Monthly Archives: January 2025
Scottish fishermen netting benefits of leaving CFP, says north MSP
Fishermen continue to net the benefits of being out of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) after seeing sales incomes rise by 10 per cent over the last year, an MSP has claimed. New figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives in a written parliamentary answer show fleets made an average monthly income of £14,329 over the last recorded year, a rise of £1300 when earnings were £13,020 in 2022.The rise in income and sales contrasts with the number of fishers at sea, which has dropped from 4241 to 3793 over the last three years. It comes after Peterhead Port Authority (PPA) recorded its highest ever annual fish landings total last year. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:27
Trump executive order blocks progress for four offshore wind projects off NC coast
One of the hundreds of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office leaves the future of wind energy in North Carolina and off its coast in limbo. There are four sections of the Atlantic Ocean leased for offshore wind development off the North Carolina coast, including two off of Kitty Hawk and two off of Brunswick County. With the Trump executive order, all four projects are seemingly paused, with would-be developers holding leases but unable to obtain the required permits until either the administration shifts its policy or there is a change in the White House. In a statement, Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, said he would continue to advocate for wind at both the state and federal level. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:16
Divers searched for missing Maine fishermen on Saturday
The family of two fishermen who went missing off the coast of Downeast Maine a week ago is hoping divers will recover the bodies of Chester Barrett and his son, Aaron Barrett, Saturday. On Wednesday night, officials located the Barretts’ fishing vessel, “Sudden Impact,” submerged in 160 feet of water near Moose Cove, between Cutler and Lubec. Commercial divers, Maine Marine Patrol officers, and volunteer fishermen were in the area Saturday afternoon to assist in the recovery efforts, according to the family. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:41
For awareness: Maine advises fishermen in Jeffreys Ledge area to use one endline
Please be advised: Maine state officials have requested fishermen with gear in this area to use one endline. See excerpts from Maine Department of Marine Resources below: “A large number of endangered North Atlantic right whales remain off the western edge of Jeffreys Ledge. As many as 90 individual right whales have been identified in this area over the past couple of weeks. The most recent information suggests the whales may be feeding within Jeffreys Basin and the largest overlap of gear and whales appears to be in depths greater than 300 feet. I am strongly urging any lobster fisherman with trap gear set in greater than 300 feet of water inside the following area of Zone G to remove gear completely or drop one endline in order to reduce the number of vertical lines being fished. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:50
Offshore wind farms could cause significant ecosystem, economic and human health risks
The materials used to protect wind turbines from corrosion leach into the surrounding water, which could pose risks to ecosystems, seafood safety and human health, new research from the University of Portsmouth has found. Offshore wind farms release thousands of tonnes of metals such as aluminium, zinc and indium each year. This is expected to grow dramatically as wind farms are set to play a major role in reducing the world’s carbon emissions. To protect turbines from rusting, corrosion-protection systems are used, which can release metals into the ocean over time. The study, published in Nature’s npj Ocean Sustainability, estimated annual inputs of metals from current European wind farms to be: 3,219 tonnes of aluminum, 1,148 tonnes of zinc, 1.9 tonnes of indium. For zinc, this already exceeds the sum of all known direct inputs and river discharges into the North Atlantic from key European countries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:33
Leonilda – Argentina’s Veraz Group welcomes new coastal trawler to fleet
Argentine shipbuilder Astillero Naval Federico Contessi Cia recently completed construction on a new coastal trawler ordered by local fishing company the Veraz Group. The newbuild has been named F/V Leonilda after the late Leonilda Novelli de Contessi, wife of company founder Federico Contessi. Construction of the vessel was completed in compliance with RINA class rules. Leonilda boasts steel/aluminum construction, a length of 20.95 metres (68.73 feet), a molded beam of 7.5 metres (25 feet), a draught of 3.3 metres (11 feet), and advanced navigation, manoeuvring and processing technologies to enable it to meet the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency. The vessel is a variant of an earlier Contessi-built shrimp trawler. Photos, Specifications, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:10
