping a wary eye on a consumer boycott launched in the state of Georgia. Conservation groups there charge that New England’s lobster gear and trap-rope risk entangling and killing endangered right whales, and they say seafood lovers should choose other options. Alice Keyes, the coastal conservation director for an organization called 100 Miles, so-named for Georgia’s hundred-mile shoreline. The campaign is called “Eat Local, Not Lobster”. “I hope consumers are smarter than falling for these false campaigns,” says Patrice McCarron, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association executive director. >click to read< 09:25
Obituary: Alaska – Commercial Fisherman Larry Miller
On Friday, April 16, Larry Miller, loving brother, uncle and friend passed away at his home. He was 66 years old. Larry was born in North Dakota to LeRoy and Joan Miller on August 8, 1955. The family moved to Montana where he attended Helena High until moving to Alaska in 1973, where he discovered the love of his life, commercial fishing. He longlined halibut, black cod and rockfish with his family for years, as well as stints at seining, crabbing, shrimping and at just about anything that would keep his feet wet. >click to read< 08:39
Brexit: how it started, how it’s going
The European Parliament votes Tuesday on the EU’s divorce settlement with Britain, the 1,246-page Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The deal averted tariffs or quotas on almost all goods produced in the UK and EU. The new standards and attendant bureaucracy are having an impact on trade. UK exports of live mussels, cockles, oysters and other shellfish are no longer allowed to enter the EU. Most come from Scotland, and the industry says it is staring at collapse. Britain’s government, however, says the coronavirus pandemic has been the bigger factor affecting trade since the Brexit deal took effect. >click to read< 07:32
Right whale spotted in Canadian waters, DFO imposes 15-day crab fishing closure
The first North Atlantic right whale of the season has been sighted in Canadian waters, triggering an early and localized snow crab fishery closure in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Observers flying in a plane spotted the whale Sunday afternoon northeast of the Magdalen Islands in the Cabot Strait.,, DFO said Monday it has responded. “This sighting has triggered a 15-day fishing closure in crab fishing area 12F,” the department said in a statement. Fishing area 12F is east of the Magdalen Islands. >click to read< 17:44
Obituary: Thomas Kezar of Cape Porpoise, supplying bait to New England fishing boats for 45 years.
Thomas (Todd) Joseph Kezar, 70, of Cape Porpoise, lost his battle with ALS April 23, journeying home to be with the Lord, joining his parents Thomas F. Kezar and Josephine D’Ascanio Kezar. Growing up here on the ocean, he loved to fish. After finishing school he spent a couple of years fishing and scalloping up and down the Atlantic coastline. He decided he loved what he did, his surroundings, his hometown, the fishing communities, the local people and fishermen he met, so he stayed, started his own business, found his niche running bait up and down the New England shoreline supplying the fishing boats. This was his world for 45 years. >click to read< 16:01
New Bedford Fish processing workers worried about respiratory health
Workers are complaining of respiratory issues due to a fish processing machine that releases vapors. Worker advocacy groups sent a letter last week to a city seafood processing facility detailing concerns about worker health. The letter, delivered April 19 in person and by email to North Coast Seafoods, discusses “troubling symptoms and illness” among current and former workers. The workers believe it is caused by a machine they say cuts and debones fish with hot water and pressure. “It produces and releases a smoke-like vapor that contains fish particulates. There has been some effort to channel the vapor out of the building, and while filters are used, they are often clogged,” >click to read< 14:25
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation supports LD 101 to pause offshore wind development in state waters
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF) is supporting LD 101 which would pause all wind energy projects in state waters. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham R- Winter Harbor.,,, Right now, lobstermen and women face a three headed sea monster (Right Whales, Aquaculture, Offshore Wind) and the outcomes could be ugly. As a result, the inshore fishery is about to get even more crowded. Lobstermen and women have been talking about leaving the offshore fishery which is beyond the three-mile line and coming inshore because of the changes around right whale regulations. >click to read< 11:45
You can cook seal a lot of ways, and they’re actually delicious. Honest.
