Entangled North Atlantic right whale prompts fishing closure in Gulf of St. Lawrence
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has temporarily shut down part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence to non-tended, fixed-gear fishing after an endangered North Atlantic right whale with gear entangled around its mouth was spotted northeast of New Brunswick Friday. The whale was seen northeast of the Acadian Peninsula and northwest of Quebec’s Magdalen Islands during routine aerial surveillance and was many nautical miles from land, Fisheries and Oceans Canada said in a news release Monday. It’s the first sighting of a North Atlantic right whale in Canadian waters this season, according to the release. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06: 56
UK fishing industry to benefit from cutting-edge technology to help manage fish stocks
The sustainability of UK fish stocks will be better safeguarded through the use of technology to monitor and manage fishing activity in English waters, the government has announced today (13 May). The technology – known as Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) – involves using camera, gear sensors and GPS units to make sure that catches are accurately recorded and fish are not unlawfully thrown back into the sea. The data captured will support the fishing industry to manage stocks sustainably and give retailers and consumers greater confidence about the sustainability of our fish. Volunteers within five priority fisheries will begin to use REM systems from this summer, with their work helping to refine the UK’s monitoring objectives and ensure the technology works for fishers. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:02
With crab season underway, potential job action looms for fish plant workers without a contract
Crab is coming into processing plants in eastern Newfoundland, but the lack of a contract for unionized workers could throw a wrench in the season. Joey Warford, the industrial-retail-offshore council member representative for the Fish, Food & Allied Workers union, said plant workers have been without a deal since December. “We’re hoping to get a deal done but, you know, that remains to be seen. The members are speaking loud and clear on their needs and their wants,” Warford — who said he represents about 1,000 plant workers in without a deal in Witless Bay, Bonavista, Triton and New Wes Valley, more, >CLICK TO READ<< 19:25
Trump Vows ‘Day One’ Executive Order Targeting Offshore Wind
Donald Trump vowed to issue an executive order targeting offshore wind development if he wins a second term as president, making his most explicit threat yet toward the growing industry. The presumptive Republican nominee derided offshore wind projects as lethal for birds and whales during his oceanfront rally Saturday in Wildwood, New Jersey, and committed to take action. “We are going to make sure that that ends on day one,” he said. “I’m going to write it out in an executive order.” While Trump has made no secret of his animus to wind power, he had adopted a mostly hands-off posture during his first term in the White House. The remarks in New Jersey suggest he may take a more aggressive stance if given a second. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:03
‘They were lucky’: 5 crew rescued from sinking mussel boat in Malpeque Harbour
The 45-foot vessel ran aground on a sandbar and started taking on water in rough seas just after 8 a.m. Monday, said Timothy Wall, a fisherman from the area. The New London Fire Company told CBC News there were five people aboard at the time. Wall said the boat was trying to bring a load of mussels in when it struck the sandbar. “When the boat went aground, everybody just kind of climbed on the side, then they had to climb on the roof,” he said. “It’s dangerous — it’s rocky and it’s windy and it’s cold.” “[The crew members] were lucky, but they did everything right. They put their life jackets on, they got up high on the vessel, they radioed out for help, the other boats came [and] we came along. The system works.” Video’s, photos. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:14
New England groups warn against ‘factory’ fish farming in federal waters
New England fishermen and environmental groups are working to prevent the growth of industrial-size fish farms in U.S. open waters. They said federal legislation known as the “AQUAA Act” would permit so-called “floating feedlots” similar to land-based dairy and poultry farms, known to use heavy amounts of pesticides and antibiotics. James Mitchell, legislative director for the advocacy group Don’t Cage Our Oceans, said there is no way to contain the chemicals or tons of untreated fish waste created. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:55
Big crowd turns out for 86th Blessing of the Fleet
