Category Archives: Pacific

California loves Dungeness crab. But concerns over whale safety have put the industry in peril

The Dungeness crab season had opened just a few weeks earlier, two months behind schedule, and was off to a slow start. “We’re working very hard to basically get nothing,” said Ogg. Early on a Thursday in late January, Ogg readied his 54-foot fiberglass boat, the Karen Jeanne, for a 16-hour day of hauling 200 crab pots. It was barely 4:30 a.m. at the Spud Point Marina, and Ogg’s crew, Bradlee Titus, 34, and Axel Bjorklund, 22, both multi-generational fishermen, prepared the deck by washing equipment, filling water buckets and packing jars with bait — a stinky, oily mashup of mackerel and squid. At the helm, Ogg tracked water currents and the weather forecast as he moved the boat out of Bodega Bay, past Point Reyes toward the Farallon Islands and San Francisco skyline. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:09

In memory of Martin “Skooky” Parsons

Martin Parsons, born Nov. 6, 1937, in Cordova, Alaska, passed away peacefully on Jan. 11, 2025, in Kirkland Washington, at the age of 87 where he lived a “Hell of a life!” He was known affectionately as “Skooky,” a nickname given by the Arvidson family when he was a kid, which stuck with him throughout his life. He was loved, cherished, and respected by his family and countless friends.  Born of Scandinavian and Aleut descent, he was the son of Martin and May Parsons. Skooky lived in Alice Cove, grew up in Cordova, and graduated from Cordova High School. Following his education, he enlisted in the Army before returning to Cordova to pursue a career as a commercial fisherman. He spent many years gillnetting on the Copper River Flats and seining in Prince William Sound, embodying the hardworking spirit of Alaska’s fishing community. He was well known for his “marker sets” in Castle, or “round hauling” dogs in Sheep Bay. By Martin Parsons, Jr. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:04

Western Flyer scheduled to make historic expedition 85 years after Steinbeck and Ricketts

The historic Western Flyer will return to the Gulf of California this spring, marking 85 years since the famous expedition with John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts and their crew. Local scientists, educators and conservationists will team up to study the Gulf of California’s ecosystems, exchange knowledge and brainstorm new ideas to protect the marine world. The expedition starts at 3 p.m. March 16, departing from Old Fisherman’s Wharf. The send-off celebration will mark nearly 85 year to the day since the now-famous journey that inspired the book ‘Sea of Cortez. ’more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:04

Low stock numbers usher in a ‘devastating’ Dungeness crab season

One month after the Dungeness crab season opened on the Central Coast, Santa Cruz fishers are grappling with an extremely low number of crabs. “It’s devastating,” said fisher Valerie Phillips, who splits her time fishing out of Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay harbors. She said she and her crew, which includes her husband, father and a crew member, have caught only about a third of what they would normally catch in a season. “We’re talking about pulling the pots already. We’re probably going to switch to our next fishery.” “It’s a down year up and down the coast, even in Oregon,” said Tim Obert, a Santa Cruz-based fisher with more than 25 years of experience. “In the Santa Cruz area and Monterey Bay, there’s almost nothing.” Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:02

Elon, it’s time to sic the DOGE on BOEM, and NMFS By Jim Lovgren

The Trump administration has begun a long overdue financial analysis of the spending habits of federal agencies, looking to weed out waste, fraud, incompetence, bureaucratic overlap of different agencies, and unnecessary regulations. To do this he has recruited Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who earned his wealth by his shear brilliance, to lead a new agency, called DOGE, Department of Governmental Efficiency. While there are plenty of federal departments that need cleaning up, or elimination, let’s hope that Elon doesn’t overlook BOEM and the NMFS. Let’s start with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the agency that cavalierly sells the ocean bottom and its non-renewable resources to the highest bidder. This is an agency that has always been surrounded by controversy and corruption so bad that they had to change their name years ago from the Marine Minerals Service to its present BOEM. More, >>CLICK TO READ<< 18:57

