Washington state officials are ordering a salmon fisherman to pay $646,259 in damages and penalties for spilling diesel fuel into Haro Strait as his commercial fishing boat sank off San Juan Island. The boat, a purse seiner called F/V Aleutian Isle, sank while participating in a sockeye salmon fishery in August 2022. Its five-member crew escaped onto a small skiff before the Aleutian Isle rolled on its side and disappeared beneath the waves, about 15 minutes after its captain noticed water covering its main deck. F/V Aleutian Isle spent more than a month on the sea floor, with the powerful currents of Haro Strait moving it to deeper water over time, before salvage crews lifted it from the water. They recovered 590 gallons of diesel from its tanks. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:11
Neil Gorsuch Cheers Supreme Court Placing ‘Tombstone’ on 40-Year Precedent
In Friday’s 6-3 ruling in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, the justices wiped out 40 years of administrative law precedent in a move that will restrain federal agency powers. The court’s decision overturned the Chevron deference established in the 1984 case Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. The majority, led by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by the court’s other conservative justices, held that “courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous,” overturning Chevon deference. The court’s three liberal justices dissented. The majority, led by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by the court’s other conservative justices, held that “courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous,” overturning Chevon deference. The court’s three liberal justices dissented. In Gorsuch’s concurring opinion, he wrote: “Today, the Court places a tombstone on Chevron no one can miss. In doing so, the Court returns judges to interpretive rules that have guided federal courts since the Nation’s founding.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:49
Biloxi Blessing of the Fleet: A Coast tradition
It’s time for Biloxi’s Blessing of the Fleet, a yearly Coast tradition that dates back to 1929. This year, it’s happening Sunday, July 7. Each year before shrimp boats journey into the Gulf, they are blessed in the waters between East Biloxi and Deer Island. The ceremonial blessing, given by a local Catholic priest, marks the official beginning of shrimping season. During the event, an evergreen wreath is dropped into the Sound in the memory of those shrimpers who have died at sea. The event once only blessed working boats, but now recreational boats are welcome to be blessed, as well. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:29
Supreme Court Strips Power from Federal Agencies—Overturning Decades-Old Precedent
The Supreme Court overturned a landmark ruling Friday that gave widespread power to federal agencies, a seismic ruling that has the power to upend how the federal government operates—and delivers a win to conservative groups who long wanted to see the precedent overturned. “Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo” and “Relentless v. Chamber of Commerce” are two linked disputes, both brought by herring fishermen who opposed a federal policy requiring them to pay $700 per day to carry federal monitors on their vessels. The cases more broadly asked the court to overturn “Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council,” a landmark 1984 ruling that gave federal agencies broad power to enact regulations by arguing courts should usually defer to agency staff—a precedent that high-profile figures on the right have long wanted to see struck down. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:29
Fisherman ordered to pay $646,259 for oil spill off San Juan Island
Reagan Paul: Hope Floats, But Not for UMaine’s VolturnUS Floating Offshore Wind Platform
Last year, LD 1895 “An Act Regarding the Procurement of Energy from Offshore Wind Resources” passed, which got the ball rolling on Maine’s push for offshore wind port. The port will be the culmination of a more than decade-long taxpayer-funded effort to develop a floating offshore wind research array project, with the goal of eventually turning the Gulf of Maine into an industrialized wind farm. The viability of this technology was to be tested through an array of 12 wind turbines using the patented VolturnUS concrete, semi-submersible floating offshore wind turbine platform design created by Dr. Habib Dagher of the University of Maine, over the last decade. The Portland Press Herald conceded that this floating offshore wind research array project is too cost-prohibitive without an almost billion-dollar dedicated wind port facility off the coast of Maine, which means that a port must be constructed before the state can even move forward with the research array outlined in LD 1895. Enter Sears Island. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:46
The Next Generation Answers Call of the Lobster
