Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: ‘A place to do great science’

July 9, 2018 — Chris Munkholm has lived with every phase of building Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute’s new research institute and laboratory, from the first rendering to the ongoing construction along the Gloucester waterfront by landlord Windover Construction.

But nothing really prepared GMGI’s chief operating officer for the impressions that washed over her as she stood Friday in what will be GMGI’s conference room with views of the Jodrey State Fish Pier across the north channel.

“This is really the first time I’ve experienced it as a three-dimensional space and seen how glorious it will be to look out these windows and recognize that we are a part of America’s oldest fishing harbor,” Munkholm said. “I’m almost in tears.”

Munkholm and other GMGI executives and board members got their initial look at their new digs Friday morning in a site walk-through that presented the first tangible experience of the work space to come.

“I don’t think we could have dreamt anything better,” said Marc Vidal, one of GMGI’s founders and a member of its scientific advisory board. “It’s taken us five years to get established here, with local people starting to recognize and accept us. In the next five years, I believe that recognition will grow to a national scale. Interestingly, that would be in the year 2023, which is the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Gloucester.”

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Great whites help scientists understand ocean’s ‘twilight zone’

July 6, 2018 — Four years ago, Lydia, a 14 ½-foot, 1-ton great white shark almost made history when she swam over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in March of 2014, a submerged mountain chain that runs from the Arctic Ocean to the southern tip of Africa, and entered the eastern Atlantic.

No other great white had made a documented Atlantic crossing and, while she ultimately turned back 800 miles short of the Cornish coastline, scientists puzzled over why she made the trip at all.

Great whites are driven by the search for food, but a foray into the open ocean beyond the continental shelf, often portrayed as a desert relieved only by an occasional oasis, was baffling. Finding a possible answer took detective work, piecing together data from some of the most sophisticated technology strapped to two great whites, as well as a network of satellites and ocean-going robots. It’s a technique scientists hope will be a model for future research into the unknown worlds of the deep sea and for conservation efforts to protect that ecosystem.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Times

Mariners brake for right whales

July 5, 2018 — NOAA Fisheries announced Tuesday that a voluntary vessel speed restriction zone has been established to protect a group of four North Atlantic right whales sighted two nautical miles south of Nantucket on June 30, according to a press release.

Mariners are asked to travel at 10 knots or less inside the area where the whales were spotted, in order to avoid ship collisions with the endangered species. Effective through July 15, either slow to 10 knots or avoid the area of 41 32 N, 40 54 N, 070 29 W, 069 36 W.

Mandatory speed restrictions of 10 knots or less are also in effect in the Great South Channel through July 31.

In 2017, 17 whales died, plus an additional mortality in January 2018, totaling about 4 percent of the entire right whale population. Also in 2017, two right whale carcasses washed up on Vineyard beaches, and two other carcasses were found on Nantucket and the Elizabeth Islands. This sparked an increased local effort by the NOAA and the U.S. Coast Guard to protect the whales from further harm. Migratory patterns of right whales trace directly through parts of Nantucket and Vineyard Sound as they travel to seasonal plankton blooms for food. The whales are a critically endangered species, with a population estimated at about 450 animals, according to the release.

Read the full story at the Martha’s Vineyard Times

MASSACHUSETTS: 100 gallons of oil spilled into harbor Tuesday

July 5, 2018 — Residents living along the coast of New Bedford harbor and those enjoying a day in the water may have noticed the odor of diesel fuel to accompany their Fourth of July celebration as crews from Frank Corp work to clean about 100 gallons that spilled into the harbor on Tuesday.

The spill occurred in the area of Pearse Park boat ramp Tuesday night at around 8 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. Fairhaven Fire and EMS said the spill affected from the fishing vessel Pacific Capes, which is owned by Atlantic Capes Fisheries. The spill extended from Linberg Marine to the Seaport Inn Marina.

Fairhaven Fire and EMS was hopeful that as the temperature increased on Wednesday, the oily sheen would dissipate.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Congressman Keating says groundfishing ban is in ‘final stages,’ expects it to be lifted soon

July 3, 2018 — As calendars turned to July on Sunday, the new month represented the ninth in which about 80 local fishermen have been banned from groundfishing.

