Monthly Archives: August 2024
EU seal ban causing more harm than good, says Swedish researcher
Danny Pottle is an Inuk elder, who experienced first hand the impacts of the anti-sealing movement growing up in Rigolet, Labrador.
A Swedish researcher says the European Union’s ban on the import and sale of all seal products has caused more harm than good, and now is the time to lift the 15-year-old ban. Sven-Gunnar Lunneryd, who researches aquatic resources at the Swedish University for Agricultural Sciences, says ending the ban would help seal hunters and restore depleted fish stocks. His research demonstrates that in the Baltic Sea, where the grey seal population has recently increased rapidly, having a negative impact coastal fisheries in the region. “We maybe need to half the seal population to get the chance for depleted fish stocks to recover,” said Lunneryd. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:53
Fishermen’s dismay as funds diverted to port upgrade
Fishermen in Thanet say they have been “pushed to one side, forgotten about and ignored” after money for new facilities was redirected to a plan to reopen a Kent port. Thanet District Council (TDC) said it had no choice but to reallocate £3.5m slated for fishing upgrades to reopening Ramsgate’s port due to government rules. Some £3.5m from the fishing facilities upgrade programme was proposed to instead be redirected to the port and for a £4.5m grant to be given to any prospective operator of the port. John Nichols, a committee member and a former chairman of the Thanet Fishermen’s Association, said the loss of funding was “extremely disappointing”. “We need these very basic facilities, we don’t need to be pushed to one side, forgotten about and ignored,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:39
UPDATE: Tropical Storm Debby to Bring Major Flooding to Southeast After Florida Landfall
Tropical Storm Debby could bring historically heavy rainfall, gusty winds and a few tornadoes, from north Florida to coastal South Carolina after making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Monday. Flash flooding is the number one concern with Debby. NOAA has issued their highest level of flood outlook for both Monday and Tuesday, shown in pink on the maps below. These areas will likely experience damaging flooding and could experience life-threatening flooding. Debby will also bring gusty winds, coastal flooding and a few tornadoes across the Florida Peninsula Sunday and then along the Southeast coast early in the coming week, where it could slow down or even stall, prolonging impacts. Here’s where watches and warnings are in effect: A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida Big Bend region from the Suwannee River to Indian Pass. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:56
Will Labour betray Scotland’s fisherman in order to win concessions from the EU?
On July 18, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after only a fortnight in the job, hosted a summit meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. The meeting, involving more than 40 of the continent’s leaders, was billed as a way for the UK prime minister to re-boot Brexit and negotiate a more favourable trade deal for Britain. The summit concluded with a private dinner between Sir Keir and the French President Emmanuel Macron at Chequers. Scottish fishermen are deeply suspicious that Labour may be planning a major betrayal of their industry. Sir Keir has a long list of concessions that he wants from the EU, including progress on cross-channel migration, increased freedom of movement for UK citizens, a major revision to Boris Johnson’s “botched” Brexit trade deal and a new security and intelligence-sharing agreement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16: 19
‘Majority’ of chinook run is already past Chilcotin River landslide area: Cullen
Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen says officials are estimating a four-to-seven-day window for returning sockeye salmon, but the “majority” of the chinook run is already past the Chilcotin landslide area. During an update on the landslide situation Saturday (Aug. 3), Cullen said the province is working very closely with First Nations and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to prepare. “While we know that there will be impacts on fish from there this event, our early assessment is that the majority of the chinook run is already past the landslide area,” he explained. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:44
Flying over Sears Island puts the offshore wind debate in context
A bird’s-eye view can show you a lot about a place — its size and shape, its hidden contours, and the water, forests, roads and development around it. I got this landscape-level view of part of Penobscot Bay last week. I flew in a small propeller plane between Belfast, Searsport and Stockton Springs, up to the mouth of the Penobscot River where it flows from Bucksport around Verona Island, and back again. On my Penobscot Bay flight, we flew from Belfast’s tiny airstrip out over Sears Island, which is mostly undeveloped but still accessible by road. We could see the part of the island where the state wants to build the wind port, an area about one tenth the island’s size. Mack Point is where opponents of the Sears Island project say they want the port built. It was considered by the state’s Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group over the past two years. Sprague has since proposed a new approach to using the site for the port, which groups like Friends of Sears Island are pushing for. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:53
Tropical Storm Debby timeline: When could it become hurricane, make landfall?
