National Fisherman

Paul Molyneaux

Editor

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

Author Archive

A test pot for Pacific cod with a false tunnel and sock entrance to reduce crab bycatch sits dockside in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, ready for trial aboard the F/V Brenna A. Cory Lescher photo.

Alaska Bering Sea Crabbers call for reduced gear impact to aid crab recovery

A few of the vessels owned by members of the At-Sea Processors Association, whose executive director Stephanie Madsen is helping craft measures recommended by the Alaska Bycatch Review Task Force. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Alaska bycatch advisory council out of the gate

With a fleet of some 1,600 small boats, Prince Edward Island presents a viable market for diesel/electric hybrid power systems. The PEI Fishermen’s Association wants to prove the concept by converting one or two boats. Rachel Peters photo.

PEI lobster boat fishermen put hybrid conversions on hold

Space is always at a premium on a 32-foot Bristol Bay boat. The M.R. Solutions RSW unit has a tight footprint and reportedly cooled fish faster than competitors’ RSWs.

M.R. Solutions' Cannon family aims to revolutionize RSW with innovative chiller design

The new crabber has a bulbous bow and draws over 12 feet loaded. In sea trials the vessel cruised at 9 knots and could make a complete turn in three boat lengths. Chantier Naval Forillon photo.

Ugjit Mijua’ji’jg: The 'For the Children' crabber with near-zero emissions

Most of the boats in Delacroix, La., are small day boats. Skim net boats fishing shrimp and outboard powered crabbers line the bayou for a couple of miles. Paul Molyneaux photo.

Down on the Bayou

The crew of the F/V Princess (left to right) Elissa Levin, Emilie Alsager, Heather Sears mugging with black cod that along with rockfish, will get them through a tough year with no salmon. F/V Princess photo.

Double whammy

A scallop boat being built for Lars Vinjerud of New Bedford, Massachusetts, begins on a jig in the Williams Fabrication yard. Dale Williams does all drawings of the boats the company builds, and his son Lane, who now owns the business, converts them to CAD files. Paul Molyneaux photos

The Art of Steel

Shane Slaughter with one of his spot prawn traps aboard the Hiro Maru. Faced with the loss of his market during the pandemic, Slaughter and his crewman Jason Murphy started selling direct. Shane Slaughter photo.

Going the direct route

Fisherman Friendly Climate Action advocate Sarah Schumann, is interested in testing out electric outboards in Rhode Island’s shellfishing fleet, but says funding is needed to help make the switch. Melissa Devine photo.

Fisherman Friendly Climate Action