Monthly Archives: November 2024
FFAW says it wants to reclaim its right to strike — but only over snow crab
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is opening the door for seafood harvesters in the province to reclaim their right to strike, but the harvesters’ union is signalling it only wants that right for a single species — a proposal that the fisheries minister says likely isn’t legal. Minister Gerry Byrne announced several proposed changes to fishing industry regulations Monday in what he billed as an effort to advance free enterprise. Those proposals included a green light from government to return to strikes and lockout processes when collective bargaining fails, and a move away from the final-offer selection model implemented in Newfoundland and Labrador two decades ago. Under the current model, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union and Association of Seafood Producers both make offers about pricing and an independent arbitrator chooses between those offers, thus avoiding lockouts and strikes. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:23
Dire condition of Alaska’s seafood industry has many causes and no easy fixes, experts say
State officials and industry leaders trying to rescue the ailing Alaska seafood industry are facing daunting challenges, recently released numbers show. The industry lost $1.8 billion last year, the result of low prices, closed harvests and other problems, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. State Rep. Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, part of a task force charged with making recommendations on ways that lawmakers can help rescue the industry, said the solutions will be difficult and will require the full attention of his colleagues next year. Joe Bundrant, chief executive officer of Trident Seafoods, described how Russian fish production is part of a “perfect storm” of low prices, devaluation of Alaska’s product and a geopolitical landscape “like I’ve never seen anything close to it.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:36
‘Just Go Fishing’: Florida’s commercial fishermen getting back on the water
After being sidelined for more than a month following back-to-back hurricanes, the commercial fisherman in the historic Village of Cortez is back out hunting for grouper, blue crabs, bait fish, and everything in between. It was only a few days ago that Karen Bell, President of A.P. Bell Fish, said her team was able to go back out to sea and do what they love: fish. And the timing for some very bored fisherman couldn’t have been better. “All the grouper boats are out. They’ve only been out the last three or four days,” Bell said. The storms knocked Bell’s operations out for weeks. “A lot of damage. You know, I’ve got between my family and me, maybe 20 houses here, every one of them flooded, even mine, which sits high,” Bell said. “A.P. Bell’s roof is missing. It was like a double strike. At Star Fish, we lost all of our refrigeration equipment, the kitchens, the stoves, the ranges, and all the refrigeration stuff, so it took a little bit of time to get fixed.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:12
Developer/Highliner Kaye A. Williams of Bridgeport, Connecticut, has passed away
Kaye A. Williams, 95, beloved husband of Barbara (DeBreceny) Williams passed away peacefully in his home Saturday, November 16, 2024. Kaye was the son of the late Frederick I. Williams and Margaret Keefe Williams Dudas. Eventually returning to Bridgeport, Kaye established his first marine store, Fayerweather Marine Supply on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock. In 1968, he sold Fayerweather Marine and launched a new career as a commercial lobsterman. During his decade long career as a lobsterman, he became known as a “high liner”, a term used in the trade to describe the most successful and productive fisherman. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:38
Suggested areas for offshore wind around N.S. swell in size
Offshore areas around Nova Scotia recommended for wind energy projects have ballooned in size in the latest version of a report for government, troubling some in the fishing industry who are bracing for disruptions. The draft final report comes from the regional assessment committee, which was tasked by the province and Ottawa two years ago to investigate the potential impacts of offshore wind development on Nova Scotia. It describes eight potential development areas that cover a total of 31,200 square kilometres. The areas stretch from the tip of George’s Bank southwest of Nova Scotia, up the Atlantic coastline and around Cape Breton Island. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:14
A true story, but ever so fishy…
You may have heard of Chevron, the huge oil and gas company and probably one of the biggest oil producers in the world. But you may not have heard of the “Chevron deference” justified by congressional agencies. This became an unspoken government policy some 40 years ago. Here is the unspoken protocol. Congress would legislate a new, ambiguous bill to “fix” an issue. The enacted law was then passed to one of the agencies such as the FDA, EPA, USDA, or if there wasn’t a specific agency, a new one was formed. The purpose was to formulate government policy using the new law. An example is when President Jimmy Carter formed the Department of Energy in 1977. Reportedly it was to plan strategies to conserve energy and develop alternative energy sources. I will let readers form their own opinions in this time of shifting energy strategies. Yet 40 some years later, it almost all falls back on using fossil fuels. Let’s face it. Windmills and solar panels aren’t the long-term solution. more, >>CLICK TO EAD<< 07:03
