Daily Archives: March 9, 2014
DFO ‘fudging the numbers,’ unprecedented court injunction has barred Department of Fisheries and Oceans from opening commercial fishery off Vancouver Island
An unprecedented court injunction has barred the Department of Fisheries and Oceans from opening a commercial fishery off Vancouver Island after a judge concluded DFO was “fudging the numbers” and that the federal minister declared it open against her own bureaucrats’ advice. Read more here globeandmail 22:41
Another Crazy Vice Article: The Japanese Can’t Stop Eating Endangered Sea Mammals
Japan understandably loves sea mammals. After all, they’re typically adorable and often intelligent. But what many people in Japan appear to love about them most is how delicious they are. To discover one potential reason, all you need is a can opener. Read more here Vice 16:36
The 86th annual Blessing of the Fleet will take place at Fishermen’s Memorial site at Fishermen’s Terminal March 9 at 2 p.m.
“In the blessing we not only ask for a good harvest, safe journey and stewardship, but also offer thanks for the fishing community and remember the risks they take and the sacrifice the families have made,” said Weiberg Read more here ballardnewstribune. 16:14
Brisk snow crab fishery in Alaska’s Bering Sea nears quota
The Bering Sea snow crab fishery is moving right along. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Unalaska reported 46 vessels registered on Monday, and 78 percent of the 54 million pound quota harvested. Unalaska city natural resources analyst Frank Kelty said the fleet landed 5 million pounds last week. “It’s going pretty quick. If they have a couple more weeks like that, it will be over with,” Kelty said. Read more here alaskadispatch 15:33:
Ludger (Lu) W. Dochtermann, Kodiak, AK Responds to NOAA TIGHTENS HALIBUT BYCATCH LIMITS FOR GULF OF ALASKA GROUNDFISH FISHERIES.
To: Dr. James W. Balsiger, Regional Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Region, & United States Commissioner, International Pacific Halibut Commission.
Dear Jim: While NOAA puts a public spokesperson name on the news release for Amendment 95, let’s face facts — you are the Alaska administrator, and a voting member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Accordingly, your news release was considered insensitive and not well received by disappointed GOA hook and line halibut fishermen: on line with other pro-trawler actions by the NPFMC and NMFS/NOAA. Amendment 95 is not fair and equitable in practice. You and the agency and NPFMC are not doing what is feasible, not obeying the UN FAO precautionary principle, not balancing the economic impact among sectors, not doing what is best for overall national benefit and not serving USA consumers. Read more here 14:30
Russian actions in Ukraine – “This has a ripple effect, even though the actual events are far from the Arctic,”
Russia’s actions in Ukraine could cause problems for international cooperation in the Arctic, says Iceland’s prime minister. “This has a ripple effect, even though the actual events are far from the Arctic,” said Gunnlaugsson, in Edmonton on a trade mission. Read more here theobserver 13:28
A Rundown of the Maine Fishermen’s Forum 2014
The T-shirts said it all – “Commercial Fisherman: Proudly Feeding America.” “Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Together We Persevere.” “Fish Forever.” There was an aura of feistiness at the 39th Maine Fishermen’s Forum last weekend, as fishermen of all stripes, government officials, environmentalists and business people came together to discuss the current state of fishing in New England. Read more here thefreepress 12:53
Tasty abalone carefully farmed under Monterey’s wharf
Way out at the very end of the Municipal Wharf in Monterey, Art Seavey descends through a trapdoor, walks on a handmade network of slippery wooden planks and pulls a rope to hoist a dripping wire cage up from the ocean. Inside are thousands of growing abalone,,,, Read more here sfgate 12:08
Maine’s members of Congress lobby for wind project – West Coast Influence, Oregon and Washington delegations
Most of Maine’s representatives to Congress have been ardent supporters of both inland and offshore wind. Read more here 11:04
The Champions of Ocean Industrialization, and Ocean Zoning. Opening your East Coast for windmills, offshore drilling for oil and gas, and mineral extraction. I consider all of them hypocritical enemies of the entire East Coast fishing industry. Rethink, elected officials. You are for us, or against us with your offshore wind pandering. “looking out” for working people?
Japan to halve tuna catch in Northern Pacific
Japan plans to slash by half the amount of juvenile bluefin tuna taken from the Northern Pacific starting in 2015, compared to the 2002-2004 average, reports said Sunday. Read more here phys.org 10:00
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update March 9, 2014
“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 here RIFA website 09:51
2014 CHARTER AND COMMERCIAL HALIBUT MANAGEMENT MEASURES ANNOUNCED
NOAA Fisheries NMFS provided notice Friday of the immediate effect of regulations of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC). The commercial IFQ halibut season opened at noon local time today in Alaska. Read more here sitnews 09:37
