Tag Archives: Santa Cruz

Commercial Fisherman Robert Maxwell “Bob” Salter of Santa Cruz, California has passed away

Family and friends are mourning the loss of beloved uncle and trusted friend, Bob Salter, who passed away at his Santa Cruz home with his loving family at his bedside. Bob was born in Santa Cruz to Frederick Salter and Fern Rianda Salter, he attended Delaveaga, B40, and Harbor High School. His father taught Bob the joy of fishing and love of the Sea. He grew up surfing and fishing with his brother Gary. His former boat was the Francis Jolene in the Santa Cruz Harbor. He fished for many seasons in Alaska and would visit family in Canada along the way. Bob had a lifelong career of commercial fishing and most recently fished out of Santa Cruz Harbor with Rick Ryan and his niece Bonnie Salter. >>click to read<< 10:27

Alaska’s wild salmon are getting smaller

For years, people in Alaska have been noticing that wild salmon were getting smaller, but the reasons have been unclear. In the new study, published August 19 in Nature Communications, researchers compiled and analyzed data collected over six decades (1957 to 2018) from 12.5 million fish by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. This unprecedented dataset enabled them to see patterns of body size changes for four species of salmon, Chinook, chum, coho, and sockeye, across all regions of Alaska. The results showed that the decreases in body size are primarily due to salmon returning to their spawning grounds at younger ages than they have in the past. >click to read< 11:24

Gary Griggs – Salmon and squid

Salmon and squid both came on the radar this past week,,, These two marine animals have both shared some top billings in their importance to California’s commercial fishery in recent years, although there are significant year-to-year fluctuations. Calamari or market squid have been the number one fishery in tonnage caught, year after year… until last year. In typical years, 70,000 to 118,000 tons (118,000 is the allowable total catch) would be brought to the docks by the squid boats, making up consistently two-thirds of the entire commercial catch. >click to read< 10:46

Santa Cruz harbor mouth dredging scheduled to begin

ar-161039993-jpgmaxh400maxw667As crab season approaches, work to dredge the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor’s mouth is scheduled to begin Nov. 7. The new dredging season, coming after a difficult El Niño-plagued previous winter plagued by harbor mouth closures, is the maiden voyage for new harbor dredge, the Twin Lakes. Dredge builder DSC Dredge and port district’s dredging consultant CF Bean will be on hand for equipment setup, crew training and efficiency testing, Port Director Lisa Ekers said. Work has already begun elsewhere in the harbor, with crews initially focusing on north harbor dredging and installation of dredge equipment add-ons, according to Ekers. Read the rest here 13:54

Santa Cruz teen brothers start Point Fish Co.

ar-161029875-jpgmaxh400maxw667Weekends usually mean sleeping in, but for not the Hofmann brothers of Santa Cruz. The teen entrepreneurs wake up while it’s still dark and head out for a long day of fishing. Their company, the Point Fish Co., has been in the works for years, but only recently came to fruition. The reason for the wait? The oldest brother had to wait until he was turned 16 to pilot a boat legally. The Hofmann brothers, Hayden (now 17), Baylor, 14, and 13-year-old Grady grew up around the water and always loved fishing. About six years ago they were fishing and started wondering how much money they might make if they sold their catch. When Hayden was old enough to captain the boat, the brothers decided to get some advice and researched how to start a fishing business. Read the story here 18:32

Fish declines linked to effects of excess nutrients in coastal estuaries and the abundance of fish in offshore commercial fishery

A comprehensive study of a major California estuary has documented the links between nutrient runoff from coastal land use, the health of the estuary as a nursery for young fish, and the abundance of fish in an offshore commercial fishery. The study, published the week of June 8, 2015, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focused on Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Bay on California’s central coast.  ” is nitrogen, whether it comes from an agricultural field or sewage or urban runoff. Read the rest here 16:22

Cold-Water Safety Workshop for Commercial Fishermen in Santa Cruz – March 26-27

The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association is offering an 18-hour cold water safety and drill conductor workshop this week. The workshop will be held Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, at the Harbord Department Public Meeting Room, 365A Lake Ave., Santa Cruz. There will be an in-the-water practice session where workshop participants will practice skills with PFDs, immersion suits, and a life raft. This workshop meets the training requirements for documented commercial fishing vessels operating beyond the federal boundary line. It meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for documented fishing vessels. Cost is $75 for commercial fishermen, $195 for all others. Register: 907-747-3287, www.amsea.org. 18:38