Daily Archives: June 18, 2024
Beal takes top spots at lobster boat race season opener at The Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races
Jeremy Beal of Jonesport won two top races at the Charlie Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races in Boothbay Harbor Saturday, June 15. Beal took first place in the Fastest Working Lobster Boat and Diesel Free For All races. He reached a top speed of 58.5 mph in his boat, F/V Maria’s Nightmare II, beating second place in the working boat race by almost 20 mph. Last year, Beal also won the free for all. photos, results, >>CLICK TO READ<<
Boothbay Harbor Lobster Boat Races – Contributing photographer Michael Leonard once again captured the action of the Charles Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races on Saturday, June 15. Here is a sampling of his photographs taken from shore at the Maine Department of Marine Resources facilty at McKown Point using his 600mm prime lens along with a teleconverter. Lots of excellent photos. >>CLICK TO VIEW<< 12:23
Fresh Off the Boat
California fisheries are considered a “Legacy Industry” that sustains local families while helping to attract tourists. Shockingly, the California commercial fleet that included 5,000 boats in 1980 diminished to only 464 vessels by 2022, and Fort Bragg is home to 103 of these registered commercial fishing boats. The fish catchers who are still fishing are finding it increasingly necessary to “adapt or die.” Fortunately, Noyo Harbor seems to have some very resourceful people who have taken this challenge to heart and devised some innovative ways to help get the freshest fish onto your dinner table. Dan Platt, aka Captain Dan, is a commercial fisherman, diver, and owner of Noyo Harbor Tours in Fort Bragg. He owns two boats: the Zhivago, a converted 1931 former Coast Guard craft for fishing, and The Noyo Star, his eco-friendly electric tour boat. The recent tough times in California fisheries encouraged Dan to think outside the box. To improve his bottom line, he is sometimes able to sell his fish direct from his boat to customers on the dock, cutting out the middleman. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<10:20
Nigel Farage vows to kick EU fishermen out of UK waters in Reform bombshell
Nigel Farage has vowed to kick EU fishermen out of British waters in a move which will come as a major boost to many who campaigned to take back control of British waters after Brexit. The Reform UK leader outlined his vision in his party’s manifesto, Our Contract with You, launched today in Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales. The document pledges to – among other things – stop EU fleets taking British quotas; expand the Royal Navy overseas squadron; and ban massive supertrawlers such as the Dutch-flagged Margeris from plundering UK waters. The document proclaims the the UK government has “betrayed the industry”. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:53
Area commercial harvest reaches over 438,000 salmon
When state fisheries biologists shut down the Copper River commercial salmon for two 12-hour openers on June 3 and June 8 retail markets in Anchorage ran out of the popular Copper River fish, making way for the fresh catch of Cook Inlet sockeyes which were selling at $14.99 a pound. The decision to close those fisheries was that river waters were low and very cold, and the migration into rivers was running late, said Alaska Department of Fish and Game fisheries biologist Jeremy Botz, in Cordova. But then ADF&G opted to allow a 12-hour opener on Saturday, June 8, which brought in 338 deliveries with an estimated 74,296 sockeyes, 2,724 chum, 493 Chinook and 434 pink salmon. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:40
P.E.I. lobster fishers frustrated by low prices, say they’re the same as 18 years ago
There are just a few weeks left in the spring lobster season on Prince Edward Island, and while catches in many areas have been good, Island fishers are again frustrated by the prices they are being paid on the wharf. At North Lake, P.E.I., Jamie Bruce said fishers are getting $6.50 a pound up to $7, and market prices are the same. Bruce said that’s the same price lobsters were fetching 18 years ago. “I went back in my records, and I keep a record every year. Actually, I had a guy called me today. He said he thinks in 1997 we even saw these prices,” Bruce said. “So I went back as far as 2006 and we were very similar to what we are then, with the major difference. Everything else is either doubled or tripled in price. Bait. Fuel. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:15
