Daily Archives: April 19, 2025
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
