Category: June ’14

SAFE-BOAT SMART-BOAT: Abandoning ship – Boarding the life raft

The crew made a mad dash for the life raft but wasn’t successful.  The flames and heat were far too intense.  The fire had started in the engine room and engulfed the living quarters and pilothouse.  Everyone had to abandon ship wearing their immersion suits and holding their EPIRB.  Fortunately, a nearby fishing vessel retrieved …

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New scallopers for Nordic Fisheries, O’Hara Corp.

NEW BEDFORD, MA – So what’s happening at Eastern Fisheries in New Bedford these days?  Plenty, it turns out, with the arrival of two more brand new 90′ scallopers for long-time business partners Peter Anthony and Ron and Roy Enoksen of Nordic Fisheries and the O’Hara family of Rockland, ME. The partners are moving towards …

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MLMC reopens search for executive director

PORTLAND, ME – The Maine Lobster Marketing Collaborative (MLMC) suffered a bit of a setback in mid-May when its chosen candidate to become the group’s new executive director dropped out at the last minute due to personal reasons. During its May 20 meeting, the MLMC board discussed the situation and decided to reopen its search …

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EDITORIAL – Creative financing can buoy fishing businesses

The decline of the groundfish fishery, depressed lobster prices, the sluggish economy, and other factors have created serious financial problems for many fishing-related businesses in the Northeast.  Most everyone has heard the adage that “it takes money to make money,” but it can be hard to secure sufficient capital to ensure the cash flow that …

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Gulf of Maine: Pierce forces debate on inshore/offshore areas

MYSTIC, CT – In a stunning turn of events, the New England Fishery Management Council has decided to allow further consideration of new proposals for Amendment 18 to the groundfish plan that would create a different playing field for vessels fishing in the inshore vs. offshore portions of the Gulf of Maine. During its April …

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New Bedford fishermen’s monument, memorial website near completion

NEW BEDFORD, MA – The port of New Bedford soon will have a new monument honoring fishermen, as well as a special website dedicated to remembering those lost at sea since 1925.  The two efforts are not officially connected but both were born of a desire to pay tribute to fishermen and their families for …

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Herring FW 4 calls for third-party catch verification; empty fish holds

MYSTIC, CT – In addition to the 15-nautical-mile move-along measure for slippage events, Framework Adjustment 4 to the federal herring plan contains two other provisions that may place more conditions on the herring fishery in general if approved by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The framework was developed by the New England Fishery Management …

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New England council adopts 15-nm move-along for herring midwater trawl ‘slippage’

MYSTIC, CT – Category A and B herring vessels may be required to move 15 nautical miles (nm) after experiencing a “slippage” event related to mechanical failure, safety concerns, or spiny dogfish that clog their pumps.  If slippage occurs for any other reason, vessels would have to terminate the trip and return to port. These …

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FW 4 to allow operational discards on herring midwater boats in open areas

MYSTIC, CT – Atlantic herring fishermen who hold Category A and B permits may be forced to work under an additional layer of “slippage” restrictions if the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approves as adopted by the New England Fishery Management Council. However, in what was viewed as a critical, nip-and-tuck victory by midwater trawlers, …

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Scallopers ramp up efforts to avoid yellowtail

NEW BEDFORD, MA – Scallopers are now completely prohibited from possessing yellowtail flounder, a move that industry leaders supported to encourage all vessels to steer clear of this species as much as possible. The prohibition was included in a federal groundfish plan action known as Framework 51, which went into effect on May 1. The …

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