The 86th annual Blessing of the Fleet Saturday had a new wrinkle with the holy water coming from on high. During past blessings, Catholic priests have stood on the bows or decks of tow boats or other ships and showered fishing boats and pleasure craft with holy water and they pronounced blessings. On Saturday, Father Timothy McKeown of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, rode a Brunswick Fire Department ladder to a spot over the East River and blessed the passing vessels from above. 12 Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:42
44-foot Whale Carcass on Bow of Cruise Ship Baffles NY Authorities
Marine conservationists and government scientists are seeking clues to the mystery of how a 44-foot whale carcass ended up on the bow of a cruise liner, where it was discovered as the ship approached New York City’s Port of Brooklyn over the weekend. A necropsy, the animal equivalent of an autopsy, identified the deceased marine mammal as a mature female sei whale, an endangered species typically found in deep waters far from land, the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society said on Wednesday. One key question is whether the whale’s death came before or after its contact with the vessel, according to the non-profit organization, based in Hampton Bays, New York. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:54
Alaska Legislature approves seafood task force for sector in ‘crisis’
The Alaska Legislature on Sunday approved creating a task force to make policy recommendations to help the beleaguered commercial fishing industry. The task force is modeled be off another legislative task force created more than 20 years ago to help the salmon industry. At the time, salmon fishermen were struggling with the impacts of low prices and competition with farmed salmon. Alaska’s commercial fishing sector has recently struggled with low prices, a global market swamped with low-priced Russian seafood, and the closure of several seafood processing plants. Salmon returns have crashed in critical fisheries across Alaska. The United Fishermen of Alaska estimates that the state’s economy lost over $2 billion in 2023 alone as a result of the commercial fishing sector’s struggles. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:00
Steamship PETA ad roils Islanders
In the hallways of the Steamship Authority (SSA) passenger ferry Martha’s Vineyard, six posters were recently put on display asking passengers a provocative question: “Did your lobster kill a whale?” According to the SSA, the animal rights advocacy organization paid a total of $28,000 to hang their posters through October 31. But the advertisements have incensed some Islanders and local fishermen, who say the local fishing industry is unfairly targeted. Some even point a finger at the Steamship, calling the ferry service hypocritical for allowing the ads when the administration has criticized regulations that would protect right whales. Island lobsterman Wes Brighton called the Steamship Authority “out of touch with the community.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:45
Fisherman remembers lives lost at sea with new day
A fisherman and RNLI crewman will be among those marking a new day of remembrance for workers killed at sea. Peter Clark, from Cullercoats RNLI in North Tyneside, is taking part in the first National Fishing Remembrance Day on Sunday to honour his missing colleagues. He said he has searched for and lost friends in the water and witnessed people’s anguish when family members do not return home from work. “A National Day of Remembrance can highlight the sacrifice these families ultimately made,” Mr Clark said. The fisherman joined the RNLI almost 30 years ago and is helm on Cullercoats lifeboat. As part of the Remembrance Day, a gathering will take place at the fisherman statue at North Shields’ Fiddler’s Green on Sunday. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:12
SLO County fishing industry in peril, judge to consider injunction
Geographic survey work by Equinor’s Island Pride last seven days
Fishermen from Morro Bay and Port San Luis are seeking a preliminary injunction to stop wind energy companies from surveying the ocean floor. Local fishermen report catch numbers are down 67% to 70% since one company recently began using sonar off the coast. On Feb. 29, two groups of commercial fishermen filed a legal challenge against the state’s wind energy plans, arguing the process violates their constitutional right to fish. The lawsuit asks the court to revoke survey permits and not to allow any new permits until proper mitigation and protections are in place. Sam Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Craig van Rooyen found this is a proper case for a preliminary injunction, according to an order to show cause. Judge van Rooyen ordered Equinor to show cause why he should not order the injunction at a hearing scheduled for May 15. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:53
Deadliest Catch’ Season 20: Which Captains Will Return?
