NTSB to Launch Mission to Recover Voyage Data Recorder

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board will launch a mission to recover a voyage data recorder located April 26 in about 15,000 feet of water near the Bahamas. The voyage data recorder is from the cargo ship El Faro, a U.S. flagged cargo ship that sank during Hurricane Joaquin Oct. 1, 2015. The El […]

Commercial and recreational saltwater fishing generated $214 billion in 2014

Fishing and seafood industries a strong part of U.S. coastal economy Commercial and recreational saltwater fishing in the United States generated more than $214 billion in sales and supported 1.83 million jobs in 2014, according to a new economic report released by NOAA Fisheries today. The report, Fisheries Economics of the United States 2014, provides […]

RI Comm Bassstarts May 29

2016 RHODE ISLAND COMMERCIAL GENERAL CATEGORY STRIPED BASS SEASON OPENS SUNDAY, MAY 29TH, 2016   The 2016 RI commercial general category striped bass season opens this Sunday, May 29th, 2016, with the fishery being closed on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season. The 2016 RI commercial striped bass tags are available at the Department of […]

New regs fir rec striper fishermen

DEM ADOPTS REGULATIONS TO CURB ‘STOCKPILING’, ILLEGAL SALE OF ATLANTIC STRIPED BASS PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today it has enacted new regulations to help prevent the illegal harvest and sale of Atlantic striped bass.  The new rules, outlined in Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Regulations, Part XII Striped Bass, […]

COAST GUARD WARNS MARINERS OF POWERFUL OFFSHORE STORM

 BOSTON — The Coast Guard is warning mariners to take caution over the next 48 hours due to a powerful storm impacting the New England coastline and offshore area. The National Weather Service is estimating wind gusts as strong as 60 knots and waves as large as 26 feet in some areas. Coast Guard aircraft […]

COAST GUARD TOWS DISABLED FISHING BOAT 200 MILES TO CAPE COD BAY

 BOSTON — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane towed the 95-foot fishing vessel Megan Marie after it became disabled Saturday about 200 miles southeast of Cape Cod. Watchstanders at the First Coast Guard District Command Center received notification at approximately 10 p.m. Saturday that the Megan Marie, homeported out of New Bedford, had […]

COAST GUARD SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING ILLEGAL FISHING ACTIVITY

 BOSTON — The Coast Guard is urging anyone with information about illegal fishing operations to contact a confidential hotline at 1 (844) 847-2431. A healthy, and sustainable marine environment is an indispensable part of the economy in the northeast. The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, enforces marine resource management and protection laws to preserve healthy […]

Department of Marine Resources NOTICE OF AGENCY RULE-MAKING PROPOSAL

AGENCY: Department of Marine Resources CHAPTER NUMBER AND TITLE: Chapter 45.05 Shrimp Season Closure – Proposed Regulations PROPOSED RULE NUMBER: (Leave blank – Assigned by Secretary of State)    CONCISE SUMMARY: On December 7, 2015, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Northern Shrimp Section approved a moratorium for the 2015-2016 shrimp fishery. This action […]

COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015

(H.R. 1987) to authorize appropriations  for the Coast Guard for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and for  other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably  thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as  amended do pass. SEC. 302. SURVIVAL CRAFT.    Mr. Shuster, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, submitted the following R […]

REMINDER ON NEW RULES AFFECTING RECREATIONAL LOBSTER AND CRAB FISHERMEN

 For 2016, the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has promulgated new regulations affecting recreational fishing for lobster and crab.  These new regulations were developed to protect large whales from entanglements with recreational trap gear. These regulations were promulgated on a temporary basis under the Director’s emergency authority and became effective on December 31, 2015. DMF […]