Congressman Bill Keating, who according to some on the waterfront, has most actively tried to return those fishermen to work said on Monday that he expects NOAA to release a decision soon.

“We’re just waiting for the final aspects going forward,” Keating said.

Last month, city, state and federal politicians met at the Whaling Museum to discuss possible scenarios to end the ban. Fishermen also met with the federal delegation in May.

The Democrat representing Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional District said “an administrative procedure” is separating the rule from being announced.

NOAA provided no comment on a timetable and said it would release a statement when an announcement is made.

NOAA has remained quiet throughout the groundfishing ban, which was imposed on November 20, 2017 as measures to force repayment of the fishing overages by Carlos Rafael and to prevent any recurrence of mislabeling.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Cooking class serves up less popular fish in delicious way

July 3, 2018 — If cod and haddock are your go to fish at the local fish market, you might consider venturing out and making some waves with other — just as delicious — species that are so much easier on the wallet.

Thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, the New Bedford Port Authority and the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, a free cooking class was held recently demonstrating pollock and scup as the main entree.

The class was taught by Chef Henry Bousquet at New Bedford Regional Vocational-Technical High School.

The next class on July 25 features red fish and whiting and will involve how to cook and serve a whole fish.

The final class is set for Aug. 15 is entitled “Crafting Sauces that enhance and highlight underutilized species.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Seafood Soirée to Benefit New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center

July 2, 2018 — The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

Enticing seafood appetizers from some of the area’s finest chefs are on the menu for a Seafood Soirée, the first gala fundraiser to benefit the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.

Scheduled for the evening of July 19th at the Wamsutta Club at the James Arnold Mansion, a Seafood Soirée will feature the bounty of the sea with over a dozen dishes prepared by area chefs, as well as handmade desserts; live gypsy jazz by Hot Club Cheese Roll; and live and chance auctions.

“We invite the community to join us for this fun and delectable evening, a showcase of seafood from the nation’s most valuable fishing port,” says Executive Director Laura Orleans. “We are grateful to all our chefs, restaurants, seafood companies, and sponsors for their role in helping us promote the local seafood industry.”

The event is sponsored by BayCoast Bank, Eastern Fisheries, Farm Credit East, SouthCoast Media Group, and the Wamsutta Club at the James Arnold Mansion.

The cocktail hour from 5:30 to 6:30 pm will feature sushi from Turk’s Seafoodin Mattapoisett; shrimp cocktail from Kyler’s Catch in New Bedford; and a cheese platter donated by The Pasta House in Fairhaven.

From 6:30 to 7:30, signature seafood dishes will be offered by the following chefs (committed to date):

  • Clam Chowder donated by Blount Fine Foods;
  • Smoked Eel (or unagi), Deviled Egg, Pea Greens on crostini created by Chris Chronin of Farm and Coast Market, Pandanaram;
  • A red crab dish created by Chefs Arthur Dill and Helder Costa from Chartwells Dining Service at UMass Dartmouth featuring crab donated by Atlantic Red Crab Company;
  • Sea Scallops prepared on site by Eastern Fisheries Executive Chef George Korousos;
  • A Monkfish dish created by Chef Mike Mello of M&C Café featuring monkfish donated by Bergie’s Seafood;
    New Bedford Seafood Paella featuring clams, scallops, mussels & chorizo created by Chef Greg Morton of Morton’s Fork Catering;
  • Mini lobster rolls by Oxford Creamery;
  • A fish dish prepared by Sid Wainer’s Corporate Chef Chris Cordeiro;
  • A seafood dish prepared by the chefs at the Waterfront Grille in New Bedford, newly owned by Lafrance Hospitality.
  • For non-seafood eaters, Wamsutta Club Executive Chef Raymond Fonseca will offer assorted petite quiche, spanakopita, bruschetta, and chicken allouette.
  • Dessert from 7:30 to 8:30 pm will feature handcrafted chocolates by Life is Sweet, hand-painted sugar cookies by Sarah Joy, and coffee and tea.

