Monthly Archives: August 2024
FFAW-Unifor Blames Federal Government for Shortened NL Cod Fishery Season
The Union that represents commercial fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador is calling out the federal government for continued mismanagement of fisheries. This time, the criticism is again directed at the northern cod fishery in 3KL, which has been cut short after just a month of being open. With a closure taking place today, many harvesters found themselves with just a few days of fishing this season. “Federal MPs and Ministers like Diane Lebouthillier, Gudie Hutchings, and Seamus O’Regan are all responsible for the mass, premature layoff during what should be a booming season for our province,” says FFAW-Unifor President Greg Pretty. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
Fish and chips price rise tops UK takeaways
The average price for a portion of fish and chips rose more than 50% to nearly £10 in the five years to July – while the cost of a kebab went up 44% and pizza 30%. Chip shop owners cite a “perfect storm” of costs in recent years, including soaring energy bills, tariffs on seafood imports and extreme weather hammering potato harvests. This all means a family of four won’t get much change out of a £50 note once they’ve forked out for their tea and added some mushy peas and cans of pop. “I’ve never known an onslaught of pressures in terms of costs going up,” said Jon Long, of Long John’s Fish and Chips in Dorset. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:08
Building trawler’s digital twin
Seine netter/trawler F/V Naoned, operated by Lorient company APAK, has been out of the water to be outfitted with sensors to measure every conceivable aspect of its performance. This is to gather data ahead of a refit later this year and the installation of a new propulsion system, battery pack and other technology. The concept is to develop a digital twin for the fishing vessel, so that a precise comparison against its performance with the low-emissions hybrid propulsion to be fitted later this year as part of the HYBA project, led by the Brittany Fisheries Committee and managed by Vectura Systems with the involvement of naval architect Coprexma and a host of other companies in the region. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:51
Gen Z fishing and farming communities form alliance
Gen Z food producers in Cornwall have formed an alliance to encourage people to buy local. The young producers are encouraging people to support the fishing and farming industries by choosing Cornish-caught and grown food. Cornwall’s Young Farmers and the Young Fishermen Network said they had come together in August to host an event teaching people how to butcher and fillet produce. The Gen Z producers, born between 1997 and 2012, hoped the partnership would “foster a stronger connection between the two sectors”. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:12
The Snow Crab Collapse: A Tale of Unproven Assumptions and Overlooked Explanations
The sudden decline in the snow crab population in the Bering Sea has triggered considerable concern among scientists, fisheries, and environmentalists alike. The collapse is alarming not only because of its immediate economic impact but also due to the broader implications for marine ecosystems. However, a critical examination of the prevailing explanations for this phenomenon reveals a troubling reliance on speculation rather than solid evidence. The central thesis of the NOAA Fisheries report—that warmer water temperatures increased snow crab metabolism, leading to their downfall—requires a more skeptical analysis. In this post, we’ll explore the weaknesses of this hypothesis, examine other plausible causes, and argue for a more comprehensive approach to understanding this ecological mystery. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:27
Shore Lawmakers Call for Hearings on High-Risk Power Cables for Offshore Wind Project
Senator Jim Holzapfel, Assemblyman Greg McGuckin, and Assemblyman Paul Kanitra (R-10) have issued a call for legislative hearings concerning the proposal to lay high-risk power cables through densely populated residential streets in Ocean County. These cables would supply power to a potential offshore wind turbine project, a key component of Governor Phil Murphy’s energy master plan. The legislators expressed significant concern over the potential risks associated with the project, which they argue is being pushed through without sufficient consideration for its impact on local communities. “Governor Murphy continues forcing through his reckless energy master plan with no regard to our communities and no concern for the cost, all to get his name in the news for making New Jersey the California of the East Coast,” said the Legislative District 10 Delegation. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:06
Blue cod numbers declining in southern waters
