Daily Archives: April 17, 2013
Opinion: Maine can bring back its groundfishing boats By Bert Jongerden,general manager of the Portland Fish Exchange,
For many members of the Maine fishing community, the issue has been boiled down to “us” versus “them,” lobstermen versus groundfishing. But the divide is artificial. The lobsters are being caught today. They are even being sold in Maine, only indirectly with a stop first in Massachusetts. It won’t undermine the trap fishery to allow groundfishing boats to land in Portland under close supervision. continued
Ouster of Board of Fisheries member deepens chill between sport, commercial foes – a commercial fishermen is in the minority on the board
Never mind that the Board of Fisheries vote was 7-0 to adopt a new escapement goal range put forth by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for Kenai kings based on new sonar counters, or that the same full board unanimously refused to adopt any new management measures at its statewide meeting in late March….In the days leading up to the vote on Parnell’s nominations, KRSA put out action alerts urging its supporters to call legislators to oppose Webster, blaming him for the failure of the Upper Cook Inlet Task Force to reach consensus on new management measures and for the adoption of an escapement goal KRSA did not support. continued
States to try to trap sea lions at The Dalles Marina on the Columbia River
THE DALLES — Washington and Oregon officials have placed a trap at The Dalles Marina on the Columbia River to try to capture California sea lions that have made their way upstream of Bonneville Dam. continued
Senator Murkowski Grills acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank on Observer Policy
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski questioned acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank on several ocean policy issues facing Alaskan coastal communities during a Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittee hearing last week. Topics ranged from the federal fisheries observer program to Japanese tsunami debris clean up, among other things. continued – audio
PEI lobster fishermen keep fingers crossed for good prices
THE SOU’WESTER – As they headed out on the water to set their traps in preparation for the first haul of the season, PEI lobster fishermen were optimistic this would be the year when prices began to turn around. Like most of their counterparts on the eastern seaboard, fishermen in the Cradle of Confederation have been dealing with low prices for the past several seasons. With prices for fuel and bait continuing to rise, the president of the PEI Fishermen’s Association said fishermen need higher prices to stay in the water. continued
It’s always over fishing, though! Flame retardants in consumer products are linked to health and cognitive problems
They can also escape during production or when treated products are recycled or disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Once released, they can build up in sewage sludge, soil and sediments. Scientists have detected flame retardants hundreds of miles from human sources, including in the tissue of sperm whales, which spend most of their time in deep ocean waters, and of Arctic marine mammals, suggesting long-distance transport by water and air currents. continued
In ocean showdown, state appeals court upholds California’s landmark marine reserves network
In a significant victory for environmentalists and biologists who support the “no-fishing zones” designed to restore declining ocean species, the Fourth District Court of Appeal late Monday turned back a challenge by the Coastside Fishing Club, based in Martinez. The group had sued, arguing that the rules went too far and violated state law. continued
Accord Would Regulate Fishing in Arctic Waters
Talks are scheduled for later this month among diplomats and fisheries officials from Norway, Denmark, Canada, the United States and Russia. Most concern is focused on newly ice-free waters above the Bering Strait, above the exclusive economic zones of Russia and the United States, and now accessible to trawler fleets from hungry Pacific Ocean nations like China and Japan. continued
PEI Fishermen’s Association Tuna committee suggests mid-July opening
The Sou’Wester – News The PEIFA Tuna Advisory com
mittee will be recommending the tuna fishery in Island waters open July 15. continued
Pete Tortorich Eats, Breathes and Lives Louisiana Seafood
by Kim Hilsenbeck/Louisiana Seafood News With a 40-year career in the food industry, Pete Tortorich brings a lifetime of experience in marketing seafood to bear as a member of the Louisiana Seafood Board. Born and bred in N
ew Orleans, he also brings a deep-rooted sense of a place at the table. He eats, breathes and lives Louisiana seafood. continued
Dauphin River fishery blames Manitoba for flood damage
CBC News – Commercial fishermen in Manitoba’s Dauphin River area are blaming the provincial government for wiping out a $5-million-a-year fishery near Lake Winnipeg. The Dauphin River Commercial Fishers Association says a dike the government built in the area during the 2011 flood trapped in overland flood waters. continued
Louisiana State senator weighs in on red snapper issue
BATON ROUGE — Federal officials should travel to the Capitol building here and explain why the state’s recreational red snapper season has shrunk to just nine days, according to an unopposed vote of the Louisiana Senate. In the resolution adopted Monday by senators, 30 of whom signed on as co-authors, seven areas of interest were listed for possible discussion, ranging from fish lengths and quotas to stock assessments and management decisions. continued
Maine lobster bill a threat to Gloucester
The Maine legislature is considering a bill backed by Gov. Paul LePage that would eliminate the legal bar to allowing lobsters caught by accident in the nets of trawlers to be landed in Portland — a change that could induce the owner of the state’s largest fleet of groundfishing boats to abandon Gloucester’s port for the primary one in his home state. continued
