A U.S. appeals court on Monday appeared open to upholding a federal rule requiring commercial fishermen to fund a program to monitor for overfishing of herring off New England’s coast even after the U.S. Supreme Court in that same case issued a landmark ruling curbing agencies’ regulatory power. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, during oral arguments, weighed the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision, opens new tab to scrap a 40-year-old legal doctrine that had required courts to defer to agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous laws they administer. The 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court nixed the doctrine, known as “Chevron deference,” after taking up an appeal by several commercial fishing companies of the D.C. Circuit panel’s 2-1 ruling in August 2022, opens new tab that had relied on the doctrine to uphold the fishing rule. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:03Monthly Archives: November 2024
Iconic fishing boat listed for sale after serving the Lakeshore for decades
The owners of the iconic Susie Q fishing boat are hoping the vessel will be able to get a new lease on life, after serving the Lakeshore for more than six decades. “My dad would probably be a little upset, because that was the main ship of the fleet – the Susie Q. That’s where we got the name of the fish market and everything. He was very proud of it. It’s a nice boat,” said Susie Q Fish Company owner Paul LeClair. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:25
$2M to give more ocean information to fishers, scientists. ‘It will make a difference.’
A $2 million dollar grant aimed at beefing up collaboration between commercial fishermen and scientists was announced in late October at an event in Sandwich. The money will put 450 more sensors on commercial fishing equipment and data monitors on 150 more commercial fishing vessels. David Casoni has been fishing for 50 years. His lobster boat, Margaret M, is docked at Sandwich Marina. He has hundreds of lobster traps in Cape Cod Bay. He’s placed most of them based on historic knowledge. “We’re trying to catch an animal that has virtually no brain and it’s outsmarting us,” he said. “We know it reacts to food, pheromones, and somewhat to temperature, but it’s not consistent.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:03
Federal memo estimates more than $176M of Atlantic lobster catch unreported, untaxed
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans suspects hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of lobster is caught in Atlantic Canadian waters each year but never reported to authorities, raising both tax evasion and conservation implications in the country’s largest fishery. An internal memo in August to DFO’s deputy minister said it’s estimated that between 10 and 30 per cent of lobster landings in the region are unreported, and the department said in a statement it is working to map out criminal networks and money laundering in the sector. “It’s mind-boggling,” said Osborne Burke, the president of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance, which represents about 150 lobster buyers and processors and has urged a crackdown on unreported cash sales. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:44
Fishermen celebrate Trump: ‘Government has crucified this industry’
He didn’t win New Bedford, where Vice President Kamala Harris held a margin of 2,688 votes. But the city’s fishermen have dug in with their support for the president-elect. Fishermen on the New Bedford waterfront met the news of a second Trump term with vengeful enthusiasm on Wednesday morning. There was hope that the president-elect would scale back regulation, stop offshore wind development and open new fishing grounds, breaking the slump of declining revenues and ushering in a period of relative prosperity for the industry. “The government has crucified this industry,” said Ryan Turner, 47, who on Wednesday morning was preparing to leave on a scallop trip. He said this election was the first in which he had ever cast his vote. Between Harris and Trump, he said, “I didn’t like either one. I voted because we needed someone in office who is going to get rid of these windmills.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:17
First Damen Shrimp Trawler 2607 Completes Sea Trials
Recently, the first in series Damen Shrimp Trawler 2607 successfully completed its sea trials in the Port of Hamriya, UAE. Damen has designed the new vessel for the next generation of (sub) tropical shrimp fishing. The design aims at the provision of a straightforward, no-nonsense platform, easy to operate and with minimal maintenance requirements. The Shrimp Trawler 2607 has an extremely low fuel consumption resulting in lower fuel costs and reduced emissions. Damen set about the development of the Shrimp Trawler as a solution for the growing market interest in fuel efficient vessels. Damen is specialised in the designing of high-pull vessels with limited propulsion power, and therefore, lower fuel consumption. Other examples of this include the recently delivered beam trawlers for Belgium and famous Damen Tugs. For those vessels, as with the Shrimp Trawler 2607, Damen applied CFD technology for optimisation. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:15
