Daily Archives: March 20, 2025
‘Bewildered’ experts not on board for changes to fisheries management
The government’s proposed changes to New Zealand’s fisheries management mark the most substantial reforms in decades and have sparked debate over environmental oversight and public transparency. LegaSea, a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting and restoring the marine environment, is among those rocking the boat to halt the changes. “We are going back to the 80s, it’s neo-liberal behaviour, and if we are not careful, we will kill the goose that lays the golden egg.” The government proposed the changes last month, saying they want to streamline regulations, improve data collection, and enhance sustainability while protecting fishers’ privacy. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:20
Fishermen want to go green but say DOGE cuts prevent that
Commercial fishermen and seafood processors and distributors looking to switch to new, lower-carbon emission systems say the federal funding they relied on for this work is either frozen or unavailable due to significant budget cuts promoted by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency. The changes are designed to replace old diesel-burning engines and outdated at-sea cooling systems and are touted by environmentalists as a way to reduce seafood’s carbon footprint. Salmon harvesters in Washington state, scallop distributors in Maine and halibut fishermen in Alaska are among those who told The Associated Press their federal commitments for projects like new boat engines and refrigeration systems have been rescinded or are under review. Photos, video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:51
Vessel Review – Janneke – Versatile beamer/twin-rigger delivered to Dutch owner
Urk, Netherlands-based Werft Shipbuilding recently delivered a new trawler to local fisherman and skipper Jelle Hakvoort. Named Janneke after Hakvoort’s daughter, the Bureau Veritas-classed newbuild was designed by Dutch naval architecture firm Marimecs as a multi-functional vessel. The summer months will see it using twin-rig gear whereas beam gear will be employed during winter. Targeted species include squid, scallops, sole, langoustine, plaice, and turbot. Janneke has been registered to Belgium and will be operated out of Zeebrugge. This is because the owner believes that operating under the Belgian flag ensures that the vessel has access to a greater number of fishing grounds in areas such as the North Sea, the English Channel, the Irish Sea, and the Bay of Biscay. Photos, Specifications, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:028
Feds & NJ Rushed Offshore Wind – Now It’s Falling Apart! Court Ruling Highlights Oversight Deficiencies!
After nine months of covering offshore wind energy developments along the Jersey Coast, three glaring issues have emerged over that time—each fueling opposition to the federal and state-backed offshore wind plan: lack of due diligence, rushed approvals, and the bigger is better mentality. Governor Murphy encapsulated this ambition, declaring, “Welcome to NJ, the Nation’s Center of Offshore Wind.” But with mounting setbacks—including a recent court ruling revoking a critical permit—the cracks in this fast-tracked initiative are becoming impossible to ignore. The future of offshore wind development in New Jersey has been dealt yet another significant blow following a recent ruling from the Environmental Appeals Board. On March 14, the board decided to revoke the Clean Air Act permit for the Atlantic Shores wind turbine project, a move that U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) described as “another nail in the coffin” for the initiative. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:15
Big day for little shrimp: NL fish union hopes positive update on northern shrimp stock status translates into good news for fishery
The latest stock assessment for northern shrimp, which used a revised approach to project the health of the species off the Newfoundland and Labrador coast, is being welcomed by the union that represents the provinces inshore harvesters and plant workers. In a technical briefing on Wednesday, March 19, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) officially projected northern shrimp will be in the healthy zone, in accordance to the department’s precautionary approach to species management. For the latest assessment, DFO combined six fishing areas all along the eastern coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador, collapsing them into two stock assessment regions divided by the boundary between Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 2H and 2J. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:12
