National Fisherman

March Spotlight:

Gear and Apparel

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Boats & Gear

From top left: Lia Morris, senior community development officer, Island Institute; Patrick Fogg, president, Fogg’s Boatworks; George “Casey” Morrill, dock manager Spruce Head Co-op; Chris Ponnwitz, chief commercial oficer, Mack Sustainable Energy, Mack Boring & Parts Co.; Tom Watson, president, ePropulsion Americas; Phoebe Wheeler, community development officer, Island Institute; Bob Baines, captain F/V Thrasher, former Spruce Head Co-op president. Island Institute photo.

Maine lobstermen plug in with new electric workboat

NF Staff

The Longsoaker timed-release bait container can keep a crab pot fishing even when boats can’t get out to bait their traps. According to its creator, Russ Mullins, the Longsoaker can increase catches by anywhere from 25 to 45 percent. Longsoaker photo.

The Longsoaker promises to bait your pots automatically

Paul Molyneaux

Brian Shaw (left) and Eric Klose stack retired commercial fishing nets for shipment to Ukraine, where they will be used to entangle Russian drones before they can explode — protecting soldiers in trenches and civilians in markets and homes. Ground Squirrel Ventures photo.

Commercial fishing nets have new life in Ukrainian war zones

Margaret Bauman

Turning the former tuna boat Anela into a salmon tender turned out to be a much bigger undertaking than Kris Mullan expected. But for Mullan, who saw the boat launched in Tacoma in 1971, it’s been a labor of love. Angel Marine photo.

Boat of the Month: Anela

Paul Molyneaux

Freeport Diesel & Marine shop in Freeport, Maine. Photo courtesy of FDM

Freeport shop built by mariners, for fishermen

Carli Stewart

The Oceanbotics software, SubNav, is user-friendly and allows the ROV operator to see via the ROV's camera system or Optimus sonar. It can also show the ROV's position using GPS and a DVL. Photo courtesy of Oceanbotics

Oceanbotics makes ROVs for lost vessel recovery and more

Paul Molyneaux

The Canadian company, OnDeck AI, is working with halibut and blackcod longliners to develop VLM for reviewing electronic monitoring data in fisheries. Designed to reason like humans, VLM could replace the currently used computer vision AI. Photo courtesy

OnDeck AI could revolutionize electronic monitoring

Paul Molyneaux

British Columbia spot prawn fisherman, Mark Urwin, has brought Australian boat design to North America with his new boat, the Kaitiaki. “It means, ‘guardian’ in Maori,” says Urwin, who originally hails from New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Toura Boat Craft

Canadian prawn boat breaks barriers in vessel design

Paul Molyneaux

The crew of the USCG Cutter Mellon, formerly based in Seattle, is using Russ Trombley mallets to clear ice off their vessel’s bow. Photo courtesy of USCG

In winter, ice mallets can keep a vessel afloat

Paul Molyneaux

Imtra thrusters. Photo courtesy of Imtra

Imtra Marine products in New Bedford

Paul Molyneaux

The Twin Disc hybrid transmission allows vessel operators to switch from diesel to electric power, or combine both. Photo courtesy of Twin Disc

Twin Disc turns to hybrid

Paul Molyneaux