Deadliest Catch is back. In the landmark 20th season of the Discovery Channel reality series, the captains will encounter new opportunities and fresh challenges as they head out to sea for the first red king crab season in several years. Not only will crews be allowed to fish once more for the coveted red king crab, but this year, they’ll also participate in the first derby-style race in decades. That means even more intense competition than usual as both veteran and rookie captains fight to bring in the biggest hauls. At the same time, they’ll face unpredictable and dangerous weather patterns as a rare super El Niño weather pattern intensifies winter storms. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:51
Fisherman catches rare ‘one in two million’ blue lobster and refuses to let it be eaten
A fisherman caught a rare ‘one in two million’ blue lobster – and rehomed it in a local aquarium. Blue lobsters are believed to be so rare that marine biologists estimate the chance of catching one is one in two million. Chris Puckey caught the lobster on his FY124 boat called Katytu at the weekend. It turned up in one of Chris’ pots and was caught off the coast close to Polperro, South Cornwall. Jacquie Spencer, the owner of Kitty’s Lobster, Crab and Seafood Shack, said: “Chris supplies me regularly with lobsters, and Chris and I are overwhelmed by the lobster being pulled up in his pot. It really is a real treat to see one such a vivid blue colour and reportedly only one in two million!” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:32
What lurks beneath: Treasures, wrecks and curios
Britain’s coasts, once some of the most dangerous in the world to navigate for shipping, are littered with shipwrecks. This deadly legacy has left thousands of haunting artefacts and in some cases – lucrative treasure – resting on the sea floor. From time to time these relics re-emerge, found by divers on wrecks, walkers on beaches or they are mistakenly hauled up by fishermen or dredgers. A BBC Freedom of Information request has revealed the hundreds of fascinating items recovered in the last year alone. A 200-year-old elephant tusk, coins from the Spanish Armada, plane parts, iron swords and a jar of Marmite were among the items found and reported to the Receiver of Wreck last year. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:09
Bill will allow higher insurance reimbursements for injured commercial fishermen
Injured commercial fishermen and boat owners in Alaska will now be able to access higher insurance reimbursements, thanks to Senate Bill 93, which was signed into law last month. The bill was sponsored by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee, which Nikiski Republican Sen. Jesse Bjorkman chairs. It concerns the fishermen’s fund, which was established pre-statehood as a service to commercial fishermen who are injured while fishing. It’s funded by fees from commercial fishing licenses. “The Alaska fishermen’s fund reimburses licensed fishermen and boat owners for their out-of-pocket medical costs if they have been injured or have a qualified illness while fishing off-shore, or doing fishing-related work on-shore,” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:00
Alabama on verge of requiring sellers to say where their seafood comes from
The seafood industry that put this small city on the map says it is in crisis, buffeted by foreign imports that have driven down the price of shrimp to as little as a dollar per pound. Those prices are comparable to what shrimp fetched in the early 1980s – too low, Steve Sprinkle said, for many operators even to take their boats out. But the Alabama Legislature is trying to at least make it easier for consumers who want to buy local. A bill that got final approval this week would require restaurants to include “country of origin” information on or with the menu. There’s a similar requirement for good trucks and stores. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:48
MPA’s: DFO seeks to reassure fishermen after ‘scary’ map released of potential protected areas
A member of the Fisheries Department’s marine planning group was publicly challenged in Nova Scotia this week to guarantee marine protected areas will not harm the region’s inshore lobster fishery. Marty King appeared Thursday before Argyle municipal council in southwestern Nova Scotia where several areas are under consideration for protection. His appearance followed the release of DFO’s marine conservation network plan — a map with dozens of potential protected sites on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy. King repeatedly stressed coastal conservation areas would have no effect on the lobster fishery. “Hopefully we’re getting the message out more and more that an MPA [marine protected area] doesn’t mean no fishing,” he said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:49
Daylong Effort Recovers Sinking Barge In New Harbor
