A federal appeals court on Friday reversed a judge’s decision that would have effectively shuttered an Alaska salmon fishery, a result environmentalists sought in order to protect endangered whales and threatened wild Chinook salmon populations. A three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that a judge in Seattle last year abused his discretion by vacating a key authorization issued by the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Services for the fishery’s summer and winter Chinook salmon harvests. U.S. District Judge Richard Jones at the urging of the Wild Fish Conservancy had in May 2023 vacated part of a so-called incidental take statement the fisheries service issued in 2019 that authorized the commercial Chinook salmon troll fishery in southeast Alaska. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:39
Daily Archives: August 17, 2024
Biden-Subsidized Offshore Wind Developer Reports Massive Losses in Latest Blow to Industry
A Danish renewable energy group booked huge impairment losses Thursday after it pushed back the launch of one of its U.S. offshore wind projects, according to its first-half 2024 earnings report. Orsted estimated the value of its assets declined $472 million in the first half of 2024, largely due to delays at the onshore substation for its 704 megawatt (MW) “Revolution Wind” project off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut, the report showed. The company also reported a variety of other problems, including losses related to its cancellation of its Ocean Wind projects in New Jersey and its abandoned effort to produce eco-friendly methanol in Sweden. “Despite encouraging progress on our US offshore wind project Revolution Wind, the construction of the onshore substation for the project has been delayed,” Orsted’s CEO Mads Nipper said in reference to the delay. “This is, of course, unsatisfactory, and we continue our dedicated efforts to de-risk our portfolio.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:03
Royal Greenland Freezer Trawler Damaged After Iceberg Collision
Royal Greenland has confirmed that its trawler, F/V Tuugaalik, was involved in a minor collision with an iceberg last weekend while navigating between two fishing grounds in dense fog. The ship is one of the newest and most elegant freezer trawlers in Europe, boasting a crew of 24. The incident occurred without any serious consequences, and both the crew and the vessel remained safe. Elías Kristjánsson, Tuugaalik’s representative in Iceland, told mbl.is, that despite the collision, there were no accidents among the crew. Following the collision, Tuugaalik sailed to Iceland for inspection and any necessary temporary repairs. Lindstrøm expressed hope that the trawler and its crew would soon return to sea to resume their fishing activities. more, F/V >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:43
Maryland Governor Wes Moore Addresses Local Concerns for Offshore Wind Projects
Maryland Governor Wes Moore was in Ocean City on Friday. It gave us a chance to speak with him about the local community’s strong opposition for offshore wind. Two months ago, Governor Moore signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to open up more lease areas of Maryland’s coast. While the state’s involvement in moving offshore wind projects forward could open up new jobs, commercial fisherman are still worried it will take theirs away. “They’re trying to steal our grounds, they’ve stolen our bottom, they’ve stolen the area that we fish in, their last resort is to buy the place where we sell our fish at and once they accomplish that we have nowhere else to work,” said Jimmy Hahn, a commercial fisherman who operates out of the West Ocean City Harbor. Moore said this can be a win-win situation, as long as state leaders put in the work. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:24
US appeals court allows Alaska fishery to remain open
He left a legacy in SC’s shrimping industry. Soon, he’ll be memorialized in Mount Pleasant.
In an upstairs sculpture studio in Charleston’s sister city, Tressy Mellichamp saw her father again. Captain Edwin “Wayne” Magwood’s likeness stood tall in Susie Chisholm’s home studio. Chisholm has spent weeks skillfully carving Magwood’s features into the earth-toned material, piling the oil-based clay onto a 3D printed foam base and molding it into what now resembles the late fisherman. Videos, photos and stories from family members help guide Chishom’s impression of Magwood. He had a lot of character in his features, crinkles around his eyes, a playful smile and short, fat fingers that clearly belonged to a man who spent much of his life working with his hands — in Magwood’s case, on the water, trawling for shrimp. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:22
Mud crabbers of King Ash Bay endure harsh lifestyle, extreme weather to catch sought-after seafood
Crocodiles and sharks are just everyday work hazards for Josh Taylor and the other fishermen who battle some of the harshest conditions in Australia to catch one of the nation’s most prized seafoods — mud crabs. Many live in makeshift wooden huts, with no creature comforts, amongst mosquito-infested mangrove swamps in the estuaries around the Gulf of Carpentaria. It may be no surprise then that Mr Taylor is one of just 49 fishers who hold mud crabbing licences in the Northern Territory, and one of just six who drop their pots in the remote King Ash Bay. Despite the hazards, Mr Taylor, who became a commercial mud crabber four years ago, says he enjoys heading out in his boat, catching fish to eat for dinner, and returning to the simple shack he shares with two other fishermen at King Ash Bay. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:11
Coast Guard medevacs man from boat 45 miles west of Anna Maria Island
Coast Guard crews medevaced a 51-year-old man from a fishing boat 45 miles west of Anna Maria Island on Friday. An Air Station Clearwater aircrew and a Station St. Petersburg boat crew coordinated the medevac. The man was transported via the aircrew to Tampa General Hospital for further medical care. At 12:23 p.m. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a call from the owner of the commercial fishing boat, Team Galati, reporting a crew member had suffered chest pains and was in need of medical attention. “The teamwork of the captain of the distressed vessel, along with our partners at Air Station Clearwater were paramount in ensuring the patient was able to access a higher level of care,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Jennings, a crew member from Station St. Petersburg’s 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew. 06:45
