Daily Archives: August 25, 2016

Plaintiffs file for class certification in Refugio oil spill lawsuit

untitled oil spillA class of plaintiffs who claim to be injured by the Refugio oil spill filed for class certification. After Plains All American Pipeline’s corroded Line 901 ruptured on May 19, 2015 and spilled an estimated 123,000 gallons of oil along the Gaviota Coast, 21,000 gallons of which seeped into the ocean, fisheries were closed, oil production was shut down, small businesses lost revenue and coastal properties were tarnished, according to the consolidated class-action civil lawsuit. Named plaintiffs include Keith and Tiffani Andrews, Baciu Family LLC, Robert Boydston, Captain Jack’s Santa Barbara Tours, Morgan Castagnola, Crab Cowboys, The Eagle Fleet, Zachary Frazier, Mike Gandall, Alexandra Geremia, Jim Guelker, Jacques Habra, iSurf, Mark and Mary Kirkhart, Jamie Klein, Richard Lilygren, Hwa Hong Muh, Ocean Angel IV, Pacific Rim Fisheries, Sarah Rathbone, Community Seafood, Southern Cal Seafood, Santa Barbara Uni, TracTide Marine Corp., Wei International Trading and Stephen Wilson. Read the story here 18:36

Nova Scotia fishermen were in court today to stop Bay of Fundy tidal test project

tidal turbinesA group representing 175 Nova Scotia fishermen appeared in court Thursday in a bid stop a plan to test giant electric turbines in the Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association says the Cape Sharp Tidal project is based on “junk science” and should be put on hold until a year-long study can establish a scientific baseline for the state of the bay.  In June, Nova Scotia’s environment minister granted approval for the installation of two, five-storey turbines on the bottom of the bay for tidal power research. The association has filed an application for a judicial review of that decision, saying the minister acted unreasonably and failed to adequately consider evidence that suggests the project requires more study. Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge Denise Boudreau said a two-day hearing on the merits of the application would begin on Feb. 1, 2017. As well, she said a hearing could be held on Oct. 20 if the association decides to file a motion seeking a stay of the minister’s decision. Link 17:02

Hawaii: War Of Words Escalates As Monument Decision Nears

Pew U FlounderSupporters of the fourfold expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument have fired back against an advertisement claiming the proposal would result in people being unable to eat fresh local fish. A coalition called Expand Papahanaumokuakea has been circulating ads supporting the expansion of the monument, which currently covers 139,800 square miles around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The 30-second spot, primarily funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, features several people explaining why the expansion would be positive, citing the preservation of Native Hawaiian culture, fish stocks and new species yet to be discovered. Read the rest here 16:41

Ocearch says it’s found first-ever great white sharks birthing site off Montauk

great_white_shark_11Ocearch said its team of fishermen and scientists has found the first known birthing site for great white sharks on the North Atlantic Coast. After 26 expeditions, Ocearch said the birthing site in the famous waters off Montauk, Long Island is the most significant discovery they’ve ever made, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor. “It’s kind of like step two in the science,” said Chris Fischer, founder of Ocearch and the expedition’s leader. “When we started this work back in 2012, 2013…  the real question was where are these sharks in the North Atlantic giving birth? Because that’s where they’re most vulnerable.” For researchers, finding the North Atlantic birthing site can lead to better protection policies and far more scientific knowledge.  Read the story here 13:26

Corporate Menhaden Harvesting Off Coast Raises Concerns For Local Sport fishermen

menhadenDead fish washing up on Ocean City beaches, a reduced inshore recreational fishery and a diminished stock of the most important species in the ecological food chain are just a few of the impacts likely caused by a large commercial menhaden processer off the coast of the resort in recent weeks, but, for now, it appears there is no immediate way to stop it. (When I read stuff like this, I can tell the direction the article is headed.) According to Captain Jeremy Blunt of the sportfishing boat Wrecker out of the Ocean City Fishing Center, the Omega Protein’s mega-purse-seining operation has been working off the coast for at least the last week. “We’ve seen them off and on over the last week or so as we head out and come in,” said Blunt. “They aren’t allowed to work in state waters in Maryland, so they are hanging just outside the three-mile line. They are working up and down just out the three-mile line well aware of the boundary for state waters.” (They are fishing in compliance of the regulations) Read the story here, and hold your nose! 13:13

