Daily Archives: June 21, 2015
WPFMC question proposed rule on green sea turtles, address allocation of US tuna catches
The council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee and Protected Species Advisory Committee noted a lack of transparency in the criteria used to make the status determinations, questionable interpretation of existing research and gaps in information considered. The Scientific and Statistical Committee, for example, said the proposal to continue to list the Hawai’i green turtle as threatened is contrary to analysis that showed zero chance of decline in the population in the foreseeable future. Read the rest here 20:15
Bristol Bay Fisheries Report June 21, 2015 with KDLG’s Molly Dischner
Today we hear the news the westside has been waiting for – setnets are going in the water – and take a trip from Kachemak Bay to Bristol Bay. A look at Sunday’s catch and escapement numbers, an interview with area managers from both sides of the bay, and a journey from Kachemak Bay to Bristol Bay. That, plus a conversation about fisheries research with UW’s Daniel Schindler. Listen to the report here 19:03
Animal Rights Groups Implore Obama To Impose Trade Sanctions On Iceland
A coalition of 20 animal rights and environmentalist groups have called on US President Barack Obama to impose sanctions on Iceland over whaling. In the letter in question, the undersigned point out the recent shipment of endangered fin whale meat from Iceland, most likely on its way to Japan. While Obama has made direct statements about Iceland’s whaling practices, warning that he believes the issue should “receive the highest level of attention”, the undersigned believe the US president needs to now take further action. Read the rest here 17:48
Sockeye swarm the Kasilof, prompting early commercial fishing opener
For the third year in a row, enough Cook Inlet sockeye salmon have made it up the Kasilof river that area management biologists have issued emergency orders opening a section commercial setnet fishery earlier than its regulatory start date. By midnight Saturday, more than 56,500 sockeye had been counted past the river’s sonar. By regulation, the Kasilof section of the east side setnet fishery can open up to five days early if the sockeye salmon run is strong enough to put more than 50,000 fish in the river. Read the rest here 16:31
Dutch captain found guilty of breaching EU sea fishery regulations in Irish waters
The State alleged Klass Dirk Meijvogel was the master of the Wiron 5 when she had on board equipment capable of automatically grading herring, mackerel and horse mackerel by size. Leading Shipwright James Cotter told the court that the transportation chute on board the Wiron 5 ran from bow to stern under both the automatic and manual grading equipment. There was a flow of water running along the chute transporting fish in the chute back into a sump at the aft of the ship from where the fish could be discharged into the sea, he said. Read the rest here 11:50
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update, June 21, 2015
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 To read all the updates, click here 11:30
FWC likely to put limits on harvest of barricuda
Some Florida Keys fishing guides and dive operators contend increased harvest pressure on the toothy predators have noticeably reduced barracuda numbers. “Barracuda are being caught big-time, and that’s a fact,” longtime Upper Keys dive operator Spencer Slate said Friday. “They’re definitely being overfished.” The Lower Keys Guides Association supports most of the proposed rules, but wants “the commercial daily limit be 20 fish per day per vessel; not 20 per person.” Read the rest here 11:13
Jonah crabs booming in value as managers seek fishery plan
New England lobstermen are catching and selling more of a long-overlooked crab species in their traps, leading regulators to try to craft a management plan for the fishery before it becomes overexploited. The is working on regulations for Jonah crabs, a species common along the Eastern Seaboard that is rapidly growing in market share as an economic alternative to more expensive Dungeness and stone crabs. Read the rest here 10:26
Bills seek to modify fishing-vessel safety law
Congress is working on changes to a significant part of 2010 legislation that sought to improve the safety of new fishing vessels. The Senate bill would require vessels of 50 to 190 feet to be built to standards equivalent to those developed by classification societies, but it would not require the involvement of a class society. The House bill would exempt fishing vessels sized from 50 to 79 feet in length from being built to class, and instead would have the federal government set up an alternative-compliance program for new vessels of this size built after July 1, 2013. Read the rest here Related articles here 09:19