Lobsterman/Army Veteran Emerson Fobes Spurling Jr., known to all as “Tucker,” of Southwest Harbor has passed away
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Emerson Fobes Spurling Jr., known to all as “Tucker,” on January 20, 2025, at the age of 89. Born on December 7, 1935, in Ellsworth, Maine, Tucker spent much of his life on the coast of Maine, first in Manset and later in Windham. He was a hardworking man with a big heart, a quick wit, and a generosity that made everyone who met him feel like family. After his military service, Tucker returned home to Mount Desert Island, the island he loved so much. He continued to work the waters off of Southwest Harbor for decades on his lobster boats, first the wooden boat he built with the help of his father and Ralph Stanley, the Bette S. Into his seventies he decided a wooden boat was a lot to maintain, instead of retiring he bought his brother’s fiberglass boat. She was a sturdy vessel he proudly renamed after his only granddaughter the Evi Lynn and fished until his retirement at the age of 82. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:15
Increasing Jonah crab numbers a problem for lobster fishermen in parts of Nova Scotia
A burgeoning Jonah crab population is proving a challenge for some Nova Scotia lobster fishermen. Dan Fleck, executive director of the Brazil Rock 33/34 Lobster Association, says the crabs are having a significant impact on the lobster catch in certain areas, particularly in lobster fishing area 34, which stretches from Yarmouth to the Bay of Fundy. He said fishermen in some areas are reporting a drop of 20 to 25 per cent in their lobster catches. Jonah crabs are a valuable bycatch in lobster fishing area 34 and can be kept for use as bait or for sale if they measure at least 130 millimetres, Fleck said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:14
Fishing vessel pulled free from rocks, Coast Guard begins investigation
Unalaska’s U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit is investigating a fishing vessel that ran aground near Iliuliuk Bay. The F/V Northern Endurance was partially beached about three miles from downtown Unalaska, near Little Priest Rock on Thursday and was pulled free by the emergency response and salvage company Resolve Marine Friday morning around 9 a.m., according to Commanding Officer Lt. Lawrence Schalles.The City of Unalaska Fire Department initially responded to the incident Thursday afternoon, before handing operations over to the local Coast Guard team. “The on-scene commander contacted the vessel captain and confirmed there were no injuries to crew members aboard, as well as no additional hazardous conditions,” the Fire Department said in a statement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:06
Mi’kmaw chiefs reject DFO’s $260M funding offer for fisheries access
In a news release Friday, the assembly’s 13 chiefs said they were concerned the proposal was “a rebranding of previously rejected proposals” and a threat to treaty rights. “This proposal raises serious alarms,” Chief Wilbert Marshall said in the release. “DFO’s approach reminded us of earlier initiatives from the 2000s, which failed to respect and uphold our inherent rights. Our treaty right to fish is not a commercial fishery.”Chief Gerald Toney, Marshall’s co-lead of the assembly’s fisheries portfolio, said the offer from the federal government could impose constraints on treaty rights. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:35
Coast Guard rescues 4 from sinking boat after collision south of Block Island
The Coast Guard rescued four people Thursday night from a fishing boat after a collision between two fishing boats occurred approximately 10 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island. At approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound received a distress call via VHF-FM channel 16 of two fishing boats colliding. The 87-foot scalloper, F/V Vanquish, reported six people aboard, no damage and no injuries. Meanwhile, the 55-foot trawler, F/V Mattie and Maren II, reported four people aboard, flooding in the engine room and that they were unable to keep up with dewatering efforts. It was reported all crew members aboard Mattie and Maren II donned survival suits and prepared an EPIRB and life raft in case abandoning ship became necessary. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ>> 14:02
‘Harpoon Hunters’ Review: Targeting Tuna on Discovery
When a show like “Deadliest Catch” can last for 20 seasons—and even outlast a collapse in the Alaskan crab population—there is a decided hunger for something like “Harpoon Hunters,” which makes a lot of sense, especially for its producers. Humans are battling the ocean and the treasure is aquatic, but summer on Cape Cod is considerably more congenial than winter in the Bering Sea. And the contest at hand is still daunting—catching high-priced Atlantic bluefin tuna with a spear (and enough accompanying voltage to kill the fish instantly). There are rivalries, deadlines, anguish, setbacks, mangled men and mangled language. It’s a combination seafood platter. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:01
