After two seasons of navigating turbulent waters, there is a sense of hope that the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery can finally sail into calmer conditions in April 2024. There was certainly no shortage of conflict on many fronts in 2024, despite efforts to get past some of the tensions that plagued the 2023 season. The provincial government had to step in and help resolve a tie-up by snow crab harvesters in the spring of 2023 that led to a six-week delay to the traditional start of the fishing season. The government formed a committee tasked with finding a better way to settle snow crab pricing, but even its recommendations failed to prevent another disagreement that led to another delayed start in April 2024. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:01
Midcoast Maine organization awarded grant to tackle abandoned fishing gear cleanup
It’s a mission for cleaner oceans- a large grant awarded to one midcoast organization in Maine, will go towards the cleanup of lost fishing gear in Maine waters. The president of OceansWide, Buzz Scott, says this cleanup is a step in the right direction in clearing the state’s ocean floors. “We want to make it possible for the fisherman to continue fishing for generations to come,” said Scott. The Newcastle non-profit is taking on a 5-week mission to clean up abandoned fishing gear around Vinalhaven island. OceansWide is one of 11 organizations awarded a grant for the project through the National Fishing Trap Removal Program. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:39
Researcher urges caution on rock lobster catch limit increase
Seafood industry players say they will welcome an increase in catch limits for rock lobster and Pacific bluefin tuna if a proposal by the Oceans and Fisheries Minister gets the green light. However, a researcher is warning that increasing catch limits for rock lobsters is too risky. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has reviewed catch limits for spiny red rock lobster in the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty region, known as CRA 2, as well as Otago or CRA 7, and for Pacific bluefin tuna in TOR 1 (all of New Zealand). Consultation opened on Friday. The rock lobster fisheries were valuable for the economy and culturally, Jones said. “The fisheries provide jobs, bring significant export income for New Zealand, and are popular with recreational fishers. It’s important that we strike the right balance between getting the most value possible from these fisheries while ensuring their sustainability. This is reflected in the proposals.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:52
Man charged with having stolen fishing trawler in Greencastle
A man has appeared in court charged with handling a stolen fishing trawler in Donegal. David Paterson appeared at a sitting of Buncrana District Court. The 48-year-old Scottish national was charged in connection with the alleged incident at Greencastle Pier, Greencastle on November 22, 2024. Paterson is charged that he did handle stolen property, to wit a fishing vessel, namely the ‘Linda Louise’ knowing the property was stolen or were reckless as to whether it was stolen. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:38
Frankenfish ‘culled’ – Financial collapse kills AquaBounty salmon plans
Score one for Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. AquaBounty Technologies, the Massachusetts-based company that claimed to have found “a better way to feed the world” with a genetically modified, faster-growing salmon, has gone bust. Always a faithful booster of Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, which saw genetically engineered (GE) fish yet another threat in market that has been running away from Alaska for a couple decades, Murkowski had branded the company’s salmon “Frankenfish” and spent years trying to get the federal government to ban it. She never succeeded in the regulatory arena, but victory appears to now have come thanks to in part to the public relations war she waged. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:52
BOEM admits potentially irreversible harm to whales, fisheries, and seabirds
A government regulator recognizing offshore wind’s destructive environmental effects is as rare as a North Atlantic right whale. But a recent, 600-plus page report from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) admits that the offshore wind development planned for the New York Bight, the triangular area bordered by the New Jersey and Long Island coastlines may irreversibly harm whales, commercial and recreational fisheries, and seabirds. The BOEM report is the agency’s first to evaluate the cumulative impacts of offshore wind development. Its authors cite a wide range of potential effects, from negligible (or even beneficial) to major. Acknowledging potentially “major” harms is a radical departure from the agency’s previously accepted Environmental Impact Statements for offshore wind projects, which have always focused on the impacts of individual projects, rather than the cumulative impacts of multiple projects. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:28
