Tag Archives: EEZ

Commercial fishermen sue over Cook Inlet closure

Commercial fishermen are going to court in an attempt to keep Cook Inlet open to salmon fishing. That’s following a controversial decision by the feds to close a large swath of Upper Cook Inlet that’s long been managed by the state and is an important area for drift gillnet permit holders. The decision to close the federal Cook Inlet salmon fishery was approved by the feds last week but was first proposed last December by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, which sets policy in Alaska’s federal waters. >click to read< 08:08

Cook Inlet Federal Waters Closed to Commercial Salmon Fishing

The Biden Administration has closed the federal waters of Alaska’s Cook Inlet to commercial salmon fishing for the 2022 Cook Inlet commercial salmon fishing season. This action closes a portion of the historically used fishing area for the Cook Inlet drift gillnet salmon fishery. NOAA Fisheries, the agency responsible for the stewardship of national marine resources, published the final rule in the Federal Register November 2, and it takes effect 30 days after that. >click to read< 13:51

Whitby’s trawlermen urge the government to stand firm in the ongoing Brexit fishing rights negotiations

Richard Brewer has fished out of Whitby for decades. In the last 22 years he has had his son by his side, also called Richard. During those years both say they have seen the destruction of the British fishing industry, which they now want back. Indeed Richard Jr. said “when I was at school this harbour had more than 20 trawlers, now there’s only one… ours. That can’t be right.” His father has always felt that the fishing industry was “sold down the river” when Britain first entered the EU and he blames the European quota system for ruining the sector. Video, >click to read< 14:52

Senators Introduce Legislation to Establish Offshore Aquaculture Standards

Senators Wicker-R, Schatz -D and Rubio -R introduced legislation, the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act (S. 4723) in the U.S. Senate. The bipartisan AQUAA Act, which has companion legislation in the U.S. House, would support development of an offshore aquaculture industry in the U.S. to increase the production of sustainable seafood and establish new economic opportunities in federal waters. >click to read< 13:43

 First Nations, commercial fishermen demands end to B.C. salmon farms – A broad coalition of First Nations leaders, wilderness tourism operators, environmental NGOs and commercial and sport fishing organizations gathered in North Vancouver Sept. 22 demanding the federal government fulfill recommendations of the Cohen Commission to immediately remove open-net salmon farms from the Discovery Islands, and abolish all others from BC waters by 2025. >click to read<

North Carolina Commercial Fisherman Pleads Guilty to Illegally Harvesting and Selling Atlantic Striped Bass

The department-of-justice-logoannounced that today in federal court, James Ralph Craddock, 71, of Manns Harbor, pleaded guilty to federal charges regarding the illegal harvest and sale of Atlantic Striped Bass from federal waters off the coast of North Carolina in 2010. According to information in the public record, in February 2010, a Special Agent with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received information that commercial trawlers were illegally fishing for Atlantic Striped Bass in federal waters off the coast of North Carolina. A single patrol vessel in the area intercepted one of 17 commercial trawlers in the EEZ, the fishing vessel Lady Samaira, boarded the vessel and found 173 Atlantic Striped Bass.  The captain later admitted to taking the fish from the EEZ. Given the other commercial trawlers in the same area, NOAA conducted an analysis of electronic data and written reports from those vessels.  Based on its review, NOAA determined that during the North Carolina 20-day ocean trawl season in January/February 2010, Craddock, then Captain of the 74-foot commercial fishing vessel Capt Ralph, harvested over 12,000 pounds of Atlantic Striped Bass. Read the rest here 19:50

Trawler Sky Wind arrested for illegal crab fishing in Sakhalin

Fishing trawler Sky Wind was arrested and fined for illegal crab fishing in the Russian waters near Sakhalin. The vessel was detained by the boarded guard and navy for routine check, but on board the inspectors found 1 ton of frozen crab products produced from 2.6 tons of live crab. The ship was escorted to the Russian port, where was held rapid administrative procedure for violating the rules for fishing. The shipowner of the fishing trawler was fined with 2.5 million rubles (about 40,000 USD), while the Master received smaller fine. The vessel was seized for the income of the Russian state, until the fine is transfered. The crew is currently in good health conditions and has enough supplies. Read the story here 13:09

Pew: Flooky’s got all the answers on Marine reserves and running the Bermudan government.

Marine reserve: Why don’t we just use current legislation to fine illegal fishing operations? The 1972 Fisheries Act already states that $1 million fines can be handed out to foreign vessels fishing illegally in our EEZ and their boats seized. So what difference does it make to create a marine reserve and close off future potential commercial opportunities for Bermudians to benefit from?  Mr Flook believes that current legislation doesn’t have teeth nor does it align with the global legal framework of creating marine reserves in local territories and on the high seas. more@bermudasun 17:53

Marine reserve: How can we enforce such a huge area?  There is a discrepancy between what the Pew Charitable Trust says it will cost and what the Government of Bermuda says it will cost. Flooky’ll figure it out.  link  18:14