Category: Editorial

EDITORIAL – Disaster aid secured: Now, how to spend it

Filed under Editorial, February '14

A rare political thaw in January led to an encouraging turn of events as Congress managed to put aside seemingly intractable differences to agree on a fiscal year 2014 federal budget bill. The bill, which was awaiting the President’s signature as CFN went to press midmonth, included long-anticipated funding for fisheries disasters. While that was welcome …

EDITORIAL – Wind farms coming: It’s time to tune in

Filed under Editorial, May '13, Offshore Wind Energy

With the crises enveloping the groundfish, scallop, lobster, and northern shrimp fisheries, everyone in the Northeast commercial fishing industry is exhausted. It’s understandably difficult for people to even think about redirecting time and energy to wrap their minds around one more threat to the future. But we must. After years of talk, the US is …

EDITORIAL – Northeast fisheries merit federal support

Filed under December '13, Editorial

The tremendous importance of Northeast fisheries to local, state, and national economies is the main message of “Fisheries of the United States 2012,” the latest installment of the annual report from the National Marine Fisheries Service that compiles statistics on landings and their value for ports around the nation. The document is a must-read, especially …

EDITORIAL – Efforts to build US dogfish market could pay off

Filed under Editorial, November '13

Groundfish boats need something to fish on, and there are more than enough spiny dogfish around, along with a hefty 40.8-million-pound quota for the 2013 fishing year. But, at 12-to-14 cents per pound, it’s a rare fisherman who can make a day’s pay even with the current 4,000-pound daily trip limit. The price to the …

EDITORIAL – Work, goodwill yield relief for gillnetters

Filed under Editorial, October '13

In a welcome turn of events, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing to eliminate the consequence closure strategy it implemented in 2010 as an incentive for gillnetters to use pingers to keep harbor porpoise out of their gear. The move, which was announced on Aug. 26, came about through the willingness of people …