Point Pleasant fisherman James N. Mathews has passed away
James Nestor Mathews passed away on December 4th, 2024 after 80 years of living life to its fullest. Jimmy spent over 60 years doing what he enjoyed most, catching fish from his home port of Point Pleasant NJ. He was born on October 9 th , 1944 in East Orange NJ and moved with his parents and siblings to Point Pleasant, NJ in 1956. It was there that Jimmy’s life long love of fishing took root, as he started working with his dad on his party boat the Flying Fish in the early 1960’s. During those early years with his father, Jimmy became interested in the local commercial fishing scene, and learned how to gill net, along with his life long friend Joey Pierce on a small skiff operated by Adolph Lovgren. It wasn’t long before Jimmy and Joey bought their own Skiffs to pursue the American dream. After a few years Jimmy was ready to move into a bigger boat and bought the Five Devils in 1971, a 57-foot-long dragger that worked out of the Fisherman’s Dock Co-op. He renamed it the Chrissy James and soon developed a reputation of fearlessness by fishing in some extreme weather conditions. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 16:36
All crew members rescued after 65-foot fishing vessel capsized just off Ventura Harbor entrance
Four crew members were rescued after their 65-foot commercial fishing vessel capsized just outside of the Ventura Harbor entrance Friday. Two of those crew members were transported to a local hospital for further medical evaluation shared the Ventura Harbor Patrol. At 9:59 a.m., the Ventura Harbor Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard received a report of the capsized F/V Net Effect, a 65-foot fishing vessel, just outside of the Harbor’s entrance stated a request for information from the Ventura Harbor Patrol. According to Ventura Harbor Patrol, the capsized vessel is outside the jurisdiction of the Harbor and Port District boundaries and the U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating the handling of removing fuel from the vessel. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13: 47
Big fight looms at Board of Fish meeting over Prince William Sound trawl bycatch
For years, conservationists, tribes and fishermen have feuded over bycatch of salmon in the huge pollock harvest in the remote Bering Sea off Alaska. Now, a new bycatch fight has erupted over a much smaller pollock fishery not far from urban Alaska, in the waters of Prince William Sound, east of Anchorage. This week, the state Board of Fisheries is considering four proposals by a local tribal government and an Alaska sportsmen’s group that could place sharp restrictions on, or even close down, Prince Williams Sound’s annual pollock trawl harvest. Supporters of the proposals cite state data that show the roughly 15 participating boats, most of which come from Kodiak Island, unintentionally scoop up some 900 king salmon and 900 rockfish each year in their wide-mouth trawl nets. And they say that subsistence harvests of those fish need protection. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:07
NJ Offshore Wind Monopiles Are Being Scrapped At Port
Several massive offshore wind monopiles, manufactured at New Jersey’s cutting-edge Wind Port, are being scrapped instead of heading out to sea to become wind turbines. New Jersey’s Wind Port, located in Lower Alloways Creek was designed to be a hub for offshore wind construction, supporting the state’s ambitious clean energy goals. However, recent reports and photos indicate that monopiles at the facility are being scrapped so the material can be used for other projects. The dismantling comes in the wake of a major setback for NJ Offshore Wind. About a year ago, Ørsted, a leading wind energy developer, abruptly canceled two offshore wind projects planned for the state. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:14
Newfoundland and Labrador: Fishing industry participants hope a ‘sea change’ in 2025
After two seasons of navigating turbulent waters, there is a sense of hope that the Newfoundland and Labrador fishery can finally sail into calmer conditions in April 2024. There was certainly no shortage of conflict on many fronts in 2024, despite efforts to get past some of the tensions that plagued the 2023 season. The provincial government had to step in and help resolve a tie-up by snow crab harvesters in the spring of 2023 that led to a six-week delay to the traditional start of the fishing season. The government formed a committee tasked with finding a better way to settle snow crab pricing, but even its recommendations failed to prevent another disagreement that led to another delayed start in April 2024. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:01
