Daily Archives: May 26, 2013

Alaska Department of Fish and Game announces its 2013 Kuskokwim River king salmon forecast

On Friday, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced its 2013 Kuskokwim River king salmon forecast. It predicts 160,000–240,000 fish, with a drainage-wide goal of getting 65,000–120,000 of the kings to spawning grounds. If the run meets these predictions, Fish and Game has said there will be enough fish to allow people to go fishing to feed their families. Management actions may include salmon fishing closures, subsistence fishing restrictions, rolling closures, limitations on net size, the use of hooks and lines, and bag limits. pdf here

State drops theft charge in Spruce Head lobster co-op case – former manager may have stolen as much as $180,000 from the lobstermen.

BDNROCKLAND, Maine — The district attorney’s office has dismissed a felony theft charge against the former manager of one of the state’s largest lobster cooperatives but the dismissal does not end the man’s legal problems. continued

Port Angeles Boat Builders and yards are busy! David G. Sellars On The Waterfront

David G. Sellars, pdn.com – LEE SHORE BOATS’ newest craft goes by the unceremonious name of UB45-1., recently launched a pair of 26-foot oil-spill-response vessels (OSRV) that were built for use by BP PLC, the former British Petroleum. On Saturday, Platypus Marine Inc., the full-service shipyard, yacht-repair facility and steel-boat manufacturer on Marine Drive in Port Angeles, moved Adamant from the Rubb Building to the Commander Building.  She is a 58-foot steel limit seiner that Platypus began constructing early last summer. Qualay Squallum, a 58-foot Jensen that is used as a seiner and crabber by her owner, Jeremy Winn of Hoquiam, has been sitting on the hard at Platypus Marine for the past few days. continued

Shannyn Moore: Prosecution of Native fishermen is just wrong

ADN.com – If I got the means to do it, I will do it,” Phillip said. “Even if you are breaking the law?” asked his lawyer, James Davis Jr. “Well, if it comes down to feeding my family, yes,” Phillip answered. This was Les Misérables, Alaskanized… Now, don’t get me wrong, there are real fish pirates in Alaska. We’ve even caught one or two….fish rustler Arne Fuglvog….NMFS OLE charged American Seafoods with fixing the scales,,,,,,,,,,continued

Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update MAY 26, 2013

“The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the Updaterifa

The Tools of Ocean Habitat Destruction. UMaine’s offshore wind buoy is ready for real test – in the ocean

ORONO — A data-collection buoy that can be plopped  in the ocean and used to determine the suitability of remote locations  for offshore wind farms is ready for real-world testing, the University  of Maine announced Friday. continued

Marine mammals encroach on people

capecodtimes -The solution, experts say, is elusive because of the seals’ protection under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act and the lack of funds for research. And, scientists and environmentalists caution that culling or using tactics that drive animals away from public areas are unlikely to get approval or be effective… The Cape’s gray seal population is now growing at a rate as high as 30 to 50 percent a year,,,,On Canada’s 21-square-mile Sable Island, the growth rate among the more than 200,000 gray seals recently slowed from 13 percent per year to 7 percent. ‘WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?’  “There is no regulatory mechanism for it,” said Michael Jasny, a senior policy analyst with the National Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy organization. “It would be unprecedented within the Marine Mammal Protection Act.” “There would be a national outcry,” he predicted. continued

Marine Mammal Protection Act Gone Wild. The Unregulated Fishing Community

Laine Welch: Report shows nice gains throughout salmon value chain

ADN.com – It takes quite a crew to get an Alaska salmon from “boat to throat,” and everyone along the line gets a cut of the catch. How that “value chain” has paid out in the past few years shows nice gains for Alaska fishermen and processors…..

New rules for hired skippers The practice of hiring skippers to fish for other people’s quota shares is set to undergo some big changes. continued