Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: New Videos Highlight New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and Port

February 19, 2025 — “Catch the Tradition,” a series of promotional videos touting the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center and the fishing industry, are now finished and ready to share with the public.

Overseeing the project was Marketing Specialist Matt Moyer Bell, who joined Townsquare Sunday this week to discuss the videos.

“The Fishing Heritage Center is not just a museum, it’s a community resource that documents an entire culture and community that is the backbone of New Bedford,” Bell said. “It’s a major part of the economy and the people who live here.”

Read the full at WBSM

MASSACHUSETTS: Cans of tuna are being recalled. Does this affect Massachusetts? What to know

February 13, 2025 —  Tri-Union Seafoods brand of tuna fish being sold at Walmart, Costco and Trader Joe’s locations are being recalled, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“This voluntary recall is out of an abundance of caution following the notification from our supplier that the ‘easy open’ pull tab can lid on limited products encountered a manufacturing defect that may compromise the integrity of the product seal (especially over time), causing it to leak, or worse, be contaminated with clostridium botulinum, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning,” a release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated.

Here’s what to know.

Read the full article at South Coast Today

ASMFC repeals proposed gauge increase

February 5, 2025 — The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission(ASMFC) sided with New England lobstermen and voted to repeal the proposed increase to the minimum allowable cast size of lobsters in the Gulf of Maine.

On Friday, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries announced at the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association meeting that it would join Maine and New Hampshire in rejecting the gauge increase.

Maine and New Hampshire decided to withdraw the increase following strong opposition from the fishing community in both states. New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell called for the repeal of the gauge increase. In a letter to ASMFC on Feb. 3, Mayor Mitchell warned that the rule would place U.S. lobster fishermen at a significant competitive disadvantage compared to Canadian counterparts.

New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) COO Dustin Delano commented on the final decision, “NEFSA thanks the commission for hearing the voice of lobstermen. Raising catch sizes at this time would bankrupt many lobstermen and surrender the U.S. market to foreign competitors. NEFSA is grateful that the commission has chosen to support our historic trade, which contributes billions to New England’s economy and shapes the character of the region.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford Mayor Calls for Repeal of Lobster Size Limits New Bedford Mayor Calls for Repeal of Lobster Size Limits

February 4, 2024 — Mayor Jon Mitchell has penned a letter he hopes will help New Bedford lobstermen not feel the pinch come this summer.

Mitchell sent a letter today to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Executive Director Robert Beal pushing for the repeal of Addendum XXVII to the ASMFC’s lobster fishery management plan, which is set to take effect in July and will limit the catch size of lobsters.

“As Mayor of America’s top commercial fishing port, I write to urge the ASMFC to repeal Addendum XXVII concerning lobster gauge size,” Mitchell wrote.

“I submit that the ASMFC should listen to lobstermen and work with them on alternatives that would be far less draconian and far more effective at sustaining the fishery and the fishermen in the long term,” he wrote.

Read the full article at WBSM

 

Court restores protections for critically endangered whales off New England

February 3, 2025 — A Massachusetts court on Monday restored federal protections for endangered whales off New England against entanglement in fishing equipment, overruling a lower court that struck down the federal rule.

The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association challenged the National Marine Fishers Service (NMFS) rule, finalized in 2024, which closed a 200-square-mile stretch of federal water between February and April. The severely endangered right whale, hunted nearly to extinction during the age of whaling, frequents the area during that period. Ship strikes and entanglement in lobstering gear are a major threat to the whales, believed to have a remaining population of fewer than 400.

Read the full article at The Hill

Massachusetts lobster fishing limits to protect whales restored by appeals court

January 31, 2025 —  A federal appeals court on Thursday restored a U.S. agency rule restricting lobster and Jonah crab fishing off the Massachusetts coast to protect endangered whales, rejecting a claim that the agency did not deserve deference under a recent landmark Supreme Court case.

In a 3-0 decision, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston said the National Marine Fisheries Service acted lawfully in banning from Feb. 1 to April 30 annually the use of vertical buoy lines in a 200-nautical-mile area of federal waters called the Massachusetts Restricted Area Wedge.

