Monthly Archives: April 2025
New Bedford Fishing Industry Could Benefit From Trump Order
Before the environmentalists and fearmongers in the press get their oil skins, jumpers and mesh undies in a bind over President Donald Trump’s executive order concerning the fishing industry, they need to catch their collective breath and slowly exhale. First of all, read the damn thing! The Associated Press says, “The order represents a dramatic shift in federal policy on fishing in U.S. waters by prioritizing commercial fishing interests over efforts to allow the fish supply to increase.” That is fake news. The executive order calls for the Secretary of Commerce to immediately consider suspending, revising, or rescinding regulations that overburden America’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:34
Something fishy? Harvesters’ union raises concern over discrepancy between prices for NL and Gulf snow crab
The union representing fish harvesters and plant workers in Newfoundland and Labrador is raising an alarm bell over early reports of the price of snow crab in the marketplace. In a Wednesday, April 23, press release, FFAW-Unifor drew attention to the first Urner Barry quote for the 2025 production of Newfoundland and Labrador snow crab. It has recorded five- to eight-ounce sections at $11.05 per pound — $2.07 below the quote of $13.12 for Gulf crab landed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence fishery. That, according to the union, is a far cry from the usual price spread seen in previous years. Larger-sized crab from Newfoundland and Labrador had yet to be quoted as of Wednesday. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:41
Trump Fisheries Order May Be A First Step Toward Global Reforms
The American fisheries sector is the beneficiary of an April 17 Trump executive order. The order’s implementation could result in reduced regulatory burdens and a procompetitive, economically efficient expansions of U.S. fisheries output. It might also inspire U.S. consideration of additional efforts to improve global fisheries management. Overregulation is a serious problem afflicting U.S. fisheries. While federal regulations are designed to promote sustainable fishing and protect marine ecosystems, some badly designed rules impose economic harm on fishermen and communities that rely on fishing. These regulatory design flaws can generate excessive costs and job losses in the American fishing industry. In sum, the Fisheries Order may prove to be a catalyst not just for strengthening the U.S. fisheries sector, but also for market-oriented changes that improve global fisheries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:30
‘Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s’ to be honoured at ECMA gala
Newfoundland and Labrador beloved and tear-inducing folk song, “Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s” will be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at the 37th East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) Gala taking place in St. John’s on Thursday, May 8, 2025. An ECMA news release notes the deeply emotional ballad was written by Otto Kelland in 1947. “It’s heart-warming that this song and his works still mean something to people today,” says Kelland’s daughter Jocelyn Kelland, who will be present for the induction ceremony at the Mary Brown’s Centre. Otto Kelland was inspired to write the lyrics to the song after meeting a young fisherman on the waterfront. The desperately homesick fisherman related that he had been working off the coast of Boston, but he would rather fish in his own dory off St. Mary’s, and eat only one meal a day rather than have three meals a day in a big city. more, CLICK TO READ<< 07:26
Richard L. “Dickie” Norton Sr. of Harrington Maine has passed away
Richard L. “Dickie” Norton Sr., 84, passed away peacefully at his home on April 9, 2025. Born on Sept. 19, 1940, in Harrington, Maine, he was the son of Woodrow and Helen (Robbins) Norton. Dickie met the love of his life, RoseMarie Polk, during their school years. A hardworking lobsterman, Dickie spent most of his life on the water or close to it. His early years found him driving trucks — hauling bait in the warmer months and plowing snow in the winter. When his father handed down Norton’s Clam Shop, Dickie ran it for many years with pride and dedication. After the shop closed, he continued lobstering in The Pleasant River in front of his home, always saying, “The lobsters are plenty and taste better right here.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:35
NEYFA Launches Fourth Annual Deckhand to Captain Training Program
The New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance (NEYFA) is proud to launch its fourth annual Deckhand to Captain Training Program, beginning April 16, 2025. Each spring, NEYFA brings together a select cohort of aspiring small-boat fishermen and women from New Hampshire, southern Maine, and northern Massachusetts. This year, six young candidates have been accepted into the free program after a thorough application review by our Board earlier this month. These individuals displayed the commitment and grit needed to start their journey towards becoming an owner-operator in New England’s small-boat commercial fishing fleet. Founded in 2022 by Executive Director Andrea Tomlinson, NEYFA is a Portsmouth, NH-based nonprofit with a mission to safeguard the future of the region’s fishing heritage. Through programming like Deckhand to Captain (DTC), NEYFA supports the next generation of fishermen with tools for success, on the water and on land. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:55
P.E.I. lobster fishers prepare for opening day April 25, 2025
Alberton lobster fisherman Kyle Fraser holds his granddaughter, Ella, aboard his boat, the Northport Ladies.
