Tag Archives: new-hampshire
Following Trump’s executive order, New Hampshire House votes to roll back offshore wind
Citing President Donald Trump’s executive order halting new federal offshore wind leases, the New Hampshire House voted Thursday to roll back offshore wind development in the state. HB 682 would remove “offshore wind industry development” from the Office of Offshore Wind Industry Development and Energy Innovation. It would also repeal the Offshore Wind Industry Workforce Training Center Committee and the Offshore and Port Development Commission. Along with cost, House Republicans cited harm to the ocean life as a reason for their opposition to offshore wind. “After the President’s executive order to eliminate offshore wind and turbines this bill seeks to avoid the destruction of nearby fisheries, lobster, shellfish, and whales,” wrote Rep. James Summer, R-Newton. “Offshore wind is more expensive and destructive than any other renewable energy source.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:10
Stricter lobster fishing rules scrapped after complaints from fishermen about harm to industry
Fishing industry regulators have decided to scrap stricter new lobster fishing standards off New England in the wake of months of protest from lobster fishermen that the rules were unnecessary and would bankrupt harvesters. The regulators were planning to institute new rules this summer that increased the minimum legal harvest size for lobsters in some of the most important fishing grounds in the world. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council, which manages the fishery, said the changes were important to preserve the future of a lobster population that has shown recent signs of decline. Many commercial fishermen adamantly opposed the changes, which would have required them to throw back previously market-ready lobsters. Links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:39
ASMFC Public Hearings on Northern Shrimp Draft Amendment 4
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) is seeking public comment on Draft Amendment 4 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Northern Shrimp. The Draft Amendment considers options for setting multi-year harvest moratoria and implementing management triggers. Management trigger options include biologic and environmental triggers comprised of indicators that would signal improvement in stock conditions and the potential to re-open the fishery. The states of Maine though Massachusetts have scheduled four hearings in mid-February to gather public input on the Draft Amendment. Virtual public hearings intended for Massachusetts stakeholders will be held on February 20 and February 25 at 6:00 pm (however, you may attend any hearing). Please refer to the schedule below for more information. >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:33
Maine and NH lobstermen celebrate reversal of lobster catch size limits
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission have walked back new regulations that New Hampshire and Maine lobstermen said would have dire economic consequences to their industry. The commission voted Tuesday to repeal key elements of a proposed increase to minimum allowable catch sizes for Gulf of Maine lobster. The announcement comes after officials in Maine and New Hampshire, which together account for most of U.S. lobster landings, announced they would not cooperate with the proposal. “New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) thanks the commission for heeding the voice of lobstermen,” said NEFSA COO and fourth-generation lobsterman Dustin Delano. “Raising catch sizes at this time would bankrupt many lobstermen and surrender the U.S. market to foreign competitors. NEFSA is grateful that the commission has chosen to support our historic trade, which contributes billions to New England’s economy and shapes the character of the region.” links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:11
NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte joins Maine in rejecting new lobster regulations to protect industry
New Hampshire has joined Maine in rejecting new regulations that would increase the minimum length of catchable lobster this summer. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte sent a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) that oversees lobster caught by New Hampshire and Maine fishermen, stating New Hampshire would not comply with the guidelines set to go into effect July 1. The new regulation requires an increase in the size of the gauge used by fishermen to measure lobster length, determining whether they can be caught or must be released. Lobstermen measure the size of a lobster by gauging its carapace (shell) from the eye socket to the tail. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:36
Save Our Fishermen’s Future RALLY!