Lobstering and commercial fishing generally can be a tough business to break into. Fishing permits are expensive and in limited supply. Buying and repairing gear — boats, nets, traps and so on — takes time, patience and money. Add to that, environmental regulations and a dwindling lobster fishery and it adds up to an unstable livelihood. But Tegan Gale, Matteus Scheffer, Otto Osmers and Chris Mayhew are trying to make a go of it, forming a new generation of Vineyard fisherman, following in the footsteps of their fathers, grandfathers and, in some cases, great grandfathers. But they have no illusions about what they are getting into, especially where lobster are concerned.Two years ago, a retiring Island fisherman put his lobster permit up for sale. Otto Osmers, who had been fishing a student permit in high school seized the opportunity. photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:39
Seagull makes nest, lays eggs on Point Judith fisherman’s boat
Since 2003, Paddy McGlade has been the captain of F/V Enterprise, his 70-foot-long stern dragger that he navigates while fishing in the ocean. “We catch Whiting, squid, fluke, everyday,” said McGlade. “We probably get up at 1 o’clock in the morning, leave at 2, and we’re back in at 1.” While they have lots of stories from out at sea, a new one has emerged. About two weeks ago McGlade noticed a nest on top of his boat near the cabin. “Paddy said, ‘There’s a seagull nest on the roof!’” said Shawn Overend, a crewmate. “We have been watching it ever since.” “The female usually flies off when we go fishing in the morning, and then when we come back at 12 during the day, she’ll land right on top of the boat and sit on the nest,” said McGlade. “Then when she is back another seagull, I think it’s the male usually flies over to the boat and hangs around like protection.” Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:39
Former Lobsterman Thrives With Own Biz, G & C Marine Services
G & C Marine Services Inc., a full-service marine construction company located in Norwalk, Conn., is run by company founder Gary Wetmore and his son, Charlie, who have been in the business for approximately 20 years. In addition to the marine construction side of the business, which includes pile driving, masonry, maintenance and repair, dock building/carpentry and marine salvage, the company also owns a few small commercial fishing vessels targeting a few small commercial fishing vessels such as black sea bass. “Our marine service company has been very successful and that’s quite fortunate for me because it supports my fishing habit,” Gary said with a smile. Years ago, Gary was a lobsterman, however as water temperatures increased, the lobster population migrated north, leaving Gary looking for alternatives to support himself. He took a job working for a marine contractor in the Norwalk area. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:18
Lifting Up the Patron Saint of Netmakers, Shipbuilders, and Fishermen
The 28th Provincetown Portuguese Festival begins Friday, June 28 with live music and dancing in Portuguese Square on Ryder Street. During the three-day-long celebration, Capt. Kenny Silva will lead a fishing derby on MacMillan Pier, fishermen will tell stories on Ryder Street where there will also be a crafts fair and poetry, and the Knights of Columbus will hold a soup tasting under a tent at the Bas Relief Park behind Provincetown Town Hall. But for at least some people, none of this will compare to the event happening for the 77th time, the Blessing of the Fleet at MacMillan Pier. “Everyone confuses the festival for the blessing,” says Provincetown fisherman Alex Brown. “The festival leads into the blessing, but the blessing is a separate event — it’s always the last Sunday of the month.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:14
Fishing on an ocean ‘antiquity’
The Seamen’s Bethel is a historic landmark: It’s included on the National Register of Historic Places, a list managed by the National Park Service. Some sites on that list are federally protected because they were designated National Monuments by a U.S. president under the Antiquities Act. The Seamen’s Bethel is not considered a National Monument. But bizarrely, President Barack Obama did declare 3.2 million nearby acres of ocean to be a National Monument, preventing fishermen from fishing there. That’s just one of many indignities dealt by the government to fishermen like Jimmy Kearney as they work to make a hard living at sea. The Antiquities Act “has been transformed into a power without any discernable limit to set aside vast and amorphous expanses of terrain above and below the sea,” the Chief Justice concluded. Why does it matter? Because the government is making life harder for commercial fishermen who work an already-grueling job. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:57
Increase to northern cod allocation ‘slap in the face’ to harvesters, FFAW president says
