Daily Archives: April 2, 2025
Chinook harvest limit down nearly 40 percent from last year
The harvest allocation for king salmon in Southeast Alaska is lower than the region’s commercial trollers expected. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced Tuesday (4-1-25) that 130,800 treaty Chinook salmon will be available this year for all Southeast fisheries, down almost 40% from last year’s allocation. From that total, trollers are allowed to catch 92,700 king salmon. The balance of treaty salmon goes primarily to sport anglers. Sitkan Matt Donohoe is the vice chair of the Alaska Trollers Association. “We heard that it’s going to be lower than last year, but we didn’t know how much,” “It’s a devastating number. It’s the worst ever. I mean, what industry can afford a 40% reduction?” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:11
Alaskan Communities Use Flexibility in Snow Crab Fishery Alaskan Communities for Economic Relief
The Alaska Bering Sea snow crab fishery is open for the first time in 2 years after a sharp decline in the crab population caused fishery closures. Participants have banded together with NOAA Fisheries to use regulatory flexibilities to help the fishery operate smoothly. While the species shows signs of recovery, it is still in low abundance. There are continued challenges for harvesters, processors, and small coastal communities who depend on the fishery for their income and way of life. We estimate that more than 10 billion snow crabs disappeared from the Bering Sea from 2018 to 2021 due to a marine heatwave and ecological shifts in the region. The snow crab fishery is an important economic driver in Alaska, generating an average of $150 million annually from 2012 to 2021. Disaster relief funding from the Department of Commerce in 2022–2023 provided some assistance to fishing communities. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:47
Hopes for Offshore Wind Are Blowing Away
Welders are hard at work at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, four years after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced a $250 million investment from offshore wind energy companies in a new manufacturing facility. But instead of putting together massive monopiles to prop up wind turbines off the Jersey Shore, they’re taking them apart to sell for scrap. In 2023, Ørsted, a Danish wind developer, announced it was pulling out of two planned wind projects that would have provided about 2,200 megawatts of energy to New Jersey. Earlier this year, Shell announced it was canceling a $1 billion investment in another offshore wind project in the state. A few days later, Murphy announced that his administration wouldn’t put any more state money into offshore wind. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:28
Macduff Shipyards completes latest new build fishing vessel Gracious
Macduff Shipyards has completed its latest new build fishing vessel. Gracious (PD 103) is a new design of fishing boat arranged for twin rig trawling and is expected to fish in the North Sea region, primarily targeting prawns. Upon initial discussion of the new build, the decision was taken to develop a new hull form, with the aim of providing good sea keeping qualities, high propulsion efficiency, as well as improved living conditions for the crew onboard. Photos, specifications, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:36
Judge says DFO acted unfairly in coming to 2023 elver quota decision
A federal judge has ruled the Department of Fisheries and Oceans did not adequately consult with commercial groups that fish for juvenile eels along Maritime rivers when in 2023 it plucked nearly 14 per cent of their quota and gave it to First Nations. The ruling, which found the quota decision to be “procedurally unfair,” is a small victory in Federal Court for licence holders who have been at loggerheads with DFO over its handling of the fishery and have launched several legal challenges in recent years. The lucrative fishery has been the source of tension and violence in recent years as prices soared due to demand in Asia where the tiny eels, known as elvers, are shipped live and then raised in aquaculture facilities for food. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:21
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 50′ x 23′ 6″ Novi Lobster/Scalloper, 650HP CAT C18-ACERT Diesel
To review specifications, information, with 56 photos, >click here<. To see all the boats in this series >click here<. 06:09