From 7:30 to 8:30, WBSM radio personality Phil Paleologos will auction items ranging from Red Sox tickets to a scallop dinner for four in the galley of a working vessel. Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy gypsy jazz by Hot Club Cheese Roll, and try their luck at a Fluke and Flounder chance auction. A complimentary glass of Blue Ocean Champagne and a cash bar will round out the evening.

Tickets are $75 per person; proceeds will benefit the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, the city’s newest museum. For tickets, visit the Center at 38 Bethel Street, call 508-993-8894, or email info@fishingheritagecenter.org. Tickets can also be purchased online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3437877

New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to telling the story of the fishing industry past, present and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. The Center is free of charge and open Thursday-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org for more information.

MASSACHUSETTS: Local lobsterman to test ropeless buoy equipment

July 2, 2018 — Sonar technology used in Australia for southern rock lobster commercial fishing will be tested in July, possibly in Cape Cod Bay, as a method to better protect imperiled North Atlantic right whales from rope entanglements.

“Getting these and other systems into the hands of the fishermen and incorporating their ideas and feedback into their development is the key,” said Patrick Ramage, marine conservation program director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare, which has its operations center in Yarmouth Port.

IFAW will pay $30,000 to provide the equipment, a trainer and onboard support for what is expected to be a test by one member of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association of the acoustic release equipment manufactured by Desert Star Systems, a company based in Marina, California, and founded by Marco Flagg.

The equipment replaces the typical surface buoy and vertical rope that lobstermen attach to their traps on the seafloor to identify the trap locations. Instead, the new equipment has a bottom-anchored mesh bag full of rope and floats that can open and pop up to the surface with an acoustic command from a boat. The equipment dates from the mid-1990s when a lobster fisherman in Australia wanted to prevent trap losses from gear entanglement with ships.

The equipment was tested earlier this year by five commercial snow crab fishermen in Canadian waters, Flagg said.

“The Massachusetts test is on the small side but I’m happy it’s happening,” Flagg said of what is the first pilot of the product in United States waters. Each release mechanism costs about $1,500 to $1,700 and lasts for 10 years, he said.

A Sandwich-based lobsterman is expected to pilot the equipment, according to the lobstermen’s association president Arthur “Sooky” Sawyer.

Read the full story at the Cape Cod Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Sen. Elizabeth Warren pushes for new lobster markets

July 2, 2018 — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren moved Friday to try to protect international markets for American lobsters, urging the U.S. trade representative to explore new markets to compensate for the detrimental impact of new Chinese import tariffs.

In a letter to Robert Lighthizer, the U.S. trade representative, Warren said the 25 percent tariffs to be imposed on American lobster imports after July 6 will economically harm American lobstermen and the fishing communities in which they live and operate their businesses.

“China is a large and growing market for lobsters, with total lobster imports from America topping $100 million in recent years,” Warren said in her letter. “Large Chinese tariffs on American lobster will effectively close off that market because China can substitute cheaper lobsters from Canada or Europe for American lobsters.”

The new Chinese tariffs on $50 billion worth of American goods, imposed in response to new tariffs ordered by President Donald Trump on Chinese imports into the United States, actually will mean that American lobster exporters will be paying the new 25 percent on top of the current 7 percent tariff — resulting in a tariff of 32 percent on imported American lobsters.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

MASSACHUSETTS: Scanning Day to Preserve Fishing Industry

June 29, 2018 — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center will host its monthly Scanning Day on Saturday July 14 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Scanning Day is an opportunity for the public to share and preserve a digital image of their fishing industry photographs, documents, and other records for future generations.

The Center invites the public to bring their fishing industry related photographs, both historic and contemporary, as well as documents such as settlement sheets, union books, or news clippings to be scanned.

Staff will scan the materials and record any information the owner shares about each piece. The owner will leave with their originals along with a digital copy  of the scans on a flash drive.

The Center is working to create a digital archive of these materials which will be made available to researchers and the public. These documents will help us to tell the story of the fishing industry. This event is free and open to the public.

Read the full story at WBSM