Judge denies crab buyers motion to dismiss crabbers price fixing lawsuit
A U.S. federal judge of the Northern District of California denied the motion by dozens of crab buyers to dismiss price-fixing claims. The lawsuit follows an earlier suit back in March 2023 with plaintiffs Brand Little and Robin Burns, who accused Pacific Seafood, Washington-based Bornstein Seafood, and other US West Coast Crab companies of allegedly being part of a cartel that artificially suppressed prices paid to fishermen for Dungeness Crab. According to the complaint in the lawsuit, the cartel, allegedly led by Pacific Seafood, suppressed these prices paid to crabbers in California, Oregon, and Washington since the 2015- 2016 crabbing season.Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:39
Fishing vessel runs aground near Unalaska’s landfill, no injuries reported
Unalaska’s U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit is responding to a distressed vessel near the island’s landfill. The F/V Northern Endurance ran aground near Iliuliuk Bay along Summer Bay Road sometime Thursday morning. The Unalaska Fire Department responded to the incident around noon. “The on-scene commander contacted the vessel captain and confirmed there were no injuries to crew members aboard, as well as no additional hazardous conditions,” the Fire Department said in a statement. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:25
Golden, Van Drew introduce bill to guarantee critical Gulf of Maine fishing waters are protected from offshore wind development
Congressmen Jared Golden (ME-02) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) today introduced the bipartisan Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025. The bill would prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA1), which includes nearly 14,000 square miles of nearshore fishing waters from the U.S.-Canada maritime border to the north shore of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. “Maine’s fishermen deserve to know that waters critical to our historic, high-value industry are protected — not by promises, but by federal law,” Golden said. “Protecting the bountiful natural resources of LMA1 from development will preserve our way of life, local economies and communities. President Trump’s recent Executive Order provides some measure of reprieve, but we need a more permanent solution.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:05
Researchers Are Finding Ash From Los Angeles Fires 100 Miles Out to Sea
According to UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, billowing smoke from the Palisades, Eaton, and other fires has deposited ash and debris on the ocean’s surface as much as 100 miles from the coast. The crew aboard a NOAA research vessel called the Reuben Lasker was gathering water samples when the fires began. Over the next few days, they collected samples of the ash piling up on the deck of the ship, as well as in the sea. “We’re positioning ourselves to answer the question, ‘What does this mean for West Coast fisheries and the food web that we all depend on?’” said Nicolas Concha-Saiz, NOAA Fisheries’ chief scientist. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:46
Ottawa scraps elver fishery quota redistribution plan after backlash
The federal government is no longer moving forward with its plan to redistribute the wealth of Nova Scotia’s baby eel harvest from large licence holders to individual fishers after receiving backlash from the industry. A statement from Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier’s office said the minister reached the decision after listening to feedback from stakeholders in consultations held by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) in recent weeks. A subsequent letter from the DFO in December to fishers detailing the planned redistribution said the nine commercial licensees that dominate the fishery would lose between 60 per cent and 90 per cent of their quotas, without compensation from the federal government. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:45
Big Mountain Royalty McKenna Peterson’s Double Life as a Commercial Fishing Boat Captain
McKenna Peterson has come a long way from her path as a professional ballerina in college. Since then, she’s called Utah, Seattle, Idaho, and Alaska home. She’s gained a reputation as a professional skier charging big mountain lines. She’s also Captain of the F/V Atlantis, spending her summers calling the shots on her family’s commercial fishing vessel in southeast Alaska. The best part is she does it all with an unassuming smirk on her face. I’ve seen it firsthand during a trip to Chile together. I’m a big fan of McKenna P., I’ll throw her name in the hat as one of the finest big mountain skiers to date. McKenna skis professionally for K2, Scott Sports, Xtratuf, KAVU, Ridge Merino. Let’s dig into all things McKenna in the interview below. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:30
Dive Team Confirms Identify of Fishing Vessel “Sudden Impact