Expensive Offshore Wind in Jeopardy in a Trump Administration
Offshore wind is much more expensive than onshore wind with costs to build at 4.5 times the cost of natural gas generation and operational costs at 2.3 times. President-elect Trump recognizes offshore wind’s high costs and limited utility and is likely to end its massive subsidies promulgated by the Biden-Harris Administration. Immediate actions available include revoking Biden’s executive order that paved the way for higher cost, less reliable electricity. Biden-Harris officials have heaped subsidies upon offshore wind through the Inflation Reduction Act and cut corners on regulations to expedite the technology. Offshore wind has had recent catastrophic failures including broken blades that have closed beaches in a tourist town and imperiled fishermen. Biden’s Executive Order 14008 issued on February 1, 2020–only two weeks after his Inauguration– launched the offshore wind program in the United States. This is an executive order that President-Elect Trump could easily rescind on his first day in office by just issuing a counter-executive order, which would stop the onslaught of this very expensive energy being added to the U.S. grid. Another way is to remove the excessive tax credits that encourage its adoption, which would take new legislation and add time to the process. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:47
Court won’t overturn decision to cut quota from N.S., N.B. elver licence holders
Three judges have delivered another blow to beleaguered commercial groups that fish for lucrative juvenile eels in the Maritimes, agreeing with a lower court ruling that upheld Ottawa’s 2022 decision to transfer a portion of their quota to First Nations without compensation. The Federal Court of Appeal heard arguments in the case last week in Halifax, and emerged with a decision that found the federal fisheries minister had “broad discretion” and had used it reasonably. Tien Nguyen, a pioneer in Canada’s fishery for young eels, also known as elvers, said he had hoped the judges would address the “absolute power” of the fisheries minister to make decisions that have enormous financial impact on licence holders. “It’s just like you build up the business, you struggle with it for a number of years, and when it’s finally successful, the government decided to take it away from you,” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:40
Fishing boat runs aground near Jamestown: Photos – Video
The U.S. Coast Guard responded to help a fishing boat that ran aground Monday morning off the coast of Jamestown. The incident occurred just after midnight in the west passage between Austin Hollow and Beavertail State Park. Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<<12:58
The 1929 Magnitude 7.2 “Grand Banks” earthquake and tsunami
On November 18, 1929, at 5:02 pm Newfoundland time, a major earthquake occurred approximately 250 km south of Newfoundland along the southern edge of the Grand Banks. This magnitude 7.2 tremor was felt as far away as New York and Montreal (see isoseismal map of felt area below). On land, damage due to earthquake vibrations was limited to Cape Breton Island where chimneys were overthrown or cracked and where some highways were blocked by minor landslides. A few aftershocks (one as large as magnitude 6) were felt in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland but caused no damage. More than 40 local villages in southern Newfoundland were affected, where numerous homes, ships, businesses, livestock and fishing gear were destroyed. Also lost were more than 280,000 pounds of salt cod. Total property losses were estimated at more than $1 million 1929 dollars (estimated as nearly $20 million 2004 dollars). Photos, maps, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:23
The fate of Shelter Island commercial fishing: Ideas, views and information shared at forum
The Thursday, Nov. 14 Reporter Community Forum at the Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, had a panel of two baymen, a local chef, and an official with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) taking questions on the topic: “Commercial Fishing on Shelter Island.” Views, suggestions and opinions were aired and personal stories related at the event sponsored by Dime Bank, but perhaps most interesting of all was the idea that hope for a successful future was a strong possibility for baymen and those who work our waters for a living. There was also reiteration of news about reseeding the bays with scallops, introducing new strains that are stronger and more resistant to die-offs. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:50
Coast Guard investigating death on fishing boat
The US Coast Guard is investigating the death of a 61-year-old man linked to an injury onboard a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico, and Justice of the Peace Joseph Guillory II says the crew reports the man became entangled in some fishing equipment. The Coast Guard spokesman tell KFDM/Fox 4 News Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston requested a medevac early Sunday morning from the fishing vessel “Lucky Aaron” about 85 nautical miles southeast of Sabine Pass in Louisiana waters. There was a reported injury, according to the Coast Guard. The man was unconscious, and the crew couldn’t detect a pulse. The vessel was en route to Sabine Pass at 3:30 a.m. It arrived late Sunday morning. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:29
Commercial Fisherman Donald A. Harlacher of Quaker Hill, Connecticut, has passed away
