National Fisherman

Paul Molyneaux

Editor

Paul Molyneaux is the Boats & Gear editor for National Fisherman.

Author Archive

Thyborøn Trawldoors is setting the pace for controllable doors by adding automated height control to its existing system. The new doors promise to reduce impact on the seafloor while giving skippers more control of their gear.

Thyborøn keeps doors off bottom

The conservation organizations that forced NOAA Fisheries to enforce a decades-old law intended to protect US fishermen now seek to stop crab importers from continuing to import crab from fisheries that threaten the endangered Irrawaddy dolphin. Photo by

Environment organizations seek intervenor status in seafood ban lawsuit

Despite a ban on wild caught shrimp from fisheries in many countries, due to begin on Jan. 1, the Southern Shrimp Alliance points out that the countries that supply most of the shrimp to the USA have been given a pass. Paul Molyneaux photo.

NOAA Fisheries falls short on shrimp

Late in the season, Gaither Midgett starts hauling his four pound nets at the first glimmer of light, hoping to finish in a couple of hours—before the heat of the day. Credit: Jay Fleming

Pound for pound, North Carolina’s pound net fishery delivers

Commissioned in May 2023, the 21-foot Lorna Jean remains the UK’s only fully electric commercial lobster boat. Builder, Hans Unkles, believes others will eventually embrace the technology.

The electric lobsterman proves it can be done

Scania’s new Next Generation 13L marine engine is loaded with improvements promising great durability, increased fuel efficiency, and reduced maintenance costs. Credit: Scania

Scania brings its new 13L to North America

While NOAA Fisheries Southeast Region Permits Office has granted an extension for dealers and fishermen to renew permits during the shutdown, the Coast Guard’s vessel safety inspectors have reportedly all been furloughed. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Zirlott

What’s working, what’s not in the shutdown

Louisiana shrimp captain Acy Cooper talks about the history and slow decline on the Gulf shrimp fishery in the film 'The Last of the Shrimpers.' Last of the Shrimpers image.

‘Last of the Shrimpers’ premiers in New Orleans

A tote full of Pacific cod in PicoICE aboard the F/V Seabrooke. Vessel owner Vojta Novak believes that delivering top quality product will improve the market for Alaska seafood. Photo courtesy of Auberin Strickland

PicoICE offers Alaska seafood a marketing boost

OXE’s concept prototype hybrid engine adds a 150-hp axial flux electric motor to a 300-hp, 3L BMW engine, giving fishermen the potential to use only electric power when needed, combine the two for 450-hp in other situations, or use the motor to charge the

Keeping the electric dream alive