Maine did it! So can New Hampshire! Save Our Fishermen’s Future Rally! Atlantic States Maries Fisheries Commission ASMFC ruled that lobster fisherman must throw back any lobster under one to one and one-quarter pounds, a new government regulation. The last time lobster length was increased was in 1983 and for the following three years the industry almost collapsed. If this increase is implemented on July 1st this year a good chunk of our fishermen will not survive.Come and meet the men and women who risk a lot to fish our oceans and are the economic drivers of much of our seacoast economy. Let’s help them by attending the Save Our Seacoast Economy event at the New Castle Town Hall Conference Room 49 Main St. New Castle, NH at 6:00 PM. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:42
NH and Maine lobstermen push back against new size rule amid economic fears
The regulation involves an increase in the size of the gauge used by fishermen to measure lobster length to determine if they can be caught or must be released. The new rule, however, has received blowback from local lobstermen. Maine has opted not to implement the change in response to concerns from the lobster industry, while lawmakers in New Hampshire are advocating for their leaders to make a similar decision. State Rep. Aboul Khan, R-Seabrook, warns that the new rule could lead to a loss of a third of lobstermen’s catch this year, adding to the challenges already posed by existing regulations. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:06
Whale watch, other NH harbor businesses remain in limbo
The fate of some harborside businesses in Rye, N.H., including a whale watch, lobster pound and charter fishing operators, remain in limbo months out from the summer season, as their annual leases with a state agency haven’t yet been renewed. It’s part of a long simmering debate over the future of Rye Harbor, where the state has leased valuable shorefront land to private businesses for decades. The Pease Development Authority oversees the harbor and issues lease agreements called “Rights of Entry” to private businesses, including Granite State Whale Watch, a number of charter fishing operators, an oyster company and a lobster pound. The nine businesses leasing space in the state-owned harbor operate out of shacks that are privately owned and taxed. The current lease agreements between the state and the businesses are slated to expire at the end of April. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:35
Volunteer Commercial Vessels Sought for Northern Shrimp Trawling and Trapping Research Sampling
The New Hampshire Fish (NHFG) and Game Department and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) are seeking one shrimp-trawling vessel and captain and one shrimp-trapping vessel and captain to participate in a winter sampling research program for northern shrimp in early 2025. This program will not receive funding from ASMFC or participating states, and participation in the program will be entirely self-funded by industry participants. The selected vessel(s) will be allowed to land and sell northern shrimp, subject to daily catch limits and a total of 26.5 metric tons region-wide research set-aside (RSA) limit. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:04
Moratorium on fishing Maine shrimp to continue through 2025
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Section is maintaining the current moratorium on northern shrimp fishing through the 2025 fishing year. That makes 11 years of no commercial shrimp fishing in Maine. That action followed the 2024 Stock Assessment Update, “which indicates the northern shrimp stock has been at low levels of biomass for over the past decade despite the fishery being under a moratorium since 2014,” said the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in a Dec. 13 news release. The Update found no improvement in stock status and 2023 summer survey indices of abundance, biomass, and recruitment were the lowest in the 1984-2023 time-series. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:32
Loughlin: Cases against Geno Marconi and Justice Marconi appear to be grave injustices
In mid-April, the entire Pease Development Authority Board was summoned to Concord for a closed-door meeting with Gov. Chris Sununu and his attorney general. On April 18 representatives of the attorney general appeared at a PDA meeting where they held a “consultation with counsel” with the board. Immediately thereafter, without any explanation, Captain Marconi was escorted out of the meeting, relieved of his duties, barred from his office and communication with Port employees; and had his phone, computer and related materials impounded. In addition, his texts, phone records and financial records were seized and a grand jury impaneled. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:22
Groundfish: Council Signs off on Amendment 25; Prepares for December Final Action on Framework 69 Under Cod Phase 1
The New England Fishery Management Council took final action on Amendment 25 to the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) when it met September 24-26, 2024 in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The Council is now focused on Framework Adjustment 69 to the FMP. The framework is being developed to establish measures for the 2025 groundfish fishing year and, for certain stocks, 2026 and 2027 as well. The Council is scheduled to take final action on the framework at its December 3-5, 2024 meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. The 2025 groundfish fishing year begins on May 1. Charts, links, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:32