Fishers Make the Most of a Better Crab Season

The rain is misting over Woodley Island Marina’s Dock B, where the F/V Jenna Lee is moored. Kristen Pinto, in a bright yellow slicker, pulls three Dungeness crabs from the trickling bin on the deck of the adjacent home-built pontoon boat from which the Pinto family sells to the public as Jenna Lee’s Seafood. “It’s been a little slower,” she says, lifting a half shrug and noting the strained economy and higher price of crab — $8 per pound — have kept some away. “They’re a nice size and all, but it adds up. A nice size crab can be $20.” The jump in price from last year has been a boon for crab fishers who’ve been stuck selling their hard-won catches for less and less over shortened seasons in recent years. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 17:43

Democrats accuse DOGE of going after NOAA

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday accused Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of improperly inserting itself into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In a joint statement, Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) said Musk’s cost-cutting group of accessing NOAA’s computer systems. NOAA is charged with forecasting weather, monitoring atmospheric conditions and mapping the seas, among other things. “Elon Musk and his DOGE hackers are ransacking their way through the federal government, unlawfully gaining unfettered access to Americans’ private information and gutting programs people depend on,” said Huffman and Lofgren, the top Democrats on the House Natural Resources and Science, Space and Technology committees, respectively. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:57

Tidal Vision, a company turning tossed crab shells into a green chemical, nets $140M in funding

Tidal Visio

Tidal Vision, a green chemistry company founded by a former Alaska fishing boat captain, has raised $140 million to fund its efforts, CEO and co-founder Craig Kasberg confirmed for GeekWire. The Bellingham, Wash., company uses an environmentally friendly, zero-waste process to turn discarded crab shells into a valuable industrial chemical called chitosan, as well as products made with the ingredient. In addition to its Bellingham operations, Tidal Vision has a production site in South Carolina and in July announced that it was breaking ground on a new plant in Texas where its Tidal Grow Agriscience division will produce liquid fertilizers. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 15:12

U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods will come into effect Saturday, White House says

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday offered vague details on his plans to impose tariffs on goods coming from Canada, Mexico and China, after a spokesperson said they would take effect Saturday. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president would put a 25 per cent tariff on Canada and Mexico and a 10 per cent tariff on goods from China during a briefing on Friday. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office hours later, Trump said he expects the tariffs would include oil, gas, steel, aluminum, copper and microchips — but potentially with staggered dates and rates, depending on the product.  Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said she heard the president’s public comments but had not received any further information. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:36

Ventura fisherman missing since Wednesday night prompts search effort

A fisherman from Ventura reported missing Wednesday had not been found as of midday Thursday. His boat was found Wednesday night with no one aboard about 10 miles off the Ventura coast, authorities said. The U.S. Coast Guard was leading the ongoing search for the 71-year-old after he was reported overdue from a fishing trip shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, said Coast Guard Public Affairs Specialist Richard Uranga. The Coast Guard found the man’s 40-foot commercial fishing boat just before 9 p.m. Wednesday, Uranga said. Crews towed it to the Ventura Harbor. As of 9 a.m. Friday morning, Ventura Harbormaster John Higgins said he had no update on the search despite continued efforts to search local waters. Photo, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:48

Record crab price, lower volume: Commercial crabbing commences amid steep competition

The 2025 Washington commercial crab season is officially in full swing, with several local crabbers delivering their first offloads of the season on Thursday, Jan. 16, at local ports along the Long Beach Peninsula. “There are a lot of jumbos, nice and hard two-pounders. It’s a very good product.” reported Florian Mumford, captain of the F/V Vengeance. Fishermen reported strong currents and steep competition among the opening-day hurdles, leading to lower-than-normal catch volumes. However, the $5.75 opening record price from processors has been a huge relief, up from $3.50 last season. “We’re getting a really good price,” said F/V Jeannie Irene Captain Kelsey Cutting. “It’s going to make up for there not being a lot of volume.” “There’s a lot of guys from Westport and from California, because they have a lot of whale entanglement issues. They had a pot reduction [in California] and a lot of those guys are coming up and buying Oregon and Washington crab permits,” Cutting said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:27

Britt, Tuberville have an angle in fight for American fishermen

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. And that’s what Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville are doing in their fight to protect American fishermen. Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tuberville (R-Auburn) joined Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chairman of the Commerce Committee; and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to introduce the bipartisan Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to develop a standard methodology for identifying the country of origin of red snapper and certain species of tuna imported into the United States. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:24

