Category: April ’13

SAFE-BOAT SMART-BOAT: Know, maintain, register your EPIRB

by Fred Mattera – EPIRB requirements apply to all commercial fishing vessels operating more than three nautical miles from the coast of the US.  Vessels 36′ or greater in length must have on board a float-free, automatically activated Category 1 406 MHz EPIRB stowed where it can float free if the vessel sinks. Vessels less …

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NMFS grants redfish exemption but industry calls program ‘unworkable’

 GLOUCESTER, MA – The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has approved an exemption allowing groundfish sector fishermen to use 4-1/2″ mesh to target redfish under 100% observer coverage for the remainder of the 2012 fishing year, which ends April 30. Whether anyone will be able to take advantage of the program, however, remains to be …

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‘Thumbs up’ to the Maine forum

ROCKPORT, ME – The 38th annual Maine Fishermen’s Forum, which took place Feb. 28-March 1 at the Samoset Resort here, was one to remember. Over 3,000 people attended, packing seminar rooms and crowding the sold-out trade show floors. Despite the ongoing turmoil in several of the region’s fisheries, people laughed, slapped each other on the …

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Gloucester summit: Huge potential to diversify working waterfront

GLOUCESTER, MA – Nearly 150 people – fishermen, fish processors, maritime scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and others – concerned about the future of Gloucester’s working waterfront gathered at Cruiseport Gloucester on Feb. 7 for the city’s second annual maritime innovation summit. City Mayor Carolyn Kirk set the tone for the conference, which took place on the …

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AOLA: 20 years and still going strong

BEDFORD, NH – Now starting its 21st year, Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association (AOLA) has much to show for its efforts in advocacy and research and its cooperative approach to problem solving. From the beginning, the Bedfordbased nonprofit organization has been the primary voice for offshore lobstermen fishing in Lobster Conservation Management Area 3 (LCMA 3), …

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NMFS weighs emergency action to lift northern monkfish trip limits

GLOUCESTER, MA – Groundfish fishermen will be able to land significantly more monkfish during the 2013 fishing year if the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) takes emergency action to “suspend” existing monkfish possession limits in the Northern Fishery Management Area, which covers the Gulf of Maine and northern Georges Bank. The monkfish resource is not …

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