In Bristol on Friday, May 3, crews worked together for more than 12 hours to protect the waters around Shaw’s Fish and Lobster Wharf and recover a barge that partially sank that morning. Members of Bristol Fire and Rescue, barge owner Tucker Phinney, of New Harbor Marine Construction LLC, responders from the United States Coast Guard Station at Boothbay Harbor, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and salvage company Determination Marine, of Portland, worked together through the morning and afternoon to recover the craft. Phinney, who continued working on the barge until 11 p.m. that evening, is focused on getting the barge running again in order to get back to business. “We’ve got a lot of projects ahead of us,” Phinney said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:45
Service in Brixham to pay tribute to dead fishermen
Fishermen who have lost their life at sea will be remembered at a ceremony in Devon. The Fishermen’s Mission charity is hosting a service on Brixham’s Fish Quay at 11:00 BST on Sunday as part of National Fishing Remembrance Day. The charity said the event would allow people to pay their respects to fishermen who had either died in seas off Devon or were from the county but died elsewhere. The names which will be read out date back to 1817, the mission added. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:49
Trump Presidency Is Next Worry for Battered US Wind Sector
Companies racing to build multibillion-dollar wind farms in US waters are already contending with surging borrowing costs, supply-chain woes and project pullbacks. Now, they’ve got a new worry: Donald Trump. The former US president and presumptive Republican nominee has made no secret of his animus toward wind energy, whether on- or offshore. He famously battled a project within view of his golf course in Aberdeen, Scotland, and has derided wind farms as bird-killing monstrosities. But he has recently ramped up his rhetoric, telling attendees at a Florida fundraiser last month that he hates wind farms, according to people familiar with the matter. Renewable developers are bracing for more attacks Saturday, when Trump will hold a rally on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey — a state that’s become the front line for fights over the future of offshore wind. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:34
Seventh-generation fisherman Carlton Elbridge Joyce of Swans Island, Me. has passed away
Carlton Elbridge Joyce peacefully left for his heavenly home on Sunday, May 5, 2024, while his family kept vigil at MDI Hospital. Though strong at 85, he could not overcome an aggressive bladder cancer that was diagnosed in February. Born on March 17, 1939, in Rockland, to Robert McKay Joyce and Roberta Laverne (Simmons) Joyce, Carlton was raised on Swan’s Island with his younger siblings Sharon, Bonnie, Laverne, and Matthew. He joined the military and was proud of his service with the United States Army. His favorite stories from his time in Germany included his first captivating glance of the beautiful Army girl from Hawaii. On May 24,1962, he married the love of his life and brought her to his island on the other side of the world. Together for 61 years, they built a life they loved in a place he called paradise. His undying devotion and admiration for his wife is a legacy of love for his family. A seventh-generation fisherman, Carlton had a passion and keen instinct for lobstering and the fishing industry. He loved everything about his life on the water. His last boat was designed for Pacita’s comfort and together they lived out their working days with a tenacity that sustained their fishing career through the fall of 2023. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:38
Anchoring the Family: The Life, Labor and Love of an Alaskan Fishing Mom
It’s called a labor of love for a reason. A life in fishing – especially in Alaska – can be equally rough and rewarding, spending days at sea where the wonders of the world take shape in glacial ridges and splashes of fish slipping over each other on deck. What you don’t always see is the effort, will, patience and passion of the people caring for those on the water from behind the shoreline. On the rugged coast of southern Alaska, where icy waters provide hope for a rich season, Kinsey Brown and her husband, Zeke, have woven their lives into the fabric of their small fishing community. It’s been said countless times by dedicated seafood harvesters across the globe that fishing is more than a livelihood. It’s a calling, community and a legacy that nearly all who fish hope to pass down to the newest generations of their fishing families. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:30
Celebrating National Shrimp Day on the Northern Gulf Coast
May 10th marks National Shrimp Day. For the Northern Gulf Coast, which includes the shores of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, shrimp holds a special significance as a source of food, economic growth, and cultural heritage. The warm, nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Mexico provide an ideal environment for shrimp to thrive, making the Northern Gulf Coast one of the most productive shrimping regions in the world. The area is home to four main commercial shrimp species: white shrimp, brown shrimp, pink shrimp, and Royal Red Shrimp. These shrimps are known for their unique flavors and textures, with Royal Red Shrimp being a highly prized delicacy. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:18
