Saving Seafood

Council Actions

NEFMC Seeks Candidates for Multiple Fishery Analyst and Fishery Specialist Staff Positions

February 12, 2024 — The following was released by the New England Fishery Management Council:

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) seeks candidates for multiple fishery analyst and fishery specialist positions, focusing on the management of Atlantic sea scallops, groundfish, and habitat, as well as climate-resilient fisheries management.

 
APPLICATION DEADLINE: The application deadline is Saturday, March 16, 2024. The anticipated hiring date is in April/May 2024.
 
POSITION DESCRIPTION: These are highly visible positions that provide an opportunity to further develop professional skills and support fishery management actions to be implemented by federal agencies. Selected candidates will work closely with Council members, as well as other professionals from states and federal government, members of the fishing industry, stakeholder groups, and academic institutions.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ANALYST / SPECIALIST:
 
  • Lead/Support the development of fishery management actions by the Council;
  • Lead/Assist in the preparation of documents, including National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) documentation, technical reports, meeting summaries, and public presentations;
  • Compile and analyze fisheries, environmental, biological, social, economic, or other technical data using databases and statistical analysis software;
  • Communicate technical concepts effectively to decision-makers and the public;
  • Work collaboratively with members of the fishing industry and fisheries and social scientists;
  • Assist in the preparation for and conduct of public meetings; and
  • Conduct other tasks as assigned.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ANALYST:
 
In addition to listed items above, fishery analysts will:
 
  • Participate in regional stock assessment and scientific processes as a representative of the Council staff;
  • Convene and facilitate public meetings and workshops related to climate-resilient fisheries management;
  • Prepare technical reports on the Council’s advancements of climate-resilient management actions; and
  • Assist in development of a 5-year holistic strategic plan for the Council.
 
HOW TO APPLY: Applications will be accepted via email (preferred) to sgoutier@nefmc.org or by U.S. mail until the closing date of March 16, 2024.
 
Please send a cover letter indicating the position you are applying for (analyst or specialist), an example of your writing, and a resume or CV detailing education and experiences.
 
Further details about the work environment, professional qualifications, minimum educational requirements, analytical skills, communication skills, and the application process are available in the Vacancy Announcement.

Wind power giants find little shelter from sector troubles

February 10, 2024 — The world’s three biggest wind power groups – Siemens Energy, Orsted and Vestas on Wednesday gave a sober view of the year ahead for an industry buffeted by project delays, equipment problems and inflation.

Siemens Energy, the world’s largest maker of offshore wind turbines, expects a 2024 loss before special items of around 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) at Siemens Gamesa. The wind division has had to deal with the cost of addressing quality problems affecting some onshore models.

In addition, rising prices for raw materials and components as well as regulatory delays have caused writedowns and losses across the wind industry despite robust demand for renewable technology. Turbine makers have been particularly hit.

“You see the terms and conditions of the projects being too difficult for investors and project developers to take. So we are in a standstill,” said Danny van Doesburg, senior portfolio manager at Dutch APG Asset Management, which according to LSEG data owns stakes in Vestas, Orsted and Siemens Energy.

Read the full article at Reuters

NEW JERSEY: Six offshore wind turbine sites planned off Barnegat Light, draw large crowd to Toms River

February 10, 2024 — A plan to place wind turbine farms in six areas of ocean off the Jersey Shore brought a crowd to the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center on Thursday, where the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management fielded questions and concerns.

Federal personnel met with more than 100 offshore wind supporters, critics and curious residents over a plan to develop an area of the Atlantic known as the New York Bight.

Combined, the six lease areas in the New York Bight cover 488,201 acres and have the potential to power nearly 2 million homes, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM.

At its closest approach, the easternmost of the six project areas is 27 nautical miles (about 31 miles) from Barnegat Light.

Read the full article at app.

States edge closer to regional fund for fishermen hurt by offshore wind projects

February 10, 2024 –A regional fund that would pay fishermen for damages caused by offshore wind is one step closer to being established. A New York state energy agency, in collaboration with Massachusetts and nine other East Coast states, took a concrete step Thursday toward establishing that fund.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority issued a request for proposals seeking a firm to design and develop the regional fund and a standardized claims process for the fishing industry. The process would apply regardless of which wind project caused the economic loss.

In as few as 16 months, the states hope to have a claims process established, a third-party administrator selected, and millions of dollars from offshore wind developers that can be doled out to affected fishermen of any Eastern port as needed. The fund is a response to several projects that are slated to come online along the Northeast amid a lack of any national solution.