South Addison – At approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday, the State Police/Marine Patrol Underwater Recovery Dive Team, assisted by local fishermen, took advantage of “slack water” and utilized a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) equipped with sonar and a camera to confirm the identity of the sunken fishing vessel “Sudden Impact.” The vessel is located in 160 feet of water near Moose Cove in eastern Washington County between the towns for Cutler and Lubec in an area of strong tidal current activity. Using the ROV, crews were able to observe what is believed to be the body of an individual on board the vessel. Recovery was not possible as of last night. Chester Barrett and his son Aaron, fishermen from South Addison, have been missing since Saturday evening when the two failed to return as expected after transiting on board the “Sudden Impact” from Edmunds to South Addison. The Maine Marine Patrol will continue to work with family members of the Barretts to determine next steps, including consultation with deep water salvage and recovery experts to determine whether a recovery effort is feasible. Maine Department of Marine Resources. 12:09
Career Commercial Fisherman Terrance Lloyd “Terry” Kilbreath of Edmonds, WA. has passed away
Terrance Lloyd Kilbreath (“Terry”), loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on January 8, 2025, with his wife Janice, by his side. Terry was born July 31, 1943, in Vancouver, Canada, and grew up in Anacortes, Washington with his parents, Irvine and Kay Kilbreath, and sister Lynn (Collson). As an 18 year old teenager, Terry started working in the summers as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. He later purchased his own commercial fishing boat and had a long and successful 50 plus year career fishing for herring and salmon in Kodiak, Prince William Sound, and Sitka, Alaska. Terry loved his profession and retired at the age of 75. His last boat, the Ayakulik, means Red River, his favorite place to fish on the west side of Kodiak Island. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:16
50 years plus boat history: Islander BA 316
Launched by Alexander Noble and Sons of Girvan as yard number 58, Islesman SY 433 was built as a trawler with a Kelvin T6 180hp for Alexander McLean of Ness on the Isle of Lewis. She was financed through the Highlands and Islands Development Board (HIDB) grant scheme and was also used for training up crews for other new builds at the time. There had been another Islesman in Stornoway, registered SY 248, which had been built by Jones of Buckie as MFV 
324 in 1945. This was converted for fishing in 1949 as Craigewan PD 416, and subsequently sold to Stornoway in 1961, when she was renamed Islesman. This was the first HIDB training boat in Lewis, skippered, I believe, by Jimmy Chisholm. That vessel was sold to Northern Ireland in 1964 and re-registered N 246. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:31
Ancich Dock project hits raw nerve: Is Gig Harbor a fishing town or yacht haven?
The dock’s future depends on the outcome of a Feb. 3 appeal before the state Shoreline Hearings Board. In the online-only proceeding, Jim Franich, a former city council member and neighbor to the project, will square off against the city, the Ancich Dock’s owner and their respective lawyers, challenging the city of Gig Harbor Hearing Examiner’s decision granting the project a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit. The flap over the Ancich Dock stirs more than the usual old vs. new development tensions locally. It touches a nerve wrapped around the city’s very identity: Is Gig Harbor a fishing village or a collection of upscale marinas? Is its iconic vessel a purse seiner or a luxury motor yacht? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:22
‘Relief’ for some, ‘dark moment’ for others: Communities react to Trump’s offshore wind order
Amid a flurry of executive actions on his first day in office, President Donald Trump sought to put the brakes on offshore wind, halting the federal permitting of wind farms and wind-energy leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf. Members of New Bedford’s scallop fleet — a lucrative fishery that has made the city the top-value fishing port in the country — welcomed Trump’s order. “We finally have been listened to, by someone in an administration,” said Eric Hansen, who owns two New Bedford scallop vessels. “We’ve been fighting wind power for quite some time, and everything seems to be fast-tracked. Now they’re going to take a pause and really look at it.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:51
John Deere unveils New Engines, Expanded HP for Workboats
With the addition of these engines, John Deere will be able to offer marine customers heavier duty cycles* and a more comprehensive power range, from 298 up to 599 kW (400 up to 803 hp). Production is anticipated to begin in 2026. “The vessels powered by our marine engines are part of hardworking, relentless commercial operations that need uncompromising power and reliability,” said Pierre Guyot, senior vice president of John Deere Power Systems. “With the JD14 and JD18 marine engines, we’re able to deliver high performance and excellent fuel efficiency while providing the rugged durability our marine engines have become known for in the industry. We’re thrilled to demonstrate our commitment to the marine industry through these new engines and to serve a new power class.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:37
