Daily Archives: November 11, 2014

Scientists Challenge Seafood Ecolabeling & Sustainability Standards

MSC-Logo“Only ten percent of global fisheries have gone through private ecolabelling programs,” said Thor Lassen, president of Ocean Trust and a co-convener and principle organizer for the Forum. “There simply is not enough money to certify all fisheries in the world, nor does it make sense. We have to be more pragmatic when it comes to the ecolabelling of seafood products.” Read the rest here 23:28

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Salmon Cannon (HBO)

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Peter Shelley (CLF) – Facing the Fishing Facts

kevinhearnFor every fisherman who was willing to publicly admit that things were getting worse out on the water, there always seemed to be an orchestrated group of fishermen willing to claim that there were so many cod that they couldn’t get away from them. It was, of course, nonsense at least as far as the best available science is concerned. And so much more, Read the rest here 17:33

Hello Ms. Schiffer, Chief Counsel, NMFS – About that Document Shredding

g12200000000000000059821060cb1e7b3b33b412df8d2f2e39f9f731ddOnce again, I find it difficult to understand, as indicated by the attached article, how a poor working stiff fisherman is hauled all the way to the Supreme Court for discarding two fish. As I am sure you will recall, your Mr. Dale Jones (at the time, head of enforcement) admitted to Congress, on camera, that he routinely shredded documents, including those under scrutiny,  and he appeared to be smiling when he admitted it. Mr. Jones apparently was confident that  he was in safe hands. A short time later he was given a cushy reassignment and a raise. Crime pays when you work for the government! Read the rest here 15:56

Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting November 12-19, 2014, Costa Mesa, California – Listen Live!

PFMC SidebarThe Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) and its advisory bodies will meet November 12-19, 2014 in Costa Mesa, California to address issues related to coastal pelagic species, groundfish, Pacific halibut, salmon, highly migratory species management, and habitat matters. Agenda and Meeting Notice here  One-Way Live Stream webinar Available here  Webinar ID, 430-417-591 More info here 15:11

Fishing crisis only follows NOAA’s failed policies – Paul Cohan, Gloucester

environmental-watchdog[1]Weren’t NOAA’s “catch shares” and “sector management” strategies supposed to have been the panacea for the fishery?  Weren’t they supposed to eliminate the widely acknowledged disparities between inshore and offshore, different gear types, big and little? Weren’t they supposed to eliminate the last vestiges of the failed Days At Sea management suite, with its associated trip limits, wasteful discards, and discriminatory spacial and temporal allocations? Read the rest here 13:49

Cod closures to sting Gloucester fleet

gdt iconNo one thought it was going to be good news for Gloucester. Turns out everyone was right. Bullard said the disproportionate suffering inflicted on Gloucester and other nearby groundfish ports is unavoidable to the mission of protecting the cod.“ We’re trying to absolutely shut down fishing where there are concentrations of cod, so that zero cod will be caught (in the Gulf of Maine),” Bullard said. Read the rest here  13:32

“Anecdotal Information” is what the professional fisheries people call it, usually dismissively

First off, A Mia Culpa. In the last FishNet, which was distributed in early October, I referred to “ (or actually an almost-assessment).” It was pointed out to me, and rightfully so, that this could have left readers with the impression that this was somewhat less accurate and/or reliable than a “real” assessment of the cod stock. I was assured that this wasn’t the case and,,, Plus, When you’re used to those big bucks you’ve gotta keep ‘em coming in, and,Great news on Atlantic bluefin tuna –   Read the rest here 11:19:58

Intensive Study Finds British Columbia Salmon, Trout Free of ISA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has completed a two-year intensive study of wild and enhanced anadromous salmonid in British Columbia (BC) and found no evidence of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) or Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN). Read the rest here 10:29

Lyons: Cortez fish-tossing case a whopper of a tale

Yates, herald-tribuneThere are “Gilligan’s Island” plots less far-fetched than the twists and turns it took to navigate a local commercial fishing boat skipper’s case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judging by their questions, some of the high court’s justices think it fishy that federal prosecutors went after a fishing boat Captain John Yates of Cortez as if he had been hijacking ships like a Somali pirate. Read the rest here 08:37

Slow start to stone crab season

Fishermen are still awaiting the first real cold snap to get the stone crabs out of their hiding holes and into the traps. Conch Key fishermen Gary Nichols called the season “mediocre” so far. “It still has not been good, but the prices have been decent,” Nichols said. Read the rest here 08:29