After more than five decades on the water, Eric Gavin of O’Leary will watch the lobster boats from the harbour on setting day. Gavin said his physician told him two years ago that after three heart attacks in eight years it might be time to hang up the gear – so he did. This year, setting day is April 25 for the spring season. Kyle Fraser, who fishes out of Alberton, said it is hard to predict what kind of season P.E.I. lobster fishers are going to have. “That’s the beauty of being a lobster fisherman,” Fraser said when asked about his predictions. “The price last year was around $7 (a pound). It will probably be more this year but then you have the Chinese tariffs on, where a lot of our live product goes. I don’t seem to have a definite answer on anything (right now).” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:48
Commercial Fisherman Dana Blanchard Rice., of Birch Harbor, Maine, has passed away
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dana Blanchard Rice Sr., 77, of Birch Harbor, Maine, who passed away peacefully in Bangor on April 9, 2025, surrounded by his family. Dana was born May 26, 1947, in Bar Harbor, Maine. The fisherman was raised by his grandparents in the shingled house his great-great-grandfather built in Birch Harbor. He always considered himself fortunate to have been raised by his grandparents, absorbing the values of an earlier generation. It is those values that he always credited for making him the man he was. Coming from a long line of fishermen, Dana started in the industry at age 3 or 4 by helping to tend a herring weir at Jonesport. It was there that he fell in love with the sardine boats and the fishery, one that lasted a lifetime. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:14
Fishing industry says Trump’s Pacific monument order is about fairness, economy
When President Donald Trump signed an executive order allowing commercial fishing in the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument last week, a familiar face stood to his left in the Oval Office. The executive director of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council was there. Kitty Simonds has served on the council for decades. She’s the first Native Hawaiian woman to lead the agency. Simonds said she attended at the invitation of American Samoa U.S. House Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, who had been writing to the administration about the plight of the territory’s fishing industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:02
New rules designed to give lobster boats a break, helping whales while reducing closures
Prince Edward Island lobster fishers are hoping new rules from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will mean fewer harvesting days lost to closures when endangered right whales come into Island waters. “The first change is the addition of a 5- and 15-fathom line,” said Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist who works with the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, talking about the distance around a whale sighting where protective measures will be imposed. “We’ve always had a 10- and 20-fathom line, but this year the DFO has included a five- and 15-fathom line as well.” “If a whale comes inside the 20-fathom line, then the grids will only close to the next fathom line, which used to be 10, but now it’s 15. So it gives a little bit more space for harvesters to move their gear if need be.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:15
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 42′ Novi Lobster Boat, 300 HP John Deere 6076 Diesel
To review specifications, information, with 17 photos, >click here<. To see all the boats in this series >click here<. 06:15
Little Lady Readies for Next Chapter
Little Lady, the last one-man, wooden western-rig dragger in New England that has been a fixture in Menemsha for three generations, is preparing for a new voyage: this time in education and historic preservation. The Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust is working with Capt. Dennis Jason to buy and rebuild the iconic fishing vessel. The nonprofit trust, formed in 2011 to safeguard the Island’s fishing heritage, hopes to raise $2 million to pay for repairs amid plans to use the Little Lady for living historical and educational programs, including fishing. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:32
Alaska’s fishing industry sounds alarm over proposed NOAA cuts
The commercial fishing industry relies on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for everything from marine weather forecasts to fisheries data. But NOAA, which lost hundreds of employees in February when the Trump administration fired probationary staff, is in the administration’s crosshairs again, according to a preliminary budget proposal from the White House Office of Management and Budget. The budget calls for slashing NOAA’s funding by more than 27% for fiscal year 2026. It also restructures the agency’s fisheries division, shifting key responsibilities to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Frank Kelty, a fisheries consultant and former Unalaska mayor, said big changes like these could have major consequences for commercial fishing in Alaska. “What are we going to do if we don’t have weather information?” he asked. “People are going to go out and get sunk.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:36
Fishing representatives brand fish-for-arms EU deal ‘absolutely ludicrous’
Fishing representatives have reacted with alarm to unconfirmed reports that the UK government is wagering access to British waters for an arms deal with the EU. After months of unease, reports first emerged over the weekend that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was closing in on access to a €150 billion EU defence fund — in return, at least in part, for a more generous, multi-year access arrangement for European fishermen. “If true, it is ludicrous that the UK government has caved in to French demands,” said Elspeth MacDonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishing Federation. “Absolutely ludicrous indeed,” said the Shetland Fishermen’s Association. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:44
Will offshore wind ever come to the Great Lakes?