‘Perfect Storm’ Captain Linda Greenlaw to speak at Fisherman’s Memorial Service

57be2a8d843bc.imageTwenty years ago, then-Mayor Bruce Toby went to Lucia Amero and asked her to research the annual Fisherman’s Memorial Service that pays homage to the city’s fishermen lost at sea. Two decades later, the Fisherman’s Memorial Service remains a vibrant celebration of the sacrifices made by fishermen and the families that comprise the fishing community here in America’s Oldest Seaport and on Saturday evening will feature Capt. Linda Greenlaw as guest speaker. “We just thought, with this being the 20th year of our doing the Fisherman’s Memorial Service and it also being the 25th anniversary of the Perfect Storm, that it was a perfect opportunity to include Linda in the program because she’s someone who has been a fisherman and knows about the dangers and the losses that go with that,” said Amero, a member of the Fisherman’s Memorial Service committee. The service is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., when the procession — including a cadre of drummers, the American flag (carried by Ed Parks), committee members and the general public carrying oars inscribed with the name of boats lost at sea — leaves American Legion Square. Read the rest here 11:26

New York’s black market for stolen seafood is booming!

black market safood nyThe three men arrested in the theft of more than $1 million worth of barbecued frozen eels aren’t the only ones allegedly selling stolen seafood to restaurants around the city. “Somebody will show up to the back door of a restaurant with a box of frozen shrimp and say, ‘Here, give me 50 bucks for this,’ and they’ll buy it, especially frozen shrimp and frozen crab,” said Dan Scofield, a buyer for Brooklyn seafood purveyor Pierless Fish Corp. We Da Li, 39, Fa Deng, 36, and Sheauloon Yat, 51, were caught in Brooklyn Monday after allegedly used fraudulent paperwork to steal thousands of boxes of prepared eels on June 1 from a shipping terminal in Elizabeth, NJ. The owner spotted his labeled boxes being sold on street corners for $520 per box. Read the rest here  10:10

On the Columbia River Commercial fishermen are endangered

EP-160829929.jpg&MaxW=600It seems a bit odd that some of our neighbors should have to reintroduce themselves. But many new residents in our community don’t seem to know who they are. They are your fishermen. The vast majority of citizens are not recreational or commercial fishermen. We live on one of the world’s great rivers — once known as the world’s greatest salmon stream. Astoria also was once known as the salmon-canning capital of the world. But development of the Columbia River basin, and the era of hydroelectric dam building, eliminated all but around 40 percent of the Columbia’s existing salmon habitat. Our once great abundance of salmon is no longer what it was. But it’s not gone. Not by a long shot. Last year, the largest run of Chinook salmon since 1938 returned to the Columbia. This is still the greatest producer of Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, in the world. And if you like to eat salmon (I know I do), someone has to catch it for you. For most of us, that means we depend on commercial fishermen. Read the story here 09:49

A Moray Aviation group fundraising event will reunite Skipper with Rescuers of daring 1988 mission

A Moray aviation group will stage a reunion between a north-east skipper and the rescue heroes who saved him from stormy seas. Volunteers from the Morayvia Science and Technology Centre at Kinloss are arranging a massive fundraising evening at a historic venue near Elgin next month. During the bash at Innes House, they will celebrate the region’s rich search and rescue past by laying bare the details of an especially daring mission which took place in 1988. The seven crewmen aboard the Peterhead fishing boat, Budding Rose, made a frantic mayday call when the vessel began taking on water in gale-force conditions 100 miles east of Aberdeen. A Sea King helicopter was scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, and all the fishermen were winched to safety during a painstaking three-hour operation. The drama was filmed by a TV documentary crew, and the footage will be screened during the event on Saturday, September 17. Budding Rose skipper, Peter Bruce, will attend the gathering and will offer some personal reflection on his harrowing experience. Read the story here 08:46

Canadian government to receive $3.1 million after U.S. fishing vessel plowed into the frigate

The incident happened in April 2013 in Esquimalt Harbour. The American Dynasty, owned by American Seafoods Co., was heading towards the graving dock for repairs when it accelerated and crashed into HMCS Winnipeg tied to a jetty. The Canadian government launched legal action against American Seafoods. The $3.1 million payment is an out of court settlement. The Royal Canadian Navy has not said how much repairs to HMCS Winnipeg cost taxpayers. Read the rest, five more images here 07:29