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
Brussels demand Keir Starmer surrenders UK fishing rights for EU deal
Brussels will demand Labour surrender fishing rights and follow EU laws for the first time since Brexit, it was reported last night. European leaders are said to want to make a new trade deal with Sir Keir Starmer dependent on Britain accepting European Court of Justice jurisdiction. It would be the first time since Brexit in January 2020 that the UK has had to follow EU law as part of its trading relationship with the bloc. It makes clear Brussels will demand key concessions on fishing, the European Court of Justice and youth mobility. Current fishing arrangements are seen by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations as a ‘neo-colonial relationship with the EU’ as the UK has given up post-Brexit control of fishery resources. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:39
The Iconic Dungeness Crab
In November 2014, I began to research a California cultural ritual, the famous Dungeness Crab. Icon of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, paired with the Wharf’s incredible sour dough, tourist and native alike used to flock there for a very special treat. When I was a kid, we dressed up to go to the city, to visit both my grandfather and the Wharf. It was part of being a Northern Californian. No more. Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey, Bodega Bay and the Marine Lab, Moss Landing: I drove all over doing my favorite thing, talking to people and learning about California’s delicate balances. The first fisherman. Captain Frank Terlouw prepares the Barbara J, a classic wooden fishing trawler, for a 4 a.m. departure to check and unload his 260 crab pots, no matter the weather. He and one crewmember will head north toward Anchor Bay and return 38 hours later with Dungeness crabs destined for holiday meals, a Northern California tradition. Video, Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:25
Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen’s friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish
The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes for one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy, seafood, and some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive to consumers. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on government deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks that are already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they are excited for Trump’s second presidency. They said they expect he’ll allow fishing in protected areas as he did in his first presidency, crack down on offshore wind expansion and cut back regulations they describe as burdensome. And they expect a marked shift from the administration of President Joe Biden, who prioritized ocean conservation and championed wind power from the start. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:26
Fresh fin whale meat is auctioned for the first time in decades in Japan
Meat from fin whales caught for the first time in nearly 50 years off Japan’s northern coast fetched up to more than $1,300 per kilogram (2.2 lbs) at auction Thursday, as officials try to keep the struggling industry alive. Japan’s Fisheries Agency this year added fin whales to its list of three whale species that can be legally hunted as the country expands commercial whaling along its coast. Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission in 2019. The IWC designated the fin whale as a species for protection from overhunting in 1976. On Thursday, some 1.4 tons of fresh meat from several fin whales caught off Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido was auctioned at the Sapporo fish market and the Kangei Maru’s home port of Shimonoseki. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:21
‘Never seen anything like that’ | Southeast Texas shrimpers are left unhappy after contentious meeting with wind farm developer
A community meeting hosted by Diligence Offshore about proposed wind turbines off the Port Arthur coast quickly dissolved into frustration when the company representative abruptly left without addressing local shrimper’s concerns. Aaron Crawford with Diligence Offshore addressed the room full of concerned citizens but left the room and declined to talk to 12News less than five minutes into the meeting. “That’s all I came to tell y’all tonight. God bless y’all. Can’t answer any questions because I have a big meeting coming up on the 17th,” said Crawford. The meeting drew criticism from local shrimpers and community members. Kyle Kimball, president of the Port Arthur Area Shrimpers Association, expressed his disbelief. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:06
Fire destroys lobster boat in Canada Creek, N.S.
