SmartNet Technology Under Development in Yarmouth
Full-scale trials are expected to begin this fall on a SmartNet trawl system that will utilize data collected by an uncrewed service vessel (USV) that could revolutionize conventional trawl fishing.
“The goal is to give the fishermen a better tool to assist catching fish, that is more efficient and is also aligning with what DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) wants to do with environmental issues with gear that is sustainable and that can achieve those goals well,” said Marc ...
Atlantic Seal Science Task Team Report Well Received
Seals chowing down on lucrative, commercial fish species in Atlantic Canadian continues to be one of the biggest worries and complaints harvesters in the region have — but argue that their concerns are falling on deaf ears.
However, is that finally about to change?
In May, Federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray, released the report from the Atlantic Seal Science Task Team (ASSTT).
The Task Team was established in March 2020 to gather input on science activities and programs related ...
Labrador Shrimp Company Donates EPIRBS to Area Harvesters
A total of 70 emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBS) were recently made available to commercial fishing enterprises in southern Labrador between L’Anse au Clair and Cartwright.
The donation was made possible through a living memorial to two young harvesters who lost their lives while fishing on the Island Lady on September 17, 2021. Marc Russell, aged 25 from Mary’s Harbour and Joey Jenkins, aged 30 from Lodge Bay, failed to return home to their community and were never ...
Status Quo for Atlantic Halibut TAC
While the total allowable catch (TAC) remains unchanged for Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO area 4RST) for the 2022/23 season, the TAC for Greenland halibut has increased by 19 per cent.
A TAC of 2,400 tonnes has been established for 4RST Greenland halibut, up from 2,025 tonnes for a one-year period starting May 15, while the Atlantic halibut TAC has been set at 1,716 tonnes.
The increase in Greenland halibut quota “is consistent with the precautionary approach ...
Product Pricing Creating N.L. Industry Friction
Disputes and disagreements over prices are nothing new in the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry — in fact, some would call them the norm.
However, a few months ago, this year had the promise of being a little different, as N.L. harvesters were anticipating record or near record price for snow crab and maybe even Northern shrimp. But things are not quite going as planned.
Earlier this year, in N.L., where the crab price is chosen through a collective bargaining process by the ...
Lobster Markets Negatively Impacted by COVID-19, Inflation and World Unrest
Above: The K.D. and 4J’s idles into the Clark’s Harbour wharf with a load of lobster traps, as the LFA 34 fishery winds down for another season. Kathy Johnson photo
COVID-19 continues to impact both the live and frozen lobster markets for Canadian exporters.
“The live and frozen lobster market has adjusted in 2022 after record exports in 2021,” says Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada (LCC).
“For the frozen lobster meat and ...
Challenging Lobster Season Wraps up in SWNS
Above: Lobster traps are offloaded from the Lady Joan at the Clark’s Harbour wharf on Cape Sable Island as the LFA 34 fishery winds down for another season. Kathy Johnson photos
Another lobster season is in the books for lobster fishing areas (LFAs) 33 and 34.
The six-month season closed on May 31 with a shore price of $10/pound.
“As we reflect upon the fall, winter and spring lobster fishery in LFAs 33 and 34, it was in many respects challenging,” says Leo ...
Is the Snow Crab Market a Bellwether or a Blip?
In the U.S., snow crab outperformed every other seafood product during the pandemic.
Yet today, the snow crab market is crashing at the fastest pace since the spring of 1995. That year, between May 1995 and May 1996, the price fell 46 per cent.
This year, Urner Barry quotations from last summer until this May are down 33 per cent and the bottom has not been set. This is already the largest percentage decline in price since 1995. Since February, the market has been going down around 50 ...
Herring Fishery in Risk Management Mode
The 2022 Atlantic Canada pelagics fishery is in a tailspin.
The March 30 announcement by Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Minister Joyce Murray that there will be no directed commercial or bait fishing for southern Gulf spring herring and a complete closure of the Atlantic mackerel commercial and bait fisheries in Atlantic Canada and Québec sent shockwaves through the fishing industry.
Now, the lucrative Bay of Fundy herring industry is doing its best to avoid further quota cut bombshells and ...
Asian Seafood Markets Impacted by Russia-Ukraine War
The war between Russia and Ukraine has exerted great influence on different sectors of the global market.
One victim has been seafood industries worldwide. Russia has spent great efforts in seafood promotion within recent years and it has been rising in prominence. Russian seafood exports have increased by 33.7 per cent to US$7 billion in 2021, according to the Russian Federal Agency for Fishery.
But now everything has been disrupted.
In the face of war sanctions, seafood trade between ...
