Daily Archives: January 20, 2025

Quin-Sea takes a flamethrower to the ASP as it departs fisheries group

A dispute that’s smoldered for weeks in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry has erupted into an inferno, with Quin-Sea Fisheries dropping a metaphorical hand grenade as it cuts ties with the trade association that represents most seafood producers in the province. In a strongly worded news release issued Monday morning, the St. John’s-based company said it was withdrawing from the Association of Seafood Producers, saying it could no longer tolerate the ASP’s “internal strong-arming and mistreatment” of members. The decision comes after many months of strained relations between Quin-Sea and the ASP and is more fallout from a contentious period in the fishery dating back to last winter, when harvesters protested in a bid to bring more free enterprise to the industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:38

President Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened to reshape American institutions

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President Monday, promising a “revolution of common sense” and taking charge as Republicans assume unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions. He pledged to “completely and totally reverse” the actions of his predecessor. Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will act swiftly after the ceremony, with executive orders already prepared for his signature to clamp down on border crossings, increase fossil fuel development and end diversity and inclusion programs across the federal government. Declaring that government faces a “crisis of trust,” Trump said in his inaugural address that under his administration “our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced.” Video, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:14

Wild-caught prawn trawling is changing to reduce its environmental impact

Therese Murphy and her family are proud of their part in improving the environmental reputation of Australia’s prawn trawling industry. Australian Ocean King Prawn’s 11 trawlers work a sandy seabed where there is no reef or seagrass, 120 kilometers off the coast of Gladstone. Compulsory satellite tracking and turtle excluder devices, which allow turtles, sharks and rays to safely escape, are standard equipment on every boat. The Urangan-based business independently adopted the additional environmental measure of installing electronic monitoring cameras, including lenses pointed at the ocean floor. In 2023, the Murphy’s made history by becoming Queensland’s first state-managed fishery to earn accreditation from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC ), an international non-profit association aiming to set standards for sustainable fishing and end overfishing. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:12

Brexit fishing row heads for trade court showdown

The humble sandeel is set to take centre stage in the first courtroom trade battle between the UK and EU since Brexit. The UK has banned European vessels from catching the silvery fish species in its North Sea waters to protect marine wildlife that depend on it for food. But the EU is challenging the move, arguing it discriminates against Danish vessels that fish sandeel commercially, breaching the post-Brexit trade deal. The dispute is now heading for a three-day trade tribunal hearing, after formal talks to resolve the wrangle failed. Without a last-minute compromise, it will mark the first time the two sides have gone to arbitration under the 2021 trade agreement agreed by Boris Johnson. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:33

Officials suspend search for two fishermen who went missing in Downeast Maine

The U.S. Coast Guard has officially suspended the search for two commercial fishermen who were reported missing after they did not return to port on Saturday night. Chester Barret and his son Aaron Barrett were on board their fishing vessel F/V Sudden Impact. They planned to travel from Edmunds to South Addition. The 34-foot scallop vessel left Cobscook Bay State Park around 5 a.m. Saturday. After encountering rough conditions, they planned to seek refuge in Cutler but became unreachable, according to authorities. On Sunday night at 6 p.m. the search was called off. The Coast Guard said they searched for more than 42 hours combined and 950 square miles of ocean and coastline with the help of Marine Patrol and other agencies. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:10