Tag Archives: Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association
Lack of fishing prohibitions in ‘grey zone’ could pose risk for right whales, expert says
One marine conservation expert has questions about the efforts on the part of Fisheries and Oceans after North Atlantic right whales were detected in the Bay of Fundy in recent weeks, including in an area where both Canadian and American fishermen catch lobster. In October, Fisheries and Oceans announced several temporary prohibited fishing areas as the whales were detected in multiple fishing spots across the Maritimes, including in the bay. Some fishing prohibitions for parts of the Bay of Fundy started on Oct. 25 and included the fisheries for crab, herring, mackerel, groundfish, hagfish and lobster. The so-called “grey zone” is an area of disputed water near Grand Manan. Both Canada and the United States have claimed sovereignty over the area, so fishers from both countries harvest there. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:57
A ferry repair ‘nightmare’ for island fisheries as lobster season begins
The Grand Manan Adventure was set for a scheduled six-week refit and was supposed to be back in service this past weekend, Morse said. With lobster season kicking off Monday, that’s meant the smaller Grand Manan V has been on the hook to carry the catch, as well as islanders, back to the mainland. “There was a lot of work that they had to do, so we knew it was going to be a longer-term thing than what was normal,” she said. “For Grand Manan, the lobster fishery is the backbone of our economy and it’s vitally important that we have the ferry capacity to be able to ship lobster, because it’s a live product. It needs to get off the island quickly and in a timely fashion.” >>click to read<< 10:24
New Brunswick: New harbour proposed to tackle vessel traffic on Grand Manan
A new harbour is being designed near Woodwards Cove on Grand Manan to manage the island’s growing vessel traffic. The proposed new harbour, which will aim to accommodate 100 vessels, will have a new marginal wharf and floating wharves, as well as a launching and haul-out facility, according to Brandon Giordani, a spokesperson for Public Services and Procurement Canada. Mayor Bonnie Morse said the harbour authority and the harbour’s users have been talking about the overcrowding for “more than 10 to 15 years now.” With the passage of time, the size of vessels has also increased too. “It’s become more apparent that we need something,” she said. >click to read< 09:39
Bay of Fundy Herring Industry Proposes Sustainability Plan
The Bay of Fundy Herring Industry, in collaboration with the Herring Science Council, today unveiled a plan to sustain and rebuild the herring stocks in the Bay of Fundy. The plan calls for a reduction of the TAC for the 2022 fishing season to 25,000 metric tons (“mt”) from 35,000 mt, representing a decrease of 30% from the previous year and 50% over the past five years. The plan also calls for increased management measures and scientific support by industry. >click to read< 13:38
New Brunswick: Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association says financial support program may not be enough
On Wednesday the federal government announced a $469-million program to help fish harvesters deal with financial burdens amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association worries it won’t be enough. Melanie Sonnenberg told Information Morning Saint John the program leaves out new fishermen and that’s concerning. “They’re our future, and we have to have some recognition, some special programming or something that we can plug them into to make sure they’re looked after so when we come out of this we’ll have a fishing industry that is every bit as robust as it was.” The fish harvesters benefit covers 75 per cent of income losses over 25 per cent for the 2020 tax year, compared to 2018 or 2019. The maximum benefit is $10,164. >click to read< 11:22
Coronavirus: “These are not normal times” Situation changing ‘by the hour’ as seafood industry reels
New Brunswick’s seafood industry is reeling as the coronavirus fallout spreads in traditional markets around the world. “Things are changing by the hour,” said Melanie Sonnenberg of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association.,, It is a concern shared by other companies. It is estimated well over a thousand international workers are employed in the industry during the processing season, which begins in May. The spring lobster season on the Bay of Fundy’s north shore also starts in May. And in Dipper Harbour, fisherman Greg Thompson is pretty sure of one thing: prices will be rock bottom. >click to read< 06:47
Operations continue in New Brunswick as Connors Bros. files for creditor protection
Connors Bros., a major producer of seafood products in New Brunswick, has filed for protection from creditors, but it has reassured fishermen and others who depend on the company that things will carry on as usual.,,, That’s the understanding of Melanie Sonnenberg of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association. Sonnenberg said the company reached out to the group to assure members that there would be no interruptions in operations, and that bills would continue to be paid. >click to read< 17:35
New rules in works to lift safety standards in fishing industry
