Saving Seafood

NEW JERSEY: Commercial fishing boats stuck in Jersey Shore waterways clogged with ice

February 10, 2026 — This wave of brutally cold weather is cutting into catches for commercial fishing boats that are now idle along the Jersey Shore.

With boats iced in, Sea Tow Cape May is enduring the biting cold and gusty winds as they help ferry interport pilots to and from the big ships that are out at sea.

This step is vital to keep the supply chain moving along the northeast.

“A five mile wide wall of ice with two, three, four foot high, you know, icebergs sticking out of the water. And the dangerous part about that is you don’t know how much is underneath of them,” Claude Savino, of Sea Tow Cape May, explained. “It can’t stop. That’s goods coming in and out of our country and like, it cannot stop.”

Read the full article at NBC 10

A Legacy on the Docks: Remembering Viking Village’s Ernie Panacek

January 28, 2026 — The commercial fishing community of  is mourning the loss of Ernie Panacek, a transformative leader who spent more than three decades championing the local seafood industry as the general manager of Viking Village. Panacek, 75, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026, following a battle with ALS.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Chapel at the Harvey Cedars Bible Conference.
A Life Dedicated to the Sea
Panacek was widely recognized as a “pillar” of Viking Village, one of the East Coast’s largest commercial seafood suppliers. Under his management, the dock became a hub for innovation and sustainability, particularly in the scallop and longline fisheries. His expertise was not just operational; he was a fierce advocate for fishermen, serving as a founder of the New Jersey Seafood Harvesters’ Association and a director of the Bluewater Fishermen’s Association.

New Jersey fishermen challenge monitoring rule again

January 23, 2026 — Following their victory before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2024, commercial fishers from New Jersey are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to vacate a NOAA Fisheries rule requiring them to pay out of pocket for at-sea monitors.

“Forcing fishermen to pay the salaries of government regulators watching them conduct their work is backward,” New Civil Liberties Alliance (NCLA) Senior Litigation Counsel Kara Rollins said in a statement. “The regulation unlawfully places the government’s financial responsibilities onto the governed and without congressional authorization.”

The lawsuit centers on the Industry-Funded Monitoring (IFM) rule introduced by NOAA Fisheries in 2020. The rule requires commercial fishers in multiple fisheries – Atlantic herring, squid, butterfish, and Atlantic mackerel – to pay out of pocket for at-sea monitors to be present on their vessels and observe their operations.

The fishers claimed the requirement would be devastating to their business, with monitors reportedly costing more than $700 per day. According to the NCLA, that cost can eat up any profit the fishers made in a day, and over a multi-day trip, costs could become exorbitant.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Rutgers Cooperative Extension to Host Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) Course

January 6, 2026 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is offering an introductory fisheries science course for stakeholders of New Jersey’s marine fisheries. The 2026 Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) course is open to everyone who is interested in New Jersey’s marine fisheries. The course’s objective is to educate stakeholders of New Jersey’s commercial and recreational fisheries so that they will better understand and make progress on issues impacting these industries, including the science, management, and responsible stewardship of fishery resources. Visit the IFISSH web page or download the course flyer for additional details.

Ten classes will meet via Zoom webinar on Tuesday evenings (6:30 – 9:00 PM) from February 3 through April 7. Visit this link to register and submit program fee payment ($40/person) by January 30, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Douglas Zemeckis (zemeckis@njaes.rutgers.edu, 732-349-1152) or Dina Baudo (dbaudo@co.ocean.nj.us, 732-349-1152).

Trump team pauses wind projects, including one off Jersey Shore

December 23, 2025 — The Trump administration announced a pause on five offshore wind farms, including one off the coasts of New Jersey and New York, citing national security concerns.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced on Dec. 22 that the pause would affect New York’s Empire Wind 1 power project, which will be about 19 miles offshore of Long Branch once complete. The pause also affects Vineyard Wind 1 off Massachusetts, Revolution Wind off Rhode Island and Connecticut, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind and Sunrise Wind southeast of Long Island.

The rotation of wind turbines and their reflective towers create radar interference called “clutter,” according to the Department of Interior. That interference obscures the radar detection of moving objects and creates the appearance of false objects near the wind farms, according to the department.

