HALIFAX — Commercial elver fishers in the Maritimes are dismissing new quotas for the 2025 season, saying they would significantly cut their share of the lucrative baby eel fishery. In a letter obtained by The Canadian Press, the federal Fisheries Department said Thursday it wants to hand 50 per cent of the total allowable catch — 4,980 kilograms — to First Nations fishers. However, in a potentially contentious move, the department is proposing that another 28 per cent of the allowable catch — 2,812 kilograms — should go to a new pilot project. The department's plan calls for distributing that 28 per cent among people who are already involved in the fishery, including those who are working for commercial elver fishing enterprises. That means the nine existing commercial licence holders will be left with just under 22 per cent of the total catch, which has been held at 9,960 kilograms since 2005. “The minister of Fisheries and Oceans supports broadening the distribution of benefits of the elver fishery,” wrote Jennifer Ford, director of the federal elver review team for the Maritimes. In the letter, Ford explains that the goal is to increase the participation of First Nations, while also providing licences to people already involved in the industry or are willing to temporarily relinquish eel licences. “When the total allowable catch for a fishery remains stable ... quota redistribution is the only way to bring new entrants into the fishery without putting additional pressures on the stock," the letter says. Meanwhile, commercial licensees stand to lose between 60 per cent and 90 per cent of the quota they fished before 2022. On Friday, commercial licence holder Stanley King said the proposed allocations will cause more chaos in a fishery that was shut down last year because of violence and unauthorized fishing. King said the pilot project makes no sense because it redistributes quota among employees working for companies such as his own. “The government is saying anyone who’s worked for you is now going to have a piece of your business,” said King. “Some of our (nine commercial) licence holders have been cut so much that they will barely have more of the company than their former employees. It’s a slap in the face and it’s completely anti-business.” Under the proposed pilot allocation, the federal department is offering licences to 120 fishers currently employed by commercial licence holders, representing 27 per cent of the overall quota. A further 1.5 per cent would be allocated to licences offered to 30 fishers who currently catch adult eels. King said if the department’s proposal moves forward, it would decimate his company, Atlantic Elver Fishery Limited, without providing any compensation. “Our business is about 20 people and what we’ll be left with will be the owners and managers, who will basically have to fish for themselves,” he said. “We won’t be able to afford to hire anyone.” Michel Samson, a Halifax-based lawyer who represents Wine Harbour Fisheries Ltd., a family-run business on Nova Scotia’s eastern shore, said his clients would go from a pre-2022 quota of 1,200 kilograms to 137 kilograms under the proposed change. “We are at a loss to understand why (the department) has decided to take what has been a successful fishery and somehow completely dismantle it to bring in new entrants,” Samson said. “In our case, it’s even more perverse in that it’s the licence holder’s wife and children who have been offered quota.” Samson said licence holders have accepted the need to increase the participation of First Nations as part of Ottawa's reconciliation efforts. But he says they’ve been left scratching their heads otherwise. “This whole pilot project ... we just can’t understand what the logic is behind this,” Samson said. The federal Fisheries Department was not immediately available for comment on Friday, but in its letter to fishery participants, it said written feedback on the quota redistribution would be accepted until Dec. 16. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024. Keith Doucette, The Canadian PressThe Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said that God has proved Himself worthy as the ultimate liberator of the state and its populace because He ensured total triumph over the political crisis and those behind it. Fubara spoke at the Christmas Ballad, which was hosted by the former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, at his residence in Old GRA, Port Harcourt City in Port Harcourt Local Government Area on Friday night. This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi and sent to newsmen. The Governor stated that while the political antagonism lasted, God gave him a new perspective on leadership, adding that with the strength of support from Rivers people, he stopped seeing the crisis as a problem but as a necessary enabler in governance. He said, “And not just because I want to accept it, I get stronger in this course every day when I look at the support I am getting from the true Rivers people. “So, it is not me being strong. My strength is drawn from every one of you here. You gave me encouragement; you do the work for me; you make the calls for me. So, why won’t I stand up for you? “But we also believe strongly that the ultimate game changer, the ultimate liberator, and the ultimate fighter still remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured.” The Governor said God is in control of the affairs of the State, adding that as they look forward to a very prosperous 2025, they should be assured that it will be better than what had been experienced. He assured of the determination of his administration to make every succeeding year in the state better with remarkable records of progress, stressing that the excitement experienced among Rivers people during the Christmas celebrations is indicative of a brighter future ahead. Fubara, who vowed to continue to do what is right, said it is also delighting to see true leaders of the state and well-meaning Rivers people standing on the right side of history despite the pressures to surrender to tyranny and oppression. Related News Rivers, Bayelsa resolve oil well dispute Why I removed Secondus as PDP national chair – Wike Firms award scholarships to 611 Rivers students He said, “I want to thank everyone, and I assure you that we will continue to run a government that will uplift the image of the State. We will not be tyrants. “We will remember that what we are doing here today is a shift job and that one day, our time will be up, and we’ll leave for another person to take over. “And what is important is to allow the machine to keep running effectively so that when the other person comes, he continues with that steam for progress in the state. So, I thank every one of you for your support.” Fubara