Monthly Archives: November 2021
Remembrance Day: Memory of Labrador veteran killed in Afghanistan lives on
Friends and family remember Chad O’Quinn of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, N.L., as being larger than life, someone who enjoyed living on the edge and gave his all to everything he did. Now the family hopes to remind people of their son and the others who died in service. The corporal was serving in Afghanistan when he was killed by a roadside bomb on March 3, 2009. Twelve years later, his parents say his memory still lives on. “He was all up for excitement. He was all up for helping,” said Ken O’Quinn, Chad’s father. >click to read< 08:44
An Important Message From the North Carolina Fisheries Association, Inc. on Amendment 2, Shrimp FMP
Next week at their November 17-19 quarterly business meeting the NC Marine Fisheries Commission (MFC) will hear public comment and vote on preferred management options for Amendment 2 to the Shrimp Fishery Management Plan (FMP). (https://deq.nc.gov/media/
Seven rescued after commercial fishing vessel catches fire 350 miles west of Monterey
The Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of seven people after their 85-foot commercial fishing boat caught fire Wednesday morning, approximately 350 miles west of Monterey. Eleventh Coast Guard District command center watchstanders received multiple emergency position-indicating radio beacon and personal location beacon alerts belonging to the F/V Blue Dragon around 12:20 a.m. Watchstanders coordinated the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-27 Spartan aircrew at 1:30 a.m. >click to read< 17:19
Boom-bust commercial salmon season doubles 2020 value
This summer was significantly better for commercial salmon fishermen in Alaska than 2020, though that success was far from evenly spread. Commercial salmon fishermen hauled in salmon valued at $643.9 million this season, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. That’s more than double the 2020 value of $295.2 million, but still a little behind the estimated 2019 value of $657.6 million. Overall, 2021 ranks fairly well in the historical averages for numbers of salmon harvested and poundage as well as in value, according to Fish and Game data. >click to read< 16:37
F/V Emmy Rose: NTSB uses video, high-res photos in probe of sunken fishing vessel
Investigators trying to learn why a commercial fishing boat sank off Massachusetts nearly a year ago, taking the lives of all four crew members, are using some high-tech gadgetry in their probe, federal authorities said Wednesday. The 82-foot Portland, Maine, based F/V Emmy Rose went down early Nov. 23 as it was heading to port after a seven-day fishing trip,,, Authorities have previously said it was heading to Gloucester, Massachusetts. The Emmy Rose was located in May, in an upright position with its outriggers deployed, in about 800 feet of water on the seafloor about 25 miles off Provincetown, >click to read< – NTSB releases new images of doomed F/V Emmy Rose – The National Transportation Safety Board has released some startling new images of a Portland, Maine based fishing vessel that sank on November 23, 2020 some 25 miles off the coast of Provincetown. >click here< 13:32
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 42′ OEM Lobster Boat, 500HP Lugger
To review specifications, information, with 7 photos, >click here< , To see all the boats in this series >click here< 11:05
Cape Cod Bay: Lobsters started dying in their traps. Now scientists think they know why
In September of 2019, Tracy Pugh started getting phone calls about dead lobsters. Pugh is a biologist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and a handful of fishermen in Cape Cod Bay were reporting traps full of dead lobsters, “anywhere from several dozen to hundreds,” she recalled. “So way, way more than normal.” Some reported dead fish and crabs in their traps, as well. One trawler came up with a bunch of dead scallops. Pugh, working with scientists at the Center for Coastal Studies, found the reason soon enough: >click to read< – Karenia mikimotoi, >click to read< 10:08
Mixed picture for Shetland fish landings – an increase in volume but a drop in value
Just over 54,000 tonnes – worth some £72 million – were landed in the islands during 2020, nearly half of it by Shetland boats. The total tonnage was up by 7% year-on-year but the value fell 10%. Some 18,600 tonnes of white-fish worth £37m were landed in Shetland, more than two-thirds of it by local boats. Mr Napier said Shetland landings were not badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, >click to read< 08:56
Closing inland shrimping will cost the consuming public more
More than just the livelihood of approximately 119 small, independent commercial fishing businesses stand to be hurt by a proposed N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recommendation closing large swaths of inland waters to shrimping. This decision will have a negative impact on the primary stakeholders of this fishery, hundreds of thousands of consumers who enjoy fresh, local wild caught seafood. The DMF proposal, entitled Amendment 2 to the state’s Shrimp Fisheries Management Plan, notes that the shrimp fishery is “consistently one of the top two commercial fisheries by value” in the state. In 2019 this fishery had a “dockside value of over $22 million,,, Not noted in this report is the consumer benefit of the fishery which is difficult to quantify. >click to read< 07:53
Massive Central Coast marine sanctuary gets closer to federal protection. What’s next?
