Daily Archives: September 10, 2018

Wait, So How Much of the Ocean Is Actually Fished?

How much of the world’s oceans are affected by fishing? In February, a team of scientists led by David Kroodsma from the Global Fishing Watch published a paper that put the figure at 55 percent—an area four times larger than that covered by land-based agriculture. The paper was widely covered, with several outlets leading with the eye-popping stat that “half the world’s oceans [are] now fished industrially.” Ricardo Amoroso from the University of Washington had also been trying to track global fishing activity and when he saw the headlines, he felt that the 55 percent figure was wildly off. He and his colleagues re-analyzed the data that the Global Fishing Watch had made freely available. And in their own paper, published two weeks ago, they claim that industrial fishing occurs over just 4 percent of the ocean. How could two groups have produced such wildly different answers using the same set of data? >click to read<21:21

17 tons of dead fish cleared from beaches due to red tide

One Florida county has dumped more than 17 tons (15,420 kilograms) of dead fish collected since red tide algae crept up from South Florida into Tampa Bay. Fish are dying off at such a rate that officials are seeking more commercial vessels to sift dead sea life from the Gulf of Mexico and haul it to a landfill. Currently, two shrimp boats and three other pieces of commercial equipment are being used to collect the fish. But it is not enough. Contractors are being asked to bring in more equipment, including large beach rakes. The rust-colored bloom could be seen from the air off Redington and Madeira beaches on Monday afternoon. >click to read<20:37

The United Nations Is Considering Banning High-Seas Fishing

Far offshore are the high seas—waters beyond any country’s jurisdiction and the focus of a contentious debate. The high seas, which cover nearly two-thirds of the ocean’s surface, have recently seen an increase in fishing and other activities, such as deep-sea mining. To protect the biodiversity of this vast environment, delegates attending a meeting currently underway in New York are negotiating for a new international treaty, an addition to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Depending on the outcome of this and subsequent meetings, the United Nations could move to regulate—or even ban—fishing and other activities on the high seas. >click to read<17:55

Top Tax Tips for those in the Commercial Fishing Industry

It’s never too late to educate yourself and catch up with the tax (and accounting) requirements in certain industries, such as commercial fishing. The following article discusses some general principles and tax tips for clients or prospects in the commercial fishing industry. Self-employed status: A fisherman is considered self-employed (and not an employee) and required to pay SE tax if he/she meets the following conditions: Receives a share of the catch or proceeds from the catch, The share depends on the amount of the catch, Receives a share from a boat with an operating crew of normally fewer than 10 individuals, Generally, does not receive money from work other than a share of catch or proceeds, continues, >click to read<16:59

Charter boat gets stuck on sandbar in Seabrook

Captain Bob’s Lobster Tours and Fishing Charters had to cancel an outing Saturday when the 42-foot Miss Ava Lee got stuck on a sandbar. Capt. Jeanne Bailey said Capt. Bob Tonkin was expected to be stranded for at least six hours as the tide came in. He kept himself busy by cleaning the bottom of the vessel. Sand shoaling in Hampton Harbor has been causing serious issues for those who navigate the waters for work and recreation. The area was last dredged in 2012 and the channel is currently only 20 feet wide in some places. There has been federal legislation filed to get both Hampton Harbor and Portsmouth Harbor dredged, but until then, Bailey is hoping for better markers in Seabrook. >click to read<13:48

Coast Guard rescues 2 fishermen near Port Aransas, Texas

The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen after their fishing vessel began taking on water approximately 35 miles east of Port Aransas, Texas, Monday morning. At 11:52 p.m. Sunday, Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi watchstanders received notification that the fishing vessel Jenna Dawn was disabled and taking on water. Watchstanders issued an urgent marine information broadcast, diverted a Station Port Aransas 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crew and launched a Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew. Once on scene, the two fishermen were transferred from the vessel to the RB-M and taken back to shore. No medical assistance was requested. The vessel’s owner will coordinate salvage. -USCG- 12:01

PETA’s beef with lobster industry comes to Canada

The group’s latest target is a seafood shell recycling plant in Richibucto, N.B. Last month, CBC News reported that residents are frustrated by the odour being emitted from Omera Shells Inc., which grinds, heats and processes old lobster and crab shells and shrimp skins, turning the remains into a powder. The powder is later exported to Asia, where it’s used in the bio-medical industry and as a fertilizer. >click to read<10:31

National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Florence Public Advisory

At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Florence was located near latitude 24.9 North, longitude 58.9 West. Florence is moving toward the west-northwest near 9 mph (15 km/h). A west-northwestward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected during the next couple of days. A turn toward the northwest is forecast to occur Wednesday night or Thursday. On the
forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas Tuesday and Wednesday, and approach the southeastern coast of the United States on Thursday. >click to read<09:17

Search For Missing Fisherman Suspended

The search for a fisherman reported missing Friday night after falling off of his boat into the Pacific Ocean about two miles off the Sonoma County shore has been suspended, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The man, whose name was not available Sunday, fell off his boat, a 40-foot salmon trawler named the “Ricky Leboy,” about 7:45 p.m. Friday, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Athena Stricker. The man was not wearing a life vest, and it wasn’t certain how he fell into the water, Stricker said. A California Highway Patrol helicopter joined a 47-foot Coast Guard vessel in the initial search, and a Coast Guard helicopter later took over for the CHP’s air unit. >link<08:53