» Commercial Fisheries News

Commercial Fisheries News is the Northeast’s commercial fishing industry newspaper. Published monthly, CFN provides the latest waterfront news along with coverage of the state and federal rules and regulations affecting the harvest of all the region’s major species. Regular features include lobster and fish market reports, a safety column, new boats, the enforcement report, and the popular and effective Classifieds.

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Race News Up & Down the Coast

Filed under Lobster Boat Races

Portland Press Hearald – Long Island’s lobster boat races were never part of the state’s formal series, but that could change local enthusiasts get their way. Ellsworth American Lobster boat races roil Bass Harbor Bass Harbor – Peter Emerson’s youtube video of Jeff Eaton’s 38′ F/V La Bella Vita Bass Harbor – Peter Emerson’s youtube, …

2013 MAINE LOBSTER BOAT RACE SCHEDULE

Filed under Events, July '13, Lobster Boat Races

The Maine Lobster Boat Racing Association (MLBRA) has announced the following schedule of dates and locations for lobster boat racing competitions during the season ahead. ● Boothbay Harbor. June 15. Info: Marshall Farnham, (207) 380-5892. ● Rockland. June 16. Info: Steve Brooks, (207) 354-8763. ● Bass Harbor. June 23. Info: Wayne/Colyn Rich (207) 244-9623. ● …

2012 lobster settlement numbers down throughout the Northeast

Filed under June '13, Lobster

by Rick Wahle WALPOLE, ME – In a year that might be remembered as one that brought climate change home to many in the lobster industry, the 2012 ocean heat wave that broke all records and triggered an early shedder season did not seem to have a corresponding positive effect on lobster settlement. [pullquote align=”left|center|right” …

Paul Shuman: Innovative net designer revolutionized Northeast trawl fishery

Filed under Business News, June '13, People

by Joyce Rowley CHARLESTOWN, RI – The fishing industry lost an important contributor to its history with the unexpected death in March of net designer and innovator Paul Shuman. Shuman Trawl nets, distinctively made from green poly twine, were a mainstay for New England and Mid- Atlantic fishermen from 1976 on. “What an impact he …

No breaks for the groundfish industry: NMFS institutes crippling cuts for 2013

Filed under Fish, June '13

GLOUCESTER, MA – The menacing threat that had filled industry members with worry and dread for many months became all too real by the May 1 start of the 2013 groundfish fishing year. The day before, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a flurry of notices announcing final rules and allocations that delivered the …

Fishing industry rallies to demand aid, MSA flexibility

Filed under Events, Fish, June '13

BOSTON, MA – About 300 people, including fishermen and their families from around New England, fish buyers, boat owners, and concerned citizens, attended the Groundfish Industry Rally held at the Boston Fish Pier on April 29.Organized by the Northeast Seafood Coalition (NSC), more than a dozen speakers urged Congress, consumers, and the National Marine Fisheries …

New England council asks NMFS to modify monkfish emergency action

Filed under Fish, June '13, NEFMC

MYSTIC, CT – The New England Fishery Management Council has asked the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to expeditiously modify its recent monkfish emergency rule so that groundfish fishermen can keep more monkfish while working under a groundfish day-at-sea in the northern area, which covers the Gulf of Maine and northern Georges Bank. The council …

Wind farm advice: Accept, engage, negotiate

Filed under Herring, June '13, Offshore Wind Energy

LONDON, ENGLAND – Over the last few years, European fishermen have been forced to grapple with the sudden reality of wind farm construction on their fishing grounds. Their experiences offer important lessons for fishermen here in the Northeast. In mid-March, a team of people involved in fisheries in this region traveled to England to learn …

Two new boats from SW Boatworks

Filed under Boats, June '13

J-Lynn Zrae is the first of SW Boatworks new Calvin Beal 30s to hit the water. Designer Beal said SW’s Stewart Workman wanted to know if he could come up with “a 30-footer that was 12′ wide … and I told him no problem.” Built for Calvin’s son-in-law Roger, the J-Lynn Zrae proved be an …