Daily Archives: May 16, 2025
Trump’s executive order on fishing industry draws support from Maine fishermen
As the Trump Administration continues to reshape federal policy, a recent executive order targeting the U.S. fishing industry is making waves along Maine’s coast. The order, which seeks to ease regulations and promote domestic seafood production, is drawing both support and concern from those closely tied to the industry. “We are importing over 80 percent of the seafood that’s consumed in the U.S., and I think that’s a huge problem that really stems from overregulation,” New England Fishermen Stewardship Association COO Dustin Delano said. Another voice of support comes from Glen Libby, a longtime crab fisherman. He backs the order’s push to involve fishermen more directly in the collection of data that influences species catch limits. Libby hopes better collaboration will lead to more accurate fish stock assessments, higher quotas, and potentially attract a new generation to fishing. Video, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 21:00
Sister scalloper for Kirkcudbright company
Designed by Ian Paton of SC McAllister, and built at the Parkol Teesside yard, F/V Halcyon was lifted into the water on 10th January this year, five years to the day after sister vessel, F/V Alcedo was launched at the same place. From there, Halcyon was steamed down the coast to Whitby for final outfitting. Hayclon has the same 34-metre LOA design as Alcedo, although the two aren’t identical. Halcyon’s tipping doors have been fitted outboard by 160mm, and the newbuild has a fuller transom, plus there are some different machinery choices and deck arrangements. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:28
Mobile Baykeepers meeting organizes public to ‘mitigate’ Mobile Bay dumping
Some were fishermen, shrimpers, oystermen and their families. Some were those with environmental concerns. Some were people who liked to eat seafood. They met Thursday night at St. Philip Neri Church in Belle Fountaine on the western (Mobile) side of Mobile Bay. They heard a two-part plan to “fix” the dumping of mud into the bay. Mobile Bay Keepers organized the meeting, and 178 people attended. The leaders and speakers’ major concern is a project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to pump sediment into the Bay from dredging the Mobile ship channel. The deepening and widening of the ship channel is necessary for larger ships to utilize the Port of Mobile. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:15
Massachusetts green tech leaders won’t back down on offshore wind
Massachusetts green tech advocates want offshore wind to be the little clean power source that could in the face of hostility from the Trump administration, according to their comments during a panel on the blue economy at the ClimaTech conference earlier this week. In addition to discussions about the state’s ocean clean tech market and port infrastructure, panel attendees addressed the wind-turbine-shaped elephant in the room: the fact that President Trump withdrew seven major offshore wind leases via an executive order in January. Two of the leases affected are for projects that would have been constructed off the coast of Massachusetts, for which the state is suing the Trump administration. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
Federal lawmakers from Mississippi promote legislation imposing stricter testing on foreign shrimp
A pair of federal lawmakers from Mississippi are leading the way in promoting legislation aimed at protecting local seafood producers and protecting American consumers from untested foreign products. U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), along with Julia Letlow (R-La.) and Troy Carter (D-La.), have introduced the Safer Shrimp Imports Act, a bipartisan bill seeking to tighten federal inspection standards for imported shrimp. The legislation is a companion to a bill introduced by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in the Senate. Data shows that north of 90% of shrimp consumed in the U.S. is imported. According to lawmakers, much of this seafood comes from countries with weak food safety standards and inadequate oversight of harmful contaminants such as antibiotics, pesticides, and bacteria. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