Seal meat is hard to describe. It’s dark and marrowy, gamy and fishy all at once. While the fat in pork and beef is marbled and intramuscular, seal fat is an omega 3-laden liquid oil that permeates the meat, which means the whole thing is rich in nutrients and has a silky-smooth texture. The market for seal meat is relatively small. Thousands of seals are killed for pelts, and that healthy seal fat is transformed into oil and capsules, but only pockets of people are enjoying the meat. My instinct, when presented with a flipper, is to make a pie. >click to read< 09:26
F/V Tyhawk: wreckage of the fishing vessel has been located
Members of a community-led search team have spotted the wreckage of the fishing vessel Tyhawk that capsized off the Nova Scotia coast at the start of snow crab season earlier this month. The boat is in more than 70 metres of water. Craig (Jumbo) Sock, the boat’s captain, has been missing since the accident on April 3. He has not been located. The search team used an underwater camera to locate the boat. It is in an area where the boat was last reported. Volunteer searchers made the discovery Sunday. >click to read< 07:58
Mount Pleasant, S.C. Blessing of the Fleet honors late founder Wayne Magwood
For 34 years, The Blessing of the Fleet has honored Lowcountry fishermen. This year’s event focused on the life and legacy of late organizer and Captain Wayne Magwood. The community and family members say they remember the years of work their father put in to the one thing he adored. “He was always wanting to mentor younger generations. He would take anyone out on his boat with him just so they could see the hard work and dedication he put into his job,” says Melissa Magwood, one of Wayne Magwood’s daughters. The event honored dozens of boats, full of fishermen for their season ahead. This years event was the first without Captain Magwood who started the event. Video, >click to read< 06:59
Australia: From feeding a President to a food van – This is the reality of China’s trade war
From the barley fields of Western Australia, to the lobster trawlers of Hobart,,, In a shock move, Chinese authorities claimed a sample of a rock lobster contained excessive levels of the heavy metal cadmium. Trade was effectively shut down,,, Australian government agencies has found no evidence of contamination in southern rock lobster. Without China, prices have collapsed. There are about 150 boats in the Tasmanian lobster fleet, Mr Blake fears a third will have to exit the industry,,, only last night, I had a fisherman on the phone crying to me, wondering how he’s going to pay his bills, and this is only the start.” Lobster is just one of a raft of industries hit by China’s trade sanctions, including beef, wine and barley. lots of photos, >click to read< 19:31
Cornish fisherman can’t swim on Brexit, Coronavirus. and 50 years at sea
Coronavirus for the shellfish export capital of the UK Newquay, hit pretty hard, Phil Trebilcock said, but thanks to a wave of ‘buy local’ sentiment, they were kept going. “It has not been too bad for us, because what this Covid has done is a lot of people, I’ll give the public their due, have been supporting locals. Brexit, for Phil, has not hit as hard as other fishermen, some of whom accused the government of turning its back on them with the withdrawal agreement. After starting out in 1964, aged just ten, he caught his first mackerel and crabs to sell at Newquay Harbour. photos, click to read<15:40
Watch National Stock Assessment Seminar – Dr. Cadrin will discuss “Optimal Spatial Boundaries and Strata for Stock Assessment
Dr. Steve Cadrin, Chair & Professor of the Department of Fisheries Oceanography at UMass Dartmouth , will present at NOAA Fisheries’ National Stock Assessment Seminar on Thursday, May 6 at 3 pm. His presentation on “Optimal Spatial Boundaries and Strata for Stock Assessment…and confronting practical realities” will be followed by a Q&A session. This online event, hosted by NOAA Central Library, is free and open to the public. Register to attend. >click to read< 11:34
The Blessing of the Fleet in Lafitte returned Saturday!
The blessing of the fleet in Lafitte returned Saturday April 24, 2021, after taking a year off because of the coronavirus pandemic. A boat-blessing tradition started in the ’40s returns to Lafitte after a pandemic-year pause >click<. The Boss Man shrimp boat gets into position to be blessed by 
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond during Lafitte’s blessing of the fleet in the Industrial Canal Saturday, April 24, 2021. The archbishop assisted Rev. Luke Nguyen, of St. Anthony Catholic Church, in blessing the fleet. “This is the first time Lafitte has an archbishop to bless the boats,” Nguyen said. lots of photos!, >click to review< 09:57
Brexit Betrayal: In Newlyn, anger at red tape and the falling price of fish.
