Daily Archives: December 1, 2013

Fisheries minister Ron MacKinley wants fishermen, processors to negotiate lobster prices

Fisheries Minister Ron MacKinley says he is pushing for a pilot project that would see P.E.I. lobster prices negotiated by fishermen and processors before the spring fishing season.The issue was first raised in question period Thursday when Independent MLA Olive Crane questioned MacKinley on whether he would consider establishing a lobster price setting mechanism, as recommended by the Maritime Lobster Panel. MacKinley said he has asked the Fishermen’s Association and the Seafood Processors Association to get together and work out how this could be accomplished more@theguardian  17:18

South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting December 2-6, 2013 – Wilmington, NC

Meeting Postcard   Meeting Agenda   Briefing Book Materials  Webinar Registration: Watch the meeting LIVE as it happens – Sign up for daily Webinars below. Info here  16:21

Scallops giving New Bedford fishermen a welcome break – Lucrative shellfish lift fishermen — and the port they call home

131125newbedford0427_rNEW BEDFORD Gail Isaksen remembers when the commercial fishing industry in New Bedford Harbor collapsed in the mid-1980s: Cash-strapped boat owners scrimped on maintenance, borrowed to buy supplies they couldn’t afford, only to see their livelihoods destroyed. “I have a list of guys who still owe me money,” said Isaksen, 68, the owner of Fairhaven Shipyard. “I’m not getting paid. They’re not coming back.” Today, though, Isaksen’s shipyard is busy again with customers who can afford to pay: scallop fishermen. more@bostonglobe  10:21

Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update DECEMBER 1, 2013

rifa “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 Update! 09:49

Green Crabs in Maine threatening economy, ecosystem; less so in N.H.

Beneath the seemingly calm and tranquil surface of our coastal waters lurk hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of the little green creatures. And they are hungry. So what’s the big deal you ask? The problem is, they like to eat what we like to eat; clams, mussels and oysters. Therein lies the dilemma. more@fostersdailydemocrat 08:58

Showdown looms for lucrative Western Pacific tuna industry

The future of the world’s largest tuna fishery will be decided at a meeting in Australia this week, with Pacific island nations demanding tighter controls on a catch now worth US$7.0 billion a year. A record 2.65 million tonnes of tuna was hauled from the Pacific last year, accounting for 60 percent of the global catch, with most of the fishing conducted by so-called “distant water” fleets from as far afield as Europe, the United States, China, Korea and Taiwan. Island nations, many of which rely on tuna for a significant portion of their income, fear stocks are becoming unsustainable and want action at the December 2-6 meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Cairns. [email protected] 08:16