Daily Archives: August 30, 2013
Copper River Seafood’s Withdraws Support for MSC
Another large seafood processor has withdrawn support for the effort to get Alaska’s commercially caught salmon recertified by the Marine Stewardship Council. KDLG’s Mike Mason has the details. 23:56
Coast Guard: Deadly F/V Lady Mary sinking in 2009 the result of open hatch and unstable boat
A number of modifications over the years had gradually made the North Carolina-based vessel less safe, according to the report. In addition, a decision to open a hatch on deck was unsafe and contributed to the sinking. The report concluded that the boat wasn’t involved in a collision as originally speculated, but that sea water had gotten onto the main deck and flooded through the open hatch. Still, the report continued, the crew could have survived the sinking. Read the Report [email protected] 22:41
BUCKLEY, Wash – Tribes grow impatient with fish-killing dam
Right now there are tens of thousands of salmon dying at the base of an outdated dam on the White River east of Tacoma. Local tribes say the federal government is failing in its responsibility to transport the fish around the dams on this river, and into prime spawning habitat in the Mount Rainier watershed. more@thecolumbian 21:05
Half-red lobster discovered in Maine described as 1-in-50 million rarity
“We’ve caught a couple of calico ones, with orange and black spots, and we’ve seen some blue ones,” said Anna Mason of Ship to Shore Lobster Co., “but I’d never seen one that was half-red like that, split right down the middle.” more@bdn They should get out of town more often. This black and orange fella was caught last year in Salem Ma. Link
This Morning – Portland Harbor Toe Job – Not every day in fishing is a good day.
photo- jj the fisherman
BC Native fisherman Nathan Chickite is of the traditional sector or otherwise known as Native fishery – wasn’t breaking the law
From a pure Fisheries perspective, Native fisherman Nathan Chickite was not breaking the law when he took his gillnetter through the Tyee Pool on Monday night. That’s the word from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Field Supervisor Greg Askey who said there are two laws at play here. Following this event, social media lit up with threats and insults to Chickite, including threats to ram, block or damage his boat. [email protected] 17:27
Cyr Couturier, executive director, Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association Blames Federal Policy in Gray Aqua woes
Cyr Couturier, executive director of the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association, said that under Canadian Food Inspection Agency rules Gray Aqua Group had to destroy fish infected by outbreaks of salmon anemia, costing the company millions of dollars. Couturier said the company had to destroy its fish before they were large enough to sell. (who wants diseased fish?) more@cbcnews 17:07
A sketchy report, and we await more info. – Federal scientists have completed a pilot project in which they relied heavily on the expertise of fishermen
BOSTON (AP) _ The survey of flatfish, such as flounder, came as scientific methods for counting fish are under fire. Critics say it’s unreliable and a poor basis for setting fishermen’s catch limits. The survey, conducted this month, put new focus on certain geographic areas suggested by fishermen. It also used different nets and operated from two commercial fishing boats, rather than the federal research vessel normally used. Fishery scientists say data from such surveys can bolster population estimates, both now and in the future. That’s if the government can pay for them. That’s a potential difficulty, since the recent survey cost roughly a half million dollars. 16:24 http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/news/features/2013_ytf_pilot/
Jes Waitin’ for the Cabbage to Hit the Fan – Obama Administration Proposal Weakens Endangered Species Protections
“America’s endangered species are already dying deaths by a thousand cuts, because too often no one’s keeping an eye on the big picture,” said Brett Hartl, endangered species policy director with the Center for Biological Diversity. “This proposal will make that problem even worse.” “Our wildlife agencies should be working on stronger and more sophisticated mechanisms to understand and track harms that occur at these sweeping, landscape scales,” Hartl said. “Instead they’re just walking away from the challenge — and endangered species will suffer.” more@commondreams 15:39
Reuters Special Report: Experimental climate fixes stir hopes, fears, lawyers – Bring On the CALCIUM!