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donald A. Harlacher, known fondly as “Donny,” who left us Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, at the age of 58. Donny’s passing was a devastating loss, but he departed this world doing what he loved most: living and working on the ocean. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After completing his service, Donny returned to his home state of Connecticut, where he would eventually make his mark. His love for the ocean only grew stronger, leading him to pursue a career in commercial fishing. Starting from the bottom, he worked his way up through hard work and determination, ultimately becoming the beloved “Captain Don.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:22
DFO Affirms Canada’s Control Over Northern Cod Management
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is weighing in following concerns raised about northern cod management by provincial fisheries minister Gerry Byrne. A recent EU news release suggested that North Atlantic Fishery Organization (NAFO) was making the management decisions when it came to northern cod, but DFO says there is no debate that Canada manages the stock. According to the federal department, Canada alone completes the scientific assessment of the stock and sets the annual total allowable catch. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:31
N.S. communities light up Christmas trees made of lobster traps
A uniquely Maritime holiday tradition is back across the region. Christmas trees made out of lobster traps have begun to pop up again across Nova Scotia. The first tree of this kind appears to have been built in Gloucester, Mass., in the early 2000s. In Nova Scotia, one of the first trap trees created was in Barrington in 2009. Since then, other communities have started to put up their own trees. Catherine Falconer of Toney River in Pictou County said she began putting up lobster tree traps in that community to mark a year after her son, Nick, died in November 2019 at the age of 24. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:42
RNLI can brave the ‘fiercest’ weather with new boat
The arrival of a new lifeboat would allow crews to brave “the fiercest weather conditions”, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said. It was due to be unveiled at Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex, on Saturday afternoon after being built in Dorset. The lifeboat charity said its lifesaving capabilities across the Tendring coastline were strengthened thanks to the new vessel. Offering space for six crew members, it was built to reach a top speed of 25 knots (28mph) and has a range of 250 nautical miles (287 miles). more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:43
Pacific Seafood Halts All Processing in Eureka, Laying Off an Undisclosed Number of Employees
Pacific Seafood, the processing and distribution giant based in Clackamas, Ore., has halted all processing activity at its Eureka plant, dramatically scaling back its operations there and laying off an undisclosed number of local employees. The seafood getting unloaded here in Eureka is now being shipped north for processing at Pacific Seafood plants in Oregon, Ogan said. The 83-year-old company has nearly 40 locations across the country — from Kodiak, Alaska, to Miami, Fla. — and employs somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,500 people nationwide. Local fisherman Mike Cunningham, who has been selling his catch to Pacific Seafood for 35 years, said the company has removed much of its processing equipment and shipped it north to plants in Oregon, where it anticipates more abundant crabbing. “They are going to continue to buy crabs here, and they have some residual processing capacity,” Cunningham said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:37
NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD SWEARING IN TUES NOV 19
Please be advised that FFAW-Unifor is hosting its triennial Constitutional Convention next week at Quality Hotel and Suites in Gander. 160 delegates are registered to attend, representing all sectors of the Union. Monday, November 18 at 1:15PM: INSHORE PANEL Safety At Sea: Bringing Harvesters Home Safely with Craig Parsons (NL-FHSA), Terry Billard (Cheryl &Diane), Eugene Carter (Elite Navigator ‘Lucky 7’), Mark Gould (Coast Guard SAR) and MOD Sherry Glynn (FFAW) (SALON A/B). Tuesday, November 19 at 4:15PM: Swearing in of the New Executive Board and New President Speech more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:25
Donald Trump Pledges to Halt Big Wind Subsidies
Donald Trump’s election victory is quickly taking the wind out of the Biden administration’s ambitious renewables initiatives. President-elect Trump promised to end federal subsidies for offshore wind projects on his first day in office. As with many of his campaign pledges, Americans wait to see whether he will deliver. However, the market did not wait to see. Stock prices of offshore wind developers and turbine makers moved sharply downward following election day as investors query whether windmill projects are economically viable without the hefty federal subsidies Trump has promised to terminate. Environmental groups and fishermen have also raised concerns about the potential ecological trade-offs of this plastic-based technology and worries about ecotoxins created in the manufacturing of solar panels and EVs have caused consumers to pause. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:22
Adventurer/Commercial Fisherman Carla Jean Milburn has passed away peacefully in her sleep in Homer, Ak.
