Daily Archives: December 15, 2015

Salvadoran castaway hit with cannibalism suit, denies he ate his shipmate to stay alive

José Salvador Alvarenga’s story captivated the world nearly two years ago, when the Salvadoran-born fisherman was rescued in the South Pacific having spent 14 months adrift in a small fishing boat. But this week, Alvarenga’s heartwarming story – which has been turned into a book, “438 Days,” by the English journalist, Jonathan Franklin – took a grisly turn. Relatives of the man who he was shipwrecked with, Ezequiel Córdova Ríos, and who reportedly starved to death months into the ordeal, have filed a million-dollar lawsuit against Alvarenga alleging that he cannibalized,,, Read the article here 12:40

Scientist captures amazing photos of massive Alaskan sockeye salmon run

A male sockeye salmon is identified by it distinct hook-shaped beak. (Photo: Jason Ching)

A male sockeye salmon is identified by it distinct hook-shaped beak. (Photo: Jason Ching)

If the realms of science and art seems worlds away from each other, you’d be gravely mistaken. After all, when you’re studying the science behind the world around us, how can you not feel inspired by its sublime beauty? That’s why it should come as no surprise to learn that some of society’s most creative and passionate artists also happen to possess brilliant scientific minds. One such scientist is Jason Ching, a Washington-based researcher who has spent years studying and photographing Bristol Bay’s Sockeye Salmon populations. Video, Read the article here,  and visit JasonChing.com 12:11

Slave-labor shrimp report spurs calls for boycott of U.S. supermarkets, restaurants

“All of us may find ourselves eating a slave-made product without knowing it, but once we know it, we all have a moral obligation, I believe, to make a personal decision to boycott it,” said New Jersey Republican Congressman Chris Smith, a member of the House Foreign Relations Committee. Said Mark Lagon, president of the group Freedom House: “This isn’t a matter of low pay or crummy working conditions. This isn’t a matter of saving lots of money to choose the product that is made by cutting corners. This is the flagrant abuse of fellow human beings. … Americans won’t stand for that.” Read the article here 11:18

Booming lobster season being reported in western Nova Scotia – Prices Holding!

lobsterDM0811_468x521How many lobsters can you fit into one pot? A lot apparently. Lockeport lobster buyer Michael Cotter says he hasn’t seen a season like this in the 35 years he has been in the business. “It’s been crazy since day one,” he said. Catches are up. Way up for many boats. The weather also has cooperated in a way that is almost unheard of for the first week of December. “We’ve only had one half-assed storm day so far,” he said. Read the article here 10:42

Officials calling for more accurate fish counts

The federal agency in charge of the nation’s fisheries should do a better job counting fish so it can develop proper catch limits for recreational anglers, a report by Congress’ investigative arm concludes. The analysis by the Government Accountability Office was requested nearly three years ago by several Republican senators from the Gulf Coast who believe the Obama administration may have been overly restrictive in imposing catch limits on several popular fish, including red snapper. Read the article here 09:10

Maine DMR closes Gouldsboro Bay and other areas to scallop fishing

mkThe Maine scallop fishing season opened on Dec. 1 and, less than two weeks later, Department of Marine Resources  closed it down in large areas of Downeast waters. Last week, DMR announced that, as of Sunday, scallop fishing in Gouldsboro and Dyer bays in Hancock County and Wohoa Bay, the Jonesport Reach and the department’s Inner Machias Rotational Area, all in Washington County, are done for this season. According to DMR, Keliher shut the fishery down in those areas “in order to protect Maine’s scallop resource due to the risk of unusual damage and imminent depletion.” Read the article here 08:29

The Discard Ban: Fishers will have to work longer, top skipper warns

Fishing crew are going to have to work longer hours when the discard ban is extended from the start of next year, according to north-east celebrity skipper Jimmy Buchan. Mr Buchan, who starred in the BBC’s Trawlermen series, which highlighted the hardships of life at sea, said the new landing obligation on the white-fish fleet was likely to add to the pressure of limited time at sea under current EU catch rules. He added: “Although I have to remain optimistic, I am very sceptical that this new regulation will be very easy to operate within. Read the article here 08:00