Michael Bosustow been awake for about 30 hours and needs to prepare for another couple of days at sea. But he can still summon the energy to condemn the Conservative party for striking a deal with the EU that he, like many in this tight-knit fishing town, regards as a betrayal.,,, Further down the quay, Brackan Pearce, 28, is restocking his trawler. He travelled up the Thames as part of a flotilla of fishing boats demanding control of British waters during the referendum campaign in 2016. Now he feels betrayed. “They lied to us. They’ve used us to get Brexit. Without the boats going up the Thames, Brexit would never have happened,” he says from the deck of his boat. >click to read< 08:46
Oppose Industrial Offshore Wind Farms – Attend Peaceful Protest Tuesday April 27th at 4:30pm
I represent Save our Shoreline NJ, a group of nearly 4000 concerned businesses, homeowners, residents, fishing community members, and New Jersey shore vacationers. The view of the industrialization of our ocean by these giant wind farms is the least of our concerns. At first I was concerned about the view, which will be a horrible blight upon our beautiful Jersey Shore, but now I know that other issues are of greater significance. One major environmental concern is for the severely endangered Atlantic Right Whale and other juvenile whales that regularly visit the Jersey Shore. A major economic concern, our electric bills, which will cripple our New Jersey economy, environmental and economic concern is for the fluke fishery,,, by Tricia Conte >click to read< 07:36
Falmouth working boat in Carrick Roads vandalised at Penpol Feock
Erin Bastian said her father Mike had been working and living in the local community all his life. She explained that at the end of March the oyster fishing season comes to an end and over the summer the fishermen store their boats on public beaches,,, However, last night it appears to have been the victim of a vandalism attack. “My dad saved this year for a new boat, his pride and joy, an old wooden working boat. Many people will see them out on the water from October to March, working by hand, using sail power alone. “This week someone has callously damaged my dad’s boat by digging up his anchor, and unbolting one of his support legs. “I am mortified to see my dad’s livelihood vandalised. >photos, click to read< 15:57
Injured N.S. lobster fisherman Andrew Saulnier is overwhelmed by ‘unbelievable’ community support
“It’s unbelievable how much the community can actually come together to help somebody. I can’t thank anyone enough … Andrew Saulnier struggles to find the words to describe his last few weeks. The 24-year-old fisherman suffered life-threatening injuries on a lobster boat. Saulnier has dealt with multiple surgeries, including a leg amputation, but said the outpouring of support from friends, family and the community has been truly incredible. “It’s unreal, that’s part of the reason why I’m so emotional,” RCMP have said the fisherman got caught in the machinery when the vessel’s engine went into gear. It’s a long road ahead. Please donate >click here< if you can! >click to read< 13:23
The ‘disastrous’ Brexit deal: Fishermen lament Brexit betrayal and ageing crews
This year was meant to mark the rebirth of British fishing. After years of decline under the Common Fisheries Policy, fishermen overwhelmingly backed Brexit as a means of regaining control of the waters and rebuilding the country’s fleets. It was a tantalising glimpse of a new dawn, but instead the deal struck between the Government and the EU,,, The combination of red tape and a lack of opportunities at sea means many young people are now turning their back on the industry. Ruinous as it has been, many fishermen say they were struggling to attract young people due to domestic red tape long before the Brexit negotiations neared their conclusion. >click to read< 10:41
“This is a transformational moment” – Mi’kmaq lead billion-dollar sea change
One of the key differences between the Clearwater deal and the Mi’kmaq moderate-livelihood fishery is that Clearwater held commercial offshore licences, allowing them to fish lobster year-round, while moderate livelihood contends with treaty rights and typically means inshore lobster fishing (within 50 nautical miles from shore). Offshore fishing requires larger boats, more intense training and safety protocols. Last summer, Membertou First Nation purchased two of the offshore licences, and Paul promised then that they would continue to gain access to more seafood markets. Buying out Clearwater, which sold more than $600 million in scallops, clams, rock crab, shrimp and lobster on the global market in 2019, has made the coalition the largest holder of shellfish licences and quotas in Canada. >click to read< 09:38
Commercial fisherman Devyn Campbell running for one-year Boothbay Harbor selectman’s term
Considering the position you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues? First, affordable housing is almost impossible to find in this town and year round rentals can take years to find. Second, year round employment – I’d like to find a way for people not to have to go elsewhere to find work in the winter after their summer job here is over. Third, working waterfront access and commercial maritime viability – Boothbay Harbor supports the commercial fishing fleets of Boothbay, Southport and Trevett. Protecting the interests of our fishermen and their families will be forefront during my service on the board. >click to read< 08:37
14,000 liters of fuel spilled when shrimp boat sinks after collision with ferry off Sinaloa
