In a pair of rapid-fire announcements, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities said Monday it was ending the state’s fourth round of solicitation for new offshore wind projects without choosing any additional ones. The board said three projects had submitted bids, but two of them withdrew already. That left only Atlantic Shores, which was stung last week by the withdrawal of Shell as one of its two partners. The state’s second announcement was that it would look for uses other than offshore wind for the New Jersey Wind Port, a government-funded facility in Hancocks Bridge in Salem County. The project’s website says Gov. Phil Murphy “has committed over $637 million towards the NJWP, representing the largest single investment in offshore wind by any state.” Taken together, the announcements represent a body blow to an industry that was already reeling from project cancellations, delays and, most significantly, a move by President Donald Trump to halt all new wind energy projects and look for ways to kill existing ones. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:38
Daily Archives: February 4, 2025

Maine and NH lobstermen celebrate reversal of lobster catch size limits
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have walked back new regulations that New Hampshire and Maine lobstermen said would have dire economic consequences to their industry. The commission voted Tuesday to repeal key elements of a proposed increase to minimum allowable catch sizes for Gulf of Maine lobster. The announcement comes after officials in Maine and New Hampshire, which together account for most of U.S. lobster landings, announced they would not cooperate with the proposal. “New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) thanks the commission for heeding the voice of lobstermen,” said NEFSA COO and fourth-generation lobsterman Dustin Delano. “Raising catch sizes at this time would bankrupt many lobstermen and surrender the U.S. market to foreign competitors. NEFSA is grateful that the commission has chosen to support our historic trade, which contributes billions to New England’s economy and shapes the character of the region.” links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:11
Fishery in jeopardy: Trump tariff threat putting NL fishing season at risk
The threat of looming American tariffs on Canadian exports doesn’t just have the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry concerned about bottom lines. There’s a worry if there can be a fishery at all. Often sides that are at odds with one another on many matters, both the association representing the province’s seafood processing companies and the union representing the province’s fish harvesters and plant workers held a joint news conference in St. John’s on Monday, Feb. 3, to discuss the situation the fishery finds itself with 25 per cent tariffs expected to be imposed on Canadian exports into the United States. A last-minute negotiation between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Donald Trump on Feb. 3 delayed the tariff threat for 30 days. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:03
Starmer’s six key goals in Brexit ‘reset’ – and what the EU could demand in return
Sir Keir Starmer became the first British leader since Brexit to attend an EU summit in Brussels on Monday night, where he pressed the case for a “reset” in relations over a dinner of celeriac soup and fish. While the Prime Minister focused on what has been described as the “low hanging fruit” of greater defence co-operation, the UK has a series of key demands that it wants to extract from the EU. However, the European bloc will be seeking concessions too. So what is it that the UK wants from the EU, and what does the bloc want in return? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:31
Lobster dealer accused of intimidation arrested on extortion, threats charges
A 65-year-old lobster dealer accused of threatening and intimidating multiple people in the fishery in southwest Nova Scotia has been arrested again and faces fresh charges related to a $10,000 extortion case. RCMP Sgt. Jeff LeBlanc said in an interview that Eric David Thibault is allegedly part of an organized crime family operating in the area that is trying to exploit the lucrative lobster industry, and he allegedly organized two people to threaten and extort the victim, a former fisherman, last Thursday. There’s been increasing concern in recent years over arsons, threats and intimidation in the area, at least some of it tied to the lobster fishery. LeBlanc said the RCMP have worked hard to encourage people to come forward. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:28
Shrimp tested at NOLA restaurants: “The most blatant examples of inauthenticity”
The shrimp testers are back in Louisiana, testing the authenticity of seafood at New Orleans restaurants ahead of the Super Bowl. New Orleans restaurants claiming to sell ‘Gulf’ shrimp were tested for authenticity, with about 1 out of 8 restaurants passing off imported shrimp as locally caught. SeaD Consulting tested shrimp at 24 restaurants and found that 3 of them were serving imported shrimp. Dave Williams, Founder of SeaD Consulting, said this is a very high level of authenticity compared to other places. “The restaurants that were inauthentic were inauthentic in a very egregious manner,” Dave said. “They were using lots and lots of imagery, wording and bold statements that they’re serving Gulf shrimp, and they weren’t. The offenders were really, really bad.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:58