Daily Archives: July 5, 2025
Canada to take steps to protect vanishing North Atlantic right whales from ships
The Canadian government says it is taking steps this summer to protect a vanishing species of whale from lethal collisions with ships in its waters. The whale is the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers only about 370. The whales give birth off the southeastern U.S. in the winter and spring and migrate north to New England and Canada to feed. Along the way, the whales face dangers including ship strikes and entanglement in commercial fishing gear. Environmental groups have long faulted the U.S. and Canadian governments for not doing enough to protect the critically endangered animals. Canada is enforcing mandatory protection measures for the whale this summer, Transport Canada said in a June 27 statement. All vessels of 42.7 feet (13 meters) in length or more must comply with speed restrictions in designated areas of the ocean to avoid whale strikes, the agency said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:46
Three commercial fishermen rescued after vessel overturns in the Ugashik District
The fishing vessel F/V Happy Hooker overturned in the Ugashik District over the weekend. Alaska Wildlife troopers rescued the three fishermen on board and no injuries were reported. According to an Alaska Wildlife Troopers dispatch, troopers were notified at 2:54 p.m. Saturday (6/28) that Happy Hooker was stranded in the river’s shallows near Pilot Point. On board was Terry Ostling, a sixth-generation Bristol Bay fisherman from Cathlamet, Washington, and his crew members Joe Mackey and Brandon Cox, also from Cathlamet. Ostling’s sister, Tracy Ostling-Tomlinson, says high winds and heavy surf contributed to the accident. She says the boat had a full load of fish when the net came out of its reel and fell over the side of the boat as a wave hit. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:51
Inauthentic shrimp served at over half of tested restaurants in Alexandria
Louisiana’s shrimpers and fishermen have been in the headlights of state lawmakers as representatives look for new ways to protect the ‘industry in crisis,’ but that crisis is now rippling beyond the Gulf coastline, reaching northern areas such as Alexandria and Shreveport. In Alexandria, restaurant-goers have a 46 percent chance —worse odds than a coin toss— of being served authentic gulf shrimp instead of disingenuous or mislabeled foreign shrimp, according to a scathing report from seafood testers SeaD Consulting. Based off of samples from 24 restaurants across the city, only eleven were found to be properly serving authentic gulf coast shrimp, a revelation similar to that of Shreveport. Video, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:12
Ocean City fights offshore wind, Fourth of July sparks fly against Moore’s energy agenda
Commercial Fisherman Sonny Gwin
Fireworks erupt ahead of the Fourth of July holiday weekend as Maryland state officials, coastline leaders, and community members clash over an offshore wind project that continues to inch forward. State Sen. Mary Beth Carozza, R-Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties, told Spotlight on Maryland while walking through Convention Center Boardwalk Park along the Isle of Wight Bay on Wednesday that she has never seen widespread unity in opposition to any project among area elected officials and beach leaders since joining the Maryland General Assembly in 2015. Sonny Gwin, a commercial fisherman in Ocean City for nearly fifty years, told Spotlight on Maryland with tears in his eyes aboard his fishing boat on Wednesday that he fears U.S. Wind’s offshore energy project may tear apart his family legacy. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:12