Carla Jean Milburn, born June 24, 1955, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of November 2, 2024 in Homer, Alaska. Born in Spokane, WA to Jeannine Fay (McLaren) Milburn and Don Devereaux Milburn, Carla attended Manson schools in Lake Chelan. After graduation in 1973 she was ready for …. adventure! Living in a fishing town Carla was lured to the water and soon took jobs on seiners and drift commercial boats in the Cook Inlet. Loving to work with fibers she then picked up the skill of mending and building nets. In short order she built a big shop on her property for fitting the long nets in. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:18
Lack of fishing prohibitions in ‘grey zone’ could pose risk for right whales, expert says
One marine conservation expert has questions about the efforts on the part of Fisheries and Oceans after North Atlantic right whales were detected in the Bay of Fundy in recent weeks, including in an area where both Canadian and American fishermen catch lobster. In October, Fisheries and Oceans announced several temporary prohibited fishing areas as the whales were detected in multiple fishing spots across the Maritimes, including in the bay. Some fishing prohibitions for parts of the Bay of Fundy started on Oct. 25 and included the fisheries for crab, herring, mackerel, groundfish, hagfish and lobster. The so-called “grey zone” is an area of disputed water near Grand Manan. Both Canada and the United States have claimed sovereignty over the area, so fishers from both countries harvest there. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:57
An update on the start of Dungeness crab season is coming next week
At the end of next week, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will determine whether or not to open the commercial Dungeness crab season on Dec. 1 or postpone it for a second time until at least Dec. 22. In late October, an initial assessment by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife pushed back the first day of commercial Dungeness crab season from its traditional mid-November opening to Dec. 1, pending another assessment, due to an abundance of humpback whales off the coast of California. On Friday, the CDFW announced that director Charlton Bonham will conduct a second assessment on the risk of marine entanglement on or around Nov. 21. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:59
F/V Susan Rose salvage resumes off Point Beach
A second salvage attempt is underway for the 77-foot commercial fishing vessel Susan Rose, which sank one year ago off Point Pleasant Beach, according to agencies overseeing the operation. The partner agencies include the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Office of Emergency Management and the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department. Resolve Marine, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Northstar Marine, based in Clermont, are handling the salvage operation. Northstar Marine oversaw the first salvage attempt. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:25
Charter Capt. Found Guilty of Illegal Commercial Fishing On LI
A Connecticut charter captain was found guilty of illegal commercial fishing off Long Island, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. Michael Tenedine, 58, of East Haven, was found guilty after a trial of operating a charter vessel without a permit; illegal possession of black sea bass for poaching; and possessing Black sea bass, a protected species due to overfishing, Tierney said. The trial conviction comes as Tierney ramps up his “Everblue Initiative,” a collaboration with state and local law enforcement to protect the more than 60 percent of Suffolk County square mileage comprised of water. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:03
Will Trump’s win end Morro Bay offshore wind energy projects?