Declining numbers of blue cod in southern waters have prompted a review of catch limits for the 2024-25 year. A Fisheries New Zealand discussion paper says a survey of Foveaux Strait in 2023 concluded the abundance of blue cod in that area had declined by 57% since 2020 and the stock in Foveaux Strait was significantly overfished. “Catches of blue cod in [Southland and Sub-Antarctic area] have consistently declined for the last 20 years.” An average of 49 fishing vessels reported targeting blue cod annually over the last three years in the Southland and Sub-Antarctic waters. But poor catch rates had prompted the association representing those fishers and quota holders to ask for the fishery to be reviewed for the 2024-25 fishing year, starting October 1. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 21:38
Review of prosecutions in chaotic elver fishery finds cases are being pursued
An internal review into whether federal Crown attorneys are refusing to prosecute infractions related to the turbulent baby eel fishery in the Maritimes has reportedly determined that proper discretion is being used and suggests at least two dozen cases have been brought to court. The examination was launched following a formal complaint by a commercial licence holder who alleged the Public Prosecution Service of Canada was failing to prosecute cases involving the unauthorized fishing of the juvenile eels, also known as elvers. In a recent email to the licence holder, David Antonyshyn, the deputy director of prosecutions, said an examination of 70 elver files referred by fisheries officers over a four-year period found about half proceeded to or were approved for prosecution. Others are still under review, while the remainder were declined. “There was not (and there is still not) any blanket policy not to prosecute particular individuals, or not to proceed with any particular type of offence,” Antonyshyn said in the email. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:25
Viking Traps score on board F/V Northwestern
The Viking Traps made by Norwegian company Proffteiner have been a success with Deadliest Catch skipper Sig Hansen, who has been trying them out on board Bering Sea crabber F/V Northwestern. The episode is aired on the Discovery Channel this month. The standard crab traps are roughly two metres square and a metre high, and weight around 300kg. These are lifted on board singly, and there’s no handling these traps by hand. But before starting fishing, it’s Sig Hansen’s first job to find where the crabs are, and that’s where the Viking Traps have scored. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:30
“We’re not getting the full value out of it”: The future of local seafood in Louisiana
“Industries change over time, like anywhere you are, and so we’re just adapting to the new realities of the seafood supply chain.” LSU’s Seafood Processing Demonstration Lab is a hub for research and innovation. “Our main focus is in underutilized species and byproduct recovery,” said. As the only facility of its kind in-state, this Louisiana Sea Grant-sponsored program works with local processors, restaurateurs, and fishermen, to build local connections. “Louisiana is the #2 seafood state in the nation,” said co-director Thomas Hymel, “but a lot of our product is uh–we’re not getting the full value out of it.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:10
Wind Turbine Blade Fails on GE Vernova Turbine at UK Dogger Bank Wind Farm
A blade on one of the wind turbines at the under-construction Dogger Bank wind farm off the coast of England failed yesterday, August 22. Details on the incident are sparse at this point and neither GE Vernova, manufacturer of the blade, nor SSE Renewables the spokesperson for the consortium behind the project are commenting. This is the second failure of a blade at the UK wind farm although the companies blamed the prior one on a problem during installation. The wind farm however is also using the 13 MW GE Halidale-X turbines, the same manufacturing that confirmed a “manufacturing deviation,” causing a blade at Vineyard Wind 1, a U.S. offshore wind, to break apart in July. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:27
Fishermen organizing ‘flotilla’ protest against offshore wind
In response to recent concerns over offshore wind and with debris washing up on Nantucket and Island beaches from a fractured turbine blade, the New England Fisherman’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) has organized a “flotilla” for this Sunday, bringing fishing boats together to peacefully protest in unison against the offshore wind industry. Boats will be joining together in a “boat parade” from various areas of the east coast, said NEFSA founder and CEO Jerry Leeman, including the Vineyard, Nantucket, parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and potentially New Jersey. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:03
Coast Guard medevacs man from fishing vessel 480 miles offshore Honolulu
The Coast Guard completed the medevac of an ailing man from a commercial fishing vessel 480 miles offshore Honolulu Friday. Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders received a call at 1:45 p.m. Monday from Pacific Fishing & Supply personnel reporting that a 53-year-old crew member aboard the 68-foot fishing vessel Autumn was exhibiting stroke-like symptoms approximately 750 miles offshore. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:09