Career Lobsterman/ Korean War Vet Carroll W. Lunt Sr. of Bass Harbor, Maine has passed away
Carroll W. Lunt Sr., 90, died Nov. 2, 2024, at his daughter’s home surrounded by his family. He was born Nov. 20, 1933, in Frenchboro, the son of Wallace and Lenora (Higgins) Lunt. Carroll was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the Korean War. He spent his career as a lobsterman. He captained his own boats “The Carroll Jr.” and “The Miss Robin” and truly enjoyed his time on the sea. He loved going to camp at Branch Pond with his grandchildren and family. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a past member of the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Masonic Lodge No. 77 A.F. & A.M. and the Anah Shrine. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:40
DFO Standing Committee Tables Report on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing
The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has made 32 recommendations to the federal government in its report, Reducing the Harms Caused to Canadian Fish Stocks by Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, tabled in the House of Commons on Oct. 3. “During its study, the Committee identified gaps that need to be addressed by DFO in order for DFO to have a fully informed response to IUU fishing. For example, more needs to be done to determine how much IUU fishing is taking place, intelligence-gathering and sharing needs to be improved and enforcement actions in relation to IUU fishing need to be strengthened, including in relation to the role of organized crime,” concluded the report. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:12
New Marine Patrol Vessel to be Stationed in Jonesport
The Maine Marine Patrol has added a new patrol vessel to its fleet. The P/V Sentinel II, a 42-foot Calvin Beal designed hull, was launched recently in South Bristol and will be stationed in Jonesport. The vessel’s hull and top were provided by SW Boatworks in Lamoine, the engine was provided by Billings Diesel and Marine in Stonington, and the vessel was built and finished by Farrin’s Boat Shop in Walpole. This is the second 42-foot Calvin Beal vessel Marine Patrol has been able to build in recent years; both vessels replaced existing patrol boats. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:48
Salvage Begins on Sunken Fishing Boat in Point Pleasant Beach
Salvage efforts were set to get underway off Point Pleasant Beach this week to remove a commercial fishing vessel that sank in November 2023. The Susan Rose, a 77-foot trawler out of Port Judith, Rhode Island, ran aground on Nov. 16 in Point Pleasant Beach not far from Manasquan Inlet. It had four crew members and had been fishing for black sea bass and flounder at the time. There were no injuries in the incident. The boat then sank three days later as a marine salvage company tried to pull it off the beach. Authorities with local, state and federal agencies overseeing the salvage operation said it was set to begin this week. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:55
Southern Shrimp Alliance Welcomes NOAA Fisheries’ Confirmation that U.S. Wild-Caught Shrimp Is the Sustainable Choice
Last week, NOAA Fisheries published an on-line resource with facts regarding wild-caught American shrimp, explaining what makes it a sustainable seafood choice. Shrimp is, far and away, the most popular seafood in America. As NOAA Fisheries explains, “now about one-quarter of the seafood Americans eat is shrimp.” Yet, despite Americans’ love of shrimp, the U.S. shrimp industry is struggling. NOAA Fisheries notes that despite the fact that landings volumes were roughly the same in 2023 as they were in 2022, preliminary data from the Gulf of Mexico show that the industry sold $329 million of wild-caught shrimp in 2022 and that revenue dropped to $204 million in 2023 – a 38 percent drop.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:29
Commercial fishers seek $10 million in damages against ‘illegal’ N.S. lobster buyers
A commercial lobster fishing group in Nova Scotia has gone to court seeking $10 million in damages against those it alleges are buying lobster caught illegally in St. Mary’s Bay. The Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance filed notice in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on Tuesday against Independent Fisheries Limited of Little Harbour, N.S., and its president Xiaoming Mao. The alliance is also suing the owners and operators of Fisher Direct Ltd. and Seawell Holdings Ltd., both based in Shag Harbour, N.S. The allegations have not been proven in court, and the defendants either declined to comment or were not immediately available to respond today. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:28