Tropical Storm Debby officially formed Saturday afternoon, making it the fourth named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters believe Tropical Storm Debby could be ‘at or near hurricane’ strength as it approaches the Florida coast before landfall, according to the 5 p.m. advisory. A timeline has been established for when the eye of what is now known as Tropical Storm Debby could impact Florida over the weekend and into early next week. On Saturday, the NHC issued a hurricane watch and warning for portions of Florida’s Gulf Coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:32
USCG suspends search for man who fell overboard from fishing vessel 80 miles off Sanibel Island
The United States Coast Guard has suspended a search for a man who fell off a fishing vessel 80 miles off Sanibel Island, Saturday, pending new information. Missing is 29-year-old Sterling Grover. The captain of the fishing vessel Jules’ contacted Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watch standers, Friday, at approximately 10 p.m., reporting Grover fell overboard wearing khaki shorts and no personal flotation device. Rescue crews searched 2,796 square miles, an area about the size of the state of Delaware. On-scene weather conditions during the search were 25-knot winds and 10-foot seas with severe overhead storms. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:34
Outgoing fishing leader warns of challenges facing local fleet
The outgoing head of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association has laid bare the sobering reality of the challenges facing the fleet – as he looks back on nearly two decades as a voice for the industry. Don Thompson said he had “mixed emotions” about his recent decision to step down as JFA president, a role he has held for approximately 17 years. This, he explained, was partly because there are still a number of “big decisions” to be taken by Island fishermen concerning future management of local fish stocks. While no immediate successor has stepped up to replace Mr. Thompson, the 69-year-old stressed that the fleet needed to maintain a “close working relationship” with government “at all levels”. His comments came shortly after States Members unanimously approved an amendment to sea fisheries legislation, lodged by Environment Minister Steve Luce, to raise the minimum landing size for lobster from 87mm to 88mm. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:40
The province says an N.L. fish plant was trying to sell rotten crab. The fish plant is snapping back
The owner of a major seafood processing plant in Bay de Verde says major inspection issues are at the root of claims his company was selling rotten crab. Robin Quinlan, president of Quinlan Brothers Ltd., said the accusations are a “very serious misrepresentation of the facts of what had occurred at the facility.” Quinlan told reporters Thursday that independent inspectors had assessed the catches in question and passed them. But when provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture inspectors showed up for a surprise assessment, they deemed those same catches unfit for the market. The company was formally charged last week under the provincial Fish Inspection Act and Fish Inspection Operations Regulations — accused of moving and processing dead snow crab. The four charges are related to two provincial inspections at the plant in May and June. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:34
‘Paris has the Olympics, Menemsha has scallop-shucking’
Around 20 commercial fishing vessels pulled up to the docks stern in. They were supposed to be in by 2 pm but most of them were in by noon, Edmundson said, alluding to an eagerness amongst participants. They had more boats actually than they’d anticipated, both from the Island and mainland. The docks and surrounding area were crowded from 3 pm to 7 pm Thursday with roughly 200 people in attendance. Some gathered to check out the fishing fleet and others stood in line at the raw bar, manned by Quinn and Grady Keefe of Outkast Oyster Company. The brothers, who grew up shucking at the Homeport Restaurant, served Menemsha Creek Oysters for a suggested $3 donation. 7 photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:37
Captain John Ernest Tarasevich has passed away
Captain John Ernest Tarasevich passed away peacefully at home on North Padre Island, Corpus Christi, Friday, July 26, 2024. John graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting in 1971. Instead of pursuing a career in business. John chose a different path and began working as a commercial fisherman in Pt. Judith, RI. Over his 21 colorful years on the water John made many lifelong friends, starting as a deckhand and eventually buying and captaining his own vessels, F/V Mary Cay, F/V St. Jude. His voice was recognizable to captains of fishing vessels up and down the East Coast. He also served for 8 years as secretary and treasurer for the Pt. Judith Fishermen’s Cooperative, at the time a leading economic and political force in the Northeast fisheries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:32
