Daily Archives: April 18, 2025
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT TRUMP – By Jim Lovgren
President Trump proved he is a man of his word on April 16, when he announced a temporary hold on the Empire wind project off of New York, along with all other projects, pending a comprehensive review of the Biden administrations shenanigans in the permitting process. The Executive Order, called, “Restoring American seafood competitiveness” would initiate a 180-day review of ocean National monuments, while temporarily stopping the Empire wind project. The wide ranging EO also plans to reduce the regulatory burden on fishermen, address foreign trade imbalances, improve fishery management, and more. The most important point that has come out of this offshore wind issue is that Citizens can fight against the machine, and win. While a number of fishing groups had been fighting for years against the planned destruction of their fishing grounds by offshore wind companies, it wasn’t until the general public became enraged more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:40
Southern Shrimp Alliance urging Congress to pass legislation that would lead to the destruction contaminated imported food
Louisiana Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy Carter have filed legislation to give the FDA the authority to destroy contaminated food imports, like seafood, eliminating the option to re-export rejected goods. Deborah Long with the Southern Shrimp Alliance says the bill closes a loophole that allows importers to “port shop” rejected products back into the U.S. “Because we only test 0.1-percent of our shrimp and seafood for banned antibiotics, that means there’s a good chance that product can move just down to a different port and reenter our country.” Many shipments contaminated with banned drugs or pathogens are simply returned to exporters. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:27
Mount Pleasant unveils statue to honor Captain Wayne Magwood at Shem Creek
The town of Mount Pleasant honored one of their own by unveiling a memorial statue of Captain Wayne Magwood to honor the long-time shrimper’s enduring legacy. Capt. Magwood spent long hours on the water and at the docks on Shem Creek. In September 2020, he died after he was hit by a truck while crossing Mill Street at Coleman Boulevard. Thursday, the town unveiled a fisherman’s memorial statue to honor the captain’s life and legacy. “It’s an honor to be able to continue his legacy and bring that forward by helping the current fleet,” said Tressy Mellichamp, Capt. Magwood’s daughter. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:16
Nextdoor New Hampshire May Offer Useful Example for Maine When It Comes to Offshore Wind Power
New Hampshire’s proposed ban on offshore wind development proves the state’s loyalty to its coastal communities and the working men and women of the New England fisheries. New Hampshire’s state Senate will soon take up HB 682, a measure that reorganizes or closes state offices backing the offshore wind buildout in the Gulf of Maine, a region vital to Maine’s economy. My organization, the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, supports this legislation because industrializing the sea will jeopardize our fishing fleets and maritime character. It is rare to see an unreservedly pro-fisheries bill like HB 682. We fishermen are usually forced to negotiate the terms of our decline. We haggle over cuts to quota, over area closures, over timelines for new regulatory regimes, but seldom get the chance to enact measures protecting and promoting our industry for the future. Banning offshore wind will preserve our marine ecosystems, and the working people who depend on them. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:42
Calls for urgent reform after Donegal trawler skipper acquitted in court
A call has been made for the urgent reform of Ireland’s sea fisheries legislation after a trawler master was acquitted of charges of failing to accurately record his catch by a Co Donegal court. Gareth Murphy, master of the Western Chieftain, appeared at Donegal Circuit Court charged with failing to accurately record data in the fishing logbook of the operations of a Union fishing vessel. The Killybegs-based skipper was charged with being in contravention of Article 14 of Regulation (EC) 1224 of 2009, and in contravention of Regulation 5 of Sea-Fisheries (Community Control System) Regulations 2016, contrary to Section 14 of the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. Mr Murphy was charged with the alleged breach on October 10th, 2021, within the Exclusive fishery limits of the State. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
Trump allows commercial fishing in previously banned waters of the Pacific Ocean
U.S. commercial fishers can operate in the formerly off-limits Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, President Donald Trump announced Thursday. “Commercial fishing is currently prohibited within its boundaries,” but “appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of scientific and historic interest that the PRIMM protects at risk,” Trump said in a proclamation. The National Marine Fisheries Service and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council manage commercial fishing in the region. Those regulatory bodies do “little to guard fish populations against overfishing as tuna and other pelagic species found within the boundaries of the PRIMM are migratory in nature and do not permanently reside within the PRIMM,” Trump said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:01
