Monthly Archives: October 2024
RWE and National Grid Propose New York’s Largest Offshore Wind Project
German utility RWE and New York power company National Grid have announced a proposal to build a 2.8 GW wind park off Long Island, the largest offshore wind power plan yet submitted to New York state energy regulator NYSERDA. It is the second time that it has submitted its Community Offshore Wind project for NYSERDA’s approval: the previous bid was awarded, then canceled when the economic viability of first-generation U.S. offshore wind projects soured. RWE and National Grid won a lease area in the New York Bight at auction in 2022, one of several awarded that year. The site has the potential for up to 3 GW of nameplate capacity, about a third of New York’s 2030 target of 9 GW. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:56
How fishing rights could prove key to the UK’s new negotiations with the EU
Over eight years after the Brexit referendum, crucial decisions about the UK’s future relationship with the bloc are about to be made. Decisions over softened immigration rules, the future of Gibraltar and wider economic access are all likely to be discussed as Labour prepares to negotiate in earnest for the first time with the EU as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement reaches its five-year renegotiation mark. Sir Keir Starmer, whose political career was catapulted into the limelight by his prominent support for a 2nd referendum on Brexit and an overall closer relationship with Europe, has sought to reset relations with the EU since becoming Prime Minister and will be scrutinized heavily over his choices in the negotiations. The discussions over fishing have seemingly jumped to the top of the EU’s priority list, following a number of disputes since the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. Despite relatively cordial relations between the UK and EU over the past few years, fishing has remained controversial. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:47
Scalloper who was asked to take down anti-wind flag: ‘It’s wrong in so many ways’
State and federal politicians lined up along the New Bedford waterfront last week to unveil a new terminal slated for offshore wind. From the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional director to Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, each took turns touting the port’s growing role in the nation’s green energy transition. But the speeches were punctuated by a plume of smoke rising from out in the harbor. It was coming from a New Bedford scallop vessel experiencing engine troubles. The captain, who says he was unaware of the ceremony, docked at the terminal to fix the engine. The vessel, the F/V Prowess, was flying a white flag with a red circle and slash cutting through a turbine; a symbol many fishing boats hoist to demonstrate resistance to offshore wind development and its impact on the fishing industry. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:04
Salmon Spotted in Klamath Basin for First Time in More Than a Century
On Wednesday, an Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist spotted a first-in-a-century sight on a tributary to the Klamath River in the Klamath Basin: A fall-run Chinook salmon. Just weeks after the last remnants of the four hydroelectric dams that used to clog the lower Klamath River were hauled away, concluding what was the largest dam removal effort in United States history, the first salmon was spotted in the Klamath Basin area since 1912, when the first of the dams was installed, blocking fish passage to the hundreds of miles of historic habitat. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:40
Biden administration races to shell out billions for clean energy as election nears
The Biden administration is shelling out billions of dollars for clean energy and approving major offshore wind projects as officials race to secure major climate initiatives before President Joe Biden’s term comes to an end. Biden wants to establish a legacy for climate action that includes locking in a trajectory for reducing the nation’s planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to rescind unspent funds in Biden’s landmark climate and health care bill and stop offshore wind development if he returns to the White House in January. Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the Democratic nominee after Biden dropped from the race this summer, has said she will pursue a climate agenda similar to Biden’s, focused on reducing emissions, deploying renewables and creating clean energy jobs. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:46
It took a community to save boat in Menemsha
