Daily Archives: February 27, 2025
A long time coming; Fish plant in Arnold’s Cove processes the first NL-caught northern cod since 1992 moratorium
There was no shortage of excitement at the fish plant in Arnold’s Cove on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, as the Icewater Seafoods processed its first offshore northern cod caught by Newfoundland and Labrador’s fleet since 1992. That was the year the commercial offshore fishery for northern cod came to a grinding halt under the moratorium imposed by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). On Thursday, Capt. Peter Melvin and his 29-person crew from the Katsheshuk II, one of Ocean Choice International’s two offshore groundfish vessels, landed offshore Northern cod for the first time at the Icewater Seafoods plant. The crew was proud to be the first and we were encouraged by what we saw. The catch rates were good, we had clean catch with little to no bycatch and the fish were healthy. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:45
Clearwater Seafood selling N.S. lobster facility, announces temporary layoffs
Clearwater Seafoods is making big changes to its inshore lobster business and is temporarily laying off workers at its Arichat, N.S. processing facility. Employees were informed Wednesday that the layoffs were effective the same day, and that it was anticipated they would be recalled back to work by a new owner around the first week of May. “We are currently in late-stage negotiations to sell our Arichat live lobster holding facility to an experienced local operator, and we will no longer operate the seasonal lobster processing line at our Lockeport facility,” wrote Christine Penney, vice-president of sustainability and public affairs. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:53
Offshore Wind: Fish Problems Near Underwater Cables for Power Transmission from Blades to Land
“Electromagnetic fields and heat from cables”, these are the two main problems of the energy transmission system from wind turbines positioned at sea to land, highlighted by a recent report by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, BOEM on offshore wind projects in New York Bay. In the vicinity of the cables, problems of fish behavior due to electromagnetic fields were highlighted, which were resolved once they moved away from the cables. Here’s what they write: “Previous studies have shown that EMF strength decreases rapidly with distance. Copping et al. (2016) reported that although burrowing fauna may be exposed to stronger EMF from offshore wind operations, there was no evidence that the projected EMF emitted by such devices would affect any species. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<11:24
Chiefs granted intervenor status in border-crossing lobster case
An Indigenous nation has been granted intervenor status in a case involving a U.S.-based lobster fisher accused of illegally fishing in Passamaquoddy Bay. Erik D. Francis, 55, of Perry, Maine, faces charges under the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act alleging that he illegally fished from a foreign vessel in New Brunswick waters. According to court documents, he was stopped on Nov. 15, 2022, off the coast of Deer Island by fisheries officials, who seized 36 lobster traps owned by Francis. Francis, who is self-represented, has claimed Indigenous fishing rights as a part of the Peskotomuhkati (Passamaquoddy) Nation, which has two communities in Maine including Sipayik (Pleasant Point), where Francis lives, and the community known as Skutik in Charlotte County. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:58
Washington man arrested for stealing $8M fishing boat with crew still on board, officials say
A 42-year-old man from Aberdeen, Wash. is being held on $250,000 bail, after he allegedly stole an 80-foot, $8 million commercial fishing boat out of Westport on Feb. 8 with the crew still on board. Suspect Joshua Stedman boarded the Jamie Marie around 9 a.m. and temporarily convinced the crew that he was the boat’s new captain, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police said. “A subject had boarded the vessel, woke the crew and advised them they needed to get underway,” the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police wrote on social media. “The newer crew did not know the captain, but didn’t argue, thinking he was an alternate operator, or someone sent by the real captain. He surely acted the part as he knew how to start and operate the large vessel.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:58
Grounded fishing boat removed from Salmon Creek beach after nearly a decade
In the nine years since the F/V Verna A II ran ashore south of Salmon Creek on the Sonoma Coast, the beached vessel has become part of the landscape, its decaying hull disappearing and reemerging out from the sand and surf. On Tuesday, however, three excavators fought 16-foot surf to finally drag what was left of the rusted fishing boat out of the sand once and for all. The effort, spearheaded by California State Parks, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the Greater Farrallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, was finally made possible with funding from the Biden-era Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:12