Louisiana’s new seafood origin law could still shield foreign catch at restaurants, grocers
Act 148 of the 2024 regular legislative session brought sweeping changes to laws affecting restaurants and other food establishments in an effort to protect Louisiana’s struggling domestic seafood industry. However, the new law, which took effect Jan. 1, could undergo some clarification revisions when lawmakers reconvene this spring. At issue are several provisions concerning menu and labeling requirements. One provision in the new law requires any food service establishment that serves foreign crawfish or shrimp to print a disclaimer on its menu: “Some items served at this establishment may contain imported crawfish or shrimp. Ask for more information.” If the establishment does not use a menu, it must print the disclaimer on a sign at the entrance of the establishment. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:05
David L. Lunt of Frenchboro, Maine, has passed away
David L. Lunt, a lobsterman, entrepreneur, patriarch, optimist, and lover of the open road who emerged from humble beginnings to become an iconic coastal figure and powerful voice for Frenchboro, the remote island fishing village where generations of his family worked the sea, has died. He was 86. David was born on an island mired in post-Depression poverty that lacked basic conveniences such as running water, electric lights, and telephones, but worked steadily to pull the community into the modern era, while also pushing forward-thinking programs to keep it alive. He took a lead role in nearly every island decision for roughly six decades, working by gut instinct in a quiet, confident manner-he never flashed anger or frustration. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:47
Federal government pitches $260M plan to increase First Nation fishing access
A nearly $260-million initiative by the federal government aimed at expanding fisheries access to First Nation communities is being met with questions from Mi’kmaw and non-Indigenous representatives alike. The three-year project by Fisheries and Oceans Canada was included in last month’s fall economic statement under the heading of Indigenous reconciliation. The aim is to “further implement the right of 34 [Mi’kmaw] and Wolastoqey Nations and the Peskotomuhkati Nation at Skutik to fish in pursuit of a moderate livelihood under the 1760-61 Peace and Friendship Treaties, as upheld in the Marshall decisions,” according to a statement from DFO spokesperson Axel Rioux. “Funding can be used towards the purchase of access, vessels and gear, and to support development and testing of governance and management structures, as well as participation in discussions with DFO at fisheries negotiation tables, with the aim of reaching long-term collaborative management agreements.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:32
Trump keeps ‘Day One’ promise to squash offshore wind projects
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Inauguration Day calling for the suspension of all offshore wind leases in federal waters of the Outer Continental Shelf for an indefinite period. The withdrawal reiterates Trump’s mantra, “Drill, baby, drill,” for oil and gas and demonstrates his preference for using fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, to address what he called the country’s national energy emergency. In the executive order, Trump cites demand for reliable energy, marine life, the fishing industry and costs for Americans as the reasons to temporarily withdraw energy leases, effective Jan. 21 and until he revokes the order. It also states there shall be no new offshore wind energy leases or renewals. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:54
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 50′ Steel Scalloper/Longliner, 500HP Iveco C13 Diesel
To review specifications, information, with 17 photos’, >click here<. To see all the boats in this series >click here< 06:30
NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte joins Maine in rejecting new lobster regulations to protect industry
New Hampshire has joined Maine in rejecting new regulations that would increase the minimum length of catchable lobster this summer. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte sent a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that oversees lobster caught by New Hampshire and Maine fishermen, stating New Hampshire would not comply with the guidelines set to go into effect July 1. The new regulation requires an increase in the size of the gauge used by fishermen to measure lobster length, determining whether they can be caught or must be released. Lobstermen measure the size of a lobster by gauging its carapace (shell) from the eye socket to the tail. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:36
