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Kevin Scola & Survival: A man and his Bruno – A love story
by Brian Robbins MARSHFIELD, MA – If we wanted to, we could easily fill the available pages of this annual Tuna Focus with Kevin Scola stories. If you don’t know the Marshfield, MA-based Scola, ask some of his fellow fisherman. “Kevin? If there’s a fish to catch, he’s the guy that’s gonna catch it.” Or, …
Guest Column: Move cautiously with Western Atlanic bluefin tuna
by Rich Ruais After the last complete Western Atlantic Bluefin stock assessment in 2014, Dr. Clay Porch (the lead bluefin assessment scientist for National Marine Fisheries Service) described the assessment results as follows: “This is the most optimistic assessment we’ve had in years, although it’s important to recognize the uncertainties associated with it.” Consistent with …
SAFE-BOAT SMART-BOAT: Abandoning ship…
The decision no fisherman ever wants to make; how to prepare for disaster, survival, and rescue The following is Part 1 of a multi-part series focused on the decision to abandon ship and then taking the steps necessary to maximize chances for survival and rescue. Watch for additional parts in this series in subsequent issues. …
Ask the Lobster Doc: Looking lobster landings in the eye
From my vantage point, there is a lot more – and less – to lobster landings than meets the eye. In some ways, like the economics way, there’s more to landings than meet the eye. However, in the science way, landings have next to nothing to reveal. I’ll try to explain. Landings data consist …
Mid-Atlantic council adopts longfin squid latent capacity amendment
NORFOLK, VA – At its Jun. 6-8 meeting, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council selected alternatives and approved an amendment to the Atlantic Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan to reduce latent capacity in the longfin squid fishery. The council chose not to modify the Illex squid fishery in this amendment. The amendment requalifies vessels …
Council moves forward Amendment 8 to Atlantic Herring FMP
MYSTIC, CT –The New England Fishery Management Council chose alternatives to move forward for analysis on draft Amendment 8 (A8) to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan at their its April 18-20 meeting. The amendment was initiated in 2015 to consider alternative methods of calculating the acceptable biological catch (ABC) control rule, and to address …
While lobster landings soar, settlement dips to all-time lows; researchers ask why, what impact?
The following is this year’s “Update 2016 to the American Lobster Settlement Index,” prepared and presented here by Rick Wahle and his colleagues at the University of Maine’s Darling Center. Our thanks to Dr. Wahle and his team for sharing this important information once again this year with our readers. –Editor WALPOLE, ME – …
CFN Shakedown Cruise: Osmond 49
by Brian Robbins Welcome to another CFN Shakedown Cruise. Periodically, we will focus on a new launch and dig a little deeper into what went into the project – whether it be a new model or a hull well known to the New England commercial market. What we hope to do is provide insight and …
Fairhaven Shipyard delivers second new scalloper to New Jersey’s Larson family
FAIRHAVEN, MA – When Madelyn sailed off into the fog on her maiden voyage in late April, Fairhaven Shipyard Companies Inc. yard workers must have smiled. Madelyn is the fourth commercial fishing vessel newbuild the yard has produced, and if repeat business is any indicator, New Jersey-based boat owner Kirk Larson would appear to be …
Draft summer flounder amendment moves forward
ALEXANDRIA, VA – The draft Comprehensive Summer Flounder Amendment is moving forward with a much shorter set of objectives, after a joint review by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) in May. Summer flounder are found from the US/Canada border to the southern border of North Carolina, and …