I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible community that rallied around me when my boat, Wyknott, sank at the dock in Menemsha. It all started early Thursday, Oct. 17 morning when Christopher Mayhew called me at 6:30 am to inform me that Wyknott was on her side. When I arrived, I was met by Christopher and his father, Jonathan, and Chris Stein, who were already there, working tirelessly to stabilize the boat and prevent it from rolling completely over. Christopher donned a wet suit and put a line on her. Their quick action set the tone for the day. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:19
New bill to expand federal relief eligibility for fishing/shrimping industry
“The influx of imported shrimp has resulted in the decline of our fleets and massive job losses and our local businesses are devastated,” said Bryan Jones, the Vice President of the South Carolina Shrimper’s Association. Standing in front of the shrimp boats of Shem Creek, US Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R) introduced the Protect American Fisheries Act on Friday. “Foreign dumping of shrimp filled with contaminants that don’t meet US safety standards is undercutting honest, hardworking, American fisherman,” said Congresswoman Mace. The bipartisan bill proposes to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to include “economic causes” as a reason for declaring a fishery resource disaster. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:58
American lobster population, habitat preferences shifting, study finds
American lobsters along Maine’s coast have relocated to new habitats, while the population simultaneously shrunk in abundance and grew older, according to a new study by University of Maine researchers. For decades, the vast majority of adult lobsters resided in majority of adult lobsters. This knowledge helped inform longtime conservation efforts and regulations within the more than $740 million fishery. A team of UMaine scientists, however, found that from 1995-2021, occupancy of boulder habitats dropped 60%. Meanwhile, the number of lobsters residing in sediment or featureless ledge habitats, both of which have little to no geological features to use as shelters, increased 633% and 280%, respectively. Lobster population density across all types of habitats declined too, meaning they are fewer in number and their populations are more spread out. more, >>CXLICK TO READ<< 16:20
Cortez fishing village works to recover after hurricanes Helene and Milton
There is devastation on every corner in Cortez Village, a quaint fishing village off the coast of Manatee County. Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit this community hard, and now they are working to pick up the pieces and preserve their historic village. Captain Kathy Fannon showed us the damage to her home. She said it is hard to see the reality that lies ahead. “We lost everything. Everyone on this block had four feet of water through their house, so we lost all the contents. We have absolutely nothing left inside,” Captain Kathy said. Captain Kathy’s family works in the fishing industry, and her daughter, Katie Tupin, lives across the street. Tupin said, “My dad runs a shrimping boat. He’s a commercial fisherman. I’ve been doing charters for 14 years and my mom for 25. Both lost everything during the storm. Video, more, >> CLICK TO READ<< 14:09
Federal court denies FFAW request for injunction against reopening of northern cod fishery
Federal court denies FFAW request for injunction against reopening of northern cod fishery. In July 2024, the FFAW requested a judicial review of the federal fisheries departments’ decision to reopen the northern cod fishery with a total allowable catch of 18,000 tonnes. Later, the FFAW requested an injunction against federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier’s decision, made in June, to allocate 18,000 tonnes of cod for Canadian harvesters, and 1,080 tonnes for the offshore sector. Yesterday, the court denied the request for an injunction, stating that FFAW failed to demonstrate that irreparable harm. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:25
Fishermen say future of boatyard under threat
A fishing community say its future is being threatened by new rules. Cullercoats Fishermens Association fears its members are being prevented from carrying out maintenance of their vessels at the boat park in the village. North Tyneside Council said it has responded to local complaints about the yard’s appearance and has updated its regulations, meaning boat repairs must be completed off site. But the fishermen say there is nowhere else for the work to be done. Paul Robinson, from the association, said: “The earliest record of fishing here is 1279 but this could end it. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