NH port director Geno Marconi indicted a day after his wife, a NH Supreme Court justice
New Hampshire Ports and Harbors director Geno Marconi has been indicted on felony charges announced Thursday, along with Bradley Cook, the chairman of the state Ports and Harbors Advisory Council. The news comes one day after Geno Marconi’s wife, state Supreme Court Justice Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi, was indicted on felony charges for allegedly interfering into the investigation into his alleged crimes. She is accused of asking Gov. Chris Sununu to stop the probe. Geno Marconi, a Stratham resident, is charged with two Class B felonies – tampering with witnesses and informants and falsifying physical evidence, as well as four Class A misdemeanors: two counts of Driver Privacy Act violations and two counts of obstructing government administration. During the investigation, he has been on paid leave since April from the job overseen by the Pease Development Authority. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:57
Anderson: Offshore wind risks outweigh exaggerated rewards
A recently published article referencing the upcoming sale/lease of 827,000 acres of area in the Gulf of Maine to developers for offshore wind turbines should not be passed over lightly. This sale/lease event will take place on Oct. 29, 2024, in a process where developers will bid on eight sites within the 827,000 acres. The article further reported on state Sen. David Watters’ involvement and advocacy for this development as a panacea for our energy needs. Truth be told, this is not as accurate as it appears as offshore wind poses more of an environmental threat than remedy when one investigates the details. The fishing industry coastwide has expressed their legitimate concerns on a variety of issues, and more and more of the general public is now expressing their skepticism, as they should. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:33
Biden-Harris Administration’s First Offshore Wind Lease in Maine
The Department of the Interior today announced it will hold an offshore wind energy lease sale on Oct. 29, 2024, for eight areas on the Outer Continental Shelf off Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. If fully developed, these areas have a potential capacity of approximately 13 gigawatts of clean offshore wind energy, which could power more than 4.5 million homes. The announcement follows the Department’s recent announcement that it has approved more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy from offshore wind projects since the start of the Biden-Harris administration- equivalent to half of the capacity needed to achieve President Biden’s goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.”The growing enthusiasm for the clean energy future is infectious. Today’s announcement – which builds on the execution of the nation’s first floating offshore wind energy research lease in Maine last month – is the result of years of thoughtful coordination between our team, the Gulf of Maine states, industry and the Tribes and ocean users who share our interest in the health and longevity of our ocean,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. more, (if you can stand it,) >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:05
I’m outraged by New Hampshire’s treatment of Geno Marconi
I am outraged with the “paid administrative leave” of the Port Director, Geno Marconi and all the secrecy around it. I chaired the Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee for ten years. I was appointed by Governor Lynch and reappointed for another 5 year term. I also chaired the Piscataqua Maritime Commission (Sail Portsmouth) for 10 years where we brought Tall Ships to Portsmouth. I worked with Director Marconi very closely in both capacities and I can say without a shred of doubt that he is “by the book” and an imminently fair and honest man. Now with the suspension of his wife from her position as a State Supreme Court Justice, the pressure is turned up. Governor, you have messed with the wrong people. Director Marconi is not one to be pressured to resign. He is a by-the-book man, and you are about to learn that lesson. more, >>CLICK TO READ<<. by Donald Coker 10:45
Grand jury looking into questions around NH Ports head Marconi
Prosecutors from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office have convened a grand jury and are subpoenaing witnesses as part of an investigation into Geno Marconi, director of the New Hampshire Division of Ports and Harbors, according to multiple sources who have testified before the jury. Marconi has not been charged with any crimes, and the exact nature of the Attorney General’s investigation isn’t clear. Marconi, a longtime fixture on the Seacoast who was first hired as operations manager of the ports in 1995, was placed on administrative leave by the Pease Development Authority in April. A spokesperson for the Authority said it could not comment on the action due to confidentiality rules. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:50
One in 100 million cotton candy lobster caught in New Hampshire
A rare cotton candy lobster was the catch of the day recently off the coast of New Castle, New Hampshire. This candy-colored crustaceans was caught by a local lobsterman and donated to the Seacoast Science Center, a marine science education organization in Rye, New Hampshire’s Odiorne Point State Park. The wild color does not mean that it actually tastes sweet or like candy. It’s the result of a very rare genetic mutation. In May, a fisherman off the coast of England found a blue lobster in one of its traps. Rather than risk the lobster ending up on a dinner plate, the specimen was donated to a local aquarium, similar to what happened with New Hampshire’s cotton candy lobster. Blue lobsters have also been spotted in Marblehead, Massachusetts and France. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:53