Lobster group files legal action over moderate livelihood fishery
A lobster conservation group in southwestern Nova Scotia is taking legal action against Ottawa and the Sipekne’katik First Nation over out of season fishing. The Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFCA) filed a notice of action in Supreme Court in an effort to declare the summer fishery illegal. “The Supreme Court of Canada introduced the concept of a moderate livelihood fishery via the Marshall decisions but has never adequately defined the scope and limits that should apply,” said Michel Samson, counsel with the law firm Cox & Palmer. “This has created confusion between the DFO and the Public Prosecution Service as to what laws to enforce. It is imperative that our courts provide the rules and clarity required for both the commercial fishery and for First Nation communities.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:05
In Maine, a Father-Daughter Team Wins a Lobster Boat Race
Dozens of boats zipped across Casco Bay during the Maine Lobster Boat Races on Saturday. Only one had a purple bottom. That boat, a 32-footer with a powerful diesel engine, belonged to Jeremy Beal, 45, a large, soft-spoken man who comes from a long line of boat builders and lobstermen. “See, I grew up right in it,” he said between drags of a cigarette while leaning against the rail of his boat on the evening before the big race. For decades, Mr. Beal’s father, Wayne Beal, and an uncle, Calvin Beal, have built boats used by commercial fishers up and down the Maine coast. After years spent learning the family trade, Jeremy took over his dad’s business, Wayne Beal’s Boat Shop, in Jonesport, a seaside town more than 200 miles northeast of Portland. “I bought the boat off my father,” Mr. Beal said. “It was his last power boat. He’s retired out of the boat shop. I won’t sell the boat unless I have to. Just for the fact that it was my dad’s.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:33
Positive signs for fishing industry
New figures have revealed around 40 million protein portions are landed into Cornwall’s fishing ports every year. It’s been calculated by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) based on the most recently complete landings data captured by Seafish. It follows the publication of research earlier this year, which discovered Cornwall’s seafood sector brings in £174 million pounds to the county’s economy and employs around 8,000 people. A number of signs aimed at educating visitors on the value of Cornwall’s seafood sector are going to be placed in harbours across the county. The first has been unveiled in Mevagissey by the new MP for St Austell and Newquay. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:33
Opinion – Justice Gorsuch’s book of fish tales
Supreme Court Justice Neil M. Gorsuch worries about big government. About agencies that overreach and infringe the rights of unwary and unsophisticated individuals. About using the overwhelming force of criminal law to bludgeon relatively minor wrongdoers. About the federal government supplanting the power of state and local governments that are closer to the needs of their citizens. If “Over Ruled” has a hero and heroine, they are John and Sandra Yates, a Florida couple whose story is threaded through its pages. Chapter 1 opens with the harrowing tale of Sandra Yates doing laundry one morning in 2010 when “seven agents in bulletproof vests, hands primed on holstered guns,” approached her Anna Maria Island bungalow. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:54
SLO County activists oppose offshore wind projects. So they’re taking fight to national level
There’s a new national group fighting offshore wind development, and you may recognize some of their members. Two San Luis Obispo County anti-offshore wind activists have founded an organization called NOOA, the National Offshore-wind Opposition Alliance. So far, the group includes at least seven environmental and fishing organizations from the East and West coasts, according to President Mandy Davis. Group membership includes REACT Alliance, Protect the Coast Pacific Northwest, the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization, Green Oceans, Protect Our Coast New Jersey, Protect Our Coast Long Island New York and the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, Davis said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:43
DFO: Some fishery officers refusing work in N.S., citing dangerous conditions
Some fishery officers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada are refusing work in Nova Scotia out of concern for their safety, the federal department said Thursday. While DFO said in a statement it is “making every effort to minimize operational impacts,” a group representing fishermen in southwest Nova Scotia said enforcement officers are nowhere to be seen to prevent illegal fishing during the off-season. “There’s illegal fishing occurring and there is no enforcement staff on the road or on the water or on the wharfs. And it’s out of hand,” Dan Fleck, executive director of the Brazil Rock Lobster Association, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:33