A fire on a lobster fishing boat in Canada Creek, N.S., took several hours to get under control, according to the local fire department. Kevin Ernest, spokesperson for the Waterville and District Fire Department, says emergency services were called to the wharf around 9:30 a.m. Thursday. By the time the fire department arrived, the boat was fully engulfed in flames. Ernest says it was a “stubborn fire” that was difficult to get out due to the amount of fuel on board. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:56
A Rebuttal to a Recent Commentary: Alaska trawl fisheries are vital and under attack by those using myths
This campaign to ban trawling – a sustainable fishing method responsible for a substantial majority of fishery landings in the Alaska Region and nationally – poses a direct threat to Alaska’s coastal economy, seafood sector and way of life. If you enjoy wild seafood – fish sandwiches or shrimp; fish sticks or scallops; fish tacos or rockfish – you are enjoying seafood caught by “trawl” or “dredge” fishing gears that touch the seafloor. It’s true that these fishing methods, like every farm, aquaculture facility and fishing operation on the planet, impact the environment. But, what’s also true is that the impacts of trawl fishing in Alaska are continually monitored to ensure long-term ecosystem health. The recent commentary authored for the Alaska Beacon by Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon and David Bayes is the latest effort to demonize sustainable trawl fisheries. Like other attacks on our sector, the commentary comes from a vocal few that play fast and loose with the facts. By Sam Wright, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:43
Capping marine mammal harassment constrains offshore wind
Prior to approving offshore wind development NOAA routinely authorized the loud noise harassment of large numbers of whales under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). New research by Professor Apostolos Gerasoulis shows that this harassment is causing a lot of whale deaths. For example, it is known to cause deafness which can easily be deadly. But harassment need not cause deafness to cause death. Offshore wind arrays that occupy a hundred square miles or more are typically built in low ship traffic areas with high traffic nearby. Harassment can simply cause the whales to avoid the low traffic area and spend more time in heavy ship traffic leading to an increase in deadly collisions. The same is true for lightly versus heavily used fishing areas where avoidance leads to increased entanglement. Ship strikes and entanglement are the two leading causes of whale deaths. Ironically the wind defenders say that increased ship strikes and entanglements show that wind is not causing increased death rates when they are actually strong evidence against wind. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:14
Sipekne’katik claims ‘significant progress’ in talks with Ottawa over controversial N.S. lobster fishery
The First Nation at the centre of a highly contentious out-of-season lobster fishery in southwest Nova Scotia says mediation with the federal government is bearing fruit, with lengthy meetings between both sides leading to the first “meaningful dialogue” in 25 years. The comments from the lawyer for Sipekne’katik First Nation come in a letter to a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge that asks that litigation launched by the band against the federal government in 2021 be paused for another six months to allow negotiations to continue. The two sides, along with intervenor Unified Fisheries Conservation Alliance, which represents commercial fishing interests, are expected to discuss the time extension in court this morning. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:02
Body of missing Coos Bay fisherman recovered in Alaska
The body of a missing fisherman whose boat capsized off the Alaskan coast has been found, according to his family. Jake Hannah, 22, was one of five men aboard the “Wind Walker” fishing vessel when it went down in stormy conditions near Juneau a week and a half ago. Earlier this week, Alaska authorities found remains and debris on a remote beach near Hoonah. Jake’s mom, Carol, confirmed that one of the bodies recovered has since been positively identified as Jake “I’m happy and sad at the same time. I’m happy my Jake has been found. I’m sad because the others are still out there,” Carol said. A GoFundMe page to help Jake’s family, including a young daughter, has been established. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:33
BOEM releases potential impacts from offshore wind farm in draft environmental impact statement
The area proposed for the Morro Bay Wind Energy Project is located 20 miles offshore and encompasses around 376 square miles. It lists air pollution from boats, construction, and equipment as one potential impact of the development. That’s a concern for the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization. “There will be little left for the fishing industry and also all of the ships’ traffic and debris,” said Jeremiah O’Brien, Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Organization Vice President. O’Brien has other concerns with the report also citing an increased risk of injury or death to marine mammals due to vessel strikes and disturbances from underwater noise during construction. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:31
‘On pins and needles”: Family members wait for identification of bodies connected to capsized fishing vessel
