Daily Archives: February 12, 2014

Four Alaska fishing vessels resolve seafood waste violations to protect marine environment

(Seattle—Feb. 12, 2014) Three companies that operate four seafood processing vessels in federal waters off the coast of Alaska have agreed to comply with Clean Water Act permits Read [email protected]  23:56

Maine regulators’ deal with native tribes over elver fishery dissolves

AUGUSTA — A tentative deal between state regulators and Maine’s Native American tribes over the upcoming elver season collapsed Wednesday, as state officials cited concerns by the Office of the Attorney General that such an accord would violate the state constitution and be impossible to enforce. Read more@portlandpress  19:54

Louisiana Crawfish Season in Deep Freeze

Snow, sleet and freezing temperatures have put the Louisiana crawfish season in the freezer. The arctic weather affecting the heart of the Bayou state means crawfish aren’t eating and likely to be smaller than normal at peak season. Read more@gulfseafoodnews  19:45

Just Now!! The eyes and ears of marine science.

fishery observerThe eyes and ears of marine science. Fisheries observer Lauren samples herring catch off of Cape Cod.  A recent graduate of N.E.F.O.P. herring training this was her first tow sample in the herring fishery. 18:27

Father revives son who fell off F/V Kylie Brooke in frigid Maine waters

BDNKENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — A 19-year-old man who fell into icy waters from a Harpswell-based fishing boat Wednesday morning off Cape Porpoise was resuscitated by his father before being taken to a local hospital. Read more@bdn  17:15

Marine Protected Area Science Co-Chair Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement Charge by Dan Bacher

Ron LeValley of Mad River Biologists, the former co-chair of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative Science Advisory Team to create alleged marine protected areas on the North Coast, pled guilty Tuesday to a single federal charge of conspiring to embezzle nearly $1 million in federal funds from the Yurok Tribe.  Court documents reveal that LeValley conspired with Read more@dailykos  16:39

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) writes letter concerning Fisheries Disaster funding

This past Friday, February 6, 2014, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) wrote a letter to Penny Pritzker, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce strongly encouraging the secretary to move quickly in responding to the needs of oystermen in the Apalachicola Bay region. Click to read the letter  14:41

Boat of the Week from the Athearn Marine Agency: 56.8′ Steel Stern Trawler, CAT 3406, extensive electronic package

dr3367_06      Specifications and information here  14:00

Sustainable seal meat – Another tail of more self serving photo op politicians

863a4ac9dc_64635696_o2There must be one or two fish plants around that could prepare seal sausages, seal burgers, and pre-made frozen flipper pies. There might also be a few Newfoundland distributors who could get those goods to provincial grocery stores. If companies can take the sludge from a slaughterhouse floor and produce something as tasty as Vienna sausages and ballpark franks, then surely someone can make seal meat palatable. Read [email protected]  13:06

ANNOUNCEMENT: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

Due to inclement weather, several items scheduled for the Council’s February meeting have been cancelled or rescheduled. The meeting will continue to be streamed online at http://mafmc.adobeconnect.com/february2014/  until it adjourns on Wednesday afternoon. Read more here  10:58

Alaskans hear East Coast perspective on MSA

viewer-call-to-action-e138151885246823523_354387901211_7651997_aSEATTLE — Several members of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council participated in a workshop on the Magnuson-Stevens Act Tuesday organized by the Center for Sustainable Fisheries and National Fisherman magazine. The Center for Sustainable Fisheries is a New Bedford-based nonprofit. President Brian Rothschild was the primary speaker, offering his perspective on what changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act are needed. Read more@alaskajournal 09:26

Mass. Division of Marine Fisheries Officials urge changes needed on striper limits

PLYMOUTH — Orleans and Chatham residents knew something extraordinary was going on. Since 2009, the second week in July meant jammed-up town landings as hundreds vied with one another to launch boats at dawn and retrieve them at dusk. Roads were clogged and parking lots filled with oversized boat trailers and trucks. Read more@capecodonline  08:59

HEADS UP!! February 12, 2014 SAFMC Port Meeting CANCELLED Due to Winter Weather and Bridge Closures

The February 12, 2014 port meeting scheduled for 10:30 AM in Charleston, SC has been cancelled. Area bridges in Charleston County have been closed due to ice accumulation and a winter weather mix is forecast through early Wednesday afternoon. Therefore, the port meeting is cancelled and will be rescheduled for March 2014. New meeting information will be posted to the 2014 Port Meeting page on the Council’s website as soon as it becomes available.  08:18

Miss Ally logs detail efforts to save crew before sinking – ‘Something went terribly wrong’

fishing vessel miss allyRescue officials in Halifax desperately tried to keep up the spirits of five young fishermen on a Nova Scotia fishing boat before an enormous wall of water crashed into the boat and killed them, a CBC News investigation reveals. It’s been almost a year since the crew of the Miss Ally ran into trouble during a storm on Feb. 17, 2013, after leaving from the wharf five days earlier to fish for halibut. Read more@cbcnews 08:00

Confirmation of Maryland Department of Natural Resources head postponed, bill killed – Confrontation with watermen’s association president alleged

A fisheries management bill was killed in the state legislature and a confirmation hearing held up following an accusation that the acting head of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources threatened the livelihood of the state’s watermen’s association president in Annapolis. Read more@somdnews  06:47

Mass. fishery losses pegged at $103 million

gdt iconMassachusetts will lose about $34 million in direct revenues because of lower fish landings in 2013 due to the ongoing fishing crisis, and direct and indirect revenue losses to the state’s fishing industry and the communities that host it will be about $103 million, Gov. Deval Patrick said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. Read more@gdt  03:32