Daily Archives: May 19, 2025
“Not for sale” says Ocean City Mayor after multimillion dollar offer for fishing community by US Wind
As the prospect of offshore wind projects along the coast continues, the town of Ocean City and now the Waterman’s Association seem to be on the same page in declaring that they are “not for sale.” That’s the claim made in a statement this week by Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan. The statement was a response to a $20 million dollar investment proposal that is aimed at supporting commercial fishing operations in Maryland. The Memoranda of Understanding between US Wind and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources was designed to asswage concerns from the local fishing industry over plans for offshore wind. The $20 million dollar proposal is being viewed by Mayor Meehan as a bad faith attempt to buy a solution. “Typical of US Wind’s approach to Ocean City’s concerns, instead of making meaningful changes to their project to protect our local fisherman, US Wind simply throws money at a problem and hopes it will go away. This is just another attempt by US Wind to buy their way around due process.” Said the Ocean City Mayor. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:56
FFAW inshore vice-president says privacy violated by DFO cellphone seizure
A fisherman and FFAW union representative is accusing the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada of overreach following officers seizing his cellphone as part of an investigation. Jason Sullivan, who is also the FFAW inshore vice-president, says he’s being investigated over an alleged fishing violation over claims that he let someone else haul his gear for him. As part of the investigation, he says his cellphone was confiscated and he’s worried about sensitive union information on his phone as well as info on his personal life. “A lot of fishermen reach out to me about different issues they’re having with the DFO,” he said. “There’s a lot of sensitive information even pertaining to the union on my phone.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:57
Lennox Island says it will defend treaty rights after DFO seizes lobster traps
Lennox Island First Nation is calling out what it describes as “aggressive enforcement” by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans after lobster traps were seized from its treaty-protected fishery in Malpeque, P.E.I., and Alberton, P.E.I., on Sunday. In a news release, Chief Darlene Bernard said the traps were part of a self-governed moderate livelihood fishery launched in 2022 and operated under a management plan created by the community. The Mi’kmaq have a right to fish for a “moderate livelihood” outside the commercial fishery regulated by the federal government. That’s a right that was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada’s Marshall decision in 1999. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:56
New UK-EU deal branded ‘horror show’ by Scottish fishermen
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has been accused of a “shameful betrayal” of fishermen after granting European boats access to UK waters as part of a new deal. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation insisted that the new deal “is a horror show for Scottish fishermen”. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government criticized UK ministers for the inclusion of fisheries – an area where responsibility is devolved to Holyrood – in the agreement without its approval on this. Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson blasted the UK for having agreed a fisheries deal in principle “without any recourse, involvement or approval of devolved administrations”. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:15
Putting a face on the fight for search and rescue in Labrador
Advocacy groups and residents of Labrador are pleading for improved search and rescue off the coast of the Big Land in a new safety campaign called Faces of Fish Harvesters. Among them include a recreational boater whose grandson just started fishing offshore, the daughter of a fish harvester whose father’s boat went missing in 1990, fish harvesters from both Labrador and the island of Newfoundland and the mayor of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, who managed Labrador and St. Anthony coast guard radio services for twenty years. The Labrador Coalition for Search and Rescue co-ordinator Jeanette Russell started the campaign on April 23. Over 150 people have added their voice to the cause since, whether as a featured fish harvester of the day, or as someone with ties and connections to the Labrador coast. The root of the issue, Russell says, is the “Labrador SAR black zone.” While Newfoundland has seven primary search and rescue stations and three in-shore rescue craft stations, Labrador has zero, she said. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:55
REST IN PEACE, NILS STOLPE, FISHERIES GURU, BY JIM LOVGREN
Guru; a person who enlightens others with his teaching and knowledge. Early Friday morning, May 16 th , the commercial fishing industry lost one of its most respected voices as Nils Stolpe, 79, passed away in his sleep. Nils had been hospitalized Thursday morning after falling in his home and breaking his ankle. He also bumped his head, and his blood pressure was low, so he was held overnight for observation, he never woke up. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat, his son Nils, and his wife Janet. He became an independent fisheries consultant, working for the New Jersey Commercial Fisherman’s Association, and as communications director for the Fisheries Research Institute. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:00