Fisherman illegally catches more than a dozen oversized stripers off New England coast
A Massachusetts fisherman is under arrest after investigators announced that he illegally caught 14 oversized striped bass off the New Hampshire coast last week. New Hampshire Fish and Game reported that they had received reports that a boater had been fishing in the Atlantic Ocean off New Castle and Rye with no lights on at night. Officers from the Maine Marine Patrol and Massachusetts Environmental Police began their lookout for the boater in question alongside local police. The Portsmouth Police Department eventually located him after he had loaded his boat onto a trailer and “was in the act of ditching the fish.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
Video: Breaching whale capsizes boat and sends two people flying into the water
Video captured the remarkable moment a whale leapt onto a fishing boat, capsizing it and flinging two people into the water. The incident happened off the coast of New Hampshire, on the north-east coast of the US, on Tuesday. Video captured by Colin Yager, who was in a nearby boat with his brother, shows the huge creature partially leaving the water before crashing down onto the rear of a fishing vessel, flipping it over and sending its two occupants into the Atlantic Ocean. The whale – believed to be a humpback – did not appear to be injured, reported the boat crew from Station Portsmouth, and the boat was salvaged. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:48
Christopher Bell takes the checkered flag on rain tires in the NASCAR Cup race at New Hampshire
Christopher Bell raised a broom over his head and clutched a 24-pound lobster in victory lane all because he earned his third Cup win of the season in an outcome that would have been impossible before this NASCAR season. Heck, it still looked pretty grim for most of Sunday at a rainy track. Once the skies cleared, NASCAR busted out its latest creation it had saved for a rainy day — wet weather Goodyear tires that allowed the race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to continue all the way to a thrilling end. Bell mastered the Cup Series’ first race that ended with cars running on rain tires and pulled away after a 2-hour, 5-minute weather delay to beat darkness and the field and win Sunday at New Hampshire. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:44
Letter to the editor in rebuttal of “Anonymous”
Recently Fishery Nation published an opinion piece first published in Granitegrok.com entitled “Something Smells Like Rotten Fish”. I agree: the rotten fish is the anonymous author. My name is David Goethel, and I am a semi-retired commercial fisherman with over fifty five years’
experience and author of the book Endangered Species about my life as a small boat fishermen in New Hampshire. I am also a dues paying member of the New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen’s Association. The author states Erik Anderson supports offshore wind and selectively quotes from the electronic newsletter to support his belief. Nothing could be further from the truth and reading anonymous’ comments I feel like I am in a “through the looking glass” moment. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:44
Something Smells like Rotten Fish in NH
Commercial fishermen are scratching their heads over the direction in which Erik Anderson, the president of the New Hampshire Commercial Fishermen’s Association (NHCFA), is taking their supposed organization. There is not one commercial or sport fisherman that supports offshore wind (OSW) in the Gulf of Maine except Eric Anderson. The construction and operation of these monsters have affected marine life, from the largest endangered whale to the smallest crustaceans. In a recent post, Mr. Anderson sent his members, he quotes, “It’s finally taking shape,” referring to the upcoming BOEM meetings and pending OSW in the Gulf of Maine. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:32
Maine to spend $25 million to rebuild waterfront after devastating winter storms and flooding
Maine’s government will spend tens of millions of dollars to rebuild the state’s working waterfront communities after a series of devastating winter storms pummeled the state’s docks, wharves and coastal businesses. The back-to-back storms hammered the Northeast in January and hit Maine and New Hampshire especially hard, bringing flooding and heavy damage to dozens of businesses. State officials in Maine said the storms, which were later declared a “major disaster” by President Joe Biden, caused about $70 million in damage in the state. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:06
First, the lights flickered. Then the internet disappeared – 400,000 without power as deadly Nor’easter slams New England
When the power and internet went out, they would flicker back on and off, and when it did, the power stayed on, letting the furnace run, and with a semi normal life, with the exception of our internet provider, who finally came back on last night. A deadly Nor’easter storm left hundreds of thousands of people without power into Friday morning while floods and heavy snow disrupted travel. More than 280,000 people remained without power in Maine and another 111,400 in New Hampshire as of early Friday morning, according to poweroutage.us. more, >>click to read<< 06:21
Over 200,000 people without power across New England as winter storm winds down. That’s where we were. No Power!