President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end offshore wind energy projects his first day in office, a promise opponents of the proposed Morro Bay offshore wind farms hope he fulfills. Trump ran on lowering housing and energy costs. During his campaign speeches, he described offshore wind energy as “the most expensive energy there is.” He noted environmental concerns such as whale and bird deaths. In Dec. 2022, an auction for three offshore wind energy sites located off the coast near Morro Bay netted over $400 million to the federal government. The plan is to have the wind turbines float in the ocean more than 20 miles off the coast, with the electricity sent ashore via cables along the ocean floor. While the majority of San Luis Obispo County residents initially supported the “green energy” project, sentiments changed as information regarding plans to industrialize Port San Luis near Avila Beach and portions of the Morro Bay waterfront spread through the community. more, >>CLICKTO READ<< 09:55
Fisheries Minister Taken Aback by EU Boast that NAFO Has Management of Northern Cod Fishery
The province’s fisheries minister is encouraging Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to rally for joint management of the stocks off the province’s coast after learning that NAFO has taken control of management of the northern cod fishery. A recent European Union release following Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization meetings in Halifax indicates that based on an EU-Canada proposal on northern cod, NAFO “reopened the fishery and established a revised sharing arrangement.” It goes on to say that “it was fair and necessary to increase the EU share to reflect the current composition of the EU.” The release also indicates that NAFO is increasing fishing opportunities for 3M cod outside Canada’s 200 mile limit. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:08
Classic fishing boat: Bonnie Lass III RY 189
The Gerrard brothers were David and Andrew, who along with their father, also Andrew, had set up their boatbuilding business alongside the lifeboat station in Arbroath in the early 1950s. Their first build was the Bairn’s Pride AH 27, launched in 1955. They built at least 72 vessels up to 1990, after which they had to rely on repairs and overhauls to sustain the business. It went into receivership in 1994, largely due to the decline in the fishing fleet in the town, meaning that even maintenance work had dried up. Strathgarry SY 88 was painted green and was renowned for having a steep deck, with the distinctive Gerrard’s bow. The Caterpillar 250hp engine was forward at launch, though was moved aft later. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
Cuban-born net maker shares his journey from Havana to New Bedford’s working waterfront
When he had his chance, Cuban-born net maker Miguel Sanchez escaped his home country, jumping from a Cuban fishing boat aboard a ship heading to Canada. The young law student escaped to start a new life, far away from Cuba and its oppressive dictatorship, the only member of his family to escape. Sanchez left Havana abruptly on March 24, 1996, before heading to Canada, arriving in Nova Scotia on April 15, 1996. A year ago, after spending more than 20 years in Nova Scotia, he got a call to work at Reidar’s Manufacturing on the New Bedford waterfront. His skills as a net maker were in demand. Sanchez worked in Nova Scotia for more than 20 years for different fishing companies under the country’s International Mobility Program, teaching and working with wire rope, when he got the call to work at Reidar’s Trawl Gear. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:31
NCLA Challenges WA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife’s Illegal 24-Hour Surveillance of Crabbing Boats
The New Civil Liberties Alliance has filed a lawsuit against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Electronic Monitoring Program using GPS technology to constantly track the location and movements of every state-licensed boat that fishes for Coastal Dungeness Crab, whether they are crabbing or not. The Department sustains the program by forcing fishermen to pay for electronic monitoring systems that they must install on their boats or else face criminal sanctions. Representing local crab fishing boat Captains Sara Franey, Brent Young and Mark Young, NCLA asks the Washington Superior Court to stop this unconstitutional surveillance regime, which does not improve upon cheaper, less intrusive existing methods for monitoring crab stocks. links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:05
Canada’s largest lobster fishery set to begin amid threat of Trump tariffs
Trump’s inauguration is still a couple of months away, he officially takes office on Jan. 20, but fishermen are trying to take the threat in stride while preparing for the season to open Nov. 25. “People are concerned, but until it happens, we’ll just carry on,” Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada, said. “There’s not a lot we can do to prepare and speculating on what it could mean doesn’t really get us anywhere.” As a result, the stakes are high if U.S. president-elect Donald Trump makes good on his campaign promise to impose duties of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent on all imported goods. While fishermen are worried about how this will play out, he said they have more immediate concerns on their minds. “What’s the catch going to be like?” he said. “What’s the price of lobster going to be like? What’s the weather going to be like? “more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:26
