Times & Tails

Protecting Precious Lives: France Enforces Unprecedented Fishing Ban in Bay of Biscay to Safeguard Dolphins
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.

California Dungeness Crab Fishermen Protest Low Prices as Season Begins
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.

Warming Waters Force Second Half-Year Closure of Alaska's Snow Crab Fishery in 2023
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.

Progress Report on North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season
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.

The Dungeness Crab season kicks off today on January 5th
The initiation of the commercial Dungeness crab season is underway in Del Norte County, California, with zones 1 and 2 (from the Sonoma County line to the Oregon border) open for crabbing as announced by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFWD). However, zones 3-6, situated south of the Sonoma/Mendocino region, will continue to face restrictions.

Activists Warn Costco of Potential Threat to Endangered Whales from Lobster Products
In San Francisco, a group of activists, disguised as lobsters, presented a petition with over 20,000 signatures to Costco, urging the retail giant to discontinue the sale of lobster products lacking sustainability certification.

Humpback Whale Successfully Freed from Rope Entanglement in British Columbia Waters
Marine experts are urging the public to remain vigilant for humpback whales ensnared in fishing gear, following the successful rescue of a humpback entangled in polysteel rope off the coast of Haida Gwaii in northwest British Columbia.

Largest Canadian Lobster Fishery Faces Scrutiny Following Right Whale Entanglement in Nova Scotia Equipment
Canada's largest lobster fishery, situated in southwestern Nova Scotia, is under increased scrutiny following the entanglement of a North Atlantic right whale in Canadian lobster gear earlier this year. To maintain its certification as sustainable, the fishery must now demonstrate that its activities will not impede the recovery of the critically endangered right whale species.

Sustained Demand in the US for King and Snow Crab Defies Overall Seafood Sales Decline
Despite a downward trend in seafood sales, the limited availability of king crab and snow crab has driven increased interest in the U.S. market. The official reopening of Alaska's Bristol Bay red king crab fishery on October 15, after a two-year closure, comes with a modest 2.2-million-pound quota. This is a significant reduction from past years, with the total allowable harvest reaching 8.47 million pounds in 2016 and 130 million pounds in 1980.