Daily Archives: April 12, 2022

Caspian and Magdalen Islands | Crabs are getting impatient

Although ice crab fishing has been open on the estuary of the St. Lawrence River since March 25, it is long overdue for the grief of crabs in the main fishing area, the Magdalen Islands and the Caspian. The latter wanted to sail on Saturday, at dawn, but Fisheries and Oceans Canada did not grant its approval. The fishing season will finally begin in Zone 12 on Wednesday morning. Why? “For two reasons,” replies Paul Powder, a representative of the traditional crab fishermen of the Magdalen Islands, who has not lost his temper. The first is the presence of ice in some of the New Brunswick ports, which are included in Zone 12, Mr. According to Poutro, “it’s not ice to bother.” But the main reason is that “Coast Guard boats are not ready to monitor the fishery.” >click to read< 20:50

Sadie Samuels is the subject of the documentary ‘The Captain’

The documentary is part of more than 20 films that will be screening at the Mountainfilm On Tour festival, which started in Telluride, Colorado, and is on a national tour. At 30 years old, Samuels is the youngest and only female lobster boat captain in Rockport Harbor.  In 2018, she readied her boat F/V Must Be Nice to be put into the water in Rockport, where her dad fished as well on the F/V Mimosa. “The wisest thing I’ve ever heard is: the more I fish, the less I know,” she said in Chris Wolf’s story in 2018. “Every year is totally different, but this year the ocean is cold, so I’m hoping it will be a little more normal.”  photos, >click to read< 19:19

B.C. Ferries crew rescue fishermen from burning boat near Prince Rupert

Two men were rescued early Sunday morning by a passing B.C. Ferries vessel after their fishing boat caught fire in Arthur Passage near Prince Rupert. Arnie Nagy, a passenger on the ferry sailing from Port Hardy to Prince Rupert, was fast asleep when he was awoken by the vessel suddenly coming to a stop around 5 a.m. “A crew member come up to me and he says ‘come take a look at this … There’s a fire out there,'” said Nagy. In the distance, something was glowing orange. As a lifelong fisherman, Nagy says he could tell it was a small fishing boat. The people on board the fishing boat — two men — launched a flare. >click to read< 18:05

Sanctions threaten to spoil Japan-Russia fishing rights talks

Japan has kicked off annual negotiations with Russia on commercial fishing quotas off the coast of Hokkaido, the Fisheries Agency said Monday, with the talks clouded by Tokyo’s plans to strengthen sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine. The two countries routinely set limits for salmon and sea trout catches in each other’s exclusive economic zones. Fishing season normally begins April 10, but the talks had been delayed by the war. Fishing cannot start until a deal is reached. Closed-door virtual discussions began Monday, according to the Fisheries Agency, with no set end date. >click to read< 16:08

Everett ‘Sonny’ Traynor, 94, of Portland has passed away

In his early years, Everett “Sonny” Traynor would paddle his rowboat out on Casco Bay and haul lobster traps to help provide for his family. He worked as a sternman on a lobster boat and helped process fish for distribution. “He was a wharf rat,” said his nephew Bob Niles. “He did whatever was needed.” Traynor, a fixture on Portland’s waterfront, died on April 5 from heart failure. He was 94. He was a successful businessman and part owner of the former Willard-Daggett Co., once the largest distributor of fish and lobster in New England. He was a salesman, who bought directly from fishermen and sold to local restaurants and grocery stores for three decades. Niles said he was highly respected by fishermen. >click to read< 09:58

‘Expensive lobster is good for everyone in N.S.’: Winners and losers as prices of crustaceans skyrocket

Unless you buy it regularly, you may not have noticed lobster prices have quietly skyrocketed over the last couple of years. “Also, people had some more disposable income because the government programs, whether it be Canada, the U.S. or elsewhere, and I think everything has led to an uptick in prices, and the markets have remained strong.” Restaurant demand has now recovered, Berry says, but retail has remained strong and international demand has exploded. Wharf prices now are said to be nearly five times what they were during a slump at the start of the pandemic. Video, >click to read< 09:10

The fisherman and the entrepreneur: How Canadians are helping in Ukraine

One is a Nova Scotia lobster fisherman who delivers supplies to frontline towns. The other is an entrepreneur from Toronto who enlisted in Ukraine’s foreign legion. Lex Brukovskiy and Igor Volzhanin might have different roles, but they are among many Canadians helping Ukraine respond to the Russian invasion. Canadians have been evacuating civilians from areas under Russian attack, housing refugees and keeping hospitals stocked with medicines. They have also been serving in Ukraine’s armed forces, both in combat roles and, like Volzhanin, as administrators. In downtown Lviv, a 34-year-old Canadian stood outside the national opera house wearing a camouflage jacket and an army green toque. “I was actually, in a way, pleasantly surprised that so many Canadians have come here,” to join the international legion, Volzhanin said. “They’ve come from all over Canada.” >click to read< 07:45