Tag Archives: Fisherman Frank Mirarchi
NOAA slowdowns and new science delay the usual ‘scramble’ to set fishing catch limits
The start of this year’s commercial fishing season could be a bust for fishermen who catch groundfish species like cod, haddock and flounder. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has yet to approve new catch limits for the season slated to open May 1. People in the fishing industry said the annual process has been delayed by changes to the science used to measure cod populations, and the Trump administration’s cuts to the agency. The fishery is in the final week of the current season, and if the regulations aren’t finalized in time for the new season to begin, the fishery may close. That would deal a blow to many fishermen who already struggle to make a living.” People’s livelihoods and businesses depend on it,” said retired groundfish fisherman Frank Mirarchi of Scituate. A delay would be especially hard coming off a brutal winter that Mirarchi said hurt many fishermen’s bottom line. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:29
America Is Finally Spilling Its Shipwreck Secrets
Word had gotten out about a productive patch of scallops in Stellwagen, and a commercial fishing fleet pounced. Smaller coastal boats took to the water, each one dragging a 11.5-foot-wide scallop dredge behind it. So did longer offshore vessels towing two side-by-side dredges, spanning about 30 feet. Over the coming weeks, the armada raked an area of seafloor equal to the size of Boston. Sleeping in shifts, the crews worked nonstop, shucking thousands of scallops released from the dredge in a great clattering whoosh on the wet decks. Watching this all play out, Haskell’s first concern was safety. “They were going back and forth, north and south, basically just barely missing each other,” he recalls. >click to read< 07:48
Gloucester Fishing industry reps raise concerns about wind energy areas
Commercial fisherman Al Cottone, executive director of the Gloucester Fisheries Commission, and Angela Sanfilippo, executive director of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership and president of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association, outlined the fishing industry’s concerns with offshore wind development. “First of all the construction process, the areas that are going to be used will probably be lost forever for commercial fishing,” Cottone said. “There are going to be a lot of losers when it comes to activity within these areas. You are not going to be able to find an area to put these arrays where someone is not going to lose their ability to fish and make a living,” Cottone said. He said this was a critical time for the local fishing industry. >click to read< 07:46
