Daily Archives: May 11, 2013

N.C. coast ideal for wind farms, but logistics complicated – The wind shills try to make it look so,,,,attractive.

Industrial sprawl

The chatter persists for good reason. North Carolina has the greatest offshore wind resource along the Eastern Seaboard, according to analysis by the National Renewable Energy Lab. That’s due to a number of factors, including the state’s long coastline, high energy usage among residents, and construction and labor costs that rank among the cheapest in the Southeast. continued

Panama City Decision to Move Ice House is on Thin Ice – Video

WMBB. – An ice house located at Panama City Marina needs to be moved. The ice house is a large structure about 80 feet long and 20 to 25 feet high. It produces ice for a majority of the commercial and even some recreational fishing vessels in the area. Fishing boats from Southport and Watson Bayou also reportedly use the ice source which is privately owned. continued

Samoa Tuna Processors still waiting for permit

The US Army Corps of Engineers has still not issued a permit for construction of a dock and seawall at the Samoa Tuna Processors plant. continued

Squid fishermen fight overblown – Mike Conroy, President, West Coast Fisheries Consultants.

Hearing claims of three squid brail (smaller boat) fishermen, one might think that the larger seine vessel squid fishermen are illegally catching all of the allowable quota. continued

PEI Lobster fishermen block $200K lobster shipment

CBC_News_logoProtests continue across the Maritimes as many lobster fishermen refuse to fish until lobster brokers agree to pay a higher price, which they say they deserve. continued

Marine mammal predation – “Sea lion solutions are scarce as the 2013 salmon run

The Oregonian –  It was a sea-lion kind of week, with lots of media attention (spurred by The Oregonian’s John Canzano) brought to .  Marine mammal predation on angler-hooked salmon has been worse than ever — so bad, in fact, most anglers have quit fishing during the traditional peak of the run. The blubbery slaughter was well-covered, but no one paid more than lip service to the real question: What can be done? Not much in the short term, said Brent Norberg of the National Marine Fisheries Service office in Seattle. continued

Maritime Lobster fishermen continue fight against low prices

CBC News Posted: May 11, 2013   1:42 PM AT Protests continue across the Maritimes as many lobster fishermen refuse to fish until lobster brokers agree to pay a higher price. continued

Current wholesale lobster prices

Prince Edward Island   New Brunswick        Nova Scotia
Price for canners $2.75 – $3.75 $3 $3.75
Price for market lobster $3.25 – $3.50 $3.50 $4

Slippery eel slides towards disaster – Cupping a tiny, translucent eel in the palm of his hand, “This is worth about one dollar,”

phys.org – In North America, Canada has seen a precipitous drop and introduced severe fishing restrictions, while US authorities classify the fish as “depleted.” Maine, and to a lesser extent South Carolina, are the sole US states allowed to issue commercial licenses for glass eel harvesting. And a May 21 meeting of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission could impose new restrictions. But Kate Taylor, with the fisheries commission, says so little is known about the “very mysterious” eel that US authorities have a hard time deciding what to do. continued

 

Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board OKs seismic testing by Shell – “is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects,”

Shell Canada Ltd.’s plan for seismic testing in the Shelburne Basin got the green light from the, according to documents made public Friday. If mitigation measures outlined in the project’s environmental assessment are followed, the 3-D survey “is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects,” says a letter, dated May 1, from the board’s chief executive officer to Shell’s environment planner. continued  “is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects,”??? Read this about the planned South East/ Mid Atlantic seismic testing. A real eye opener!

Fisher could have been paid $16,000 for his ‘wasted fish’ – David Tomasson, Chairman, Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp.

I am dismayed to see the recent stories in the Winnipeg Free Press about the commercial fishing industry in Manitoba, specifically the issue of usable fish going to waste. (posted here 4/20/2013) Your story featured commercial fisher Frank Kenyon — an outspoken critic who represents a small minority of regional fishers. I — along with dozens of other fishers — disagree with both his sentiments and the potentially catastrophic approach this article took to one-sidedly presenting a contentious topic. continued

N.S. builders of small boats say bidding for federal contracts too complex

Halifax Herald – OTTAWA — Nova Scotia boat builders are eyeing a share of federal shipbuilding contracts, but they want Ottawa to rework the bidding process first. The Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association is pushing the federal government to make changes before hundreds of new contracts open up for bidding in the coming decades. continued   NSBA website

Shrimper ready for Blessing – F/V Miss Alena will be the lead boat Brunswick Ga. 75th Annual Blessing of the Fleet 3 p.m. Sunday

Looking at his office wall, Speedy Tostensen admires all the pictures of his shrimp boats.Some are newspaper clippings in black and white. Others are photos in bright, vibrant colors that show off the fishing boats he decorated for special events such as the Blessing of the Fleet procession in East River Sunday. All of the photos are from the past, including the Brunswick Spring Fiesta – a city-hosted festival held in the 1980s at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in conjunction with the annual Blessing of the Fleet. continued

How big will the Gulf Dead Zone get this year?

 LiveScience -The predicted size of this year’s Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone depends on whom you ask. One forecast model predicts an unusually small area of oxygen-depleted water, while another predicts an extent in line with the recent average.  continued

Body of missing fisherman from Port Norris found in Delaware

pressofAtlanticCity.com -Missing Port Norris fisherman Joshua Catlett’s body was found Thursday on the beach in southern Delaware and identified Friday, New Jersey State Police said. Catlett, 24, was missing and presumed dead since his fishing vessel capsized April 4, sending him and two surviving crew members into the Delaware Bay about six miles west of Cape May Point. continued

The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission affirms ocean salmon, halibut seasons

The News Guard – SALEM – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at its meeting today made official the 2013 ocean salmon and Pacific halilbut seasons, including several fisheries that opened earlier in this month under temporary rules. The Commission adopted regulations for ocean coho and chinook salmon fishing in Oregon’s territorial waters that are in line with the seasons set by Pacific Fisheries Management Council in April for ocean waters beyond three miles. continued

Monday – New Bedford meeting to tackle fishing rules rewrite – The session is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. at the Whaling Museum. It is open to the public.

sct logoNEW BEDFORD — A summit meeting of sorts is set for Monday to prepare for this year’s reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that regulates commercial fishing. The meeting will open with remarks by Mitchell and Keating, and brief presentations by people active in fisheries issues. UMass professor Kevin Stokesbury will give a presentation of experiments in counting fish using video and an ordinary trawl. The rest of the meeting will address Magnuson. The session is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. at the Whaling Museum. It is open to the public. continued   In depth details here