The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association sued to block the rule, saying a Dec. 2022 appropriations rider reflected the U.S. Congress’ intent not to extend emergency protections for North Atlantic right whales from earlier that year.

A federal district judge declared the rule void last March.

But in Thursday’s decision, Circuit Judge Seth Aframe called that a mistake because the rule was “in place” when the rider took effect, though it was not being enforced at that time.

Read the full article at Reuters

Appeals court reinstates lobster fishing limits to preserve right whales

January 31, 2025 — Conservation groups are praising a recent decision to reinstate protections for endangered North Atlantic right whales in a particularly precarious stretch of ocean off the coast of Massachusetts.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston decided Thursday to restrict lobster fishing, which in turn restores protections for endangered right whales. That decision overturned a district court verdict by reinstating a 2024 National Marine Fisheries Service rule that cordoned off a 200 square mile area of federal waters between February and April, when right whales are present.

“The First Circuit’s decision represents a major victory for right whale conservation,” said Jane Davenport, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife, who argued the case for conservation groups. “The wedge closure affects only a handful of lobstermen for three months but protects right whales from the deadly fishing gear entanglements driving this species towards extinction.”

Found along the East Coast, the whales’ migratory paths overlap with highly productive lobster fishing areas in Maine and Massachusetts, making entanglements in fishing gear one of the major threats for the animals. With a population of less than 400 and even fewer reproductively active females, right whales are approaching extinction with more than half a dozen threats to their existence, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.

Read the full article at Maine Morning Star

Vineyard Wind must replace Canada-made turbine blades with blades made in France

January 30, 2025 — Vineyard Wind 1 is once again turning wind into electricity, even as its developer works to meet a federal mandate requiring the removal of turbine blades made at the Canadian factory where the faulty blade that collapsed last summer was produced.

Company spokesman Craig Gilvarg confirmed that one turbine is back in operation, capable of producing about 13.6 megawatts when running at full capacity.

“Vineyard Wind 1 is delivering power from one turbine, which has met the project’s stringent safety and operational conditions,” he said.

Recently, the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement fully lifted the suspension order it had placed on the project following the July 13 blade collapse at wind turbine generator AW-38 that sent debris crashing into the ocean. The action comes a little more than a month after the agency permitted installation of the first three turbine blades since the incident.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Jan. 17 also approved a revised construction and operations plan with conditions for Vineyard Wind 1, which will produce 800 megawatts of energy from 62 turbines when completed.

A root-cause analysis of the blade failure conducted by the manufacturer and installer, GE Vernova, found that the collapse was the result of a “manufacturing deviation” at the factory in Gaspé, Canada — specifically, failed bonding of materials. Although the bureau is continuing its own investigation, the revised plan acknowledges manufacturing errors in calling for Vineyard Wind to remove all Canadian-made blades installed on up to 22 turbine generators prior to the July 13 failure.

Read the full article at Cape Cod Times

ME and NH reject lobster gauge increase, MA stands firm

January 28, 2025 — The New England lobster industry is facing some potential challenges.

Maine and New Hampshire have announced their decision to withdraw the proposed gauge increase to the minimum legal size for lobsters being caught, following strong opposition from the fishing community. Massachusetts has announced that it still supports the gauge increase, even following recent announcements from Maine and New Hampshire.

The Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) recently held a meeting in Augusta to discuss the proposal which aimed at raising the minimum size limits for lobsters by 1/16 of an inch. The proposed as intended to address a reported 35 percent decline in the lobster population within Lobster Management Area 1 (LMA 1), as highlighted by data from the Atlantics States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). The proposal has faced fierce opposition from the lobstering communities, who feared the economic repercussions of the increase.