The pause will give wind farm developers and state and federal authorities time to address the projects’ risks to national security, Burgum said in a news release.

Read the full article at Asbury Park Press

NEW YORK: Operation Riptide: Highly Migratory Species Enforcement Levels the Playing Field for Law-Abiding Fishermen

December 18, 2025 — NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement led “Operation Riptide,” a 2-day multi-state operation targeting highly migratory species enforcement in July 2025. Agents and officers from NOAA, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and New York Department of Environmental Conservation worked together to help protect marine life and law-abiding U.S. fishermen. We conducted this operation to help improve compliance with highly migratory species regulations in the state and federal waters off of New York and New Jersey.

Each day of the operation began with virtual briefings before participating agents and officers hit the water. These briefings provided crucial information on historic fishing patterns to help them effectively assess potential violations. They included details such as:

  • Target species at that time of year
  • Up-to-date weather and tide information
  • Real-time species-specific migration and population density information in the operation area

Collectively, we conducted patrols covering the majority of navigable coastal inlets between Cape May, New Jersey to Montauk, New York. Eight NOAA Fisheries agents and officers participated in the operation along with several officers from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New York Department of Environmental Conservation.

Our mobilization of state-owned patrol vessels was key to the operation’s success. A total of nine patrol vessels participated in the operation; five from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and four from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Participating agents and officers conducted a total of 87 boardings during the operation:

  • 63 federal HMS-focused boardings in the Exclusive Economic Zone
  • 24 state-waters boardings, which included both state-licensed and federally permitted vessels.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

Seafood Tips from the People Bringing You America’s Seafood (Part 1)

November 21, 2025 — Across the country, fishermen, farmers, chefs, and educators are working to keep fishing heritage alive while inspiring new generations to value the bounties of our coastal waters. Here, experts from the Atlantic coast share their stories and tips for making seafood a bigger part of your life—no matter where you live. And stay tuned: we’ll be sharing Part Two featuring insights from Pacific coast experts.

Captain Brady Lybarger, Scallop Shack Farms

New Jersey

Scallop Shack Farms began as South Jersey’s original seafood pop-up. Captain Brady Lybarger, an experienced second-generation commercial fisherman, and his wife Amanda started selling scallops from the back of their truck during the pandemic.

Today, the thriving family-run market in Cape May, New Jersey offers scallops, seasonal catches, and gourmet goods, all sourced directly from American fishermen. Brady runs the shop with his wife, her father and sister-in-law, and even nieces, welcoming seafood lovers in to buy and connect. At Scallop Shack Farms, seafood goes from boat—often Brady’s own F/V Salted—to home chefs within hours of landing. Customers don’t just buy seafood there—they learn the story behind it, meet the people who caught it, and become part of a growing family of supporters.

Brady knows firsthand the challenges facing the fishing industry, with declining fisheries, rising costs, and fewer young workers entering the trade. That’s why he carves out time to serve on New England Fishery Management Council advisory panels on tilefish and scallops, ensuring fishermen’s knowledge informs management decisions.

Captain Brady’s Seafood Tips

  • Start fresh: A fresh, well-handled product makes all the difference. Scallop Shack Farms takes pride in bleeding and brining fish and delivering them within 24 hours when possible.
  • Keep it simple: For scallops, the secret is to pat them completely dry, then sear in a hot pan for 1.5-2 minutes per side. Add just salt, pepper, oil, and butter—no need to over-season a good product.
  • Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to talk with your fishmonger or fisherman—they’re happy to share how the seafood was caught and the best ways to prepare it.

Read the full article at NOAA Fisheries

NEW JERSEY: Long Delayed Jersey Shore Wind Farm Gets Scrapped

November 17, 2025 — Yet another offshore wind farm in New Jersey is being canceled by its developers.

Leading Light Wind, which already has been delayed twice and was pending a third delay request, will not be moving forward, an attorney for the project said in a letter to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Colleen A. Foley, the attorney representing Leading Light Wind, wrote that the company “cannot move forward” under the terms the BPU set out. In the letter, the company withdrew their request for another delay.

Read the full article the Patch