Tug Crew Tows Fire-stricken and Abandoned Trawler to Portland, Maine
Capt. Brian Fournier, president of Portland Tugboat, received the call seeking assistance, and his first thought was, “Do I have the equipment and most importantly the crew to engage in this type of rescue?” Fournier enlisted one of his most experienced crews and prepped them on the assignment. Capt. Jake Forgit, Mate Peter Roderiguez, Chief Engineer Ian Brushwein and Deckhand Aoi Daggett boarded the 110-foot (loa), 4,000-horsepower Nancy McAllister and left Portland, Maine in search of the Three Girls. Locating the trawler was no easy task. The tug and crew departed at 9 p.m. on August 12 and steamed overnight toward the estimated location of the trawler. The Nancy McAllister crew finally met up with the burning trawler at 11 a.m. on August 13—some 14 hours after setting out from Portland. The next job at hand, to safely hook up a tow line to a burning vessel, was also a challenge. The burning trawler had large outriggers with chains dangling on both sides, so getting close to the vessel proved difficult. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:59
Fatal Marine Accident Onboard F/V Séimi Reveals Safety Lapses
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report, released on August 22, 2024, details how a crew member lost his life after being dragged overboard during routine operations. The vessel was engaged in shooting crab pots when the crew member on deck became entangled in the line of the last pot, leading to his swift descent into the cold Atlantic waters. Despite the crew’s immediate response, which included halting the vessel and retrieving the man within 15 minutes, the crew member, who was not wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), could not be resuscitated. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:08
Europe must repeal its unjust seal products ban: Senators Manning, Busson and Duncan
For the first time, the European Union is reviewing its 15-year-old import ban on seal products. Implemented in 2009, the ban prohibits the general sale of seal products in EU markets with two exceptions: the sale of seal products derived from Inuit or Indigenous harvests, and the “occasional” importation of seal products for personal use by travelers. We are three Canadian senators who represent the country’s East, West and North and who recently spent more than a year studying Canada’s seal populations, seal harvest and seal products industry as members of the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. We are convinced that the EU’s import ban on seal products is not “fit for purpose.” The socio-economic impacts of this ban have been disastrous for communities along Canada’s East Coast and in Nunavut, and the conversation around sealing is rife with misinformation. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:12
Lifelong Lobsterman Cary Burton Lunt of Bass Harbor, Me. has passed away
Cary Burton Lunt, 77, passed away on Aug. 11, 2024, at the Bangor Nursing Home from complications from diabetes. He was born May 30, 1947, in Bar Harbor, the son of Clarence L. and Elsie R. Lunt. What can you say about a brother that saved your life when he was only 7, supported you his whole life through school, college, my career and was loved by all that met him? Cary was a born lobsterman. He hauled his first lobster trap at age 4, and continued until he couldn’t stand due to his diabetes. He was a long-time member/supporter of the Maine Lobsterman’s Association. He and his first wife, Marie Gray, were married on his boat, the Elsie V, and they had three children; Benjamin, Gabriel and Roseanna. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:30
Humber Ports Showing Significant Growth in UK Fish Imports
The Humber ports, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), have solidified their position as the UK’s premier hub for seafood imports, according to newly released statistics. In the past year, the ports of Immingham, Grimsby, and Hull handled a remarkable 41.6% of the fish imported into the UK, marking a 10.5% increase from the previous year. This growth underscores the Humber ports’ vital role as a key gateway for the UK’s seafood trade. The strategic location of ABP’s Humber ports, coupled with their proximity to major seafood processing centers, has created a highly efficient and industry-leading hub. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:02
BOEM seeks public input on possible wind energy areas
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management officials are asking for feedback on possible commercial wind energy development in areas totaling 13.47 million acres off the coasts of North Carolina, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, or Central Atlantic 2. The Central Atlantic 2 Call Area “is broad to allow for flexibility to minimize conflicts with other uses, such as commercial fisheries, military activities, and vessel traffic,” according to the federal agency. This announcement builds on the input and planning that led to the first Central Atlantic lease sale on Aug. 14, the fifth offshore wind lease sale held during the Biden-Harris administration, according to BOEM. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:07
