Editor’s Log

Editor in Chief jhathaway@divcom.com

s a new year stretches out A before us, we are tasked again with adjusting to changes in covid-19 mitigation. A potential highlight is scheduled vaccinations for commercial shermen, who are considered essential service providers.

Coming fast on the heels of the vaccines is a more infectious strain of the virus that is predicted to be the predominant strain by March.

This new strain is expected to be covered by the current slate of vaccines, making that schedule even more important as the industry begins preparations for a busy summer season.

NF and Paci c Marine Expo are teaming up to continue our live online sessions on topics that matter most to the industry. Coming up in the month of March, we’ll be convening experts on how best to prepare for 2021 operations.

On March 4, join us for Seafood Market Watch — a look ahead at the changing precautions for commercial shing in 2021. We’ll take a look at market changes and how our eets are adapting to what the new year brings. Every month leading up to Paci c Marine Expo this fall, we will host a new topic for our Expo Online series, including o shore wind, the e ects of climate change, safety training, boatbuilding and nancing. You can nd them all at www.national sherman. com/resources/webinars.

The other signi cant transition is federal leadership. Outgoing NMFS Administrator Chris Oliver writes his farewell column on page 5, and 16-year NOAA sta er Paul Doremus stepped in to serve as acting director.

At press time, we also awaited the con rmation of Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo as the nation’s new Secretary of Commerce (see the story from Associate Editor Kirk Moore on page 11). And rumors swirled about new leadership TBD for NOAA and NMFS.

Regardless of whose names are on these placards, the industry will have an uphill battle to be noticed in a sea of hot topics. As shermen on every coast negotiate for access to vital grounds among the juggernauts of o shore aquaculture, o shore wind, marine mammal protections, and coastal infrastructure — not to mention ongoing pandemic-related restrictions — the reputation of and demand for local seafood has opened doors for the nation’s shermen. Supporting our working waterfronts and buying domestic seafood are critical to national food security, which should remain a priority post-pandemic.

L.C. Elich and the rest of the crew of the F/V Kathy Ann off-load at Barnegat Light, N.J.’s Viking Village after a midsummer scallop trip, including a rogue drag net they found. Britton Spark photo

The largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast, serving commercial mariners from Alaska to California.

www.pacifi cmarineexpo.com

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