Judge denies crab buyers motion to dismiss crabbers price fixing lawsuit

A U.S. federal judge of the Northern District of California denied the motion by dozens of crab buyers to dismiss price-fixing claims. The lawsuit follows an earlier suit back in March 2023 with plaintiffs Brand Little and Robin Burns, who accused Pacific Seafood, Washington-based Bornstein Seafood, and other US West Coast Crab companies of allegedly being part of a cartel that artificially suppressed prices paid to fishermen for Dungeness Crab. According to the complaint in the lawsuit, the cartel, allegedly led by Pacific Seafood, suppressed these prices paid to crabbers in California, Oregon, and Washington since the 2015- 2016 crabbing season.Video,  more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:39

Researchers Are Finding Ash From Los Angeles Fires 100 Miles Out to Sea

According to UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, billowing smoke from the Palisades, Eaton, and other fires has deposited ash and debris on the ocean’s surface as much as 100 miles from the coast. The crew aboard a NOAA research vessel called the Reuben Lasker was gathering water samples when the fires began. Over the next few days, they collected samples of the ash piling up on the deck of the ship, as well as in the sea. “We’re positioning ourselves to answer the question, ‘What does this mean for West Coast fisheries and the food web that we all depend on?’” said Nicolas Concha-Saiz, NOAA Fisheries’ chief scientist. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:46

Big Mountain Royalty McKenna Peterson’s Double Life as a Commercial Fishing Boat Captain

McKenna Peterson has come a long way from her path as a professional ballerina in college. Since then, she’s called Utah, Seattle, Idaho, and Alaska home. She’s gained a reputation as a professional skier charging big mountain lines. She’s also Captain of the F/V Atlantis, spending her summers calling the shots on her family’s commercial fishing vessel in southeast Alaska. The best part is she does it all with an unassuming smirk on her face. I’ve seen it firsthand during a trip to Chile together. I’m a big fan of McKenna P., I’ll throw her name in the hat as one of the finest big mountain skiers to date. McKenna skis professionally for K2, Scott Sports, Xtratuf, KAVU, Ridge Merino. Let’s dig into all things McKenna in the interview below. Video, photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 14:30

Career Commercial Fisherman Terrance Lloyd “Terry” Kilbreath of Edmonds, WA. has passed away

Terrance Lloyd Kilbreath (“Terry”), loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on January 8, 2025, with his wife Janice, by his side. Terry was born July 31, 1943, in Vancouver, Canada, and grew up in Anacortes, Washington with his parents, Irvine and Kay Kilbreath, and sister Lynn (Collson). As an 18 year old teenager, Terry started working in the summers as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. He later purchased his own commercial fishing boat and had a long and successful 50 plus year career fishing for herring and salmon in Kodiak, Prince William Sound, and Sitka, Alaska. Terry loved his profession and retired at the age of 75. His last boat, the Ayakulik, means Red River, his favorite place to fish on the west side of Kodiak Island. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 11:16

Ancich Dock project hits raw nerve: Is Gig Harbor a fishing town or yacht haven?

The dock’s future depends on the outcome of a Feb. 3 appeal before the state Shoreline Hearings Board. In the online-only proceeding, Jim Franich, a former city council member and neighbor to the project, will square off against the city, the Ancich Dock’s owner and their respective lawyers, challenging the city of Gig Harbor Hearing Examiner’s decision granting the project a Shoreline Substantial Development Permit. The flap over the Ancich Dock stirs more than the usual old vs. new development tensions locally. It touches a nerve wrapped around the city’s very identity: Is Gig Harbor a fishing village or a collection of upscale marinas? Is its iconic vessel a purse seiner or a luxury motor yacht? more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:22

Trump keeps ‘Day One’ promise to squash offshore wind projects

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Inauguration Day calling for the suspension of all offshore wind leases in federal waters of the Outer Continental Shelf for an indefinite period. The withdrawal reiterates Trump’s mantra, “Drill, baby, drill,” for oil and gas and demonstrates his preference for using fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, to address what he called the country’s national energy emergency. In the executive order, Trump cites demand for reliable energy, marine life, the fishing industry and costs for Americans as the reasons to temporarily withdraw energy leases, effective Jan. 21 and until he revokes the order. It also states there shall be no new offshore wind energy leases or renewals. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:54