“It’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s probably the worst decision I’ve ever seen out of Ottawa, and I’ve seen some beauts,” said Pretty, who leads the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union. Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier on Wednesday announced an increase to the amount of total allowable catch (TAC) for northern cod in a fishing zone labelled Zone 2J3KL, which stretches from the southeast corner of Newfoundland to the Labrador coastline. Pretty said his largest concern is the fishery being switched from a designation of a stewardship fishery, which helped protect the stock, to a commercial fishery. He argues it brings private operators and harvesters from other countries back to the table too soon and involves parties that caused the moratorium in the first place. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:06
Salvage crews complete recovery of Aleutian Storm, and find a surprise
The last of the wreckage of the Aleutian Storm has been hauled away from south Salmon Creek Beach after final salvage operations that yielded a surprise about the boat’s construction that helps explain some of the challenges when it ran aground. An unusual, 4-inch thick and 4-foot-wide slab of steel that ran 36 feet along the bottom of the commercial fishing vessel’s keel may be the reason it was immovable after it grounded in the surf Feb. 9 south of Bodega Dunes Campground, a representative of Parker Diving Service said. “It anchored that vessel into the sand so when they were either trying to turn it and pull back to sea in those first couple of days and have a tug tow it, it kept snapping the line,” Nunn said. “I know the owner tried desperately to get it back to sea.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:31
‘Dark day for fishery’; inshore advocates say lifting 32-year northern cod moratorium wrong way forward
DFO’s decision to lift the northern cod moratorium and unleash foreign and domestic offshore draggers on the iconic stock when all signs point to proceeding with extreme caution amounts to a dark day for the province’s commercial fisheries. “We have learned nothing after 32 years of moratorium,” says inshore advocate Ryan Cleary. “The only thing historic about today is the relentless fisheries management failure.” Released unexpectedly Wednesday morning, DFO’s 2024 northern cod management plan reestablishes a commercial fishery for northern cod, the first since 1992, setting the total allowable catch (TAC) at 18,000 tonnes. That’s only a 5,000-tonne increase from 2023’s maximum harvest level of 12,999 tonnes, but that was under a small-scale stewardship fishery limited to inshore handlines, longlines, gillnets, and cod pots. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:04
Lobster boats race in rain and fog in Bass Harbor
This year the big winner was Jeff Eaton’s La Bella Vita. The Northern Bay 38-foot, 815 horsepower vessel took first in its class and then topped the most competitive races of the day, Jon Johansen photos.
Drizzle, downpours and at times dense fog delayed but did not stop the roar of gas- and diesel-powered lobster boats racing through the harbor when the Maine Lobster Boat Races touched down in Bass Harbor on June 23. “It was an exciting day!” Race Committee Chairperson Elean Mitchell said, despite the cold, wet weather. “We handed out prizes during off-and-on downpours.” Douglas Cornman performed the blessing of the fleet at 9:45 a.m., with the first race starting around 10:30, Mitchell said. The 31st and final race finished just after noon. across the 31 races, with winners receiving $200 in prize money. Lobstermen race for bragging rights as much as prizes. The Maine Lobster Boat Races next land in Moosabec Reach in Jonesport on June 29 and Stonington on July 14. 7Photos, results, more, >>CLIC TO READ<< 10:35
End of cod moratorium touted after 32 years as Ottawa approves small increase in commercial catch
Thirty-two years after the federal government announced a moratorium that shut down Newfoundland and Labrador’s cod industry, Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier said Wednesday that it is reopening. But what the federal government described in a statement as the “historic return of the commercial northern cod fishery” will amount to just a small increase in fishing activity that had been allowed during the recent years of the moratorium. “Ending the northern cod moratorium is a historic milestone for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians,” Lebouthillier said in a statement. “We will cautiously but optimistically build back this fishery with the prime beneficiaries being coastal and Indigenous communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.” The Fisheries and Oceans announcement comes with political overtones. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:40
A fishing conglomerate created a fake company to facilitate a merger. It could now be on the hook for billions of dollars.