Opinion: Rhode Island needs to call a hiatus on offshore wind projects amid blade failures
The recent spate of offshore wind turbine blade failures should be a wake-up call for both the industry and our policymakers. Recently, a Vineyard Wind turbine off Nantucket suffered a catastrophic failure of a 350-foot-long fiberglass turbine blade that dumped 110,000 pounds of fiberglass, epoxy and foam into the ocean. The Vineyard Wind project has been ordered by the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to cease operation and halt further construction activities pending an investigation. Public support for these projects has collapsed. A flash poll conducted by a Providence television station showed 85% of respondents do not support building these turbines. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<, by Martin Kits van Heyningen 06:58
Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $105 Million for West Coast and Alaska Salmon
Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced more than $105 million in recommended funding for 14 new and continuing salmon recovery projects and programs. Located along the West Coast and in Alaska, these state and tribal efforts will be funded through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF). The funds include Fiscal Year 2024 annual appropriations as well as $34.4 million under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $7.5 million under the Inflation Reduction Act, and will aid programs and projects in Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington that include habitat restoration, stock enhancement, sustainable fisheries and research and monitoring. “This $105 million investment, made possible thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, will build on decades of salmon recovery work, while helping Pacific coast Tribes and Alaska Natives sustain their communities and cultural traditions in the face of climate change,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “This is a result of the most ambitious climate agenda in history, and I am proud that nearly half of all funds in this announcement are being awarded to Tribal applicants.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:55
Quinlan Defends Processing of Disputed Dead Crab Prior to Court Case
One of the largest seafood producers in the province is firing back at the provincial government after the company was charged with processing and transporting dead snow crab. Quinlan Brothers of Bay de Verde was charged with four counts of marketing fish unfit for human consumption following inspections by provincial officials on May 30th and June 29th. But company president Robin Quinlan compares the actions of the inspectors to that of judge, jury and executioner. Quinlan believed the product — about 52,000 pounds of crab with a market value of $500,000 – would be properly stored until he had his day in court. But that was not the case. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:44
Grand jury looking into questions around NH Ports head Marconi
Prosecutors from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office have convened a grand jury and are subpoenaing witnesses as part of an investigation into Geno Marconi, director of the New Hampshire Division of Ports and Harbors, according to multiple sources who have testified before the jury. Marconi has not been charged with any crimes, and the exact nature of the Attorney General’s investigation isn’t clear. Marconi, a longtime fixture on the Seacoast who was first hired as operations manager of the ports in 1995, was placed on administrative leave by the Pease Development Authority in April. A spokesperson for the Authority said it could not comment on the action due to confidentiality rules. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:50
Massive B.C. landslide could mean new barriers for struggling salmon
An expert on British Columbia’s salmon populations says the massive landslide that blocked off part of Canada’s largest sockeye salmon run has created an unprecedented situation potentially putting the already struggling fish at even more risk. Scott Hinch, the associate dean at the University of British Columbia’s Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory, said the debris piled 30 metres high and 600 metres long blocking the Chilcotin River could cause problems for chinook and sockeye populations both while the water is being held back, and when it eventually bursts free. “These are natural events, but what’s unusual about this event is it’s occurring at a time when the rivers are way warmer than they used to be,” he said in an interview Thursday. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:23