Wind turbines in the Great Lakes have the potential to produce huge amounts of clean energy in one of the most populated regions in North America. But offshore wind has been banned by a moratorium in Ontario since 2011 and faces headwinds in the U.S. Still, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance thinks it’s time to reconsider, arguing offshore wind could end the province’s reliance on natural gas imports from the U.S. for its gas-powered generators at a time when the U.S. threatens Canada with punishing tariffs and talk of annexation. “Given that we’re in a sovereignty crisis and affordability crisis and a climate crisis,” said Jack Gibbons, the group’s chair, “this is a solution that can address all three of those crises and we should just be moving forward as quickly as possible.” Videos, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:20
‘I’m happy it’s back on:’ Scallop fishing resumes along Northern Gulf of Maine
Scallop fishing is back after a brief pause. On April 11, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration paused scallop fishing along the Northern Gulf of Maine because regulators had not finalized catch limits for fishermen. The Northern Gulf of Maine regional area runs from Boston all the way to the Canadian border. The pause ended on Monday morning after the annual quota was decided at around 675,000 pounds. Togue Brawn, owner of Down East Day Boat, says these regulations are critical in preventing overharvesting. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:45
Southern California fishing boat captain ordered to pay more than $16,000 for polluting local waters
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced Monday that a local fishing boat captain has been fined for illegally dumping toxic waste into the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast. William Porter McHenry, who owns and operates McHenry Fisheries, Inc., allowed waste known as “stick water” to be dumped in the ocean, according to a VCDA release. The vessel run by McHenry Fisheries, the 67-foot Sea Pearl, was observed by authorities heading out to sea while releasing stick water and then returning on Dec. 6, 2024. Stick water is created during the squid fishing process, Ventura County officials said, explaining that squid are caught with nets and placed in the boat’s fish hold, which is filled with saltwater. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:27
Many Maine fishermen applaud Trump order calling for deregulation
Many Maine fishermen are applauding a new executive order from President Trump, which calls on the federal government to identify and roll back regulations that are overly burdensome to the commercial fishing industry. The order signals that the Trump administration wants to listen to commercial harvesters and involve them in decision-making and research, said Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association. Jerry Leeman, CEO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, described the order as a “long time coming.” Many of his members have long questioned the data that federal fisheries regulators use to conduct stock assessments and set stock limits. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:07
Biden green energy project halted by Trump admin relied on rushed, bad science, study finds
A $5 billion green energy project touted by the Biden administration and Democrats was rushed and relied on faulty science that could have resulted in severe negative environmental impacts, a new study found. The Empire Wind Project, which was being developed by energy company “Equinor” and was slated to see the construction of 147 ocean wind turbines off the coasts of New York and New Jersey, was halted by the Trump Department of the Interior in a move announced this week. The project was estimated to cost a total of $5 billion and was being developed under contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:27
Louisiana’s Troy Carter and Clay Higgins want to let the FDA destroy more imported seafood
Though they barely agree on anything politically, Democratic Rep. Troy Carter, of New Orleans, and Republican Rep. Clay Higgins, of Lafayette, came together in an attempt to heighten the regulatory wall protecting Louisiana’s seafood industry from foreign imports. They introduced legislation Wednesday that gives the federal Food & Drug Administration additional powers to impound and destroy imported seafood found contaminated, adulterated or misbranded. “This bill protects consumers from potential health risks and upholds the integrity of our food supply chain, while supporting Louisiana fishermen and seafood processors,” Carter said. “By granting the FDA the necessary authority to destroy food products that fail to meet our strict health and safety standards, we are closing a dangerous loophole that has allowed contaminated seafood to enter our markets.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:45
