Daily Archives: March 19, 2025
Rep from American Samoa calls for opening protected Pacific waters to tuna fishing
U.S. Congresswoman Amata Radewagen, who represents American Samoa, has urged the Trump administration to reopen most of an enormous marine protected area in the Central Pacific Ocean to industrial fishing while also recommending the reopening of other Pacific MPAs. In a Jan. 23 letter to President Donald Trump, Radewagen called for his administration to open the vast majority of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (PIH) to commercial tuna fishing. PIH, which is larger than the U.S. state of Texas, is an area of exceptional biodiversity. Radewagen’s letter called reopening it an “immediate need” that would benefit the country’s economy and challenge “Chinese fishing dominance.” She also sent Trump a background document that, among other requests, called for an executive order to open all Pacific marine national monuments and national marine sanctuaries to tuna fishing and to withdraw the U.S. from efforts to develop large marine protected areas in international waters. Map, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:40
N.S. chief tells DFO it has no authority over Mi’kmaq, will pursue own elver fishery
Millbrook First Nation has informed Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) the Mi’kmaq are entitled to the entire elver fishery should they choose to pursue it, rather than the 50 per cent on offer from the federal government. In a March 5 letter to elver review director Jennifer Ford, Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade elaborates to say federal fisheries officers have no authority over its membership, that as the stock of juvenile American eels is healthy, they won’t accept any federal government limitations on what they catch, and the Mi’kmaq traditional territory extends to all Nova Scotia rivers. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:22
Harvesters Applaud Long-Overdue Changes to Northern Shrimp Assessment; New Model Moves Species into Healthy Zone
FFAW-Unifor welcomes the updated Northern Shrimp assessment model, which officially shifts the species into the healthy zone under revised stock areas, assessment model and reference points. FFAW scientist Dr. Erin Carruthers participated in the assessment process, along with shrimp harvesters Chris Rose and Heather Starkes, who praised the innovative and collaborative approach to align the assessment process with ecosystem realities. “This is a long overdue recognition of the ecological realities in Newfoundland and Labrador marine ecosystems. We appreciate the considerable efforts to solve this long-standing issue and the commitment of shrimp harvesters and Dr. Erin Carruthers, to see this effort through to the end,” says FFAW-Unifor President Dwan Street, adding that, “the next step, of course, is to ensure inshore fleets’ access and allocations reflect the change in stock status.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:29
Trump EPA saves the whales (and consumers) by nixing NJ offshore wind farm
Offshore wind farms are one of the biggest threats to the critically endangered Atlantic Right Whale. They are also a threat to the livlihood of commercial fishermen and to coastal tourism. Offshore wind turbines are one of the most expensive ways to make electricity and raise electric rates substantially to consumers. Making electricity with offshore wind turbines is generally four times as expensive as conventional sources. Thus, there were many groups cheering when the Trump EPA blocked the permit for New Jersey’s massive Atlantic Shores planned offshore wind farm. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:25
Good Samaritan Vessel Rescues 19 Fishermen After Vessel Fire off Chile
19 fishermen have been rescued from a raft in the South Pacific after their vessel caught fire and sank. The Galician longliner F/V Pico Tresmares got under way from Vacamonte, Chile on February 23, bound for sea. On the morning of March 17, the vessel sustained an engine room fire at a position about 1,000 miles off the coast of La Serena, Chile. A nearby fishing vessel, the F/V Playa Muino Vello, reported the fire to shipowner Pesquera Guadalquivir. The alert was passed to Spanish SAR authorities in Madrid. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:12
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 38′ Calvin Beal Lobster Boat, 476HP Cat C9 Diesel
To review specifications, information, with 14 photos, >click here<. To see all the boats in this series >click here< 05:53
American Lobster Board Approves for Public Comment Draft Addendum XXXII to Repeal Gauge and Escape Vent Measures of Addendum XXVII
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