Tag Archives: U.S. Commerce

Fisherynation thanks Ray Lamont, Editor, Gloucester Daily Times

Ray, thank you for keeping this obscene issue in the mainstream in the persuit of justice.

October 13, 2012

Why Did My Newspaper Do That? Keeping up pressure — and coverage — of overdue report

Why Did My Newspaper Do That? Ray LamontGloucester Daily TimesThe Gloucester Daily TimesSat Oct 13, 2012, 12:00 AM EDT

Our front page today includes a story about the latest update regarding the so-called second Swartwood report — essentially the findings of an in-depth look by a special investigator into some 66 cases of alleged abuse and excessive enforcement by NOAA policing personnel against New England and other Northeast fishermen. By my count, and according to our archives, this is the 16th news story on the report, which was completed and submitted to the Department of Commerce in March. And there have been a handful of editorials about its status as well. Yet the basic core nugget of news is the same – that Commerce officials still have not released the report, and will not provide a time frame for when they will. So is it really news? If there is, on the most basic level, no hard news to update, is it even worth updating?  Why, you might ask, would your community’s newspaper keep doing that?,,,,,,,,,,,,Read More

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/opinion/x1684126225/Why-Did-My-Newspaper-Do-That-Keeping-up-pressure-and-coverage-of-overdue-report

 

Tierney pushes for shielded NOAA report- Kerry said he “has been assured” the administration is working to bring out Swartwood II. Yeah, right.

Congressman John Tierney Friday pressed Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank to release what is widely believed within industry and legal circles to be an explosive set of 66 case studies into possible law enforcement abuses of the fishing industry completed and delivered by a special judicial master nearly seven months ago……..A week ago, a spokeswoman for Sen. John Kerry said he “has been assured” the administration is working to bring out Swartwood II out at the earliest possible date” after making sure it is “comprehensive.”http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x1684126211/Tierney-pushes-for-shielded-NOAA-report

Editorial: Inshore cod assault cries out for catch share reforms GDT

The grim ineffectiveness of NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco’s catch share fishery management system as presently carried out in New England may never have been more apparent than this week, when even NOAA’s new regional administrator and the Environmental Defense Fund, which pushed this system from the start, came out in favor of making key reforms to it. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/opinion/x1684125865/Editorial-Inshore-cod-assault-cries-out-for-catch-share-reforms

Fishermen make last-ditch plea to feds over harbor porpoises closure date

Members of the regional fishing industry have made a last-ditch effort to negotiate with the National Marine Fisheries Service about a closure scheduled to begin Oct. 1, that some New Hampshire fishermen say will be the “death knell” for the industry. http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120924/NEWS02/709249929

Deep sea of distrust – Catch-share controversy, and an uncertain future

Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part look at the tensions between local fishermen and regulators, and the beginning of a series on the fishing industry in general. Part 2 in next weekend’s Seacoast Sunday will feature the input of a NOAA scientist, new regional administrator John Bullard and David Goethel, a Hampton fisherman and member of the New England Fishery Management Council.

PORTSMOUTH — The new regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service says his goal is to rebuild trust with fishermen, but fishermen are able to rattle off a litany of complaints against the federal agency and its scientists that indicate the relationship may be beyond repair.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20120923-NEWS-209230338

Kerry proves lone fed voice on disaster call By Richard Gaines GDT

The U.S. Commerce Department’s assertion is correct that “diminished fish stocks” played a role in the descent of the Lubchenco into a disaster under the watch of President Obama’s nominee, Jane Lubchenco, as chief administrator over oceans and atmosphere, most believe. Even more certain is that the causes of the disaster are murkier and far more complex than that Even more certain is that the causes of of the disaster are murkier and far more complex than that.  But in announcing the decision Thursday to grant Gov. Deval Patrick and his colleagues governing New York and the other four New England fishing states the disaster finding that had been the object of increasingly desperate pleas dating back to last Nov. 15, the Commerce Department made sure questions could not be asked not of Roberta Blank,the acting secretary; and not of Lubchenco  Read More

http://www.gloucestertimes.com/fishing/x1709879299/Kerry-proves-lone-fed-voice-on-disaster-call