U.S. Offshore Wind: The Struggle Continues
This post updates the financial troubles of Denmark’s Ørsted, recent BOEM auctions, and pushback against Maryland governor Wes Moore. Today, operational offshore wind capacity is less than 50 megawatts versus the Biden-Harris Administration goal of 30,000 MW by 2030. Denmark’s Ørsted, the worldwide leading offshore wind developer, recorded a $575 million loss in the second quarter. In part, the loss is the result of disappointing developments in the U.S. The company has delayed commercial operation of its 704-MW Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island and Connecticut from 2025 to 2026. Ørsted’s ambitious U.S. offshore wind program has been lagging, despite solid support (subsidies, permits) from the Biden administration. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06;50
US Wind to offer compensation package to local fishermen
This week, US Wind’s senior director of external affairs, Nancy Sopko, confirmed that the company is developing a mitigation program for commercial and for-hire recreational fishermen. The announcement comes a week after the Worcester County Commissioners shared concerns about a potential agreement. “US Wind is adopting a compensation program to benefit commercial and for-hire recreational fishermen, a measure BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) recognized as effective in our FEIS (Federal Environmental Impact Statement),” Sopko said. “US Wind and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources signed a Letter of Intent in July 2024 to develop a fisheries compensatory mitigation program by early 2025. Such a mitigation program could include financial assistance, assistance with equipment upgrades or training, and other services. We look forward to working with the state on outreach to the fishing community to further develop details of this mitigation program.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:09
Feds say SC boat owner may face prison for catching too many fish, then concealing it
A South Carolina fisherman has been indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities say he exceeded the number of fish he was legally allowed to catch, then attempted to conceal his actions. One count in the indictment charges Don Michael Rynn with submitting a trip report with a lower number of fish than he actually caught to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Another count charges him with lying to a federal agent, falsely telling the agent that various fish he caught were contaminated with oil and he disposed of them by putting them in a dumpster. The fish were snowy grouper and tilefish, according to the indictment. A third count charges him with falsifying records in a federal investigation. Maximum punishment in this case is a fine up to $250,000 and 20 years in prison. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:38
Canadian government to build conservation hatchery in Prince George to boost Chinook and sockeye salmon recovery
The Canadian federal government has announced plans to build a new Pacific salmon hatchery in Prince George, British Columbia (B.C.). This initiative, supported by the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI), aims to bolster the conservation and recovery of wild Chinook and sockeye salmon populations. Operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in partnership with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Canfor Pulp Ltd., the hatchery will be constructed this fall on federal land along the Nechako River, near its junction with the Fraser River. “As a Nation, fisheries are central to the work we do,” said Chief Dolleen Logan, on behalf of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. “We remain committed to maintaining biodiversity in our traditional territory while enhancing salmon populations throughout the region.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:02
Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers Welcome Representation on NPFMC
In a significant development for the Alaska Bering Sea crab industry, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce has announced the appointment of Jamie Goen, a dedicated advocate from the Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers (ABSC) to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). Goen will fill the vacant Washington state seat for the remainder of the term, following the unexpected passing of former member Kenny Down. This appointment marks a two-year term where Goen is expected to continue the work of ensuring fair and sustainable fisheries management. Goen’s appointment has been met with enthusiasm from the crab fishing community, which has long valued her commitment to the industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<10:30