Commercial fishermen express frustration with late open to Dungeness crab season

Last week, commercial Dungeness crab fishery began in Humboldt County. On Wednesday, Jan.15, after a 10-day delay, the season opened throughout the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Northern Management Area, a region spanning from the coast of Sonoma County to the Oregon border. Many commercial fishermen in Humboldt County expressed frustration with the wait — and with these types of delays becoming a perennial problem. They say frequent delays to the opening of a crabbing season that once relied on December holiday sales have left fishermen feeling squeezed. “The biggest downhill path for our fishery began five years ago when the state of California, in their lack of defense of the most lucrative fishery on the California coast, settled a lawsuit with the Center for Biological Diversity,” Rotwein said. “We’re on a trajectory to … being regulated out of business. Economically, I don’t know if the fleet can survive … Every single year since then has been something — a season delay, season closure.” more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:15

Local fishing boats depart for Alaska

A number of the larger commercial fishing boats that call Newport’s Yaquina Bay their home headed out last week for the annual trek to Alaska’s Bering Sea. It can take eight to 10 days for them to make the journey up north, depending on the weather. Boats from Newport will be docking either at Dutch Harbor or Kodiak, where they will be based while fishing for pollack and cod, a fishery that generally lasts for several months. The Port of Newport’s International Terminal was hopping with activity last week as boat owners and their crews made final preparations. Photos, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 06:32

Local Fishermen Are Ready For Crab Season

Following a delay as a result of conflicts of interests in regard to state regulations, local crab fishermen are now preparing for commercial crab season, which is to open this Wednesday. I had the chance to speak with Jesse Beer, a local crab fisherman, on how long the season is expected to last.  “We’re going to start pulling our gear on Wednesday, and it’ll last for us as long as we’re doing good and making money. We’re going to keep fishing. Unless it gets shut down for some reason, for the whale entanglement issues or something. We’re just going to go until we’re not making money anymore. That’s our plan.” Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<<12:07

Here’s when commercial Dungeness crab season opens in WA

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that the commercial Dungeness crab season will open on Jan. 15 from Klipsan Beach on the Long Beach Peninsula south to Cape Falcon, Oregon. This includes the Columbia River and Willapa Bay. The opening date for the remainder of Washington’s Pacific Coast is still pending. Dungeness crabs represent Washington’s most valuable commercial fishery. The 2023-24 coastal commercial Dungeness crab season yielded state landings valued at $66.8 million, second only to the $88.2 million record set during the 2021-22 season. The fish and wildlife departments of Washington, Oregon, and California collaborate annually to determine season openers as part of a tri-state agreement to manage the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery. Opening dates are based on test fishing results, which can be found at psmfc.org/crab. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 05:52

Young Salmon May Face Hungry New Competition from Juvenile Sablefish Along US Northwest Coast

There is a new mouth to feed in the coastal waters of the Northwest where juvenile salmon first enter the ocean, and it’s a hungry one. Over the last two decades large numbers of juvenile sablefish have increasingly spread into coastal waters from central Oregon north to northern Washington. New research published in the journal Marine and Coastal Fisheries shows the influx follows the warming of ocean temperatures off the West Coast. It matches reports of fishing boats catching more small sablefish closer to shore. The finding means that salmon may face new competition from sablefish at a critical time in their life cycle, which is already at risk from climate change. Adult sablefish live for many years in deep offshore waters along the ocean floor. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 08:49

Fishermen embrace new streamlined life jackets in first-ever giveaway event

Nonprofit Charleston Fishing Families hosted the first-ever life jacket giveaway on Friday for the commercial fishing fleet in Charleston. Local fishermen tried on the new Kent life jackets and were thankful, as previous life jackets were bulky and, in their words, dangerous. Steely Saye, captain of The Last Dance, says he’s been a fisherman for 15 years and that he’s excited for the change. Board President for the Charleston Fishing Families Mellissa Clemens said they have outfitted 113 fishermen with life jackets and said that historically many fishermen do not to wear life jackets due to safety concerns. Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 07:01

