Times & Tails

The federal Fisheries Department is actively seeking input on the impending reopening of the redfish fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, following a prolonged moratorium due to depleted stocks.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada recently announced the indefinite closure of the Lophelia Reef, located within the Finlayson Channel off the coast of British Columbia, approximately 500 kilometers northwest of Vancouver.

During an aerial survey off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, scientist Orla O'Brien stumbled upon a remarkable discovery. While scanning the waters for familiar whale species, O'Brien encountered a creature that defied expectations: a grey whale.

In response to the escalating development of offshore wind projects, the federal government has introduced a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale. Released on Thursday, Jan. 25, by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and NOAA Fisheries, the 78-page strategy outlines measures to assess and mitigate potential impacts on the whales and their habitat.

In response to months of anticipation and lobbying efforts in Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia, the federal government has unveiled its plan for allocating access in the reopening of the Gulf of St. Lawrence redfish fishery later this year, ending a nearly 30-year hiatus.

France has declared a temporary suspension of almost all commercial fishing activities in the Bay of Biscay, effective from Monday until 20 February, with the aim of protecting dolphins.

Dungeness crab fishermen in California are delaying the start of their season in protest of low prices offered by processors. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has expanded the state's coast for commercial Dungeness crab fishing, with limited fishing set to open on January 18 in zones 3 through 6, spanning from the Sonoma-Mendocino county line to the U.S.-Mexico border. Fishermen in these zones will face a 50 percent trap reduction rule to minimize entanglement risks for humpback whales, whose presence caused two previous delays in the season.

Alaska's renowned snow crab fishery faces an unprecedented closure for the second half of year 2023, raising concerns about the future of this iconic industry. The primary culprit behind this prolonged shutdown is a dramatic decline in snow crab numbers, and scientists are pointing to a direct correlation with increasing water temperatures in the eastern Bering Sea.

As the North Atlantic right whale breeding season enters its second month, nine calves have already been born, according to Amy Warren, an assistant researcher at the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. While hoping for more births, Warren notes that the current count aligns closely with previous seasons, and the trends have varied over the years.