Daily Archives: April 11, 2025
3 people rescued after boat runs aground in Boston harbor
Crews rescued several people after their commercial fishing vessel ran aground on Friday morning. According to the U.S. Coast Guard Northeast Sector, officers received a distress call around 7:45 a.m. from the crew of the 86-foot fishing vessel F/V Eileen Rita claiming they ran aground near Green Island and were taking on water. The crew of the Eileen Rita put on immersion suits upon running aground. There were no reports of any injuries. Pictures show the vessel partially submerged near a rocky outcropping. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:44
NOAA Fisheries Announces Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area
NOAA Fisheries is closing the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to all federally permitted limited access general category scallop vessels effective 1800 hr, on April 11, 2025. As of April 11, 2025, no scallop vessel fishing under federal scallop regulations may fish for, possess, or land scallops in or from the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area. The scallop regulations require that we close this area once we project that 100 percent of the 2025 Northern Gulf of Maine Set-Aside will be taken. The closure will be in effect until the end of the fishing year (March 31, 2026) or until final 2025 specifications are approved. If you have a valid Maine or Massachusetts state scallop permit, you may continue to fish in Maine or Massachusetts state waters within the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area under the State Waters Exemption program. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:37
Tariffs not a long-term fix for shrimping industry: Shrimpers
Shortly after the White House on Wednesday afternoon abruptly paused the tariffs that had gone into effect some 12 hours earlier and lowering them to 10% on goods for 90 days, minus those from China, the Southern Shrimp Alliance released a statement reiterating its support for tariffs. “It is encouraging that the Trump Administration’s tariffs have prompted countries to show a new willingness to address trade policies disadvantaging American producers,” Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director John Williams stated. “We want to compete in a market where competitors cannot use intolerable practices like forced labor and banned antibiotics to undercut us. For shrimpers, tariffs respond to an urgent need to offset unfair trade.” And while shrimpers say that will be the case, that’s not where they want their message to end. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:56
Tariffs muddy waters for Maine’s lobster industry
The week of March 31 saw a tumultuous turn of events as the Trump administration launched sweeping tariffs on trading partners across the world, many who have responded in turn. So far, Maine’s lobster industry has escaped the brunt of the conflict. However, concern lingers. “At the end of the day lobster is an indulgence, a luxury item, and people are only willing to pay for something like that when they have the confidence in the economy,” said Luke Holden, CEO of Luke’s Lobster. “A lot of this uncertainty is driving a lack of consumer confidence, which ultimately could impact the lobster industry as well.” Holden spoke during an April 3 webinar hosted by Island Institute about tariffs, the lobster industry and the future of U.S. trade. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:47
Massive turbine power being built off NY coast despite Trump ban on offshore wind projects
A massive wind power project off the coast of New York blew past President Trump’s executive order to block or pause all new wind energy leasing in federal waterways, which opponents claim will destroy aquatic life and the commercial fishing industry. Norway-based Equinor, which already had all the necessary lease and permit approvals from the feds before Trump’s January 20 executive order went into effect, confirmed that it has started construction at the site — laying rock as the foundation for the giant 54 wind turbines — 15 miles off the coast of Long Beach. The fishing industry also claims offshore wind farms are dangerous hot air. “The whole fishing industry economy could be lost,” said Bonnie Brady, executive director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association. Photos, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
Fire Severely Damages Pier, Fishing Vessel
A devastating fire that started in the early morning on April 3 at the Wellfleet marina severely damaged the town’s deteriorating wooden L-pier and destroyed a fishing vessel, the F/V Lady Irene, which sank later that day. The pier has been “condemned indefinitely” and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, town officials said. A commercial clam boat, the F/V Highland II, owned by Chopper Young, was also docked on the L-pier during the incident. Despite initial reports that both vessels caught fire, “we didn’t suffer much damage,” said Young. “We lost a few dock lines and a little paint here and there.” When he arrived at the scene, Young said, “I couldn’t even see my boat. It wasn’t quite light out, and the smoke was very, very thick. The wind was blowing probably 10 miles an hour or more. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:41
