Daily Archives: November 25, 2024
Alaska’s total commercial salmon harvest this year was ultra-low in both quantity and value
The number of Alaska salmon harvested by commercial fishers was the third smallest since all-species records began in 1985, and the value to harvesters, when adjusted for inflation, was the lowest reported since 1975, state officials said. Additionally, the 450 million pounds of salmon that the total harvest contained was the lowest on record, officials said. The totals come from a preliminary recap of this year’s salmon season issued on Nov. 18 by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Only 101.2 million salmon were harvested this year, less than half the 232.2 million harvested last year, the department reported. The money paid to fishers for their catches, known as ex-vessel value, totaled $304 million, down from $398 million last year, the department said, In the Bristol Bay region, site of the world’s biggest sockeye runs, this year’s return was well above projections and 7% higher than the 20-year average, though the amount commercially harvested was a bit below the average. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:09
Port of Galilee and Marine Facilities to Undergo Major Upgrades with $15M FEMA Grant
In a landmark step toward mitigating the impacts of climate change, Rhode Island has secured a $15.5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the largest award of its kind in the state’s history. The funds will support a $17.2 million initiative to elevate critical infrastructure at the Port of Galilee in Narragansett and Wickford Dock, along with the replacement of eight docks across three state-managed marine facilities. The grant, matched with state funding, was announced by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), and the state’s Congressional Delegation. It aims to bolster resilience against rising sea levels, coastal flooding, and extreme weather events. The Port of Galilee, a vital economic engine for Rhode Island and the 13th highest value fishing port in the nation, is at the heart of the initiative. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:39
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries sinks trawler at artificial reef site off Cape Lookout
The state Artificial Reef Program sank a 55-foot trawler at the artificial reef site, AR-305, off Cape Lookout, last week. The program is part of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries. The fishing vessel Alexandria Dawn, the latest addition to the artificial reef, was built in 1984, but has been out of use for around a decade, division officials announced Monday. Before sinking, the vessel was cleaned extensively in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency requirements, officials said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:14
Going after the big fish: New union president vows to take on whoever stands in the way of Newfoundland and Labrador fishery
Vibes of positive energy permeated FFAW-Unifor’s recent annual convention in Gander, and the union’s new president hopes to carry that momentum forward into what she envisions will be a new era for the fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador. Dwan Street is the first woman to ever hold the presidency of the union that represents the province’s inshore fish harvesters and plant workers, and she’s ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work now that the convention celebration is over. She’s not interested in discrediting any past executives, but Street said it’s clear there needs to be fresh, new approaches to helping make life better for harvesters and plant workers. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:52
Devon fishermen left feeling ‘betrayed’ by Brexit
Devon fishermen are claimed to have been left feeling ‘betrayed’ by Brexit – something they originally thought would benefit them. South Devon MP Caroline Voaden told the House of Commons the fishermen “face a landscape filled with uncertainty, rather than the bright, sunlit uplands they were promised”. The Liberal Democrat MP, whose constituency includes Brixham, was speaking during a debate on fishing policy. Brixham, she said, was the most valuable port in England and Wales in terms of catch landed, recording £60 million in fish sales last year. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:48
Nova Scotia Lobster Season Faces Wind Delays Again
Weather conditions push back the much-anticipated opening day for the region’s commercial lobster fishery Strong winds have once again delayed the opening of the commercial lobster season along the south shore of Nova Scotia. Scheduled to commence on Monday, November 25, the season’s launch has been postponed due to weather conditions not cooperating with the fishermen’s plans. The forecast continues to show gale force winds, prompting industry officials to eye Tuesday, November 26, as the likely new opening day. This pattern of weather-related delays is nothing new for lobster fishers who have seen the impact of harsh conditions on their opening days for years. The season is set by regulation to start on the last Monday of November, but as was the case this year, it frequently doesn’t go according to plan. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:56
