Daily Archives: July 1, 2025
About 50 people gather for ‘blessing of the fleet’
A crowd of about 50 people gathered at the fishing dock on Channel Drive for the annual “blessing of the fleet,” an event organized by Ocean County Farm Bureau president Brick Wenzel and his team at America’s Gleaned Seafood project. America’s Gleaned Seafood project led short prayers and performed the blessing for a half dozen large commercial fishing boats at the Channel Drive Point Pleasant Seafood Co-Op dock. About 20 different oyster and fishing boats participate with America’s Gleaned Seafood Project, in which by-catch and other fish are sorted, packaged in ice in large sealed bins and then transported to less privileged people in various locations around the state, including Newark, Camden, Trenton and Lakewood. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:42
‘Bedwetters from overseas’: Shane Jones slams Greenpeace’s trawler protest tactics
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has launched a blistering attack on Greenpeace labelling them “bedwetters from overseas” following their high-seas protests against commercial trawlers. But the campaigners have fired back, accusing accusing Jones and the fishing industry of “burying their heads in the sand” over the environmental damage caused by bottom trawling. The war of words highlights growing tensions between environmental groups pushing for an end to bottom trawling and a government defending the economic importance of resource-extracting industry. Jones slammed Greenpeace activists for what he called “dangerous, reckless” interference with Kiwi-owned fishing vessels, accusing them putting lives at risk during protests against two trawlers fishing off the east coast in the last week. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:42
The Perfect Storm: 25 Years Later, the Disaster Drama Still Makes Waves
It’s been 25 years since The Perfect Storm swept away moviegoers, the gripping disaster drama that brought the tragic true story of the Andrea Gail to the big screen. Released on June 30, 2000, the film was based on Sebastian Junger’s best-selling 1997 non-fiction book of the same name, which detailed the real-life events of the 1991 “perfect storm” that claimed the lives of six fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen, The Perfect Storm stood out at the time for its intense visual effects, massive set pieces, and a grounded human story at its core. The movie follows the crew of the Andrea Gail, a commercial fishing vessel, as it finds itself trapped at sea when a rare combination of weather systems collides off the North Atlantic coast. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:56
New methods complement old in revealing diet of larval lobsters
Researchers from the University of Maine and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences have demonstrated a new approach to understanding the diet of newly hatched American lobsters, opening doors for better understanding the role they play in the Gulf of Maine’s ecosystem. Scientists know little about what larval lobsters eat and how their diet benefits their survival. That’s primarily because these crustaceans are only about a quarter of an inch in length and their stomachs are about the size of a pinhead. That makes them no small challenge to examine under a microscope, the traditional method for conducting this type of research. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:11
Department of Commerce Announces 2025 Appointments to the Regional Fishery Management Councils
The U.S. Department of Commerce announces the appointment of 20 new and returning members to the eight regional fishery management councils. Council members represent interested groups including commercial and recreational fishing industries, environmental organizations, and academia, along with state and federal agencies. They are vital to fulfilling the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s requirements to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and manage them sustainably. Each year, the Secretary of Commerce appoints approximately one-third of the total 72 appointed members to the eight regional councils. The Secretary selects members from nominations submitted by the governors of fishing states, territories, and tribal governments. The Secretary appoints council members to both state-specific and regional seats—also known as obligatory and at-large seats. They serve a three-year term, up to three consecutive terms. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:06
Please, let us feed you
I have been fishing commercially for 37 years. I currently fish the southern waters out of Bluff and own a 16m trawler that bottom trawls. We employ three crew and support many local engineering shops and suppliers in our region. I supply fish to two companies, which is both exported and sold fresh in New Zealand. Some landings can be up to 25 different species of fish. You may well have eaten the fish I catch, perhaps from your local fish and chip shop or supermarket. I grew up on farms, but when an uncle who was a fisher took me for trip when I was 16, I fell in love with fishing, because of the freedom you get out there on the water, seeing the wildlife and finding that no two days are the same. But it’s a job that comes with many challenges such as the brutal cost of fuel and gear and compliance costs caused by the many rules we have to follow. Another thing that’s tough is the constant use of misinformation to shut us down. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 97:55
Canadian groundfish industry says new northern cod quota falls short of potential
Canada’s Atlantic Groundfish Council (AGC) has responded to the government’s announcement of a 38,000-tonne quota for the northern cod fishery, stating that while the increase is welcome, it falls short of what the stock can sustainably support. The industry group noted that the 2025 science update indicated the stock could support a considerably higher total allowable catch (TAC), and that the AGC had recommended a TAC of 49,000 tonnes. Martin Sullivan, CEO of member company Ocean Choice International, said he would have liked to see a decision with a greater share for offshore harvesters. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:20
