In early August 2008, officials, industry and interest groups met at NOAA’s Northeast Fishery Science Center in Woods Hole, Mass. to hear the preliminary results of the third Groundfish Assessment Review Meeting. The assessment review, known as GARM III, has the goal of setting benchmark assessments for 19 groundfish stocks (including cod, haddock, flounder, hake,
A glossary of lobster terms
Lobster is sold by the lb., which is spelled “lb.” rather than “pound” to differentiate between the lobster’s weight and a tidal lobster pound, which is generally a cove fenced off to hold and feed previously trapped lobster until holidays or until prices rise enough that the product can be sold to financial advantage. Lobster
Swan’s Island looks to the future after library fire
A lightning strike during the early morning hours of July 24 is believed to have caused the devastating fire that completely destroyed the Swan’s Island Library building. The Swan’s Island Educational Society, the organization that oversees the Swan’s Island library and historical society, is already hard at work making plans for the future. The Swan’s
Proposed European Union ban could jeopardize seal hunt
Prince Edward Island seal harvester Kenneth MacLeod of Murray River may be a small-time harvester, usually taking about 475 pelts. But his crew relies very heavily on his income. “I have to make money in order for them to make money,” says MacLeod. MacLeod was adding his opinion to the late July reports by the
P.E.I fishermen close tuna fishery; wait for bigger fish
The Prince Edward Island tuna season opened on July 30, and as of August 14 reports from the fishery were cautiously positive. “On the whole I would say that this year’s results are steadier than they have been,” said Ed Frenette, executive director of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA). Frenette is quick
Rising from the ashes: Washburn & Doughty cleans up and starts rebuilding
The first thing you notice upon arriving at Washburn & Doughty’s East Boothbay shipyard is the smell. On a damp foggy morning, the stench rises from the charred wood and ash ground into the earth along with scraps of metal, insulation, and fiberglass. The smoke ended a week after the fire, but this site will
Lab goes on the road to treat mussel threat
With the scourge of tunicates wreaking havoc on mussel socks in Prince Edward Island for at least one decade, a mobile laboratory set up at Georgetown Wharf offers the opportunity to take a closer look at the problem. It is suspected that some of these aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been transplanted via the ballast
Thumbing a ride home
I stick out my thumb on a small road in Milbridge, and with this simple act I become a rebel. Every driver that passes by notices me, even those who avoid eye contact. Some feel guilty, others feel angry, a few lock their doors, most have other things on their mind and decide not to
Another bailout for Saint John-Digby ferry
The ferry service between Saint John, New Brunswick, and Digby, Nova Scotia, on the Bay of Fundy has received a second funding reprieve-a total of 15.1 million from the governments of Canada, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Announcement of the funding was made by Peter MacKay, National Defense Minister who also holds the portfolio for
Latinos putting down roots Downeast
Roberto Zamora may be the face of Milbridge’s future. Washington County has been losing population due to a high unemployment rate and bleak economic future, but Latino families like Zamora’s have been bucking the trend and moving into the area. The August blueberry harvest used to be the only time of the year when the