Hundreds of thousands were without power after a storm a winter storm brought snow and heavy rain through New England Saturday. Around 50,000 customers are without power on Sunday afternoon across New Hampshire as daylong snow and freezing rain swept the region on Saturday, according to Eversource. “Crews are out working hard to restore outages as they happen,” Robert Buxton, Director of the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said in a written statement. As of 1 p.m. on Sunday, over 170,000 are also experiencing power outages in Maine where a drop in evening temperatures has caused icy conditions, according to Central Maine Power. >>click to read<< 13:54
Burglary charged aboard NOAA mapping ship in New Castle
A Nashville man has been charged with stealing money and various items from a New Castle-based ship operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Anthony Christopher McCauliff, 35, faces two felony counts of burglary and a felony charge of theft by unauthorized taking for allegedly taking items from the crew aboard the Ferdinand Hassler. The theft by unauthorized taking charge, a Class A felony, accuses McCauliff of taking money “and/or” a Dell tablet, U.S. currency, a keyboard, a card reader, a power supply, a key card, a government pay card and a wallet from the Ferdinand Hassler’s crew. The “aggregate value” of the property combined was in excess of $1,500, the indictment states. more, >>click to read<< 10:59
Lifelong commercial fisherman Jeremy Davis of Maine, has passed away
Jeremy G. Davis died unexpectedly on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at York Hospital after a short illness. Jeremy was a lifelong commercial fisherman. He crewed and eventually captained boats for others out of ports in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts in his early years. Eventually, Jeremy purchased his first commercial fishing boat, a 42′ boat fittingly named the F/V Chutzpah. This allowed him to stay closer to home, support his young family, and avoid the extended offshore trips on larger vessels. His love for fishing was not just a job; it was his life’s work. Jeremy was an extremely hard worker who rarely took a day off from running his fishing business. He eventually purchased his largest boat, the F/V Karen Lynn I, named after his wife of 42 years. Jeremy captained that boat until his semi-retirement a few short years ago when he started spending winters in Port Charlotte, Florida. more, >>click to read<< 09:34
Commercial Lobster Boat Stranded on Rye Harbor Jetty
Crews are working on a plan to move a boat off the jetty in Rye. The boat washed up on the inner jetty near Ocean Boulevard. Geno Marconi, Director of Ports and Harbors for the New Hampshire Port Authority, said the boat got pushed onto the rocks during high tide Monday. Marconi said the boat had been attached to a mooring that failed during the storm, causing it to float away. “It’s only as good as the equipment you put in there, but the equipment, everything mechanical is subject to failure,” Marconi said. Marconi said the owner of the commercial lobster boat has already been in contact with his insurance, and they have a plan to get it back into the water safely. Video, more, >>click to read<< 09:43
Commentary: It’s time to stop slandering Geno and Anna Barbara Hantz Marconi
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