Whatever your politics, it’s a safe bet that you too are glad the presidential election is finally behind us and we can just get on with business, life, and moving forward. Yes, the country remains deeply divided and the waters we are about to cross with this new president are … well, uncharted. But the …
Category: Editorial
EDITORIAL: Thankful for the bounty of lobsters and scallops
If you somehow missed the headlines, landings data in NOAA’s recently released Fisheries of the United States 2015 reminds us once again of the vital role lobsters and scallops play – not just in this region – but in the overall health and vitality of the nation’s entire extended commercial fishing community. While Dutch Harbor, …
Engaging in offshore wind power process, projects
Offshore wind power has gone from the drawing board and onto the water in a big way off the New England coast. As this issue goes to press, two wind power projects off the Massachusetts coast are ramping up survey work in preparation for selecting specific sites for eventual wind farm construction. Denmark-based DONG Energy, …
Editorial – Changing of the guard at New England council
Effective the end of this month, Pat Fiorelli, who has been the public affairs officer for the New England Fishery Management Council for nearly three decades, is leaving to begin a new chapter in her life, retirement. Stepping into her shoes is former Commercial Fisheries News Associate Editor Janice M. Plante, who has been working …
Editorial: Pat White – The curtain goes down on a class act
There have been few times in the 40-plus years of Commercial Fisheries News that we have set aside this space to honor a fallen colleague. To do so is to risk slighting so many others who have passed without the special recognition. But I could not let the sudden loss this month of industry icon …
EDITORIAL: A cause for celebration amid causes for concern
Far be it from us to find the dark cloud in an otherwise silver lining … … But, as word spread around the recent Maine Fishermen’s Forum of record-breaking landings in the state again last year, the excitement was somewhat tempered. The news was good, for sure, particularly for the booming lobster fishery. Huge landings …
EDITORIAL: Tread cautiously before making lobster license changes
It would appear, as this issue goes to press, that a controversial bill to change some elements of the Maine lobster licensing process may be stuck in committee. If so, we think that is probably not a bad thing. The bill, widely discussed and well-covered by media within the state, would – among other things …
EDITORIAL: Calling your attention to “must-reads” in this issue
While we like to think every issue of Commercial Fisheries News is chock full of news and information that our readers want and need to read, every now and then it seems to makes sense to point out a couple of “don’t miss” pieces. In this issue, we call your attention to Fish Safe, starting …
Farewell to the old, in with the new: Time to kick off the New Year
This issue marks the kick-off of trade show season here in New England and our opportunity to connect face-to-face with many of you in the coming months. In late January, you will be seeing us – and this issue – at the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association Annual Weekend and Trade Show on the Cape. Like many …
Editorial: We need to know more about impact of warming ocean waters
For years fishermen, fisheries managers, and the academic/scientific community have been trying to understand the near collapse of Gulf of Maine cod stocks and explain the apparent failure of decades of rebuilding effort. We all know the conversation. Overfishing depleted the stocks and only a near-total suspension of effort would allow the species time to …