Ferrante urges state officials to ‘step up’ advocacy for fishing
As the Beacon Hill political crowd munched on ceviches and chowders in the Great Hall on Wednesday, they heard a message from the seafood industry aimed more at Washington, D.C., than the halls of the State House. Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, the daughter of a fisherman and a 30-year advocate for the fishing industry, spoke at the annual Seafood Day in the state capitol about “what the federal government does to us.” The Gloucester Democrat found fault with how the feds survey fishery resources and shrink local fishing quotas, saying that the industry will perish unless a new course is charted. She wasn’t alone: Roger Berkowitz, formerly of Legal Sea Foods, told the crowd about NOAA’s past use of “boats with broken gear” to formulate their stock assessments. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:30
‘I make nothing’: Local fishers weigh leaving the industry as inflation drives up costs
Troy Pack, the captain of the Itasca, a Hawaiʻi-based longline fishing boat, had a different outlook on his job just a few years ago. “I loved being a captain. I loved my job. I love fishing, but it’s like I was making good money and it was worth it. It was worth being away from my family and worth being away and being out at sea for 25 days a month,” Pack said. After a recent fishing trip, the Itasca was docked at Oʻahu’s Pier 38. On one afternoon, Pack, some of his crew and Peter Webster, who owns the Itasca, were taking a break aboard the vessel before heading out on another fishing trip. There, Pack said he’s been rethinking his career. After 20 years of fishing, he said he couldn’t live on the pay anymore. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:09
NH port director Geno Marconi indicted a day after his wife, a NH Supreme Court justice
New Hampshire Ports and Harbors director Geno Marconi has been indicted on felony charges announced Thursday, along with Bradley Cook, the chairman of the state Ports and Harbors Advisory Council. The news comes one day after Geno Marconi’s wife, state Supreme Court Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi, was indicted on felony charges for allegedly interfering into the investigation into his alleged crimes. She is accused of asking Gov. Chris Sununu to stop the probe. Geno Marconi, a Stratham resident, is charged with two Class B felonies – tampering with witnesses and informants and falsifying physical evidence, as well as four Class A misdemeanors: two counts of Driver Privacy Act violations and two counts of obstructing government administration. During the investigation, he has been on paid leave since April from the job overseen by the Pease Development Authority. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:57
Fishermen greet DFO baby eel licence plan with uncertainty
The department is offering 120 fishermen currently employed by the eight commercial groups their own small licences for next year’s season, in what the letters say is a bid to “broaden the distribution of benefits” of the fishery. It is also offering elver licences to 30 fishermen currently licensed to catch adult eels. Austin Townsend, a 26-year-old elver fisherman from Lockeport, N.S., said while the proposal looks good for him on paper, he’s suspicious of the “Robin Hood” tactic where quota is simply plucked from the commercial groups, and worries he could be worse off financially. He said in a good season, he will make between $40,000 and $90,000 working for Shelburne Elver, which has the equipment to hold elvers and the networks to export them. But Townsend said if he goes it alone, he will still likely have to sell to a middleman who will take a cut. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:23
Connecticut Fisherman Sentenced for Tax Evasion
A Connecticut man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for evading taxes on income he earned from commercial fishing in Massachusetts. According to court documents and statements made in court, Brian Kobus, of Durham, worked as a commercial fisherman and deckhand for various fishing companies in Massachusetts. After each fishing trip, the companies paid Kobus by check. Despite receiving over $1.2 million in fishing income between 2011 through 2013, and 2017 through 2021, Kobus never filed a federal income tax return or paid the taxes that he owed. To conceal the source and disposition of his income from the IRS, Kobus regularly cashed his paychecks from the fishing companies and used the cash to fund his personal lifestyle. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:58
Has wave energy finally found its golden buoy?