Commercial fishers are one of the professions that’s been nickeled-and-dimed in recent decades, right up there with long-haul truckers and chicken farmers. In New Bedford, Massachusetts, the most lucrative port for seafood catches in the country, a fisherman profiled by ProPublica in 2022 was forced to contract with one of the world’s seafood powerhouses, Blue Harvest, because it had become the only buyer in the local market. Per the contract, fishers have to lease fishing permits from the company; the costs for vessel maintenance, fuel, gear, and repairs on company-owned boats are taken out from fishers’ own paychecks, called settlement sheets. After fishing around the clock for ten days to meet quotas, Jerry Leeman only made 14 cents on the pound and his crew 7 cents, even as their haddock catch sold for $2.28 per pound at market. Blue Harvest took the lion’s share of earnings, while placing all the risks of the trade onto fishers. “Tell me how I can catch 50,000 pounds of fish yet I don’t know what my kids are going to have for dinner,” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:59
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 39′ x 15.5 Novi Lobster/ Gillnetter, 375HP, John Deere 8.1 Diesel
To review specifications, information, and 30 photos’, >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >click here< 06:59
Petersburg seiner overturns in Anita Bay; one crew member injured
A Petersburg seiner overturned just south of Wrangell in Anita Bay at about 10 a.m. this morning. Multiple entities responded – the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and Wrangell Search and Rescue helped evacuate all five crewmembers aboard the 58-foot F/V Pamela Rae. The crew made it out unharmed, except for one person who sustained a minor injury. Lieutenant Matt Naylor, a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard, said they don’t know what caused the Pamela Rae to overturn, but it could have been a mechanical problem. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:05
Jake Anderson’s Struggles With the Saga on ‘Deadliest Catch,’ Explained
For 19 years, Deadliest Catch viewers have gotten a firsthand glimpse into some of the deadliest ocean waves surrounding the U.S. Crabbers and fishermen are the stars of this series, a few of whom have been there since day one of the show. Captain Sig Hansen has been the primary captain featured in this series, and he has mentored several others who have since become captains of their own boats. One of those captains and former mentees is Jake Anderson, who is presently dealing with big issues. In 2015 with his lifesavings, he invested in the Saga as his new boat with another co-owner. Unfortunately, thanks to some financial problems his partner allegedly caused, Jake Anderson lost the Saga. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:17
As salmon season kicks off, some Alaska fishermen fear for their futures
On a brilliant spring morning, Buck Laukitis, a longtime fisherman from this Kenai Peninsula town, stood at the city dock watching his catch come ashore. Crew members aboard Laukitis’ boat, the Oracle, filled bags with dozens of halibut — some of the fatter ones worth $200 or more — which a crane would lift up to the dock. There, processing workers on a small slime line weighed the fish, tossed crushed ice into the gills and slid them into boxes for shipment to Canada. Harvest, unload, sell, repeat — exactly how the iconic Alaska commercial fishing industry is supposed to work. Until you ask Laukitis about the Oracle’s sister vessel, the Halcyon. Instead of fishing for another species, black cod, like it’s built for, the Halcyon is tied up at the dock. For Laukitis to make money, processing companies would need to pay $2.50 for each pound of black cod delivered to a plant. But right now, buyers aren’t paying much more than $1.50, he said. With Laukitis on the dock last month were his young grandkids and adult daughters — fishermen who run a popular brand called the Salmon Sisters. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:40
Retired commercial fisherman Hiram Allen Gerrish of Winter Harbor, Me. has passed away
Hiram Allen Gerrish, 85, of Winter Harbor, passed peacefully at home June 20, 2024. He was born July 3, 1938, in Gerrishville, to parents Gib and Lillian (Hamilton). Hiram attended Winter Harbor schools and first worked as a teenager at Milt Torrey’s sawmill and egg farm. He then pursued his love for the ocean and went seining, lobster fishing, shrimping and scalloping. He met and married Nancy Ray, and they were together for 63 amusing years. Together they raised four unique children, Pam, Bonny, Allen and Kevin. Hiram was a founding member of the Winter Harbor Co-op and an active member of the fire department. He was very passionate and dedicated to town government. In 1977, he started working for the Dixon family until his retirement in 2016. Many of his local friends and neighbors relied on his knowledge, expertise and assistance with fishing gear, motors, electrical problems, welding and building projects. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:07
New Bedford State Pier proposal makes fishing a destination attraction.
