Paul Stephen Withers

Five years after Canada warned extinction of Atlantic cod was probable in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence a new assessment is out. Trend continues. Some context: extinction is defined as below 1,000 tonnes. Still present but hard to find, or catch. https://t.co/KKeEydhOJx

An interesting - if not surprising - reaction in southwestern Nova Scotia following a move to accelerate shellfish and marine plant aquaculture. https://t.co/yr11eVGBsW

New name. New CEO. New business strategy. But when will rebranded Occurrent Power actually start generating electricity from the Bay of Fundy tides? First it needs more money. The elusive prize remains: inexhaustible energy. https://t.co/UXq1lRMGsW

Leading cause of bird deaths - as estimated by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2017 - was included but did not make the final version of this item. Cats and collisions with glass buildings, vehicles & electrical lines are the biggest killers by far. https://t.co/fFsmZBRJJQ

Listening for Chinese submarines entering the arctic and whales in the Atlantic, Canada looks for efficiencies and greater cooperation among federal departments collecting ocean data. https://t.co/u8V41EGaQF

Hats off to John Batt and the team at Dalhousie University who are marking the 50th anniversary of the Aquatron. Its labs and tanks have been a platform for much ocean research. Open house on Saturday afternoon. (Check out the ATL whitefish if you go). https://t.co/HS5fXoY5Ks

This is a black eye for Nova Scotia on a couple of levels. Young leader of aquaculture industry walks away from the business as her company hits pause on operations in face of lengthy government delays. This should raise red flags at NS Fisheries. https://t.co/Z5sVWNs0jg

Some news of my own. After 37 years I will be leaving the CBC at the end of the month. A few more weeks of reporting and a summer spent oil painting in St Margarets Bay awaits! https://t.co/2f7OKZicLX

NSP is seeking a one time payment from ratepayers for $22-m to cover the cost of severe storm restorations in 2023. If approved would result in a 1.3% rate hike for 2025. This is separate from its application for $25-m for left over Fiona costs from 2022. https://t.co/91liXeotm7

Federal Liberals tried to wedge the Conservatives on fishing port spending in Atlantic Canada on Monday. The budget “echo announcement” was blatantly partisan. DFO was unable to provide even the most basic details of what little was released today. https://t.co/vfwhKhlgq9

Not our Department. DFO has noticeably increased enforcement of the illegal elver fishery. But are those arrested charged and prosecuted? “That’s the hope and expectation,” says N.S. Lib MP Mike Kelloway, speaking for DFO. Adding it’s up to Public Prosecution Service. Unclear. https://t.co/LannZcjpKm

DFO Minister announcing at this moment opening of personal-use mackerel bait fishery in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, extending commercial moratorium | CBC News https://t.co/1gbxjbtJBt

So seals are eating tonnes of mackerel after all. New CDN/US study estimates they take between 7,000 and 13,000 tonnes annually. A word of caution however…It is a modeling study with a high level of uncertainty. Still, can hear an I told you so… https://t.co/vHbYBY9XG2

CBC story on Nova Scotia lobster boat captain/pound operator winning appeal of his sentence in illegal fishing case. https://t.co/SDoYcRgzGb

Everett update. Shawn Everett was fined $32K when DFO found 34% of his lobster catch on Fundy Storm was undersized or egg bearing. Plus 1 mo. suspension. Crown sought $85K & appealed. That was rejected today. Court ruled 1) no precedent to justify more 2) no error in law. https://t.co/1k3rmhnMdq

NS Appeal Court has dismissed the Crown appeal of sentences handed Shawn Everett of Nautical Seafoods for an “egregious” case of illegal lobster fishing. Everett was caught with a large number of undersized and egg bearing lobsters while fishing First Nation licences in 2020.

One CDN scientist is challenging the listing of white sharks as endangered, arguing there is not enough information to justify the assessment. Says it’s time to prepare for more interactions between people and white sharks in ATL Canada. Eg. beach signs https://t.co/WpwsMPGOBw