In November 2023, violent Atlantic storm “Domingos” struck the northern coast of Portugal, generating record-high waves and leaving a path of destruction across much of Western Europe. People on land were grappling with flooded homes, closed roads, and landslides. But just offshore, a potentially game-changing wave energy device was happily bobbing up and down, side to side — seemingly, in its element. Built by Swedish startup CorPower, the giant golden buoy turns the raw power of the ocean into a clean, reliable electricity source. CorPower claims its tech is at least five times more efficient than the previous state-of-the-art. In an industry haunted by the ghosts of failed projects, wasted ideas, and bankrupt ventures, has wave energy finally found its golden buoy? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:38
50 years plus: Village Belle IV
This 1970 Noble’s vessel – the last of the series of Village Maids and Village Belles, built for the Jackson family of Tarbert – is still going strong. Over the years, the family owned two Village Maids and four Village Belles. The survivor – yard number 65 from Alexander Noble & Sons of Girvan – is the canoe-sterned Village Belle IV, built in 1970 and registered as TT 
74. At 60ft in overall length, she was built as a ringer/trawler with a 240-cran capacity in her hold and a T8 Kelvin 240hp in her engineroom. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:14
Texas campaign hopes to bolster struggling shrimping industry
October is National Seafood Month, and the Texas Department of Agriculture is using the occasion to raise awareness about Texas wild-caught shrimp through its “Caught Here, Not Brought Here” multi-media promotional campaign. No question, the state’s Gulf shrimp industry can use all the help it can get, with no relief in sight from a flood of cheap, farm-raised, imported shrimp, much of it raised under questionable, environmentally unsustainable conditions. The TDA campaign shines a light on this reality while also offering tips to consumers on how to look for Texas wild-caught shrimp on packaging and restaurant menus, recipes, and advice on where to find Texas wild-caught and how to select the best product. “Choosing Wild Caught Texas Shrimp matters — not just for the superior flavor, but for the positive impact on local shrimpers,” according to the TDA’s campaign web page. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
Bering Sea snow crab fishing to resume, but at an ultra-low level to encourage repopulation
After a two-year hiatus forced by low stocks, the Bering Sea snow crab harvest is back on. The decision to reopen the harvest, announced on Oct. 4 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, is based on signs of recovery in the crab populations. The official harvest opening was Tuesday. Signs of recovery are modest, and so is the allowable catch. The harvest is limited to 4.72 million pounds, a level that is a far cry from the 45-million-pound quota used in the 2020-21 season and similarly large quotas in earlier years. This season’s total allowable catch is the smallest in the history of the fishery, said Mark Stichert, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Kodiak-based management coordinator for groundfish and shellfish harvests. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:40
Pickup of seabed debris at Vineyard Wind broken turbine underway
Work is underway to recover debris that sank to the seafloor below Vineyard Wind’s AW-38 turbine when the blade broke apart in July, according to GE Vernova, the company that manufactures and installs the turbine parts. Efforts began on Sunday and were ongoing as of Tuesday afternoon. It’s been three months since one of the three football field-sized blades on turbine AW-38 collapsed, sending pieces of fiberglass, rigid foam and balsawood crashing into the ocean. Large pieces immediately sank, but other debris of varying sizes washed ashore on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, parts of Cape Cod and along Narragansett Bay for weeks afterwards. Some beach walkers are still reporting finding small remnants. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:33
Alaska’s “Imploding” Fishing Industry Has Shed 38,000 Jobs
In an economic review requested by fishermen and processors, NOAA found that profitability dropped by half from 2021-23, and wholesale prices dropped by a quarter in 2022-23. This left the Alaskan seafood industry with a total direct loss of $1.8 billion in 2022-3 and the loss of about 38,000 jobs. “For many Alaskans the decline of their seafood industry affects their pocketbooks, presents food security concerns, and impacts their way of life, sense of place, community, and identity,” NOAA noted. “In the face of evolving climate-driven impacts to ecosystems and fisheries in the region, these recent market disruptions undermine the capacity of all segments of the seafood industry and associated fishing communities to be resilient and survive in fisheries.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:47
Decorated former lifeboat coxswain nominated for Pride of Britain award
Hewitt Clark, one of only three living recipients of the RNLI’s highest recognition for bravery, has been nominated for a This Morning Pride of Britain award for his work in the emergency services. He was put forward on behalf of the RNLI, in recognition of the charity’s 200th anniversary. During his 35 years of service as a mechanic and coxswain he was awarded both a gold, silver and three bronze medals for gallantry. Overall Clark took part in 423 rescues, helping to save 319 lives. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:41