Read the full article at the New Bedford Light

Scientists look for clues to right whale death on Martha’s Vineyard. It could take weeks.

February 10, 2024 — For about half her life, the North Atlantic right whale that washed up dead Jan. 28 on a Martha’s Vineyard beach lived with fishing rope wrapped around her tail and flukes, making her existence increasingly difficult and painful as she grew.

A team of more than 20 scientists last week conducted a necropsy on the 3-year-old female whale, looking for clues about her cause of death, which has yet to be determined, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Fisheries Division. Researchers at the New England Aquarium‘s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life were able to identify her as the 2021 calf of the right whale known as Squilla, the now approximately 17-year-old’s only known calf.

The dead whale is listed in the North Atlantic right whale catalog as #5120 and was last seen alive in Cape Cod Bay in January 2023. Found washed up on Jan. 28 just south of Joseph Sylvia State Beach — a barrier beach along Nantucket Sound between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown — she was moved to Aquinnah for the investigation.

Read the full article at Cape Cod Times

Alaska tribes, green group take aim at planned bottom-trawling study in northern Bering Sea

February 10, 2024 — Three tribal governments and an environmental organization on Thursday served notice to federal agencies that they are planning a lawsuit to block a fishing experiment along the seafloor in the northern Bering Sea.

The practice of bottom trawling — sweeping a net to catch fish on or near the seabed — is currently prohibited in the Northern Bering Sea, which is abbreviated in legal documents as NBS. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service is planning to deploy some commercial trawling gear in selected spots over the coming summers to see what impacts, if any, result to the habitat and the marine life dependent on it.

The research project is called the Northern Bering Sea Effects of Trawling Study, or NBET. It is focused on specific areas north and south of St. Lawrence Island and would potentially simulate effects of commercial harvests.

Read the full article at the Alaska Beacon

MAINE: Maine Grants $2.1 Million for preserving the working waterfront

February 10, 2024 — Maine Legislature approved $2.1 million in funds for working waterfront protection. Lands for Maine’s Future (LMF) and the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) will accept proposals for projects to protect further and secure commercial fishing access in Maine. Proposals will be accepted through a June 28 deadline.

The Working Waterfront Access Protection Program (WWAPP) funds given to winning proposals can be used to purchase property dedicated only to commercial fisheries or aquaculture use. Mixed-use properties must be clearly defined in support of a commercial fishing operation.

Applicants who are eligible for proposals include nonprofit land conservation organizations, private landowners, counties, cities, towns, and state agencies. Private businesses directly involved or other qualified organizations must provide permanent access for use by commercial fisheries. Potential applicants can contact Melissa Britsch, senior planner with the Maine Coastal Program, at 207-215-6171.

“For landowners who are willing to restrict future development of their property, the WWAPP could provide access to funds that can be used to build in a way that is resilient to the effects of a changing climate. This program will preserve and protect the valuable coastal facilities and infrastructure necessary to ensure a strong and durable coastal economy for Maine.” LMF board chair and DMR commissioner Patrick Keliher stated in a press release.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Head Jay Lugar clarifies revision process for Version 3.0 standard

February 10, 2024 — Jay Lugar is the head of fisheries for the Marine Stewardship Council. In an SeafoodSource interview, Lugar addressed in more detail the problems with MSC’s Version 3.0 standard that have resulted in a delay in its implementation.

On 9 February, activist coalition Make Stewardship Count, which has been sharply critical of the Marine Stewardship Council for years, said it opposed the delay.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Louisiana’s drastic crawfish shortage leads US congressman to call for federal aid

February 10, 2024 — Experts are predicting a drastic shortage of crawfish in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and in response, U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) is seeking federal financial relief.

“It’s going to be the worst season ever,” Louisiana State University AgCenter Representative Mark Shirley told the Louisiana Radio Network. “The population is just not there.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Four years on, Brexit continues to undermine segments of UK seafood industry

February 10, 2024 — Supporters of the U.K.’s departure from the E.U. four years ago promised the dawn of a golden era for the fishing and seafood industry. Those operating in the sector hoped the move would offer more control over volumes caught and the people catching in U.K. waters, subsequently presenting more opportunities for growth, particularly in coastal communities.

For those attempting to navigate the unique challenges Brexit has wrought on the U.K.’s seafood supply chain, that optimism has faded for many in the country’s seafood sector. Many continue to lament red tape complicating the export of many types of seafood to key overseas markets. If products do make it to Europe, they often incur significant additional costs. Brexit has also limited the number of foreign workers available for hire by U.K. processors, leaving them struggling to find sufficient numbers of employees to operate in a cost-effective manner.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource