Times & Tails

The Department of Commerce and NOAA have unveiled a groundbreaking initiative to protect and revive the endangered North Atlantic right whale population, with a substantial $82 million allocation from the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has made a surprising move by discontinuing the participation of two at-sea observer companies in the monitoring program for the lucrative southwest Nova Scotia lobster fishery. This decision has taken one of the companies involved by surprise.

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is embarking on a transformative journey in the world of fishing technology, considering the year-round adoption of "ropeless" fish trap gear in the black sea bass fishery spanning from the Carolinas to Florida.

In 1991, Hawaii was home to a population of just 5,000 humpback whales. Today, this captivating species is experiencing a truly remarkable renaissance.

Atlantic Canada is taking significant strides in testing innovative whale-safe gear, moving closer to a solution for the longstanding problem of whales getting tangled in fishing gear. After five years of dedicated research and development, Nova Scotia's Ashored Innovations is now gearing up for mass production.

Iceland is poised to resume commercial whaling after a temporary ban, implementing stricter regulations and enhanced supervision. The temporary ban, enacted in June due to concerns about animal welfare, is nearing its end.

China's ban on Japanese seafood may create opportunities for both domestic and international seafood suppliers. The ban came in response to concerns over the release of treated cooling water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.

A Norwegian fishing company, Ava Ocean, has recently developed a pioneering technology that may pave the way for the reopening of the scallop fishery in this region. Their innovation is a selective "shellfish picker" designed to collect scallops from the seabed without causing harm to the marine ecosystem or capturing unwanted species or smaller shellfish.

Scientists have made significant strides in predicting marine heatwaves' location and onset, but now they're turning their attention to the consequences for top ocean predators.