North Atlantic Fish and Workboat Show Wraps Up Another Successful Event
The North Atlantic Fish and Workboat Show, Canada's premier commercial marine event, has concluded its latest edition at the Mary Brown's Centre, leaving a wake of success and industry camaraderie.
“This year’s show buzzed with a lively atmosphere as exhibitors and attendees came together to discuss industry news and showcase new products and tech,” said Shawn Murphy, Show Manager.
The two-day event, held on November 17 - 18, 2023, brought together a diverse array of industry ...
8th Edition of The North Atlantic Fish & Workboat Show Opens This Week
Commercial fishing and workboat professionals from across Atlantic Canada have made the trip to St John’s, Newfoundland for the 8th edition of the North Atlantic Fish & Workboat Show. This week, November 17 & 18, the Mary Brown’s Centre will be transformed into one of the region’s top destinations for those who make a living in the marine industry.
“The move-in process has been running smoothly and we’re excited to unveil this show to visitors.” said Show Manager, Shawn ...
Cleaning Up N.L.’s West Coast With the Marine Institute
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Marine Institute Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR) is on a mission to clean up and recycle lost, abandoned or otherwise discarded fishing gear from the sea floor off the island’s west coast.
According to project lead Mark Santos, a fisheries technologist at CSAR, the funding came about in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona, which devastated areas of Atlantic Canada, ruining numerous wharves and casting hundreds of pieces of stored fishing gear ...
N.L. Ropeless Fishing Gear Needs Work to be Viable: CCFI
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI), an organization that supports research and development within the seafood industry, recently tested the viability of ropeless fishing gear in Newfoundland and Labrador’s crab and lobster fishery.
While ropeless gear, also known as rope-on-command (ROC) gear, would allow harvesters to fish in areas closed due to the sighting of the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, the CCFI has identified a number of issues with the ...
On the Waterfront – September 2023
Nova Scotia Vessel Sinks off N.L.
The Addie N’ Ainslie, a vessel based out of Sambro, N.S., sank on July 11 while fishing for halibut off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.
After a split shaft punched a hole in the hull, the boat containing seven fish harvesters began to rapidly take on water.
The crew was able to signal first responders and cram into a lifeboat before being taken aboard a container ship. The next morning, the crew was picked up by the Canadian Coast Guard and dropped ...
Some Positive News for Capelin, But Stock Still in Critical Zone
Capelin stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador have improved since 2021, but are nowhere near where they need to be.
While delivering its latest technical briefing on capelin stocks, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced a new limit reference point (LRP) for capelin stocks, indicating their biomass needs to be over 640 kilotonnes (kt). This LRP is based on cod stocks and how much available capelin they would need to sustain a healthy population.
“We’re considering ...
Overall Northern Shrimp Stock Showing Signs of Life
The Northern shrimp stock off Newfoundland’s northeast coast appears to be holding its own, including the all-important shrimp fishing area (SFA) 6.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) held a technical briefing recently regarding the 2021 Northern shrimp stock assessment and reported that the SFA 6 spawning stock and fishable biomasses increased slightly between 2019–20.
SFA 6 is where the majority of the inshore N.L. shrimp fishery takes place.
DFO said that SFA 6 remains ...
On the Waterfront – February 2020
New Processing Facility to be Built in Digby
Construction is expected to start this spring on a new $14.25-million, 43,580-square-foot seafood production facility in the Digby Industrial Park.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) announced in December the approval of a business development incentive in the form of an innovation rebate for fish harvesting and processing company Scotia Harvest Inc.
The company is eligible to earn a maximum innovation rebate of $1,863,333 upon completion of its ...
Thinking Big
Comparisons are often made between the fisheries in Iceland and Atlantic Canada.
I have made such comparisons in this column and others have made them, as well. In these comparisons, Iceland is usually considered a model we need to follow.
There are good reasons to make such comparisons.
Historically, Iceland’s fishery was similar to ours in Atlantic Canada. We harvested the same species in similar quantities and competed in the same markets. The major difference was that Icelandic ...