A shrimp boat sank Wednesday after a collision with a ferry off Topolobampo, Sinaloa, causing the discharge of 14,000 liters of fuel. Authorities in the nearby town of Ahome have asked beach-goers not to enter the water and are monitoring beaches for any fuel that might wash ashore. According to Baja Ferries, the Mexico Star was following its usual Topolobampo – La Paz route, carrying passengers and cargo, when it struck a fishboat with seven people on board. The ferry tried to communicate with visual and audio signals as well as by radio but the fishing vessel did not respond, Two crew members on the shrimp boat were seriously injured. >click to read< 17:15
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for April 23, 2021
Legislative updates, Bill updates, Calendar, >Click here to read the Weekly Update<, to read all the updates >click here<, for older updates listed as NCFA >click here< 16:35
Snow crab market heats up with Record-Breaking Prices in northern Cape Breton
Soaring demand from the U.S. has resulted in snow crab coming in at over $8 a pound. The price was closer to $4.25 this time last year. Dave Donovan fishes out of Neils Harbour on board the Krista & Megan. “Eight dollars is a big bonus,” he said. “I guess it’s the best price I’ve ever seen since I’ve been in the fishery.” Donovan said the hot market this year is welcomed by all on the wharf, and in the processing plant. The high price is a surprise to Osborne Burke, “We didn’t anticipate this,” >click to read< 14:14
North Sea Annihilation: Offshore Wind Power Destroying Marine Environment In New & Exciting Ways
Energy generation systems of all descriptions take their toll, but only one of them claims moral superiority over all others. That increasingly tenuous claim rests on the ‘we’re saving the planet’ mantra – chanted by the wind cult around the Globe. Offshore wind turbine noise and vibration has clocked up a number of Cetacean fatalities, messing with whale’s sonar guidance and communication systems: Wind Turbine Noise Terrorizing Whales Here’s another take on how offshore wind farms in Britain are doing their bit for the environment in the North Sea. >click to read< 12:46
Industrial salmon farm proposal for Frenchman Bay draws local fire
“So many people around the bay have come together to try to fight this,” said Ted O’Meara,,, American Aquafarms, a Norwegian company, has filed two draft lease applications,,, Among the potential risks with the project, O’Meara said, was the prospect of pollution from “millions of gallons of effluent,” fish escapes, fish die-offs, fish disease that could impact other species, loss of commercial fishing grounds and “threats” to other small-scale aquaculture operations already taking place in the bay. >click to read< 11:10
Eastern Shipbuilding lands huge contract to build Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter
Brian Disernia founded Eastern Shipbuilding Group in 1976 on one acre of leased land on Watson Bayou in Panama City. He was a commercial sword fisherman and wanted to build shipping vessels for himself. What started as a one-man operation is now run by his children. It has more than a thousand employees and has landed a very sought-after contract. Eastern Shipbuilding is still a relatively small fish in a big pond when compared to others around the country. So being awarded a contract to build a Coast Guard offshore patrol cutter or O.P.C is no small feat. “Like the story of David and Goliath, little Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Bay County, Florida stunned the world by winning this construction project,” said President Joey Disernia. >video, click to read< 10:30
Sipekne’katik may seek United Nations peacekeepers for contentious N.S. fishery relaunch
The Sipekne’katik First Nation says it is considering asking the United Nations to send peacekeepers to police the self-regulated lobster fishery it plans to relaunch in southwestern Nova Scotia outside the commercial fishing season. On Thursday, Chief Mike Sack said Sipekne’katik fishermen will return to St. Marys Bay in June despite warnings in March from federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan that her department will enforce rules prohibiting commercial lobster fishing outside of commercial seasons. “We’re going to send a letter off to the United Nations and hoping that they can come and keep the peace. And it was very obvious to me that we couldn’t rely on the RCMP or DFO,” Sack said. >click to read< 08:44
MMO announce first panel dates for Fisheries and Seafood Scheme in England
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is pleased to confirm dates for the first English Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) panel. The MMO is administering the new £6.1 million FaSS on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The fund includes support for business to adapt to new markets and respond to new trading conditions, improve safety on fishing vessels and onshore and to protect the environment – with funding available for equipment that reduces the impact of fishing on the marine environment, among other areas. More information can be found on their website. >click to read< 22:08
In the Wake of Hurricane Sally, City won’t pay for removal of boats sunk behind Joe Patti’s
Since Pensacola fisherman Linh Tran lost his livelihood when his shrimping trawler sank seven months ago during Hurricane Sally, his days have been plagued by anxiety and dread over how to retrieve the vessel. Earlier this week, he got more bad news. The Pensacola City Council declined to take up the issue of whether to allocate money to remove two sunken boats, including Tran’s, from a small harbor behind Joe Patti’s Seafood. So for now, the two boats, along with a third one on Joe Patti’s property will remain in the water. After hearing of the council’s decision, Tran — who emigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam, became a citizen and reached his American dream of buying a boat to shrimp the Pensacola Bay — tried to hold back tears. >photos, lots of photos, click to read< 19:10 Brother starts GoFundMe Fundraiser – Shrimp Boat Sunk by Hurricane Sally – Daniel Tran is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Linh Tran, >click to read<
