Daily Archives: June 24, 2014

Coast Guard conducts safety inspections as Bristol Bay fishery begins

uscg logoOver the course of nine days, the inspection teams issued approximately 303 examination decals and inspected an estimated 20 percent of the anticipated 1,200 vessels taking part in the fishery. During their stay in Dillingham, Coast Guard vessel inspectors met with fishermen to discuss regulations. Read more here  22:50

9 dead, 3 missing after trawlers collide off Peru

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Nine commercial fishermen died and three were missing after two trawlers collided off Peru’s central coast, capsizing one of the vessels officials said Tuesday. Read more here 22:45

The Mercury-Laden Fish Floated for School Lunches – Dogfish

From the article: Cussed Dogfish – New England fishermen have hated dogfish for a long time, and there has never been a significant domestic market for the species. New York Times articles penned more than a century ago bemoan the dogfish as “cussed,” “ferocious” and so thick “it’s good-bye fishin’.” Read more here 19:53

RFA calls Intersector trading concept “corrupt”

During a decade of debate on catch shares and individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs, proponents of this fisheries privatization plan have argued that the scheme isargued that the scheme.  More recently however, the concept of intersector trading policies which would allow commercial IFQ holders, for-hire captains and organizations has gained traction in coastal communities. Read more here 17:32

Friendship, Maine – Arson caused by escalating feud between fishermen – So much for Friendship!

The feud reportedly began with lobster traps being cut, then progressed to gunshots fired at Donald Simmons and at James Simmons’ boat, and finally escalated to the arson fires. Video, Read more here 16:42

F/V Sea Angel catches fire at Providence scrap yard

Sea AngelFirefighters were called to a report of an intense fire on the  Sea Angel out of New York shortly after 11 a.m. The boat was at the metal yard for below deck repairs. Providence fire officials told NBC 10 the fire was caused by welding work. Read more here 16:04

Pilot Point, Alaska – 1 fisherman dies, 1 missing after skiff overturns

PILOT POINT, Alaska (AP) — A commercial fisherman died and another is missing after a skiff overturned on the Ugashik (oo-GA’-shik) river near Pilot Point on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. Read more here 14:16

Stronger restrictions adopted affecting California’s drift gill net fishery

West Coast fishery managers on Monday adopted stringent regulations against California’s swordfish and thresher shark drift gill net fishery, laying the framework to more aggressively limit its bycatch of endangered ocean species. Read more here 12:03

Will Suffolk County Fight for Fair Fishing Quotas?

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) announced today that he has filed legislation asking the County Attorney to explore legal action against the Federal Government on behalf of Suffolk’s commercial fishermen. Read more here 11:10

Taufen: Volksverdummung’s Alive and Well in Fisheries

The Germans call the stupefaction, misleading or brainwashing of the people ‘Volksverdummung’— which seems to be well-established in the seafood industry these days. It’s been largely ushered down the regulation-making aisles by a few greedy corporations and fishermen who feel entitled, and financially assisted by major conservation (allegedly) NGOs.

Especially in the Alaska zone, the Paradox of Plenty — the reflection of a Resource Curse, lives well, and profitably so for a few winners —and those winners continues to destroy thousands of jobs for captains and fishing crews. Certainly a few Congressmen settle for nickels in campaign contributions to ignore the rights of a majority of the People.

Especially when it comes to fisheries “Catch Shares” mentality (CS), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Alaska-focused North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) — despite access to information on global failures of privatizations of public resources — continues to betray a baffling ignorance of the subject matter under discussion.

Before I get into the dispossession of fisher family opportunities, incomes, wealth and rights caused by “Enclosure of the Commons” — privatization schemes such as catch shares — or into the abrogation of the promise that no American fisherman would be charged for the privilege rights to fish, and the postured shallowness of CS proponents who exploit fear and use disaster economic lies to exploit resources, why don’t we set up some thinking ground?!  Read more here 10:43

Connecticut’s Waterways Take a Chemical Bath – (and they wonder why the River Herring are in trouble?)

Industrial facilities dumped 224,029 pounds of toxic chemicals into Connecticut’s waterways in 2012, according to a new report by the Environment Connecticut Research & Policy Center. Read more here 09:41

All hands on deck for Alaska plan to solve marine worker shortage

With our massive land endowment and bragging rights as the largest state in the nation, it’s easy to lose sight of an important fact – Alaska is a maritime state.,, The waters off Alaska’s shores produce more than 60 percent of the nation’s seafood harvest. Read more here 09:32

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/06/23/3530647/all-hands-on-deck-for-alaska-plan.html?sp=/99/328#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2014/06/23/3530647/all-hands-on-deck-for-alaska-plan.html?sp=/99/328#storylink=cpy

Pictou fish plant depends on foreign workers program, says owner

Paul Logan can’t get enough local workers in Pictou County to operate his fish processing business. “It’s just not the type of work they want to do in Pictou County,” the owner of  North Nova Seafoods said in an interview Monday. Read more here 07:59

Snobby Wealthy Neighbors raise ante in oyster fight

MASHPEE — Residents opposed to a proposed oyster farm in Popponesset Bay are asking the state’s highest court to weigh in on the dispute. The homeowners’ attorney, Brian Wall of Sandwich, has filed an appeal of part of their case to the Supreme Judicial Court. Read more here  07:35