Fishermen rescued after boat runs aground on banks of loch
A group of fishermen have been rescued after their boat ran aground and was stranded on the banks of a loch in the Highlands. The volunteer crew of the Oban lifeboat were paged at 7.30am on Friday, November 1, after the coastguard rescue centre received a report from a fishing boat that it had suffered steering issues. With all its crew accounted for and no injuries, the lifeboat left the scene but made arrangements to return in the afternoon when the tide was rising, to assist with re-floating the vessel. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:14
Trump Defeats Harris to Win a Second White House Term
Former President Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, mounting one of the greatest political comebacks of all time – a convicted felon who was twice impeached and left the presidency in disgrace just four years ago, only to win it back decisively in one of the most fraught elections in modern history. In defeating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump stitched together an improbable coalition of supporters, including people of color and young voters, while promising to unfurl an America-first vision. With his victory all but assured early Wednesday morning, Trump told cheering supporters at a convention center in West Palm Beach, Florida, that “this was a movement like nobody’s ever seen before.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:41
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 62′ Turnkey Fiberglass Dragger, Cat 3408
To review specifications, information, with 25 photos’,>click here< To see all the boats in this series, >click here<. 06:24
New guidelines for boat gear in place after June death of lobster fisherman
New guidelines have been released to help protect P.E.I. fishing crews after a man was killed by a boom on a North Lake lobster boat this past June. Occupational health and safety officials spent months looking into the incident and hope their review will prevent further accidents. The investigation is now complete, but officials have not said whether there will be charges or fines related to the death. The man was underneath a boom being used to hoist out lobster traps when it suddenly lowered and struck him in the head and shoulder. In July, the Workers Compensation Board released a hazard alert highlighting the possible risks of using booms on lobster boats. Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:38
Person fined $5K for unauthorized longline fishing near Cape Breton
A person has received a $5,000 fine for unauthorized fishing in a protected area near eastern Cape Breton. The unnamed individual pleaded guilty to longline fishing in a high-protection zone of the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area on Oct. 23, according to a social media post by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). “The individual was fined $5,000, forfeited over $17,000 worth of groundfish catch, and their vessel will be monitored for the next 10 years no matter where they fish.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:25
3Ps Stock Assessment Update Highlights Need to Ban Offshore Draggers and Address Seal Predation
11/5/2024 – Today’s technical briefing by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on the 3Ps cod stock assessment delivered news that the south coast species has not experienced much growth in recent years, leaving harvesters concerned for the stock’s future and the impact the offshore dragger fishery is having on the stock’s recovery. FFAW is once again reiterating the need to ban factory draggers from all cod species in Newfoundland and Labrador, citing the continued and lasting damaged caused by draggers fishing on pre-spawning aggregations. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:57
Jersey fisherman hopes new lobster label could help keep island’s fishing industry afloat
A Jersey fisherman hopes his new lobster label will raise public awareness about the island’s crustaceans in an attempt to increase demand among consumers. Last month, Ian Syvret won the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) ‘Fishing Hero of the Year’ award for creating a new single-use label which includes the name of the fisher who caught the lobster. The blue label is attached to the lobster so it can be released alive and safe rather than clipping or marking the creature’s body. Ian’s award means that lobsters caught in Jersey can now be sold commercially with MSC eco status, which means he can now sell lobster to whoever he wants. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:08
Court open to upholding US fishing monitor rule even without ‘Chevron’ doctrine