prayed to God to continue to fill the home of Odili with love and peace while assuring that even if it may not be too easy on him as a human being, he will try not to do anything that will bring any disgrace to Rivers State. Also speaking, a former Minister of Transport, Abiye Sekibo, who noted that the gathering was a roll call of the political family of Odili, said Fubara had sufficiently blended traits of Odili’s leadership style with his and steered the course of governance successfully, making the people of state proud of him as a worthy son. In his welcome address, a former Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, stated that as a family, he, his wife and children decided to host Fubara and his family to a night of varieties of sing-songs and other activities in appreciation of the fortitude and sterling leadership qualities he has demonstrated. Odili explained that it is now over 12 months since October 25, 2023, when a fierce existential fight, though unnecessary, was waged against Governor Fubara over the soul of Rivers State. He said that with assuring fortitude, Fubara confronted the challenge, prevented the quest by one man to capture the state as a private estate, emancipated Rivers people, steadied governance and made civil servants and Rivers people happier as it used to be until he left office in 2007. In her speech, Justice Mary Odili, who presented gifts to Fubara, his wife, Lady Valerie, and children, said God knew long ago the need for an emancipator and gave Governor Fubara to Rivers State, explaining that he had played the role satisfactorily, and pledged the continuous support of her family to the success of his administration. In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), thanked the Odilis for organising the family reunion and lauded the Governor and his family for showing unassuming humility and honouring the invitation while also thanking genuine elders and leaders of the State for joining in the celebration.BOSTON (AP) — JB Frankel hit three of four free throws in the final six seconds to allow Northeastern to hold off Colgate 78-75 on Sunday. Nicolas Louis-Jacques hit three free throws for the Raiders with :07 left to get within two, 75-73, but Frankel hit the second of two to make it a three-point game and, after Jalen Cox hit a pair at the line to pull Colgate within one, 76-75, Frankel hit both free throws to seal the win. Rashad King had 23 points and added eight rebounds for the Huskies (7-3). Harold Woods scored 13 points and added six rebounds. Masai Troutman shot 2 of 7 from the field and 7 of 9 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points. Brady Cummins led the way for the Raiders (2-8) with 15 points. Colgate also got 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals from Jalen Cox. Louis-Jacques finished with 14 points. King scored 10 points in the first half and Northeastern went into the break trailing 32-28. Northeastern pulled off the victory after a 15-2 second-half run erased a three-point deficit and gave them the lead at 62-52 with 5:58 remaining in the half. King scored 13 second-half points. Northeastern takes on Old Dominion on the road on Sunday, and Colgate visits Kentucky on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Cybersecurity moves up the maritime agenda$HAREHOLDER INVESTIGATION: The M&A Class Action Firm Continues to Investigate the Mergers of MKFG, CFB, and ARCH
Only one more half stands between Texas A&M and the win they were favored to collect coming into this afternoon. After one quarter their offense has really been able to impose its will, dominating Abilene Christian 48-29. Texas A&M entered the matchup having won six straight and they're just one half away from another. Will they make it seven, or will Abilene Christian step up and spoil it? We'll know soon. Abilene Christian Wildcats @ Texas A&M Aggies Current Records: Abilene Christian 8-5, Texas A&M 10-2 When: Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 4 p.m. ET Where: Reed Arena -- College Station, Texas TV: SEC Network Follow: CBS Sports App Online Streaming: Catch select College Basketball matches on Fubo (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.) Ticket Cost: $7.00 Wildcats fans better hope the squad plays one heck of a game on Saturday as the odds are decidedly against them. They and the Texas A&M Aggies will round out the year against one another at 4:00 p.m. ET at at Reed Arena. The Wildcats are strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 76.2 points per game this season. Abilene Christian took a loss when they played away from home last Wednesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Saturday. They secured a 69-65 W over Texas So. Meanwhile, Texas A&M had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 6 points) and they went ahead and made it six last Friday. They claimed a resounding 77-45 victory over the Huskies. The Aggies were heavily favored coming into this match, and the results showcase why. Texas A&M's success was spearheaded by the efforts of Hayden Hefner, who went 7 for 13 en route to 19 points plus two steals, and Pharrel Payne, who went 5 for 7 en route to 10 points plus seven rebounds and three blocks. Hefner had some trouble finding his footing against Purdue two weeks ago, so this was a nice turnaround. Texas A&M smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 20 offensive rebounds (they're ranked first in offensive rebounds per game overall). That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least ten offensive rebounds in 24 consecutive contests dating back to last season. Abilene Christian's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-5. As for Texas A&M, their victory bumped their record up to 10-2. This contest is shaping up to be a blowout: Abilene Christian just can't miss this season, having made 47.4% of their field goals per game. It's a different story for Texas A&M, though, as they've only made 42% of their field goals this season. Given Abilene Christian's sizable advantage in that area, Texas A&M will need to find a way to close that gap. Abilene Christian suffered a grim 77-58 defeat to Texas A&M in their previous meeting back in November of 2022. Can Abilene Christian avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough. Texas A&M is a big 23.5-point favorite against Abilene Christian, according to the latest college basketball odds . The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Aggies as a 24.5-point favorite. The over/under is 141 points. See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now . Texas A&M has won both of the games they've played against Abilene Christian in the last 3 years. Nov 11, 2022 - Texas A&M 77 vs. Abilene Christian 58 Nov 12, 2021 - Texas A&M 81 vs. Abilene Christian 80