Pope Francis passes away at 88
The Vatican press office announced that Pope Francis, a popular advocate for Catholic tolerance and regarded as one of the most relevant Argentine figures in world history, passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Francis had been hospitalized for 38 days with a severe respiratory tract infection at the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on February 14. Since then, he had suffered an asthma crisis as well as kidney failure, according to the Vatican. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. (Rome time), according to a press release from the Vatican. The first Jesuit pope born outside of Europe, Bergoglio became Francis on March 13, 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation on February 28, 2013. The former Archbishop of Buenos Aires quickly became a popular figure worldwide for his reformist approach to some of the Catholic Church’s most conservative aspects. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:45
Local fishing community happy with Trump’s order to open Pacific monument
The move brought a wave of mixed reactions. For local fishing communities like American Samoa, their economy depends on it. “I know that America Samoa was working really hard to ensure they had access to different monument areas so that their fishery was still sustainable and still survives because it supports a huge portion of their economy. So, I know that they’re really happy about this,” said Guam Department of Agriculture Director Chelsa Muna. But it’s good news for Manny Duenas, Fisherman Co-Op President, who says local fishing communities in the Pacific often pay the price of over regulation. “I’m really happy that President Trump is finally listening to the people of the Pacific. And hopefully someday Guam, instead of importing over 95 percent of the fish we have out in our ocean, we can go back and be self-sustaining and catch our own fish that we are buying from foreign countries that are not following any rules. To me, that’s a better program to strive for to better protect our reefs from over exploitation,” said Duenas. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:48
Human Condition: The waterside village that withstood it all … until Katrina
Not too very long ago, before the storm of a lifetime, there was a quaint section of town just beyond the levee, curiously known as Bucktown. It was a unique village within a city, the kind of neighborhood so characteristic of New Orleans. It was a veritable gumbo of vibrant people and places. Shrimp boats and oyster luggers lined the canal. The docks were strewn with all manner of fishing gear — trawl nets and otter boards, crab traps, wooden crates and hampers, ropes and cables, all the fixtures of a fishing village. Ramshackle shanties built on stilts and clapboard houses with tin roofs fronted the thoroughfare. To one degree or another, these buildings had weathered all previous tropical storms and hurricanes. Like the timeliness of the people living and working there despite adversity, they were still standing, at least until Katrina. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:33
Gulf of Maine scallop fishery set to reopen Monday
A federal agency has passed the ruling needed to reopen federal scallop fishing in the Gulf of Maine, just under a week after it was forced to close because of delays in finalizing annual catch limits. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Friday afternoon that fishermen will be allowed to resume scalloping on Monday through the remainder of the season — which ends once a certain amount is caught. NOAA temporarily closed the regional fishery on April 12, the first midseason closure since regulations were put in place 16 years ago. It impacted those who fish for scallops in federal waters, 3 miles offshore in the northern Gulf of Maine region. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:59
Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry Celebrates the Beginning of the 2025 Fishing Season with Blessing of the Fleet
As Louisiana’s menhaden fishing industry prepares for the 2025 season, beginning Monday, April 21, fishermen, their families, and local communities are gathering for the annual Blessing of the Fleet. This year’s event, being held on Easter Sunday, blends faith, family, and a deep connection to the sea as generations of fishing families come together to honor their way of life and seek protection for the season ahead. For decades, the Blessing of the Fleet has been a solemn moment of unity, with industry workers and their families, local leaders and clergy coming together to pray for a safe and successful fishing season. From Plaquemines to Vermilion, menhaden steamers will be adorned with flags and fresh paint, as captains and crews bow their heads in prayer – continuing a tradition that has safeguarded fishermen for over a century. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:56