Last year the Haida, an indigenous group in Canada, set out to increase their salmon stocks and save the planet. Helped by American businessman Russ George, a group of villagers dumped 100 metric tons (110.23 tons) of iron dust from a boat into the Pacific Ocean. They that could promote fish numbers and absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Instead, in March, they were raided by Canadian officials for illegal dumping at sea. more@reuters 14:29
Hawai’i Fishermen’s Alliance Petition To Delist the North Pacific Population of the Humpback Whale from Endangered Species Act
NMFS announce a 90-day finding on a petition to identify the (Megaptera novaeangliae) as a Distinct Population Segment (DPS) and delist the DPS under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The humpback whale was listed as an endangered species in 1970 under the Endangered Species and Conservation Act of 1969, which was later superseded by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). We find that the petition viewed in the context of information readily available in our files presents substantial scientific and commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. more here 13:44
Red Snapper season dubbed a success
Photos of grinning fishermen holding up sizable red snapper sprouted like bright flowers across social media this week as anglers showed off their catches during the three-day recreational snapper season last weekend. Meanwhile, a commercial fishing season for red snapper began Monday, but Jimmy Hull, who owns Hull’s Seafood in Ormond Beach, said the commercial trip limit – 75 pounds gutted weight — is so small that most commercial fishermen don’t make a special trip just to catch red snapper. “You can’t afford to fuel your boat up and go catch 75 pounds of red snapper and expect to come in and make any money,” Hull said. The commercial season will close once a total catch limit is met. more@newsjournal 10:38
A Failed petition raises question about process
“It is unreasonable to expect these fishermen to come and defend their right to earn a living.” “It’s more than just one man,” behind the petition said Chris McCaffity, a commercial fisherman from Morehead City . “He’s just the mouthpiece.” McCaffity added that commercial fishermen are constantly being called on to defend their industry. “It’s one thing after another, and it’s bordering on harassment here,” he said. more@jdnews 10:24
Climate change changing Gulf of Maine fisheries
The cod fishery appeared limitless and its value to Europe helped settle and enrich New England and Eastern Canada. Now the much smaller cod that survive are embattled by years of overfishing and other pressures. One of the major pressures is climate change. more@gomtimes 09:53 Plenty of ENGO anecdotes, and climate denialism! “Climate, while important, was not the primary reason for the collapse of cod,” “We did that. We mismanaged our ecosystem. We made that mess.” Tom Dempsey
There is not a cod collapse. There IS a cod exodus. Canada is being enriched once again, and they look at it as a cod crisis threatening the shrimp and crab they prefer to catch, based on landing value, as flat earthers like Dempsey, Bullard, and Crockett expose themselves as out of touch, preferring to continue the charade of failed fishery management that they are involved with! Tragic.
Record number of schooners in this weekend’s Gloucester Schooner Festival – historic dory fishing schooner “Adventure” to race
“This is a very exciting time for the Adventure and her supporters as she returns to her place among the historic tall ships” says Schooner Adventure Executive Director Joanne Souza. “She will be racing for the Mayor’s Cup on Sunday of Gloucester Schooner Festival, but in the near future, she will be sailing so supporters and visitors will be able to experience the life of a Gloucester fisherman at the beginning of the 21st century.” more@GDT 08:36
Schooners participate in the festival 1. Adirondack III 2. Adventure 3. Adventurer 4. American Eagle 5. Ardelle 6. Bald Eagle 7. Brilliant 8. Estrela 9. Fame 10. Green Dragon 11. Humble 12. Irena 13. Lewis Story 14. Light Reign 15. Liberty Clipper 16. Morning Light 17. Perception 18. Roseway 19. Sugar Babe 20. Thomas Lannon 21. Tillicum I 22. Tyrone 23. Virginia
Premium Seafoods Isle Madame fish plant may be rebuilt
“I have to clean up this mess first,” Edgar Samson, president of Premium Seafoods Group, said Thursday. “We’ll be sending out a press release soon but that’s all I can say for now.” The plant employed 70 people. Premium Seafoods also owns crab and shrimp plants on the island, along with a lobster pound. more@chronicleherald 08:15
Navy: Training, testing may kill hundreds of whales, dolphins and injure thousands
The studies were done ahead of the Navy applying to the National Marine Fisheries Service for permits for its activities. The Navy said that the studies focused on waters off the East Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Southern California and Hawaii from 2014 through 2019, the main areas that the service branch tests equipment and trains sailors. more@wapo 08:01
Alaska Arctic Policy Commission Discusses Future of Arctic
Opportunity could lie out in the waters of the Bering Sea. That’s why members of the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission met for the second time this summer in Unalaska to discuss Alaska’s role in leading the way in shaping the United State’s arctic policy. more@ktuu
Leaking fuel tank washes up on Kauai
Japanese characters on the side of the tank and the large amount of marine growth led Berg to conclude that the tank came from Japan after the March 2011 tsunami. more@honalulustaradvertizer 07:25
Deadly dolphin virus spreading down East Coast
Dolphins in central and south Florida may have been exposed to a virus blamed for this summer’s massive dolphin die-off, the worst since the late 1980s. The 333 marine mammal deaths that have occurred so far this summer have all been in waters off New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. But Adam Schaefer, a researcher with Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, said he and his colleagues have seen evidence of exposure to the morbillivirus among Indian River Lagoon bottlenose dolphins. more@keysnet 07:13
Fisheries of the E E Z Off Alaska; Amendment 95 to the FMP for Groundfish – comment period ends (10/28/2013)
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