Last year was the deadliest year for the Canadian fishing industry in more than a decade. Seventeen people died aboard fishing vessels in 2018, the most since 2004, prompting the Transportation Safety Board of Canada to sound the alarm about the industry’s safety culture. As it stands, fishing vessels are not considered a workplace, meaning they don’t adhere to any WorkSafeNB compliance requirements. Proposed legislative amendments would give captains binding safety obligations. >click to read< 08:07
Heavy weather forcasted, Fundy lobster fishermen lose bid to set traps early
An appeal by Bay of Fundy Lobster fishermen to set their traps Monday instead of Tuesday has been rejected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fishermen on both Grand Manan and along the north Fundy Coast say weather forecasts for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday point to unsafe conditions with boats facing potentially 12-foot (four-metre) seas and winds of 35 to 40 knots. “Basically, the federal employees want their long weekend and they don’t give a hoot about the fishing fleet.” Laurence Cook, Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association >click to read<09:15
DFO gives Grand Manan fishermen flexibility in whale encounters
Fishermen on Grand Manan have reached an agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that could head off a complete shutdown of the lobster fishing in some areas where North Atlantic right whales are sighted. The deal will see the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association introduce a series of measures to reduce the amount of rope in the water. >click to read<10:03
Bay of Fundy fishery has whale of a problem
I’ve worked for the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association for 25 years. It’s been a good career; there’s always something new in the fishery. I’ve gotten to know some great people both locally and across the country. I come from a fishing family: my father, brother and brother-in-law are all fishermen. I have a strong attachment to what I do and why I do it.,, The right whales ventured north to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Things were bad last summer. Twelve whales were found dead. Two were entangled in fishing gear. The rest: blunt force trauma or unknown causes, though none of those had fishing gear on them. Government swung into reactionary precautionary mode. We watched amazed and horrified from the other side of the Maritimes while fishery after fishery closed.
Then last week it was our turn. by Bonnie Morse >click to read<21:25
DFO orders fisheries closure in Bay of Fundy after right whale sighting
The federal government announced Monday evening the first temporary fisheries closure in the Bay of Fundy as a result of a North Atlantic right whale sighting. The area, just east of Grand Manan, will be closed to fixed-gear fishing activities starting at 11:59 p.m. Thursday, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said in a statement. It said the closure, which affects lobster, crab, groundfish, herring and mackerel licenses, will remain in place until further notice. It’s believed to be the first closure of its kind ever in the bay, according to Laurence Cook, chairman of the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association lobster advisory board. Cook was busy fielding calls and texts from “angry and upset” members after government informed the association around 6 p.m. Monday, he said. >click to read<11:42
Fishermen’s group pushes wearing Personal Flotation Devices
The Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association says the use of personal flotation devices in the commercial fishing industry is growing, but more work needs to be done. Melanie Sonnenberg, the association’s program manager, said she wasn’t surprised by the Transportation Safety Board’s latest push for mandatory use of personal flotation devices in the industry, a popular topic for years. “There’s been a great push with working with suppliers to develop products that are much more commercial fishing friendly,” she said. “We’ve seen a culture shift here in the industry. click here to read the story 12:34
Grand Manan Fisherman’s Association welcomes $4.9 million to expand the Fundy Marine Service Centre
After about a decade of lobbying the New Brunswick government, fishermen in Grand Manan celebrated an investment announcement yesterday of $4.9 million to expand the Fundy Marine Service Centre. The centre, located at Ingalls Head, is owned by the province, but operated by the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association. The money will be used for extensive site upgrades, which includes a new 200-tonne boat lift, better lighting, paving a portion of the outdoor lot, better access to electricity, and better water access for firefighting. “It’s a very busy place, and this time of year, given the weather that we’ve had, everybody wants to get their vessels in and do maintenance before we get into our winter fishery,” said Melanie Sonnenberg, the association’s project manager. Read the rest here 10:30
Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association calls for herring catch study
The Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association is calling for a study on declining herring catches in the Bay of Fundy. The request comes after Connors Bros., Limited announced Thursday it will cancel the second shift at its Blacks Harbour plant this season, citing a decline in the weir fishery and herring catch forecasts for 2015. Over the past three decades, annual herring weir catches averaged 20,000 tonnes in the Bay of Fundy, according to the fishermen’s association. In 2013, the latest figures available, the total catch dropped to about 6,000 tonnes. Read the rest here 11:55
