Bluefin Tuna Tagged in 2012 Landed During Wedgeport Tournament
There was a reunion of sorts at the Wedgeport Tuna Tournament and Festival this year when an Atlantic bluefin tuna that was tagged and released with a pop-up satellite archival tag by the Fin Seeker in waters off Port Mouton in October, 2012 was landed by the Claw Patrol on the last fishing day of the tournament.
For Dr. Molly Lutcavage, director and founder of the Large Pelagics Research Center in Massachusetts, it was the highlight of this year’s tuna weigh-in.
Dr. Molly, as she’s ...
Why Do We Fish?
In last month’s column, I asked the question, how should we define success in the fishery in Atlantic Canada?”
I went on to suggest we need to reconsider what it takes to be successful, because what we have been doing hasn’t been working. This month, I will continue with that overall theme, by asking the related question, “why do we fish?”
Maybe the answer seems obvious — we fish to catch fish, the more the better. But that is neither the right answer nor a good one. Fishing ...
One More Giant on the Line
P.E.I. Bluefin Tuna Harvesters Optimistic About Quota Increase
P.E.I.’s commercial bluefin tuna license holders have a reason to be optimistic these days.
The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) recently increased the Western Atlantic allocation of tuna for 2018. The Western Atlantic region includes Canada, the U.S., Japan, Mexico and parts of the U.K. and France. The total allowable tonnage will increase from 2,000 tonnes to 2,350 tonnes.
Assuming ...
Filming Giants
P.E.I. Documentary Bluefin Examines History and Plight of Province’s Famous Giant Tuna
All his life John Hopkins had wanted to catch a bluefin tuna.
Growing to massive sizes, well in excess of 1,000 pounds and incredibly strong swimmers, bluefin are revered all over the world.
“Every fisherman’s dream is to catch a giant bluefin. It’s one of the most powerful fish in the sea,” remarked Hopkins.
But that was then.
If you asked him that same question today — the answer ...
Bluefin Tuna Fishery Opening Delayed Yet Again
DFO advises that, at the request of industry, the opening of the Bluefin tuna fishery for vessels fishing home waters in NAFO Division 3LNOP is further delayed until 0600 hours on Wednesday, October 19, 2016.
Amended licence conditions are available on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Tuna tags and ICCAT forms are available at DFO detachment offices in Bay Roberts, Marystown and Placentia.
For fish harvesters who have already purchased tuna tags, your licence conditions must ...
Bluefin Tuna Won’t Be Included Under Species At Risk Criteria
For once Bluefin tuna fishermen in Atlantic Canada received good news from the government — but you wouldn’t think so by listening to the public airways and reading reports from the Ottawa media.
On August 29, the federal government decided not to list Bluefin tuna under the Species at Risk Act, thus enabling this small but important segment of the Atlantic commercial fishery to continue.
A 30-day period was allotted for response to the decision and no doubt the government will be ...
N.L. Bluefin Tuna Fishery Opening Delayed
DFO recently advised that, at the request of industry, the opening of the Bluefin tuna fishery for vessels fishing home waters in NAFO Division 3LNOP is delayed until 0600 hours on Saturday, October 15, 2016.
Amended licence conditions are available on the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Tuna tags and ICCAT forms are available at DFO detachment offices in Bay Roberts, Marystown and Placentia.
For fish harvesters who have already purchased tuna tags, licence conditions must be ...
Fishery Alive and Kicking in South Western Nova Scotia
Contrary to popular opinion, the commercial fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia is far from comatose and is indeed alive and kicking.
You don’t have to look too far to prove this point.
Some boat builders are booked up for the next four years as fishermen — especially lobstermen — are opting for the big 50-footers so they can extend their fishing grounds and time.
A lobster buyer in Meteghan River, who employed some 70 or so workers four year ago, now has 300 on the payroll and ...
Healthy Tuna Fishery off Newfoundland’s South Coast
When one thinks of bluefin tuna fishing hotspots in the north Atlantic, the south coast of Newfoundland is probably not the first place that comes to mind.
But over the last few years a brief, but lucrative tuna fishery is taking place in the area of the St. Pierre Banks and Burin-based fisherman Winston Pitcher is one of the Newfoundland harvesters involved.
Pitcher, who has been catching the large, sought after fish for about six years, explained the south coast fishery is a competitive ...
New Technology May Help Determine Bluefin Tuna Stocks
Department of Fisheries and Oceans research scientist Dr. Gary Melvin is leading a study into determining how abundant bluefin tuna are in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
In mid-September, Melvin and researchers conducted hydroacoustic studies in North Lake, Prince Edward Island to obtain data on bluefin populations.
The crew deployed an underwater, multi-beam sonar technology to locate the tuna.
Melvin wants to see if the sonar can accurately define not only the number, but the size and ...
