Daily Archives: July 10, 2024
Federal fishing monitoring program needs overhaul, GAO says
Only days after the Supreme Court dealt a blow to the federal government’s program placing human observers on commercial fishing boats, a federal watchdog said NOAA Fisheries should do a better job monitoring the industry. A report released Wednesday by the Government Accountability Office said NOAA Fisheries — also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service — has failed to execute its program as Congress intended under law. “NMFS’ efforts to track its performance in reducing and monitoring bycatch do not align with key elements of evidence-based policymaking related to performance management,” GAO said in the report, which was requested by Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:19
YEAH!!! Newfoundland fish harvesters crash news conference to demand reinstating of cod moratorium
Fish harvesters in Newfoundland crashed the podium at a meeting of Canada’s environment ministers in St. John’s on Wednesday, demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the federal government’s decision to reopen the commercial cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. Moments before the start of the news conference, which was to detail two days of meetings of the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers, Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Minister Bernard Davis was interrupted by a loud siren. Glen Winslow, a St. John’s fish harvester, then walked up to meet Davis at the podium from a group of around 15 protesters. “Sorry we got to do this, my buddy, but this is too important to Newfoundland and Labrador,” Winslow said to Davis over the news conference’s microphone while the other ministers watched on. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:43
Salmon farm vessel sinking sparks call for salmon farming review
On Thursday 4 July a 15-metre boat called the Julie Anne sank to the 20-metre deep seabed at the Fiunary fish farm. No one was aboard the vessel at the time of sinking which occurred around 8 am. Following the sinking green industrialist and campaigner, Dale Vince, has called for a comprehensive reassessment of open-net industrial salmon farming amid claims that the Julie Anne is leaking fuel into a Marine Protected Area. The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) reported that the fuel leakage was ‘contained’, however Vince claims eyewitness footage and drone images show fuel escaping containment booms and spreading into the surrounding protected waters. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:51
Biden Admin Approves New Jersey’s First Offshore Wind Project Amid Growing Local Pushback
The Atlantic Shores South project, given a green light by the U.S. Department of the Interior last week, calls for installing 200 towering wind turbines less than nine miles off the coast — providing enough electricity to power more than 1 million homes. It’s the ninth offshore wind project approved by President Joe Biden as part of his efforts to expand the green power industry aggressively. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and environmental groups praised the project’s approval, saying it will help reduce the state and nation’s reliance on fossil fuel energy sources. “Through the responsible development of offshore wind facilities, we can protect our aquatic and coastal resources and the communities who rely upon them while taking bold action to address the climate crisis by reducing emissions from fossil-fuel-dependent energy sources,” Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said in a statement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:06
Vessel Review: Yakari II – Compact multi-role fishing boat for Northern French owner
French shipbuilder Alu Acier Service Marine (AASM) recently handed over a new compact fishing vessel to owner Jean-Joseph Delaby of Cayeux-sur-Mer on France’s northern coast. F/V Yakari II was designed by local naval architecture Mer et Design in fulfillment of the owner’s requirement for a boat capable of various fishing methods. The newbuild has all-aluminium construction, a length of 10 metres (33 feet), a beam of 4.4 metres (14 feet), a depth of 1.64 metres (5.38 feet), a displacement of 23 tonnes, and a gross tonnage of 12. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:1`8
Retired Commercial Fishing Captain Leo C. Tuttle of New Bedford, has passed away
Leo C. Tuttle, 96, passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side on Saturday, July 6, 2024. He was the loving husband of the late Marion L. (Ostman) Tuttle. Leo was a Veteran of the Merchant Marines during WWII and was very proud to tell everyone the countries he visited during that time. He went on to become a Captain of various fishing boats for the Marder Fishing Corp. for over four decades of working on the water. Lastly, the F/V Columbia before retiring. After retiring Leo enjoyed spending time with his wife and family on Long Pond and fishing with his grandchildren. Leo also enjoyed carpentry, landscaping, and watching Westerns while sitting in his recliner. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:01
Lobster fishers get good weather, up and down catches
The best thing that can be said of the 2024 lobster season on PEI is the weather was good enough that many boats never missed a day on the water. That helped make up for lower catches in some areas, although the amounts coming to shore were different depending on the harbour. “The fishing was good right to the last day,” said captain Edwin McKie, who fishes out of Fortune. “It’s not going to be a year to run to the record books with, but I don’t think any of us will be at the food bank.” There was lots of spawn during the last couple of weeks, something he said bodes well for next year. As of mid-June prices were between $6.25 and $7, according to the PEI Lobster Marketing Board. That’s lower than what fishers have received toward the end of the season in most recent years. Mr Poole said it was the first time in recent memory his crew didn’t miss a single day. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:58