A U.S. appeals court on Monday appeared open to upholding a federal rule requiring commercial fishermen to fund a program to monitor for overfishing of herring off New England’s coast even after the U.S. Supreme Court in that same case issued a landmark ruling curbing agencies’ regulatory power. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, during oral arguments, weighed the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision, opens new tab to scrap a 40-year-old legal doctrine that had required courts to defer to agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous laws they administer. The 6-3 conservative majority U.S. Supreme Court nixed the doctrine, known as “Chevron deference,” after taking up an appeal by several commercial fishing companies of the D.C. Circuit panel’s 2-1 ruling in August 2022, opens new tab that had relied on the doctrine to uphold the fishing rule. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:03Lifelong Commercial Fisherman Jonas R. Porter of Woodville, Florida, has passed away
Jonas R. Porter, 86, of Woodville, passed away November 3, 2024. Jonas was born in Sopchoppy and remained a life-long resident of this area. He was a Commercial Fisherman all of his life and was a true fishing storyteller; you never knew if it was the truth or not and he always got a good laugh. Jonas has always been a voice for all fishermen; he stood for what he believed in. He also was a Handyman and enjoyed building things, also enjoyed music, singing and playing the guitar. Jonas loved his family and friends and spoiled his grandkids; he loved people. He would want you to know that he supported Trump. more, >>CCLICK TO READ<< 05:56
Redfish harvesters call on Ottawa to reverse decision requiring observers for each trip
Fish harvesters on the west coast of Newfoundland are calling on Ottawa to overturn a decision they say could keep them from fishing for redfish and brought their concerns to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Corner Brook on Monday. Dwan Street, president-elect of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union, said harvesters face the requirement of an at-sea observer, which ensures compliance with fishery guidelines on every trip they take. Observers must also be paid for by harvesters, with DFO saying those who benefit from the resource should assist in paying for its management. A crowd of around 60 people took calls for change to the DFO office in Corner Brook Monday, which was closed before protestors arrived. For fishermen like Conway Caines, the issue boils down to two main factors: Not enough observers are available, and it’s another added expense crews might not be able to handle. Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:36
Sweden says no to 13 offshore wind farms
The sea-based wind power makes it more difficult to defend Sweden, says the Swedish Armed Forces. Now the government is stopping 13 planned parks in large parts of the Baltic Sea. On Monday, the government decided on 14 wind farms. Only one gets the go-ahead, while 13 planned parks will not get permission to build. The parks in the Baltic Sea, which were supposed to be located outside Åland in the north along the entire east coast down to the Sound, are now rejected. The government believes that it would lead to unacceptable consequences for Sweden’s defense to build the current projects in the Baltic Sea area, says Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) at a press meeting with Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) and Energy and Industry Minister Ebba Busch (KD). more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:54
Saskatchewan ‘s cold-water fish is making waves on the European market
Once the temperature drops, the fishing industry heats up in a small village in northern Saskatchewan thanks to the tullibee and after five years it’s still going strong. “They are saving the Pinehouse fishing industry,” said Lionel Smith, commercial fisherman from his home on Pinehouse Lake. The tullibee, also known as a northern cisco, lake herring or chub, is a small roughly two-pound fish found in northern cold-water lakes. Once, commercial fishermen in Pinehouse would cast the petite fish from their nets in favour of much larger and tastier fish. But food connoisseurs across the ocean have changed that narrative. The once seemingly undesirable fish is harvested for its roe and is a rare delicacy in Europe. As a result, the tullibee is providing a lucrative income for fish harvesters. photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:09
One Trawler’s Coral Damage Forces Fishery Closure at Lord Howe Rise
A commercial fishing vessel in New Zealand is finding itself yet again on the spot after allegedly destroying deep sea corals in international waters. The trawler F/V Tasman Viking is accused of scooping up corals in Lord Howe Rise, a region known for diverse marine life. The accidental removal, which occurred last month, has forced authorities in New Zealand to suspend fishing in the Lord Howe area of the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia until 2026. This is the second time in as many months that the 320-ton Tasman Viking is finding itself in trouble over destruction of corals in the Lord Howe area. In June last year, the trawler was confiscated after the crew failed to report bycatch of about 20 kilograms of rare bamboo corals in an incident that occurred in October 2020. The vessel was released after the operator paid a fine of NZ$52,000. more, >>CLICK TO READ><< 10:22