Trump administration moves to de-regulate Gulf of Maine fisheries, leading to controversy
The Trump administration is currently making plans to deregulate fisheries across the nation, leading to mixed reactions in the pine tree state. The President believes deregulation will boost production of lobster and seafood in the Gulf of Maine, adding that only 20% of the seafood we eat comes from US fisheries. This decision was also spurred on by Maine Representative Jared Golden, who wrote a letter to Trump regarding the issue. “Without your intervention, projections indicate that many commercial fishing operations in New England will become economically unviable within the next 30 years,” Golden said. “This would lead to the collapse of a historic food production industry, the loss of thousands of jobs, the devastation of coastal communities (and) an increased reliance on foreign food.” Jerry Leeman of the New England Fisherman’s Stewardship Association says Maine fishermen like the idea but want to be involved in the process. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:02
Macduff delivers North Sea twin-rigger
F/V Gracious has been built under cover from start to completion in the fabrication hall at the yard’s Macduff location. The steel hull and the aluminium wheelhouse and mast were all cut by Macduff Profilers using CNC plasma and gas cutting machines, working with a sa steel kit supplied by Macduff Ship Design. The main engine is a Caterpillar C32 rated 559kW. This is coupled to a Masson Marine W7400 gearbox, with a large reduction ratio of 9.077:1, driving a 2500mm diameter propeller, fitted within a high thrust nozzle. This is a tried and tested propulsion layout and Graciousis the eleventh newbuild fishing vessel delivered by Macduff with this propulsion package. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:53
The bid to kill Empire Wind is Trump’s biggest swipe at offshore wind yet
On Wednesday afternoon, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to halt construction on Equinor’s Empire Wind project off the New York coast. It’s a new frontier for President Donald Trump’s war on offshore wind, marking the first time his administration has attempted to shut down a fully permitted, in-construction project. When construction began just a few weeks ago, Equinor didn’t create a spectacle. The company didn’t issue a press release, hold a ribbon cutting, or even respond to multiple requests for comment from Canary Media’s Clare Fieseler. Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward, offered an explanation to Canary: “It’s about not wanting to stick their heads up and drawing more attention, potentially, from the administration.” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul immediately decried the Interior Department’s move as “federal overreach,” saying in a statement that she “will fight this every step of the way to protect union jobs, affordable energy and New York’s economic future.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:33
‘Hope dies hard’: Fishing industry reacts to CA salmon season closure
This week, the Pacific Fishery Management Council adopted recommendations for ocean salmon fishing along the West Coast; for an unprecedented third year in a row, the council has recommended closing commercial fishing off the California coast and allowing only limited commercial fishing in Oregon and Washington. Commercial fishermen and fishing organizations largely affirmed the need to suspend salmon fishing but noted that three years without a season has been devastating to fishermen and coastal communities that rely on salmon fishing. Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations Executive Director Lisa Damrosch lamented a lack of a safety net. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:41
Comeback season for Maine shrimp was kind of … shrimpy
Maine shrimp, also known as Northern shrimp, is small, pink, sweet, delicate — and some say delicious enough to eat raw. But raw or cooked, it’s not really been available in recent years. That’s because warming waters and low biomass have meant the fishery has been shut down for over a decade. But people were hopeful that a limited catch survey this winter would reveal the shrimp had recovered a little, and that some would even hit markets for customers eager to get some. But that didn’t happen. “This is my trap, I’m just finishing,” said Gary Libby, a commercial fisherman who works on his lobster gear in his workshop in Port Clyde, Maine. “These are my buoys. I painted them earlier, they’re pink and green. These ones here show up good from a distance.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:36
