Protecting gray seals — when does success become excess?

July 28, 2019 Canada, International News, National, New England

The ever-expanding gray seal population in our coastal waters is protected in perpetuity by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. The success of the act in restoring gray seal populations is widely acknowledged, but at what point should we address the problematic consequences of that success? With numbers of white sharks — attracted by gray seals — being spotted off our beaches, answering that question is becoming increasingly urgent. >click to read< 17:50

gray seals, Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, Peter Howell, Seal Action Committee Atlantic Salmon Federation

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Ocean Resource Privatization

Articles Posted by Date
November 2024

M T W T F S S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

« Oct

November 2024
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
	1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26	27	28	29	30

The New England groundfish debacle (Part III): who or what is at fault? Nils E. Stolpe/FishNet

It took me a while to decide how to most accurately describe the situation that has been visited upon the New England fishing communities that are and since colonial times have been dependent on the groundfish fisheries.

NILS STOLPE: The New England groundfish debacle (Part IV): Is cutting back harvest really the answer?

While it’s a fact that’s hardly ever acknowledged, the assumption in fisheries management is that if the population of a stock of fish isn’t at some arbitrary level, it’s because of too much fishing. Hence the term “overfished.” Hence the mandated knee jerk reaction of the fisheries managers to not enough fish; cut back on fishing. What of other factors? They don’t count. It’s all about fishing, because fishing is all that the managers can control; it’s their Maslow’s Hammer. When it comes to the oceans it seems as if it’s about all that the industry connected mega-foundations that support the anti-fishing ENGOs with hundreds of millions of dollars a year in “donations” are interested in controlling. Read the article here

Recent Posts
- Chairmanship puts Rubio in middle of Florida issues, integral role in reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Act
  
  Much has been made of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s new post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee,,, The Republican from West Miami is expected Read More »
- N.J. Reps LoBiondo and Pallone talk tough, announce legislation to prevent absurd summer flounder quotas
  
  Reps. Frank LoBiondo and Frank Pallone on Thursday, Feb. 23 announced plans to introduce new legislation to prevent the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2017 and Read More »
- Kodiak fishermen’s likes/dislikes about fishing – This is Fish Radio. I’m Stephanie Mangini
  
  Where another day at the office is common to most, it’s another day on the water for professional fisherman. Fish Radio asked Kodiak fishermen their favorite Read More »
- Sonoma County’s fishing community facing uncertain future with potential salmon season closure
  
  In 2024, California’s ocean salmon fishing industry stands at a critical juncture. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), cognizant of the challenges salmon populations face due Read More »
- Fish Wholesaler/Processor Dana F. Besecker of Bellevue, Washington has passed away
  
  Dana F. Besecker, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully with his wife Jill and sons Jeff and Tyler by his side due Read More »
- Why one Islander has been giving palliative care patients lobster for two decades
  
  In 1999 Ray Campbell dropped off his first delivery of lobsters for patients being treated at the palliative care unit in Charlottetown. It’s been an annual Read More »
- SEA-NL calls on DFO to delay mandatory introduction of electronic logbooks
  
  Seaward Enterprises Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (SEA-NL) is calling on Fisheries and Oceans to delay the mandatory introduction of electronic logbooks (ELOGS) until concerns are Read More »
- N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission panel in disarray ahead of quarterly meeting
  
  Just as the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission convenes on Wednesday for its quarterly meeting in Raleigh, there has been a complete turnover of the panel’s commercial Read More »
- Newfoundland and Labrador crab fishery grinds to a halt as harvesters protest prices
  
  It’s peak crab season in Newfoundland and Labrador, but hundreds of fishers spent Monday morning on land, hoisting fists and signs in the air outside the Read More »
- F/V Scandies Rose: Efforts underway to locate sunken crab boat
  
  Gerry Cobban Knagin lost her brother Gary Cobban Jr., the skipper and partial owner of the vessel, and her nephew, Gary’s son, David. Knagin said the Read More »
- Update: Coast Guard suspends search for unconfirmed person in the water
  
  The Coast Guard suspended the search for an unconfirmed person in the water, Saturday. After searching for eight hours over 5 1/2 nautical square miles Coast Read More »
- Has California’s salmon fishery hit bottom?
  
  A third straight year of low king salmon runs is expected to deliver another blow to one of the North Coast’s most iconic and lucrative fisheries, Read More »
- Not so fast on Atlantic marine monument – By Jon Williams
  
  An ongoing campaign led by large, well-funded environmental organizations is urging President Obama to use the 1906 Antiquities Act to designate parts of the Atlantic Ocean—such Read More »
- “We got ‘er done” – Fish harvesters reach deal with N.L. government to allow catch to be sold to outside buyers
  
  John Efford Jr. fought back tears as he announced the news to hundreds of fish harvesters standing before him — they’d struck a deal with the Read More »
- Environmentalists Wield Powerful Endangered Species Act to Kill Jobs
  
  Think fish when you read this. From the article: The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is a radical environmental legal action group that’s known for frequently Read More »
- ASMI Announces Winners of 1st Alaska Commercial Fishing Video Contest – Fisherman Kamirin Couch Takes Home the Grand Prize
  
  Every day, fishermen brave the waters of Alaska to bring wild seafood from the sea to table for the world to enjoy. To recognize the men Read More »
- Fishermen post shocking video footage of ‘intolerable’ behaviour
  
  Fishermen have described the conduct of Spanish gill-netters to the northwest of Shetland as “intolerable” after video footage was posted on social media showing a Spanish Read More »
- SB-884: Florida lawmakers back bill setting big fines for ‘finning’ sharks
  
  A Florida Senate panel approved legislation Wednesday to levy large fines on commercial fishermen caught carrying illegally harvested shark fins. Federal and state rules already ban Read More »
- Scania powers up its marine engine range
  
  Scania is launching a new six-cylinder 13-liter inline marine engine. The new engine, which combines new power levels ranging from 650 to 925 hp with reduced Read More »
- “Dead Days” In French Ports To Protest Against Fuel Prices And The Limitation Of Fishing Areas
  
  Not a boat at sea, not a fish sold, no fish trade, no processing. For the first time, the National Fisheries Committee calls for dead days Read More »
- Wicked Tuna’s Captain Dave Marciano Fan Lookin’ for TailsUp Support – Facing Heart Surgery – Give her a Tweet!
  
  Deborah O’Connor‏@dimondsnpearls7 10 Nov @CaptMarciano Good morning Capt Dave !! Im havin heart surgery Tues the 12th. I was hopin u & crew could send plenty of #TailsUp 4 Read More »
- In Depth: Alaska’s Fisheries Are Collapsing. This Congresswoman Is Taking on the Industry She Says Is to Blame.
  
  The late 1990s and early 2000s were boomtimes for halibut fishermen in Alaska. Over 80 million pounds of the flatfish were being harvested annually. Deckhands could Read More »
- Shelton Barlow – Atlantic Marine Industries Hall of Fame – 2014 Mariner of the Year
  
  All of his work with and for fishermen earned Barlow entry this year into the Atlantic Marine Industries Hall of Fame as 2014 mariner of the Read More »
- Coast Guard units assist disabled F/V Lady Law
  
  Crewmembers aboard two 47-foot Motor Life Boats from Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor, in Westport, Wash., and the Coast Guard Cutter Fir, a 225-foot Seagoing Buoytender homeported in Astoria, Read More »
- Swipe card system will help track Maine sea urchin fishery
  
  Maine’s 2016-2017 sea urchin season will be a repeat of last season in terms of the number of fishing days and daily landing limits. But state Read More »