Saving Seafood

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford Fishing Industry Could Benefit From Trump Order

April 24, 2025 — Before the environmentalists and fearmongers in the press get their oil skins, jumpers and mesh undies in a bind over President Donald Trump’s executive order concerning the fishing industry, they need to catch their collective breath and slowly exhale.

First of all, read the damn thing!

The Associated Press says, “The order represents a dramatic shift in federal policy on fishing in U.S. waters by prioritizing commercial fishing interests over efforts to allow the fish supply to increase.”

That is fake news.

The executive order calls for the Secretary of Commerce to immediately consider suspending, revising, or rescinding regulations that overburden America’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries.

Read the full story at WBSM

MASSACHUSETTS: MassCEC scrubs plan for Ocean Renewable Energy Center

March 24, 2025 — The state’s alternative energy agency won’t be putting up a building to house a renewable energy research and development center on the New Bedford waterfront, but will pursue the work by other means, an agency official said on Friday.

Months after plans stalled in the City Council in the face of local opposition to the proposed waterfront location, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center is shifting course, due in part to questions about the Trump administration, which has expressed opposition to alternative energy.

The new endeavor called the Ocean Innovation Network Initiative will use existing companies and develop the city waterfront to cultivate ocean-related alternative energy technologies, including but not limited to wind power.

“Ocean innovation is poised to be a major economic driver for the South Coast and we are grateful for the City of New Bedford’s collaboration throughout the evolution of this important project,” Bruce Carlisle, MassCEC’s managing director of offshore wind, said in a statement released Friday morning.

Read the full article at the The New Bedford Light

MASSACHUSETTS: Trump firings hit NOAA scientists, analysts on South Coast

March 11, 2025 — Editor’s note: The Washington bureaucracy referred to in this article was likely an automatic review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) which is a statutory part of the Office of Management and Budget within the Executive Office of the President. That review was triggered automatically due to the size of the quota reduction agreed to by the New England Fishery Management Council with the support of the limited access Atlantic scallop fishery in order to maintain the health and sustainability of the fishery.  That review requirement was addressed in Washington on Monday, and the process is now back on track, and proceeding as it does in most years, with the next step being publication in the Federal Register.  Unless there is a Government shutdown, the process should be complete by early to mid-April, which although past the April 1 target, is no more unusual that most years.

Federal cuts ordered by the Trump administration reached Massachusetts in late February, when the NOAA Fisheries’ workforce from Maine to North Carolina was slashed.

Hundreds more cuts may happen this week, when department heads must meet a deadline to submit proposals for “large-scale” reductions in force at their respective agencies to not only terminate people, but eliminate their positions altogether.

This means more scientists and analysts who protect and manage the country’s commercial fisheries may soon lose their jobs. Their terminations have raised concerns about the future of the fishing industry, the science that underlies its management, and the people who rely on it for work and for food. That’s especially true in New Bedford, the country’s highest-value fishing port, where the new scallop season is about to start.

NOAA Fisheries terminations: what we know

NOAA Fisheries is the federal steward of the oceans and their resources, including endangered marine mammals. With science as its foundation and guide, it manages more than 400 fish stocks.

NOAA Fisheries’ parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which hosts the critically important National Weather Service, has seen about 1,300 terminations already, per the New York Times. Another 10% could be cut in this next round, one source told The Light.

The agency and the Office of Personnel Management did not answer questions from The Light on how many people were terminated in Massachusetts (or nationally) in February, and what their positions were.

During a conference hosted by U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Janet Coit, the assistant administrator at NOAA Fisheries who resigned in January, said at least 20 employees in NOAA Fisheries’ Rhode Island and Woods Hole offices were terminated.

She called the terminations of “some of the best and the brightest” indiscriminate and not strategic, saying the Trump administration used a loophole to fire long-term employees with institutional knowledge, who were technically probationary because they had received a promotion or assumed a new position.

Some probationary members who were terminated had worked for the agency for many years as contract workers, and had only recently been onboarded as federal employees.

Terminations included the head of NOAA’s marine carbon dioxide removal office and the director of NOAA’s ocean acidification program, both of which research issues critical to the fishing industry and its future viability.

The Trump administration’s cuts also have extended to advisory committees, including one established in 1971: the Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee. It was staffed by representatives from universities, the commercial fishing industry, environmental nonprofits and seafood companies.

Sarah Schumann, a commercial fisherman in Rhode Island who was serving her third year as a committee member, said it was an excellent venue for fishermen to have their interests and concerns heard by the higher levels of government on how fisheries can be better managed.