Jonathan Robert Gonzalez of Santa Barbara, Calif. has passed away

Jonathan Robert Gonzalez passed away suddenly on Tuesday, September 24, at the age of 44. Born on April 21, 1979, at Goleta Valley Hospital in Santa Barbara, Calif., Jon was known for his big heart, dedication to his faith, and relentless passion for advocating for what’s right. Jon is survived by his beloved wife, Bronte, and their one-year-old daughter, Beretta—the light of his life and his greatest joy as a first-time father. He also promoted U.S.-sourced seafood through his website, EatUSSeafood.com, where he shared recipes alongside his advocacy. Jon’s passion ultimately led him to his “dream job” as Government Affairs Manager at Pacific Seafood. Engaged in efforts across the West Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and in Washington, D.C., Jon became one of the most well-known fisheries advocates in the United States. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 20:15

Commercial Fisherman Benny Floyd Chestnut of Newport, Oregon, has passed away

Benny Floyd Chestnut passed away peacefully on January 3, 2025. He was 82 years old. Benny served in the Navy Reserves from 1961-63. After that, he started Commercial Fishing in Eureka California and from then on….a fisherman at heart he was. He moved his family to Newport, Oregon in 1975 and here he stayed. He fished from the West Coast to the Bering Sea. He started 3 generations of fishermen, a son and grandson to follow in the same footsteps…and very proud of them he was. Newport was his home for a very long time, he loved it here. Newport is where he raised his family, finished his career and made many friends. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 19:32

Los Angeles Fires: Fish Protections and California Dam Removal Behind Water Woes?

Multiple fires burned in Los Angeles County on Wednesday, prompting evacuation orders and warnings for thousands of residents. Five people have died since the brush fires first broke on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. As southern California faced an unprecedented string of fires, firefighters reported on internal radio systems that they were short on hydrants and water, the Los Angeles Times reported. This comes as the Palisades Fire forced evacuation of at least 30,000 residents in northwest Los Angeles. Massive fires were also reported in Eaton, Hurst, Lidia and Woodley. The Delta Smelt controversy revolves around protection measures for a tiny fish native to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Environmental regulations aimed at protecting the Delta Smelt have led to restrictions on pumping water from the Delta to Central and Southern California. This has affected water availability for agriculture, urban areas, and industry. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:12

Bipartisan FISHES Act Signed into Law, Expediting Fishery Disaster Relief Nationwide

The Bipartisan FISHES Act (H.R. 5103), aimed at streamlining federal disaster relief for fisheries, was signed into law this past weekend by President Biden. The legislation, formally titled the “Fishery Improvement to Streamline Untimely Regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act,” marks a significant step toward addressing delays in disaster aid for communities impacted by fishery-related crises. The bill, sponsored by Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) and supported in the Senate by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), received unanimous support in both chambers of Congress. It aims to expedite relief distribution following official fishery disaster declarations, a process often hampered by bureaucratic delays. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:53

Local fishermen fight for survival and infrastructure in changing San Diego waters

In the early morning hours, as most San Diegans prepare for their daily commute, Mario and Jordan Souza set out on a different kind of journey. The father-son duo boards their boat, the Extremis, to continue a family tradition that spans generations. “Welcome to the office,” Mario says as he gestures to their vessel and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean stretching out before them. The Souza’s story is about resilience, adaptability, and a deep-rooted passion for the sea. Jordan, who started in the fishing industry at the age of eleven, recalls his father taking him fishing as a toddler. They come from three generations of fishermen and remember the glory days of San Diego’s fishing industry well. Photos, Video, more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 09:09

Investigators at San Francisco pier find fake wall hiding illegal fish

A commercial fisherman was busted in San Francisco for attempting to hide thousands of pounds of illegally caught fish, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife announced last week. Investigators from the department witnessed the angler unloading burlap sacks of fish from a trawler docked at Pier 45, a historic pier that’s home to the Musée Mécanique and USS Pampanito. CDFW said the angler was tailed to an unspecified restaurant, where they “attempted to flee and hide fish.” When investigators probed the owner’s trawler, they allegedly discovered a fake wall. “Behind the false wall were fillets of salmon,” a news release from the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association said. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 10:33