Daily Archives: June 24, 2025
Factory trawlers have Ireland-sized impact off B.C.’s coast, investigation claims
Over the past 15 years, a wave of factory trawling vessels has quietly arrived on British Columbia’s coastline, often targeting ecologically rich regions off at the edge of the continental shelf in direct competition with endangered killer whales, a multi-year investigation has found. Released Tuesday, the Pacific Wild-led investigation analyzed 13 years of satellite data, information that continuously transmits a ship’s position, speed, course and identity through their Automatic Identification System. An analysis of the AIS data shows nine industrial vessels, many with checkered histories fishing now depleted stocks in the North Atlantic, travelled through the Panama Canal between 2009 and 2024. Now re-flagged as Canadian ships, the vessels have targeted a number of highly valued Pacific fish species, like pollock and hake. Ian McAllister, a co-founder of Pacific Wild, said the arrival of the factory vessels came as the groundfish trawl fishery has undergone a transformation from largely owner-operator vessels to corporation-owned quotas. “They just started showing up on this coast without any public input. They just started appearing here,” he said. Photos, Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:55
Brixham Trawler event returns in style after five-year break
The revamped Port of Brixham Trawler event has been hailed a success after returning with a twist after a five-year break. There were 24 independently owned trawlers taking part in the event with some fishing boats from neighboring ports. To fit in with safety regulations, what was previously the trawler race became a time trial, with the overall winner the one who gets nearest to their stated handicapped timing, and numbers on boats were restricted. This didn’t stop the 24 fishing vessels from taking to the seas from Brixham around the Bay on Saturday as part of a special celebration weekend to raise money for the Fishermen’s Mission. Links,30 Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:44
Southern Shrimp Alliance opposes shrimp trawling prohibition
On Thursday, the Southern Shrimp Alliance sent a letter to leaders of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Speaker of the House Destin Hall and Minority Leader Rep. Robert Reives, D-Chatham, voicing their opposition to legislation, which prohibits shrimp trawling within half a mile of the North Carolina shoreline. “The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is proud of its long history of providing leadership in defending North Carolina’s and all American shrimp fishermen, processors and associated shoreside enterprises that are facing this onslaught of shrimp imports, and so we ask you and your Members to please consider that the enactment of this legislation will only serve to further reduce the production by American fishermen of wholesome and sustainable wild shrimp and replace it with illegal and unfairly traded shrimp imports in the US market,” reads the letter. The letter is signed by the executive director, John Williams. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:55
Video-Fishermen, seafood workers on proposed shrimping ban, >>CLICK TO WATCH<<
Southeast Texas shrimpers celebrate new laws for import transparency
Texas shrimpers are celebrating two key legislative victories they say will level the playing field against foreign imports that have long undercut their industry.two key legislative victories signed two measures this session aimed at cracking down on imported shrimp. One of the new laws, Senate Bill 823, will require restaurants to label where their shrimp comes from. The other, House Concurrent Resolution 76, is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk, asking the federal government for additional oversight and regulation. For shrimpers like Tricia Kimball of the Port Arthur Area Shrimpers Association, the new laws mark progress in an ongoing battle to keep the industry afloat. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:54
Live N.L. lobsters flown direct to Spain, with exporters hoping it’s the start of big things
Just shy of 10,000 pounds of live Newfoundland and Labrador lobster were flown direct from Gander to Madrid last week, a first for the province’s fishing industry, according to one exporter. Darrell Roche, president and CEO of Whitecap International Seafood Exporters, called it a big step forward for the sector as a whole. “It’s the first time that we’ve had enough volume that we felt comfortable that we can support such a program,” Roche told Radio-Canada on Monday. While the first trip was about two years in the making, it also comes during a time when partners across Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing industry explore expanding into new markets with trade complications and tariffs coming out of the United States. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
NC Senate OKs payments to shrimpers impacted by controversial trawling ban
North Carolina senators on Monday approved a plan to pay the commercial fishermen impacted by a proposed inland shrimp trawling ban. The approval comes ahead of a planned Tuesday protest by shrimpers at the state legislature. The bill would provide “annual transition payments to eligible holders of commercial fishing licenses with verifiable lands of shrimp” from 2023 to present day. It passed 45-2 on Monday. The payments would last until Oct. 1, 2028, with payments dependent on the value of the eligible shrimp trip tickets submitted by the fishermen plus $180. The plan would spend up to $10 million over the next five years in government handouts to any affected shrimpers, senators clarified Monday. But it’s unlikely to quell the outrage by many in the industry who say it will put them out of business. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:32
