Daily Archives: May 8, 2023

First sighting of right whales in Canadian waters triggers partial fishing closure

The federal Fisheries Department says it has spotted endangered North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters for the first time this year. The department says two whales were seen Sunday by a surveillance aircraft in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, northeast of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. It says fishing in the area where the whales were spotted will be closed for 15 days started Thursday at 5 p.m., and a 15-day vessel slowdown will also be in effect. video, >click to read< 18:33

Maine: Fishing industry forum May 24

Our way of life up and down the Maine coast is under attack. Families that have made their living in the lobster industry for generations are on the road to extinction. If the federal government has their way, pending regulations will force the lobster industry out of business and the Gulf of Maine will be reserved for offshore wind. The Lincoln County Republicans are hosting an event on May 24 where the public can hear, firsthand, from three prominent men in the Maine fishing industry – Representative Billy Bob Faulkingham, Dustin Delano and Jason Joyce. The event will be held at Coastal Christian School, 574 N. Nobleboro Road, Waldoboro. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. >click to read< 15:52

North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for May 08, 2023

Final DMF Observer Call-In Program Meetings and ASMFC Recap, This is a great opportunity to provide input on the new anchored gill net observer call-in program beginning this fall. If you fish anchored gill nets you WILL BE REQUIRED under the conditions of our state sea turtle and sturgeon ITPs to call in BEFORE you fish once this program begins.  Much more included in this weeks update. >click to read< 14:49

RCMP identify New Brunswick lobster fishermen who died after falling into ocean

An uncle and his nephew have been identified as the two lobster fishermen who died on the opening day of their season off the northeastern coast of New Brunswick. RCMP Cpl. Sylvain Bergeron said 58-year-old Eugene Beaudin is the uncle of 33-year-old Normand Gilbert Beaudin. Bergeron said the captain, Robert Beaudin — who is related to the two dead men — survived the mishap Saturday and has spoken to the RCMP about what occurred, but details aren’t being released. >click to read< 11:27

Only three owners out of 57 paid in full months after fishing boat decommissioning scheme starts

Eight of the 57 fishing boats accepted for decommissioning have been scrapped but just three of their owners have received their money in full from the State. According to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), which administers the government scheme, another six boat owners are still waiting for 50% of the monies they are due. As the decommissioned boats have to be destroyed, there is now a waiting list for the country’s two specialist recyclers, in New Ross and Limerick. As of May 2, BIM says there were 11 boats waiting to be destroyed under the decommissioning scheme, which was set up to cut the size of the national fishing fleet because of reduced quotas in the wake of Brexit. >click to read< 10:16

Gus Etchegary, one of N.L.’s fiercest fisheries advocates, dies at 98

Newfoundland and Labrador has lost one of its strongest voices on fisheries management and rural living. Gus Etchegary — fisheries advocate, corporate insider, author and athlete — died on Saturday, three weeks shy of his 99th birthday. He grew up by the ocean in St. Lawrence on the Burin Peninsula, in a time before Newfoundland and Labrador was a part of Canada. He’d grow to become president of Fisheries Products International, a powerful and sometimes polarizing figure in the province. Etchegary’s history with the sea was often rocky. He was five years old when his hometown was struck by an earthquake and tsunami. >click to read< 09:15

New Bedford’s fishing community is working with Vineyard Wind. Here’s how.

For Captain Tony Alvernaz, accepting a job doing safety work for Vineyard Wind has provided added income for his family and the families of the people who work for him. They are monitoring the work zone for Vineyard Wind as the company proceeds with turbine installation and at the same time are helping get the word out to other fishermen, according to Crista Bank, the fisheries manager at Vineyard Wind. Bank said the involvement of fishing vessels in the project is really important and that the same opportunities are offered to a single vessel owner, a scallop owner with a couple of boats or vessels that are up to international standards. “We’re trying to make sure we’re contracting with all different sized vessels and vessel owners,” she said. >click to read< 08:10