N.L. Snow Crab Stock Down 40 Per Cent
Scientists at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) are painting a bleak picture for the upcoming 2017 snow crab season.
At a media briefing held today in St. John’s, DFO snow crab lead Dr. Darrell Mullowney said the fishable biomass off Newfoundland (NAFO areas 2HJ3KLNOP4R) is now at its lowest observed level — after declining 80 per cent since 2013. Even more troubling is the stock has declined 40 per cent from 2015 to 2016.
2HL: Biomass demonstrated increase in 2014, but ...
Storm Damage to Fish Farm in Shelburne County
The Nova Scotia government is looking into an incident of damage to an aquaculture site in Shelburne Harbour, Shelburne Co., after a major winter storm earlier this month.
The company reported damage to one of its pens to the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture on, Feb. 15, in accordance with the province’s aquaculture regulations, and has continued to provide regular updates.
It is believed some of the salmon were released from the damaged pen. The operator has been engaged in ...
Marine Harvest Completes Purchase of Gray Aqua Assets
International aquaculture producer Marine Harvest has completed the purchase of aquaculture farming assets previously owned by Gray Aqua Group of Companies in Atlantic Canada.
The purchase includes seven farming licences in Newfoundland and Labrador, including the Hermitage processing plant.
The Marine Harvest purchase also includes 17 site applications throughout the province which are currently under provincial review. Other assets acquired include one hatchery and two farming licences ...
Labour Board Rules FISH-NL is an Official Association
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) has said it has won the first battle in its bid to represent the province’s inshore fish harvesters.
The province’s Labour Relations Board issued a ruling Thursday afternoon rejecting an application by the FFAW that FISH-NL is not an association under the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act.
“If you were listening closely Thursday afternoon you would have heard the collective cheer of thousa...
3Ps Cod Fishery Closing
DFO advises that the 3Ps directed cod fishery will close to all fleets at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.
All fishing gear must be removed from the water by closing time. This closure applies to all vessel classes.
Fish harvesters are asked to return their Inshore Fixed Gear Logbooks after the conclusion of fishing operations.
The Regional Director General, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region gives notice that Variation Order 2016-273 has been revoked ...
Opposition Questions N.L. Premier About CETA Fisheries Fund
Keith Hutchings, Official Opposition Critic for Intergovernmental Affairs, is asking, “Is Premier Ball preparing to give up minimum processing requirements (MPRs) in our province’s fisheries as part of the CETA trade deal with the European Union without getting the full $280-million Fisheries Investment Fund that Ottawa agreed to give this province?”
“In May 2015, when the federal government of the day tried to renege on their Fisheries Investment Fund agreement, our government said ...
UPDATED: Northern Shrimp Biomass in SFA 6 at Critical Level
It looks as though the Northern shrimp fishery off Newfoundland’s northeast coast will soon be receiving another hit.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans held a technical briefing today regarding the 2017 Northern Shrimp Stock Assessment and the news was not good — particularly in the beleaguered Shrimp Fishing Area (SFA) 6.
DFO scientists announced that in the all-important SFA 6, the fishable biomass index declined from 785,000 tonnes in 2006 to 104,000 tonnes in 2016. There was ...
Nova Scotia-China Live Lobster Quality Project Announced
A new lobster quality initiative between Nova Scotia and Tmall-Alibaba, an online retail company in China, will set a premium quality standard for exported Nova Scotia lobster.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Colwell announced Feb. 15, that Nova Scotia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the company, to help provide premium quality Nova Scotia lobster to growing online markets in China.
“Nova Scotia is known worldwide for its premium quality lobster and ...
PC Opposition Welcomes CETA, Demands Fisheries Fund
Keith Hutchings, Intergovernmental Affairs Critic for the Official Opposition, said, “We welcome news that both the European Parliament and the Canadian House of Commons have approved CETA, paving the way to remove more than 98 per cent of trade barriers between Canada and the European Union, but now we expect the Government of Canada to honour Justin Trudeau’s commitment to Newfoundland and Labrador that Ottawa will provide its share of the Fisheries Investment Fund that he promised ...
Public Advisory: Mariners Advised of Closure of Placentia Lift Bridge
Mariners are advised that the Placentia Lift Bridge will be closed to all marine traffic beginning Monday, February 13, for approximately three weeks.
The closure is necessary to facilitate maintenance of the bridge, ensure the safety of workers, pedestrians and motorists, and allow the work to be completed as quickly as possible.
Vehicle traffic will not be impacted.
The Department of Transportation and Works apologizes for any inconvenience the closure may cause. Updates will be ...