Lifelong Waterman William Lee “Billy” Savage of Ocean City, MD. has passed away
William Lee Savage, known to family, friends and fishing buddies as “Billy”, passed away peacefully at home June 25, 2024. His beloved wife, Margie, was by his side just as she had been throughout their 42 years of marriage. Billy was born in Chincoteague, Virginia, on Nov. 2, 1945, and remained a lifelong waterman. He was a graduate of McDonogh Military Academy and attended Pfeiffer College. In his 78 years, he was a commercial fisherman and restaurateur. In the 1960s-70s, he mated on sportfishing boats ranging from Maryland to The Bahamas. His fishing sense and dedication made him a sought-after mate on local sportfishers to high-profile clients. His haul of white marlin set a record that was only broken in recent years. He became a commercial fisherman in the 1970s-80s, running the “Flora Kirwan” out of the OC Commercial Harbor and continuing his family’s tradition of restaurant ownership. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<09:09
Cocaine sharks: The hidden drug problem in the Gulf of Maine and oceans
An article on the BBC and subsequently picked up by the New York Times just reinforced what I have been teaching for a long time. The article reports on a finding from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, which found high levels of cocaine in 13 Brazilian sharp-nosed sharks tested near Rio de Janeiro. So, how did the drugs get into the livers and muscles of the sharks? I can think of three possibilities. First, illegal drug labs might be discharging wastewater into the harbor. Second, sharks could have ingested floating cocaine packets dumped to evade authorities. Lastly, and most likely, local sewage discharge might be releasing large quantities of urine from drug users. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
The fallout from Vineyard Wind’s broken turbine blade
When Nantucket residents began posting photos of the fiberglass and foam littering their beaches on the morning of July 16, everyone in the offshore wind world — proponents and opponents, alike — knew the industry was about to face a very public test in confidence. The debris had fallen from a damaged turbine blade at the nearby Vineyard Wind project. The part, made and installed by GE Vernova, had broken three days earlier, and no one really knew why. The project’s developer, also called Vineyard Wind, scrambled to clean up the mess and assure the public that the material all over their pristine beaches was “non-toxic.” But more and more photos of the bright green debris washed up on social media, many carrying captions like “It’s everywhere” and “STOP #Bigwind!” Soon, a picture of the broken turbine itself surfaced. The 351-foot blade had snapped about 65 feet from the base and what remained of it hung slackly, dangling over the ocean. photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:48
Letter: I have never been so disappointed in our local Senators, Elizabeth Warren, and Ed Markey.
I have supported both in the past. As a retired fisherman, I am still trying to help those stay afloat. I sent a letter to both asking them to update The Magnuson Act and add wording that NOAA must compare their science, and survey to other independent science and survey before placing restrictions on fish. Under law NOAA does not have to compare them. We have many problems, monitoring cost, lost fishing grounds of Cape Cod called the canyons, and now wind farms off our coast. We need help to overcome these problems, we need our senators to step to the plate now, before it’s too late. Let’s save what is left. Thank you, Sam Parisi 17:02Infamous sandbar so high some boats forced to wait hours at sea
A lack of rainfall has left fishing boats unable to cross the notoriously dangerous Grey River mouth, except at high tide. The Grey River’s infamous sandbar, a hot spot for boating tragedies, is now so high some boats have had to wait at sea for hours to berth during the lucrative hoki season. Port manager Franco Horridge said the last sounding recorded the depth of water at 2.7m at the mean low tide level. “It’s shallower than it has been for the last few years. The bar had caused similar issues for boats in 2017. “We recommend that boats only cross it at or around high tide. It’s an inconvenience to the fishing boats but skippers know it very well. We’re a long way away from being unnavigable at high tide,” he said. Westfleet Seafoods general manager fishing Colin Smith said the high bar was having an effect on boats. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:07
New commercial fishing pier to be built in Boothbay Harbor
The Boothbay Region Maritime Foundation has recently signed a contract with Fuller Marine to build a new pier and seawall at Carter’s Wharf, 87 Atlantic Avenue, the former site of the Sea Pier. The seawall will be constructed from granite and will be raised to meet current FEMA flood zone height requirements. The pier will have a poured-in -place concrete deck. The site plan has been engineered by Gartley and Dorsky Engineering & Surveying, the seawall has been engineered by Summit Geoengineering Services with Gartley and Dorsky and the pier has been engineered by GEI Consultants, Inc. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:50
Copper River harvest edges slowly towards1.4M
Harvests of Copper River District salmon edged up slightly to 1.4 million fish as of Tuesday, July 23, while for Prince William Sound overall the catch delivered to processors came to over 7 million fish, as the fishery slowed. Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologist Jeremy Botz in Cordova noted that fishing for coho salmon will pick up in mid-August. Meanwhile, Botz said, the sockeye harvest came in above forecast while the chum and likely Chinook catch would be below forecast. Consumers still hoping to purchase those prized Copper River reds likely won’t find them at their local seafood shops, but via the internet in a wide range of prices, some of which have not declined since the summer salmon season began. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:40
Federal regulators issue revised suspension order for Vineyard Wind as more debris falls from damaged turbine
“This maintenance work has already begun, reinforcing the stability and security of the turbines,” Nantucket officials said in an update on the town’s website. The BSEE said it will publicly release the findings of its investigation when it is complete. Fiberglass debris from the damaged turbine has continued to fall into the ocean in recent days. Nantucket officials said “several sections” of the damaged blade detached from the hub and sank to the ocean floor on Monday. Town officials said the debris “primarily consists of small, popcorn-sized pieces of foam, with some larger pieces and limited fiberglass fragments possibly mixed in.” Vineyard Wind crews were collecting debris from the water on Tuesday but warned that some debris may wash onto Nantucket’s southern beaches Wednesday and Thursday, town officials said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:24
One in 100 million cotton candy lobster caught in New Hampshire
A rare cotton candy lobster was the catch of the day recently off the coast of New Castle, New Hampshire. This candy-colored crustaceans was caught by a local lobsterman and donated to the Seacoast Science Center, a marine science education organization in Rye, New Hampshire’s Odiorne Point State Park. The wild color does not mean that it actually tastes sweet or like candy. It’s the result of a very rare genetic mutation. In May, a fisherman off the coast of England found a blue lobster in one of its traps. Rather than risk the lobster ending up on a dinner plate, the specimen was donated to a local aquarium, similar to what happened with New Hampshire’s cotton candy lobster. Blue lobsters have also been spotted in Marblehead, Massachusetts and France. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:53
MAIB Releases Report into F/V Angelena Capsize off Exmouth
A The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigation report into the sinking of a 14-metre-long trawler eight nautical miles south-east of Exmouth, England turned up major concerns regarding the understanding of stability performance, the dangers of operating a fishing vessel alone and the proper installation of safety equipment. On June 18, 2021, the fishing vessel Angelena (BM271) capsized and sank approximately 8 nautical miles southeast of Exmouth, England. The vessel was operated by its lone skipper who managed to escape and was rescued after spending 40 minutes in the water. The MAIB conducted a thorough investigation into the incident to uncover the underlying causes and provide recommendations to prevent similar occurrences in the future. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:53
Three adults, two dogs rescued from beached shrimp boat in Port Aransas
A shrimp boat, called F/V Second Chance, washed ashore just north of Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas around 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. The three adults and two dogs aboard the “Second Chance” boat were rescued. No injuries were reported. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, problems with the boats anchor and mechanical issues caused it to lose power which led to it washing ashore Wednesday morning. Beachgoers on Wednesday were shocked to see this sight. The Coast Guard says that the damages to the “Second Chance” boat still need to be addressed. When the investigation is complete, a plan will be put in place to remove the vessel from the beach in Port Aransas. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:17