It’s a joint proposal from Buyers and Sellers Exchange seafood and New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. They say their $15 million proposal will promote economic growth and education, wrapped up in a destination-style attraction. BASE, the seafood auction house founded in New Bedford in 1994, would off-load the incoming catch at the Pier, and then hold its daily seafood auctions before the scallops and fish are sent on their way to myriad outlets. All in view of the visiting public. There will be a seafood market, as well, for folks who want to bring home that night’s dinner along with their experience. 8 photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:44
New Chair and Vice-Chair of Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association
Alex Wiseman has retired as chair of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association (SPFA) after 15 years of dedicated service, with former vice-chair Richard Williamson elected as the new chair and Alexander (Ally) West becoming the new vice-chair. Tributes were paid to Alex Wiseman at a recent board meeting of the SPFA, who has led the Association with real commitment for a considerable period, ensuring that the voice of Scottish pelagic catching sector was heard at all levels of government. The new chair, Richard Williamson, who is the co-skipper of the Shetland vessel, Research, said: “Alex has been a superb chair and everyone in the Association would like to thank him for excellent work in looking after the interests of our sector for so many years. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:37
Copper River continues lead in PWS commercial salmon harvests
With ice essentially gone from river systems, the sockeyes continued to weigh in heavier than through the same period a year ago, said fisheries biologist Jeremy Botz, in the Cordova office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The Bering River and Coghill districts were also open for 36-hour commercial runs on Monday, and the Eshamy district for a 24-hour period. Montague District opened for purse seiners for 24 hours, and the Southwestern district for 48 hours, also for seiners. Even with other wild Alaska salmon fisheries opening for the season, Copper River sockeyes were holding their own in Anchorage restaurants, with entrees of Copper River reds offered at $49 at Simon and Seafort’s and $32 for the entree at Orso. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:50
Police seize 3,000 pounds of illegal haddock from New Bedford seafood plant
Massachusetts Environmental Police seized more than 3,000 pounds of illegally harvested haddock from a New Bedford processing plant on Thursday in the first commercial scale bust of the groundfish season, MEP officials said. MEP said it is not releasing the name of the vessel that caught the illegal fish or the processing plant until charges are formally filed. But industry sources confirmed Monday that the illegal fish was caught by the F/V Fisherman, an 82-foot trawler based out of New Bedford and owned by M & P Fishing Corp. Business filings list Mario Ribeiro and Pedro Cura as owners of the company. The name of the captain was not released. Col. Moran said the illegal fish was offloaded late Wednesday night at BASE Seafood Auction, after which it was sold to the unnamed processing plant. photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:47
Sipekne’katik First Nation granted a temporary adjournment to allow for mediation with the Crown
A Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge has granted a joint request from the Sipekne’katik First Nation and the Attorney General of Canada to adjourn trial dates that would have aimed to settle treaty fishing rights disputes. The court has decided to give the involved parties until December 12, 2024, to have a defined and active mediation process in place, if not, proceeding with litigation would be re-examined. The Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFCA), which represents the interests of its members who are commercial fishers in the Gulf and Maritimes regions, asserts that the courts must finally decide the scope of Marshall rights for Indigenous Peoples. “The fact that the Sipekne’katik First Nation is attempting to settle treaty fishing rights issues outside of court is a historic precedent considering the court system has been at the center of Indigenous claims to the fishery and rights in particular for decades,” said Colin Sproul, President of the UFCA. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:25
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
NCFA WEEKLY UPDATE for June 24, 2024
MD, VA and NC Public Hearing on Atlantic Cobia Draft Addendum II – The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) staff will be presenting Atlantic Cobia Draft Addendum II and having opportunity for public comment. This Draft Addendum considers recreational allocation, harvest target evaluation, and the timeline for setting management specifications. Although this may not directly apply to all readers, I think it is an interesting exercise that will apply to many more of our fisheries in the future. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:19
How Brixham fishermen rescued 70 after U-boat attack
This feature is dedicated to William Pillar – Captain of a fishing smack out of Brixham who, with three crew and two boys, saved seventy Naval personnel from a watery grave in the First World War after their Battleship sank. It was on New Year’s Day 1915 at 2am that the battleship HMS Formidable was patrolling in Start Bay on the Devon coast when a German U-boat spotted her and, having fired two torpedoes, ensured the Formidable then sank. With the watertight doors closed, most of the crew luckily assembled on deck while scrambling for the lifeboats. There had been 790 sailors aboard the Battleship but only 201 would survive and of these 71 would be rescued by Provident, a fishing smack out of Brixham under the command of Pillar and a small crew. The lucky sailors had been adrift for 12 hours when the “smack”, returning to Brixham, spotted their small Navy cutter. Captain Pillar knew of the dangers he now faced, yet on his fourth attempt he successfully had a line aboard the cutter despite huge seas and the dangers to all men. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:27
Scottish Government Discusses Cetacean Deaths from Fishing Line Entanglements
The Scottish Government has engaged in discussions with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) regarding their research into reducing cetacean deaths caused by fishing line entanglements. This issue was highlighted during a parliamentary session, where Kenneth Gibson (SNP) inquired about the government’s actions on the matter. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands, Mairi Gougeon, acknowledged the importance of the research and the government’s commitment to addressing the issue. She emphasized the government’s intention to work with stakeholders to minimize bycatch and entanglement of sensitive marine species through the future catching policy. This effort aligns with Scotland’s broader goal of ensuring sustainable fisheries. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:56