“We’ve been robbed of a voice,” she said. “It felt like a real place to collaboratively, honestly evaluate the larger scale trajectory of fisheries management in the U.S. And now that that’s gone.”

Read the full article at The New Bedford Light

MASSACHUSETTS: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center features new generational fishing exhibit

February 20, 2025 — The popular seafood restaurant and market Turk’s Seafood will be featured this Thursday as the first in a new series of mini exhibits at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.

This fishing family’s story kicks off Hauling Back: A Generational Fishing Family Project exhibit.

The Hauling Back exhibit will open this Thursday, Feb. 20, and will present the story of Turk’s Seafood and the Pasquill family.

The first mini exhibit will remain on display through March. Turk’s is closed for the winter, but will reopen March 5.

Read the full article at The Standard-Times

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: 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

 

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

MASSACHUSETTS: Oyster growers say sewage-related closures threaten their business

January 23, 2025 — 2024 was supposed to be Mattapoisett oyster farmer Mike Ward’s biggest year yet. He planned to scale up production on his four-acre Nasketucket Bay farm, ahead of selling it and retiring in 2026.

But Ward’s farm, Mattapoisett Oysters, suffered 180-plus days of state-imposed emergency closures last year, after rains caused raw sewage to repeatedly spill from New Bedford’s combined sewer system into Buzzards Bay. Now, his plans to sell are on hold.

“I think it’s worth zero right now, except for my equipment,” Ward said.

Ward wasn’t the only local oyster farmer whose plans were disrupted by New Bedford’s combined sewer overflows last year.

West Island Oysters co-owner Dale Leavitt was looking to boost production on his 46-acre Nasketucket Bay farm. Now, his Fairhaven business is “running on fumes” after experiencing 180-plus days of emergency closures.

In Dartmouth, Scott Soares was looking to grow his half-acre Padanaram Oyster Farm in Apponagansett Bay. Roughly half of his farm income was wiped out by 212 days of emergency closures.

Since January 2024, emergency shellfish bed closures have presented an urgent threat to oyster aquaculture in Buzzards Bay.

Read the full article at The New Bedford Light 

MASSACHUSETTS: Can a $10M wind-energy center in New Bedford withstand opposition from locals and Trump?

January 17, 2025 — A state agency will continue efforts to develop a more than $10 million offshore-wind-based, ocean-energy innovation center in New Bedford in 2025, despite national opposition to offshore wind and local opposition to a proposed site.

Nationally, President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to halt offshore wind development.

Locally, an attorney has compiled 236 signatures in opposition to the center’s “preferred” site, a 17,000-square-foot parking lot abutting the Bourne Counting House off McArthur Drive on Homer’s Wharf, leased through the Port Authority. The center would include the Bourne Counting House building, which would be renovated.

Read the full article at The Herald News

Fishermen may not like offshore wind, but some work for it

January 6, 2025 — A fishing boat named Saints and Angels sat docked at Leonard’s Wharf after a recent fishing trip. Ice covered some of the deck as a man cut into the boat’s steel side to create a door for scientific buoy deployment. Nearby vessels were being worked on, some with anti-offshore-wind flags whipping in the wind. Just the American flag flew on the Saints as Tony Alvernaz climbed up to the wheelhouse.

The blue-hulled scalloper, built in 1997, started out as a tender boat, transporting loads of fish between vessels and processing facilities. After a few years catching tuna, the vessel brought in over a million pounds of scallops over its life. But times, regulations and fish stocks have changed. The bivalves are still relatively lucrative, but vessels have spent more and more days sitting at the docks while expenses have risen.

So two years ago, Alvernaz, the part-owner of six scallopers, put aside his personal feelings and did something he never thought he’d do: He signed up to work for an offshore wind company.

In about two years, Vineyard Wind has paid about $8 million to local fishermen and vessel owners — many from New Bedford, like Alvernaz — to provide safety and security work during the wind farm’s construction (a figure that includes fuel costs).

About 45 fishing boats have worked as safety vessels, guard vessels, science vessels and scout vessels on the project, which remains under construction 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. This could mean sitting at a site 24/7, guarding scour protection before the monopiles go in, identifying and transmitting locations of fishing gear to be avoided, or moving through the wind area looking out for and alerting other vessels of activity.

It’s an example of collaboration and co-existence amid what has been a contentious relationship between the two industries.

Read the full story at The New Bedford Light