Local Ropeless Fishing Gear Development Continuing
Halifax-based Ashored Innovations is testing the waters with their Rope On-Command (ROC) fishing system.
Since starting in 2018, the ROC fishing system being developed by Ashored has undergone four major design changes, said Ross Arsenault, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer.
“Each prototype iteration has been built in higher volume than the previous batch and tested through multiple trials or pilot projects,” said Arsenault.
“We conduct pilots in as many diverse conditions ...
The European Green Crab: Eradication Might Not be the Answer
Last summer, a story in the Navigator outlined the ongoing efforts to control the spread of the invasive and destructive European green crab in this region.
According to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), green crabs were first found in Canadian waters in 1951 in southwest New Brunswick and have since expanded to many other locations in Atlantic Canada. They entered Nova Scotia waters in 1953/1954 and reached just south of Halifax in 1966. By 1982–1983, green crabs were present ...
Adjacency Should be the Most Important Criterion for Access to Fish Stocks
Above: Mark Blundon Photo
Much has been written recently regarding fisheries around Newfoundland and Labrador and most of it has merit for a sustainable industry in the future.
Suffice to say, there is no use bemoaning the many mistakes made by past management practices.
The following information came from experience working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and industry, along with the many opportunities to speak with fishers and fishing captains on small ...
The Crisis of Our Lifetime
I grew up in the schooner days when cod was king, after being absent for a while.
I returned to the fishery in 1976 and cod was still king. In reference to cod, it was called fish and is still today by the people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.
The year 1990 was a disastrous time — we lost our cod and turbot after long years of fishing on the spawning grounds by Canadian and foreign draggers. In the winter of 1991, the Canadian draggers went to the Grand Banks looking for cod and ...
PM Should Honour his Father’s Fish Promise
A provincial fishery advocacy group, the Fishery Community Alliance (FCA), is calling upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to honour a commitment made by his father in 1971, as a way to help protect and rebuild depleted fish stocks off Newfoundland and Labrador that belong to the Canadian people.
I was part of a team of fishery advocates from 14 groups, the Save Our Fishery Association (SOFA), which undertook a mission to Ottawa in October 1971, to highlight the politically motivated decisions ...
On the Waterfront – September 2021
DFO Launches New Fishing Gear Reporting Tool
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) recently announced the launch of the online Fishing Gear Reporting System.
Fish harvesters and authorized retrievers can now easily access and submit the required lost or retrieved gear reporting forms simply and efficiently. This reporting helps the department and other partners locate and remove lost gear from our waters and, in many cases, return the gear to its rightful owner.
Access to the reporting ...
The Twine Loft – September 2021
Passed On: John Russell – Main Brook, N.L. fisherman
Russell, 96, passed away on July 21. He was born on August 3, 1924, to his parents, Charles and Rhoda Russell in Georges Cove, Labrador. As a young man, he moved to Main Brook where his work ethic and desire to provide for his family led him to pursue a lifelong career in the fishery. He returned to Labrador every summer with his family for the fishing season until the moratorium in 1992.
Passed On: Peter Woodford – ...
Christmas in July
Once upon a time, not too long ago, there was a sure, telltale sign a provincial election was looming in Newfoundland and Labrador.
One would always know, particularly in rural areas of the province, that the dropping of the writ was eminent when shiny new firetrucks would start rolling into firehall parking lots everywhere. For some reason, the governing party of the time always seemed to think that the best way to secure votes in the bays and coves around the province would be to hand over ...