The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is one step closer to becoming a reality,,, The massive proposed marine sanctuary has been in NOAA’s nomination phase since 2015. It now officially moves to the designation phase. Central Coast Congressman Salud Carbajal D-Santa Barbara, “I am thrilled the Biden administration has taken this step,,, Not all are strong proponents of the proposed marine sanctuary. In a letter to NOAA in June 2020, the Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries,, “For fishermen having a NMS manage areas they fish will mean that they will always have to watch their backs, wondering what NMS management will do,” the letter said. >click to read< 17:14
A Turn of Events! Massive scallop bed discovered in Madaket
A huge bed of scallop seed, discovered off Madaket last week, offered a bit of optimism about the future of the island’s bay scallop fishery, after a less than optimistic opening week. “It is an area in Madaket Harbor that is equal to about 35 football fields and full of seed,” said Tara Riley, the town’s shellfish biologist. “I’ve never in my professional life here on Nantucket seen anything like it, how thick the seed is.” >click to read< 14:55
For Dulac crabbing family, Hurricane Ida leaves destruction and strain
With Hurricane Ida’s unrelenting winds clocking more than 170 mph, Shane Luke questioned his decision to stay aboard his 38-foot shrimp boat in Bayou Grand Caillou. Outside the tiny windows, he watched helplessly as the rollup door to the family’s concrete crab-processing building flapped in the wind like a piece of paper in front of a fan. As the mast cracked like wooden matchstick, he took refuge in engine room, hoping it would be a final line of defense against Ida’s wrath. Three hundred miles to the east in Kehmah, Texas, Trudy Luke huddled with her husband, Timmy, and the rest of her family, worrying about her son as well as what would remain of her business upon return. photos, >click to read< 11:06
Dungeness crab season opens with extra restrictions as industry sees economic consequences
From Lopez Point in Southern Monterey County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County, Dungeness crab catching is allowed right now using crab traps, hoop nets and snares, potentially bringing in a boost to the Central Coast economy during the holidays. But due to whale activity, take using crab traps is temporarily restricted in Fishing Zones two and three from the Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Lopez Point. Mike Conroy is the executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association. He said historically, the opening of Dungeness crab season would mean big business for fisheries across California. >click to read< 10:02
Arctic Corsair: Hull trawler dry-docked ahead of restoration
Arctic Corsair, Hull’s last sidewinder trawler, is to be repaired as part of the city’s £30m maritime regeneration project. The vessel has been put in dry dock after being towed from its previous berth in Alexandra Dock to Dunston’s shipyard at William Wright Dock. Restoration work on the 61-year-old trawler will take about 12 months. photos, >click to read< – Arctic Corsair high and dry for the first time in three decades – And as these photographs show, her hull will also be clearly visible to visitors with plans for them to see her up close in the dry dock itself as well as being able to go onboard. >click to read< -08:54
Looking Back: Mistrust between scientists, fishermen mars key mission
From the lightly swaying deck of his 98-foot trawler, Matt Stommel points out the scene of the crime, lit now in the deep orange of approaching sunset. Stommel’s boat, the Nobska, is docked on the Woods Hole waterfront here, with an easy view of the government laboratory charged with counting New England’s fish. It was from this perch, Stommel recalls, that he watched as workers marked a steel cable from an aging research vessel, the Albatross IV, on a freezing day in the winter of 2000. What he saw that day filled him with a skipper’s disgust. For the next two years, Stommel pleaded with scientists to check the cables and even offered to pay for the test himself. Last fall, the center admitted he was right,,, The episode, dubbed “trawlgate” on the docks, still casts a long shadow over New England’s imperiled fishery. >click to read< 07:20
1 in 100 Million! Rare ‘Cotton Candy’ Lobster Caught in Maine
A rare “cotton candy” lobster was caught in a trap off the coast of Maine over the weekend. The chances of finding such a creature, characterized by its beautiful iridescent, pale blue shell, has been estimated to be around one in 100 million. The rare lobster, dubbed “Haddie,” was caught by Bill Coppersmith from Get Maine Lobster,,, The lobsterman named his catch “Haddie” after his granddaughter. The team at Get Maine Lobster has no plans to sell or cook Haddie. Video, photos, >click to read< 14:04
Boats burnt, seafood seized in crackdown on illegal foreign fishing in Australian waters
Authorities have swung into action in Australia’s northern waters, destroying illegal Indonesian boats and seizing hundreds of kilograms of fishing gear and seafood. The Australian Border Force has released photographs showing the small colourful boats burning at sea in the wake of the three-day operation near the Rowley Shoals Marine Park off the northern Western Australian coast. The actions come after local tour operators raised the alarm about dozens of foreign boats in the area, saying they feared piracy during recent trips. >click to read< 13:19
Canada: Fishing Industry’s high death rate ‘unacceptable’ and ‘preventable’
Though there is no obvious reason as to why fishing in Canada is so dangerous, or more dangerous than in other countries, there are certainly a number of factors at play. One of the reasons could simply be due to the large numbers of fish harvesters in Canada. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland have the greatest population of fish harvesters (according to 2009 numbers, Newfoundland and Labrador has around 17,000 fish harvesters and 6000 vessels, while Nova Scotia has around 13,000 fish harvesters and around 4,500 vessels). With so many people in the industry, a higher number of fatalities could be inevitable. >click to read< 10:26
Observations from the Albatross IV Correctional Cruise by Captain Jim Lovgren
Five New England fishermen and myself met at Woods Hole Ma. On the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2002, to board the N.O.A.A. Research Vessel Albatross IV. The other fishermen were Jim Odlin, Sam Novello, Bud Fernandes, Matt Stommel, and Steve Lee. We met with Steve Murawski, (who did not go out on the trip) and with Henry Milliken, and Russell Brown who were in charge of reviewing the fishing and filming of this short cruise. Individually we walked around the vessel and checked out the net and gear. As I was the last fisherman to arrive, the gear, (which was laying on the deck) had already been closely scrutinized by the other fishermen, and some problems had been identified. >click to read< 08:04
Jim Kendall – Finding Common Ground
With regard to the letter from Sam Novello posted on Fisherynation.com, Finding Common Ground off to a Bad Start, he very eloquently laid out some of the faults, errors, and out and out incompetence of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center with respect to their continued mismanagement of the Northeast fisheries stock assessments. I know from past work and associations with the NEFSC that this has been going on for so long that they likely now believe their own Mantra about their science being the best (and only way) in which to compile the NE groundfish stock assessment. Unfortunately groundfish is not their only problematic stock assessment. >click to read< 16:32
Boris Johnson urged not to cave in to ‘eco-warrior narrative’ over UK fishing
Last Friday, the UK Presidency at the summit marked “Ocean Action Day”, championing a call for action to protect and restore ocean health and resilience. In recent years, Downing Street has opened itself up to a variety of environmentalist groups, taking onboard their concerns and advice on how best to tackle environmental degradation. A large chunk of this has surrounded fishing, and the extent to which vessels operating in UK waters may be damaging ocean life beyond repair. Greenpeace is one organisation that has been at the forefront of attempting to influence Westminster. >click to read< 13:04
New Jersey: Offshore Wind Farm Project Generates Debate
An open house in Ocean City on Saturday to discuss the pros and cons of an offshore wind project, proposed for 15 miles off the South Jersey coast, evoked interest, concerns, questions, opposition and support. Concerns over how the project could affect tourism, the visual impact of the massive wind turbines offshore, and what it would do to marine life, migratory birds and the commercial fishing industry were raised by several speakers. photos, 3:25 minute video, >click to read< 12:01
Japan: Large male snow crab fetches 5 mil. yen
A large male snow crab has fetched 5 million yen, or about $44,000 dollars, at the season’s first auction in central Japan. The auction of the winter delicacy was held on Saturday evening at a market at Kanazawa port on the Sea of Japan coast. Ishikawa Prefecture’s fisheries cooperative has begun to select large male snow crabs that are optimal in size and shape and sell them under a new brand name. Of 58 tons of Saturday’s catch, only one crab met all six criteria, including 1.5 kilograms in weight and 14.5 centimeters in shell width. Video, >click to read< 10:54
Rescue 116: ‘Anger doesn’t get you anywhere’ Father of pilot Dara Fitzpatrick shares frustration
The father of tragic pilot Dara Fitzpatrick has shared his frustration following the final report on the fatal Rescue 116 crash. The report outlined the series of failures which caused an Irish Coast Guard helicopter to smash into a Co Mayo island before plunging into the sea in March 2017. Captain Dara Fitpzatrick and three other crew members, Captain Mark Duffy, operator Paul Ormsby and winchman Ciarán Smith died in the early hours of 14 March 2017 when on a rescue mission. Captain Fitzpatrick and Captain Duffy’s bodies were recovered but Ormsby and Smith remain lost at sea. >click to read< – Rescue 116: From responding to a call about a minor fishing accident to utter devastation – >click to read< 09:01
North Carolina: With possible shrimp trawl closures, concern over ‘detrimental’ proposal
State fisheries managers are scheduled to choose preferred management options for shrimp at their next meeting, and the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recommends closing more coastal waters to shrimp trawls. According to one local shrimper, these closures could put a lot of local fishermen out of business. “It puts the little man out of business, the people with boats in the 40- to 50-foot range,” Mr. Davis said. >click to read< 08:19
Naches fishing captain buys time with his family by spending his summers in Alaska
Imagine being 36 years old and having spent every single summer of those 36 years fishing in Alaska. Every. Single. Summer. This is Joe Rosenkranz’s way of life,, When Joe was almost 22 years old, he purchased his first boat and began commercial fishing for himself in the summer of 2006. In 2018, Joe bought a larger, newer fishing boat, which helped his business exponentially. He named it “The Salmon Barry,” after his dad. photos, >click to read< 17:04
Cook Inlet Federal Waters Closed to Commercial Salmon Fishing
The Biden Administration has closed the federal waters of Alaska’s Cook Inlet to commercial salmon fishing for the 2022 Cook Inlet commercial salmon fishing season. This action closes a portion of the historically used fishing area for the Cook Inlet drift gillnet salmon fishery. NOAA Fisheries, the agency responsible for the stewardship of national marine resources, published the final rule in the Federal Register November 2, and it takes effect 30 days after that. >click to read< 13:51
Book Review: “Blood in the Water,” by Silver Donald Cameron
Perhaps you remember the case: “Murder for Lobster,” read headlines around the world, detailing the bizarre and tragic tale of a locally renowned ne’er-do-well who in 2013 was killed by three Nova Scotian lobstermen, sick of the man stealing their lobster traps.,, Isle Madame is a place where neighbors are like family. When a home burns down, the whole community throws a fundraiser. For decades, the community accepted his indecencies. Better to live relatively peacefully, albeit with some big annoyances, than incur Boudreau’s wrath.,, Boudreau was a neighbor. He was also a pest. In Cameron’s telling, his murder poses some big questions about society: Where do we as society draw the line? >click to read< 11:12
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for November 5, 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< 10:18
