Daily Archives: July 30, 2023
Trawlers concerned about impacts of ocean wind farms as marine park management plan drafted
A group representing fishermen in south-east Australia says it will be forced to stop cooperating with offshore wind projects in Bass Strait if shark fishing is further restricted in marine parks. The South East Trawl Fishing Industry Association, which represents fishermen and sellers in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, said it was concerned about a ban on the practice. It comes as a new South-east Marine Parks Network Management Plan is drafted. “Our concern is shark fishing with hooks and gill nets and that that will be stopped in some of these marine parks,” trawl fishing association chief executive Simon Boag said. He said fishers could lose 4,000 square kilometres of shark fishing grounds in Gippsland because of wind farms. >click to read< 18:35
Big ripples – The Pebble Mine saga continues
In a move sure to anger Lower 48 environmentalists and much of Alaska, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has decided to sue the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its blocking of a proposed Pebble Mine in the Iliamna Lake drainage of Southwest Alaska. And though the lawsuit is sure to upset many Alaska, it might be the last, best chance the state will ever get to secure the rights to self-government that Alaskans thought were granted at statehood in 1959. A variety of Alaska legal experts, both left and right, this week agreed the state’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is a crapshoot. One called it a classic “hail Mary.” Lots of links,>click to read< 13:01
The Lobsta Run: United chemistry teacher runs lobster transport business
Matt Grata will soon head out on another one of his “lobsta runs” from his Vinco home to Maine’s ocean coast. It will be a combination of business and pleasure for the entrepreneur. He makes the trip a few times every year, hauling back fresh, live lobsters in a refrigerated truck to fulfill pre-orders placed through his company, The Lobsta Run, which is a play on a New England accent. “I’m going to pat myself of the back a little bit,” Grata said during a recent interview at his house. “I’m a teacher by nature. That’s what I do. That’s my profession. I think most people want to learn stuff that they don’t know. Most people don’t like to not know stuff, no matter what it is. And if it’s something that they’re interested in, like their fresh, live lobster, they ask me a thousand questions. They want to know. “The word ‘neat’ I hear that a lot. ‘This is so neat.’ ‘This is so cool.’ Photos, >click to read< 11:09
Gloucester, Massachusetts to celebrate fishing heritage all month
The fishing community always comes together in times of trouble and disaster, but local leaders believe it is time for the community to come together to celebrate the city’s fishing heritage on the occasion of Gloucester’s 400+ anniversary year. In that spirit, August will be proclaimed the Gloucester Fisheries Heritage Month with a public kick-off event this Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Man at the Wheel Statue on Stacy Boulevard along the Inner Harbor. The public is invited to be in attendance along with Mayor Greg Verga, leaders in the fishing community, Gloucester 400+ tri-chairs, and members of the Marine and Waterways Committee. A special commemoration will be presented to senior members of the local fishing fleet. >click to read< 09:52
Local seafood restaurant ‘heartbroken’ after hooded figure caught destroying vital boat
A popular local seafood restaurant has been left heartbroken after their shellfish supplier’s boat was destroyed. On Friday, July 28, a hooded figure was caught on CCTV damaging a boat at Methil Dockyears that supplies lobster and shellfish to North Queensferry’s Wee Restaurant. The popular seafood eatery has said they are ‘beyond rage and despair’ after they heard the news that the boat, Tina Louise, was damaged and sunk at around 7am. The owners of the Tina Louise said: “In the early hours of Friday morning, this man climbed over the security fence at the Methil Boat Club, wearing a mask and with a battery-powered drill in hand. >click to read< 08:53
Maine fishermen gather in opposition to the push for offshore wind development
The New England Fisherman’s Stewardship Association held a ‘Save Our Fisheries’ Fundraiser to show their disapproval of the bill and project. Over fifty local businesses and stakeholders were in attendance, along with a lobster boat parade to show solidarity on the water. “There’s not a man or woman fisherman on the coast that agrees that offshore wind development is a good idea,” NEFSA Founder Jerry Leeman said. But not everyone is opposed. Backing the bill is the President of the Maine Building and Construction Trades Council, Jason Shedlock. Video, >click to read< 07:55