New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association (NEFSA) has strongly advocated for opposing the increase. Two days ago, NEFSA COO Dustin Delano stated, “Imagine losing 10 percent or 15 percent of your landings. For a fisherman catching 40,000-50,000 pounds of lobster annually, that could be a loss of up to $40,000 or $50,000- more than half of their take home income. Expenses like bait, fuel, gear, and boat payments would not decrease, but their livelihoods would.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

MASSACHUSETTS: The future for New Bedford scallopers: ‘Tough year ahead’

January 27, 2025 — Federal regulations, the new Trump Administration, the economy, climate, and offshore wind all play a part in the livelihood of South Coast scallopers and the most lucrative port in the nation. Watch the full Chat here to learn more.

Offshore Wind Farms: A Growing Concern

The panel highlighted concerns over offshore wind development, with many citing its impact on scallop habitats. The recent moratorium on new offshore wind leases and reviews of existing projects was welcomed by the panel.

“Wind farms change currents,” said Eric Hansen. “All scallop larvae, when they’re first born, are floating in the currents. It’s gonna change where they settle. It’s gonna change where the predators are because you change the environment.”

Tony Alvernaz expressed skepticism about whether turbines could ever be removed completely. “Even if they were to be decommissioned, decommissioning them basically means cutting them off at 15 feet above the ground,” he explained. “The rocks around them are there forever, and it’s a dead zone for fishing pretty much.”

Jim Kendall shared his experiences working with Vineyard Wind, noting that the company made efforts to engage with local fishermen. However, he contrasted this with other companies that have not shown the same level of respect or concern for the fishing industry.

Declining Scallop Stocks

Scallop landings have declined significantly, with Hansen reporting that total landings are expected to be 15–18 million pounds this year, down from the 40–60 million pounds typically landed in previous years.

“The total landing is going to be down even with the increased days of sea fishing going from 20 to 24,” Hansen said. “The catch per day is down so much we would need 30 or 40 days to catch what we used to catch in 20.”

Surveys have shown high numbers of juvenile scallops, which could lead to a recovery in the future. “If they all survive and grow, we are looking to rebound in a couple of years,” Hansen said, adding that the fishery could recover by 2027.

Northern Edge Closure Frustrates Fishermen

The Northern Edge of Georges Bank, a scallop-rich area, has been closed to fishing for decades, a decision that continues to frustrate many in the industry. The area was designated as a habitat area of particular concern (HAPC) for groundfish spawning, but fishermen argue that there is little evidence to justify the closure.

“The surveys that we’ve done hardly show any fish up there,” said Alvernaz. “The justification is insane.”

Hansen explained that the closure was tied to protecting cobble and gravel habitat thought to be important for codfish spawning. However, he acknowledged that the science on codfish presence in the area is limited.

Economic Pressures on Scallopers

Alvernaz detailed the rising costs of operating scallop boats, including higher prices for gear, fuel, and maintenance. “It cost me $60,000 last year to paint one boat,” he said. “And with quotas down, it’s foolish to run boats for such little return.”

The panel discussed potential solutions, including allowing multiple permits on a single boat, which would reduce inefficiencies. “It cost me $60,000 last year just to paint one boat,” Alvernaz reiterated, adding that operating at current quota levels is becoming unsustainable.

Japanese Scallops and Market Pressure

The panel also touched on the impact of Japanese scallop imports, which have introduced significant competition for smaller scallops in the U.S. market. Hansen noted that Japanese scallops are priced at around $12 per pound, making it difficult for American fishermen to compete.

“The 25 to 30 per pound scallops from Japan are driving the price down for our smaller scallops,” Hansen said.

Offshore Wind and the Need for Studies

The panel emphasized the importance of scientific research to assess the impact of offshore wind farms on the scallop fishery. Hansen stressed the need for baseline studies to document the state of the environment before more wind projects are developed.

“For a baseline study, you need five to ten years of data,” Hansen said. “We’re late in getting the data to judge impacts.”

Alvernaz added that scallop larvae can attach to structures like turbines, which may create changes in where scallops settle over time.

Looking Ahead

The panelists concluded by expressing the need for continued dialogue and action to address these challenges. “We’ve been through tough times before,” said Kendall, “and we’ll get through this too.”

As the scallop industry faces an uncertain future, fishermen, scientists, and policymakers will need to collaborate to find solutions that protect livelihoods and ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

Watch the full chat at The New Bedford Light