The bodies that were found on Monday among the debris of a fishing vessel that capsized over the weekend have yet to be identified. It might make it all the more difficult for the loved ones of those five men who went missing in Southeast Alaska. “That confirmation is going to be the hardest day of our lives,” Carol Hannah, the mother of Jacob Hannah, one of the crew members aboard the vessel, said. “We’re all on edge right now waiting to see if one of them is our Jake.” On Monday, Alaska Wildlife Troopers reported that human remains were found on a beach near Hoonah. The remains, troopers stated, were discovered among the debris of the fishing vessel Wind Walker, which capsized early in the morning of Dec. 1 near Point Couverden. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:45
Newfoundland towns light up harbours to honour fishers and pray for their safety
On a twinkling wharf in a small Newfoundland town, a crowd of about 100 people stopped singing and chatting on Friday night to bow their heads in a moment of silence for local fish harvesters. Now in its 26th year, the boat lighting in Port de Grave, N.L., draws visitors from all over the province, but organizers have kept the town’s fishers at the heart of the ceremony. Port de Grave’s event began with a single fisherman, Eric Lear, deciding to light up his boat on Christmas. It has since grown and now requires volunteers to direct cars from out of town into designated parking areas. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:10
Oregon: Commercial Dungeness crab season begins Dec. 16
Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery opens Dec. 16 from Cape Falcon (Oswald State Park) to the California border. according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). “Pre-season testing in this area shows crab meat fill meets criteria and domoic acid is below the safety threshold,” a release from ODFW states. Oregon will open the north coast in coordination with southern Washington to ensure consumers get a quality product and crab is not wasted. Dec. 31 is the earliest this area could open. The commercial fleet can begin the presoak period – setting baited crab pots in the water – on Dec. 13 from Cape Falcon to the California border. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:55
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 44’11” Provincial Longliner Rod & Reel
To review specifications, information, and 37 photos’, >click here<. To see all the boats in this series >click here< 06:21
San Remo rock lobster priced for Christmas
Light catches for the opening of the rock lobster season have seen prices for live crays at the San Remo Fisherman’s Co-op rise to a wallet stretching $120 a kilogram. One lobster weighing two and a half kilograms will set you back $300 cooked or claw-snapping live. Ryan Stephens, Seafood Manager of San Remo Fisherman’s Co-Op said the two biggest lobsters caught so far this season are still in his tanks waiting for one or two lucky families this Christmas. “The best crays are the older ones with coral on their shell,” said Ryan. “Cleaner-looking crays have moulted and grown a new shell.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:55
Portugal: Cod fishing near Canada reopens after 32 years
Portugal’s minister of agriculture and fisheries, José Manuel Fernandes, announced on Sunday the reopening of a cod fishing area near Canada after 32 years and said that current scientific data contradicted the proposed cut in red seabream. Speaking to Lusa, José Manuel Fernandes said that the 35% cut, to 399 tonnes, in catches of red seabream in Azorean waters, proposed on 31 October by the EU government, is based on scientific data from 2021. ‘This cut is based on scientific data from 2021 and does not reflect the recovery’ of red seabream that has been observed in the meantime, the minister emphasised, speaking to Lusa in Brussels. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:11
2 bodies recovered from debris of F/V Wind Walker capsizing
Two bodies were found Monday among the wreckage of a fishing vessel that capsized earlier this month, according to Alaska Wildlife Troopers from Juneau and Hoonah. State troopers said they responded to reports of unidentified human remains located on the beach of Spasski Bay in Southeast Alaska. The Alaska National Guard based in Juneau transported Alaska Wildlife Troopers, NOAA Law Enforcement Officers, and SEADOGS K9 search team to the area. The responding authorities found two bodies among debris from the fishing vessel known as the Wind Walker. The two unidentified bodies were subsequently transported to Juneau by the Alaska National Guard in a helicopter. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:06
DFO to increase year-round lobster gear monitoring in Bay of Fundy
Enforcement officers with the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans will soon have a new tool to lift, check and seize illegal lobster fishing gear from the waters between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The department is seeking a crew and vessel that would be contracted to take DFO officers on patrols to inspect fishing equipment. The patrol work isn’t new, but this contract represents an increase in surveillance and enforcement in an area where the fishing industry has called on officers to do more to deter illegal fishing operations. The contracted vessel would be responsible for patrolling throughout the Bay of Fundy and “be able to berth at various ports in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,” according to the documents published online. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:33