Lifelong Commercial Fisherman Loyd Alan “Lanny” Reposa has passed away in Maine
Loyd Alan “Lanny” Reposa, 75, passed away on October 6th, 2024 peacefully at his farm in Maine joining his heavenly family. Born in Wakefield, RI, he was the son of the late Arthur Reposa and Claire Binns, stepson of the late Ruth A Reposa. He was the loving husband of the late Sally Reposa. Lanny was a lifelong resident of South County and commercial fisherman in Point Judith, RI where he owned and operated several boats of the Point Judith fleet. He also fished in Alaska even getting the chance to pass the Titanic discovery and was one of the first captains to introduce freezer fishing to the industry. He embarked to the Grand Banks for a lot of his fishing, remarkably under some of the most brutal and treacherously dangerous conditions (including hurricane Gloria), Lanny always got his vessel and crew back to a safe port without ever losing a crew member. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:14
Grant from Outer Banks Seafood Festival Fund supports North Carolina Watermen United
On Oct. 19, the Outer Banks Seafood Festival continues its tradition of celebrating and supporting the local fishing industry. Proceeds from the festival benefit the Outer Banks Seafood Festival Fund, managed by the Outer Banks Community Foundation. This fund supports vital initiatives, including a recent grant to North Carolina Watermen United (NCWU), which advocates for commercial and recreational watermen along North Carolina’s coast. North Carolina Watermen United (NCWU) stands as a voice advocating for those who work the water every day, representing members of the charter-for-hire, head boat, commercial, and recreational sectors across North Carolina’s coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:02
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 43′ Fiberglass Dragger with Permits, Detroit Diesel 8-V-71
To review specifications, information, and 10 photos’,>click here< To see all the boats in this series, >click here< 06:50
Multiple groups urge seafloor protections from pelagic trawling
A diverse group of harvesters, conservation entities and others are calling on federal fisheries managers to do more to protect seafloor habitats from midwater trawl nets they say are dragging the bottom of the ocean floor. Midwater, or pelagic trawling — used to catch schooling fish like pollock, is supposed to be fished in the water column rather than on the seafloor. For this reason, pelagic trawling is allowed in most conservation areas closed to bottom trawling — a form of fishing where nets are purposely dragged on the seafloor and damage corals, sponges and other living seafloor habitats in the process. An analysis by the National Marine Fisheries Service indicates that 40% to 100% of the width of pelagic trawl gear fished in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea has been in contact with the seafloor, and that these nets, which range from 50 to 190 yards wide, are dragged for miles. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:12
Former North Kingstown football coach dies in water off Narragansett
A 59-year-old Narragansett man died Monday after going overboard from a boat, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. He was identified as Joseph Gilmartin, a longtime North Kingstown High School football coach. According to the DEM, a 911 call was received at 12:53 p.m. for a person overboard and a boat motoring in circles off Black Point in Narragansett. Environmental police officers for the DEM, the Narragansett Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard responded, the DEM said. The incident is still under investigation. Gilmartin was a history teacher, football coach and worked summers as a commercial fisherman, according to a 2019 story in The Providence Journal. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:45
Jersey Strong Coastal Coalition – New coalition of municipalities opposes New Jersey’s offshore wind projects. Thank You.
A coalition of more than 40 municipalities and organizations across New Jersey has formed to oppose the state’s large-scale offshore wind energy projects, citing concerns over rising costs to ratepayers and potential environmental impacts. The newly established Jersey Strong Coastal Coalition (JSCC) is calling on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to reject new contracts for two major wind energy projects being developed by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, a joint venture between Shell Oil and Électricité de France. The coalition sent a letter this week to the BPU, warning of significant rate increases and outlining legal violations they argue would occur if the projects proceed. The two projects, involving 200 wind turbines with plans for 100 more, are slated for construction just 8.4 miles off the New Jersey coast. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:06
Deep-felt’ grief as crew of L’Ecume II are remembered
The ambassador of the Philippines to the UK attended a memorial service in Jersey yesterday for the three fishermen who died in the L’Ecume II sinking. His Excellency, Teodoro Locsin Jr, spoke of the “deep-felt” grief stemming from the loss of skipper Michael Michieli and Filipino crew members Jervis Ramirez Baligat and Larry Simyunn as a result of the maritime tragedy in December 2022. All three men died following a collision between their fishing boat – L’Ecume II – and Condor’s Commodore Goodwill freight ship off Jersey’s west coast. Two men have been charged with the unlawful killing of the fishermen and have both pleaded not guilty. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:53