Loughlin: Cases against Geno Marconi and Justice Marconi appear to be grave injustices
In mid-April, the entire Pease Development Authority Board was summoned to Concord for a closed-door meeting with Gov. Chris Sununu and his attorney general. On April 18 representatives of the attorney general appeared at a PDA meeting where they held a “consultation with counsel” with the board. Immediately thereafter, without any explanation, Captain Marconi was escorted out of the meeting, relieved of his duties, barred from his office and communication with Port employees; and had his phone, computer and related materials impounded. In addition, his texts, phone records and financial records were seized and a grand jury impaneled. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:22
Opposition to seal ban grows within EU, where hunters alliance is optimistic rules will change
A group representing hunters in the Nordic countries says it’s more optimistic than ever that the European Union will lift a longtime ban on trading seal products. The regulation, implemented in 2009 after a highly successful campaign from animal rights groups, deprived Canadian sealers of their primary market. “Our hope and expectation is that the ban will be reversed, and that trade can be possible again,” said Johan Svalby, senior advisor for international affairs at the Nordic Hunters Alliance. Since beginning its review of the current regulations, thousands of individuals and organizations have participated in consultations, including the Canadian, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and Northwest Territories governments, which argued for removing the ban. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:27
Valley shrimping companies looking for a way out
Rio Grande Valley shrimpers say they’re ready to sell off their fleets. For years, they’ve faced big losses, and they’re still waiting for help. At the Port of Brownsville, the dock owned by Reyes Trawlers Inc. is one of the few shrimping companies still running most of its boats. The shrimping industry has faced several years of high fuel prices, problems getting worker visas and competition from cheap imports. For many, it’s time to get out of the business. “I 
am almost 73 years old, been doing this since I was 17 years old, and yes I would like to get out today. There’s no profit anymore. I’m just here just because, I’m losing money. For the last three years I’ve lost money,” Reyes Trawlers Inc. owner Carlton Reyes said. Reyes is running five out of six vessels, while many other shrimpers have their fleet docked and unable to work. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:14
Southend clam fishery trial results ‘very encouraging’
Early results of a “game-changing” clam fishery trial in Southend have been hailed as “very encouraging” as bosses aim to help nurture the high-value seafood. The Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority has provided an update on the Manila clam fishery trial. Manila clam fishing trials took place between October 2 and October 25 in the Thames Estuary on two specified areas – one on the Foulness Sand within the Shoebury Firing Range and the other on the Buxey Sand. Eight vessels took part in the fishery with a range of different types of fishing gear, including suction dredges similar to those used by boats from Leigh in the Thames cockle fishery, alongside new dredge designs. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:37
Scallop Boat Virtual Tour
New Bedford, home to fishing of nearly all types, is the most valuable commercial fishing port in the United States, and the world’s sea scallop capital. The two largest fisheries in the harbor are divided between the ground-fishermen and those who scallop, with hundreds of vessels of each type operating out of the port. F/V Huntress, built in 1979, is typical in both size and layout for the scalloping fleet in the area, and her trips to sea last between five and fourteen days. Take the tour! more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:19
Fisheries Minister Rejects Opposition’s Approach to Processing Controversy, Hints at ‘Significant’ Regulatory Changes
Provincial Fisheries Minister Gerry Bryne is hinting that some “significant changes” could be coming in relation to fish processors who run afoul of the regulatory process. Royal Greenland, which owns Quin-Sea, is currently before the Labour Relations Board after the Association of Seafood Producers filed an urgent application against the company. According to the FFAW, Royal Greenland failed to provide sales data on 5-8 ounce sections of crab delivered to Boston as required for a third-party review of 2024 snow crab sales. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:25