Galloway creel fishermen believe livelihoods could be ruined by new lobster regulations
Galloway creel fishermen fear their livelihoods could be ruined by new regulations banning them from landing female lobsters. The prohibition, being introduced nationally by the Marine Directorate in Edinburgh, will come into force on Sunday, May 12. It means any hen lobsters caught must be thrown over the side and back into the sea – a move the creel men say will deprive them of at least 50 per cent of their catch and potentially put them out of business. The Galloway Static Gear Fishermen’s Association has been lobbying the Scottish Government that the measure is not needed in the Solway – so far to no avail. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:40
Deadline approaches for those impacted by January’s record flooding to apply for FEMA aid
January’s storms devastated many coastal Maine communities, and the deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is quickly approaching. “Your first line of defense is your insurance. You go to them first, and then if you find some unmet needs, that’s where FEMA comes in,” FEMA Media Relations Specialist Deanna Frazier said. January 10 and January 13 were historic storm days in Maine. If you are looking to apply, you can call 1-800-621-3362, you can download the FEMA app on your smartphone or you can visit their website HERE. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:45
Fresh as it gets: Market sells seafood straight from Alaska
The Alaskan cod sold at Cline’s Farm Market in Clear Brook is as fresh as you can get short of catching it yourself. That’s because Beth Nowak and her brother, Jim Hubbard, have a special business arrangement. Hubbard, who operates Kruzof Fisheries LLC in Seward, Alaska, catches the cod in the Gulf of Alaska, then processes, bags and freezes it immediately on his boat, the Fishing Vessel F/V Kruzof. It’s then expedited to Nowak, who operates Cline’s Farm Market at 920 Hopewell Road with business partner Becky Price and sold before it has a chance to thaw. “We’re capturing quality at that point of freshness,” Jim Hubbard said during a late April visit to his sister’s home at Mayfair Farm in Bunker Hill, West Virginia. “Within two hours of a fish coming out of the water, it’s in a freezer.” If you think there’s no difference between Hubbard’s cod and the fresh fish displayed in chilled coolers at grocery stores, think again. Nowak said “fresh” isn’t always as fresh as it seems. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:46
NTSB Report: Fire Alarm Aboard Kodiak Enterprise Never Sent an Alert
In the early hours of April 8, 2023, a fire broke out in the dry stores compartment of the fishing vessel F/V Kodiak Enterprise. The vessel was in port for a regular yard period, including cutting and welding of wasted hull and bulkhead sections. Four crewmembers from the engineering department were staying on board. On April 7, repair contractors were aboard to carry out hot work on the pilot house, hold deck, 03 deck and on a variety of vent pipe valves. The dry stores cargo hatch on the 03 level was propped open so that the workers could run a forced air ventilation hose into the interior. They finished and disembarked at about 1530 hours. The assistant chief engineer inspected the work areas after they left, and all looked to be in order. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:14
More alewives swim up the restored Bagaduce watershed
More than two years after the completion of multiple fish passage projects in western Hancock County, the effort appears to be paying off as alewives swim in greater numbers up the Bagaduce River watershed each spring. Those and other projects have contributed to a resurgence in the upstream migration of alewives, which are a key food supply for bigger wildlife, as well as a growing source of income for Maine fishermen who sell them as food or springtime lobster bait. From 2017 through 2021, the towns of Penobscot, Sedgwick and Brooksville worked with conservation groups to remove barriers that prevented fish from migrating between the tidal Bagaduce River and five ponds in its watershed. The idea was to help restore runs for fish, especially alewives, that travel upstream from Penobscot Bay and reproduce in the ponds more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:55
Comparing future fuels for fishing
Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability (FIS) has released its latest report taking a practical look at decarbonising the UK fishing fleet, this time focusing on hydrogen fuel as an option to deliver net-zero fishing vessels. Produced by Macduff Ship Design, and with support from Marine Fund Scotland, the research provides detailed vessel specifications, and – by drawing comparisons with previous research into the opportunities offered by battery-electric power, methanol, and liquified natural gas options – calls for crucial information to help fishing businesses stay safe and competitive as net zero deadlines approach. drawings, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 12:54
