Category Archives: Pacific
Port of Newport nets $1.2 million grant for new pier construction serving the largest commercial fishing fleet in the state.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.2 million grant to the Port of Newport, Oregon, to support the construction of a new pier, serving the largest commercial fishing fleet in the state. ,, Senator Jeff Merkley also acknowledged the grant funding. >click to read< 07:59
Following a declaration of emergency, Port of Coos Bay moves forward with Charleston Ice Plant project
The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay has been pursuing solutions to provide commercial grade flake ice to the fishing fleet following the fire at the ice plant in late December 2019. “Staff explored options to lease equipment for short-term relief while a long-term solution was pursued. Unfortunately, leasing equipment is not an option as the units necessary to produce the type of ice required by the fleet are only available for purchase,” the release said. Photos, >click to read< 18:04
Coronavirus threatens California lobster industry
Roughly 95% of commercially caught lobster in California is shipped to China, where customers are willing to pay premium prices. “Traditionally, Chinese New Year is when we get the biggest price,” says lobster fisherman James Voss. “This year, that happened to coincide with the coronavirus and China stopping all wild animal imports into the country. So our price went from the highest it’s been all year to the lowest.” Photos, >click to read< 14:44
DNA tests show commercial halibut catch 90% female, influencing catch limits being set this week
For the first time in its 96 year history, the International Pacific Halibut Commission will be setting catch limits for halibut this week with the knowledge that the commercial fleet’s catch has been around 90 percent female, a notably higher proportion than previously thought. “The Commission has long known that the directed commercial Pacific halibut fishery catches mostly female, but we’ve had indications,,, >click to read< 18:59
So! What’s the Big Rush to Offshore Wind?!! Part 1 and Part 2
The U.S. is currently in a mad rush to build offshore wind farms on every square inch of the ocean on the east coast, despite the fact that there is presently little known about the environmental effects of so many structures on the marine ecosystem. The surveying, construction, operation and maintenance of these huge, up to 900 foot tall structures, will create a cacophony of sound never before heard in these ocean waters.,, So, why must we ignore all semblances of concern to the possible effects of thousands of huge off shore wind turbines on the marine environment? By Commercial Fisherman Jim Lovgren. This is a two part series, >click to read< Part 1, >click to read< Part 2 23:04
Ilwaco: Coronavirus disrupts Dungeness crab exports to China
The outbreak of a respiratory illness in China is impacting the commercial Dungeness crab fishery in the Pacific Northwest. The impact of the ban has been felt locally in the commercial crab fishery, where top dollar is fetched for live crab exported to the Chinese market, particularly during the month-long New Year celebration in January. ,,, Commercial crab fishermen, now about a month into a storm-riddled season, are earning less for their dangerous catch as a result of the coronavirus. photos, >click to read< 16:45
A New Generation! The Army Corps of Engineers have designed a hydroelectric turbine that’s safer for fish, increase energy efficiency by 4%
They’ve recently installed a new design that’s improving energy efficiency and improving fish survival along the Snake River, with plans to upgrade more turbines over the next several years. The Army Corps installed the first of two designs at Ice Harbor Dam, just outside the Tri-Cities in southeastern Washington. A second blade design should be finished in 2021. “It really is a new generation of turbine design for our hydropower system,” said the Corps’ Martin Ahmann.,, This new turbine has been shown to increase juvenile fish survival rate to more than 98%. >click to read< 10:50
Dungeness Crabs Redux
Well, after my last post, The Solution To Dissolution, I thought I was done with the Dungeness crab question. And I was happy to be done with those chilly crustaceans. Writing that post brought back memories of how cold the fishery is. I remember leaving out from Eureka harbor at the north end of California and crossing the bar at the mouth of Humboldt Bay well before dawn.,, In that post, I discussed the manifold problems with the incorrect media claim that “The Pacific Ocean is becoming so acidic it is starting to dissolve the shells of a key species of crab, according to a new US study.” Willis Eschenbach >click to read< 13:59
Coast Guard urges caution to mariners ahead of heavy weather expected to impact the Central and Southern California Coast
Sunday’s weather conditions for the inner waters in the vicinity of metro Los Angeles include wind speeds reaching 40 knots and sea states as high as 14 feet. Conditions are expected to worsen moving north from Los Angeles. For offshore conditions, the National Weather Service is reporting potential gusts approaching 50 knots with seas nearing 20 feet. Beaches throughout the area are expected to feature exceptionally high surf, large breaking waves and dangerous rip currents.>click to read< 07:48
Despite the late start, California Dungeness Crab season is winding down
“There was a feeling from everyone, I mean all of us — because the season ended early last year, and we had seen a lot of short crabs at that time — that there was going to be a lot of production this time,” said Dick Ogg, vice president of the Bodega Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association. “There had been evidence that that was probably going to be the case and, as it turned out, there was a few crabs in a very specific area, and because of the pressure that was there, those crabs were harvested quickly, and it impacted our opportunity to stretch out the season.” >click to read< 11:48
Oregon suspends Columbia River reforms review, Spring Chinook allocation also in question
The Lower Mainstem Columbia River Fisheries Management Reforms were heavily negotiated and meant to ensure concurrency between the states of Washington and Oregon concerning salmon fishing rules on the Columbia River. It also provides a mechanism to move gill and tangle net commercial salmon fishing off the main stem of the river, and into off-channel fisheries. After five years, the states opened a review of the policy. Each state appointed three members of their fish and wildlife commissions to the Policy Review Committee, (PRC). The committee would then refer possible changes to the policy for eventual action by the full commissions. >click to read< 09:33
Fishery Mismanagement?: Research suggests DFO worsened impact of salmon fishery crisis
Unifor has released a new report that says artificially low catch limits over the past 25 years pushed the West Coast salmon fishing industry to the brink, leaving it unable to cope with the 2019 crisis. “The federal government created a commercial fishing economy so precarious that when the salmon collapsed this year, the industry went with it,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Commercial salmon fishing may never recover.” >click to read< and to read A Report to Governments on the 2019 Salmon Season >click here< 13:18
Study connects marine heat wave with spike in whale entanglements
A new study shows how the record-breaking marine heat wave of 2014 to 2016 caused changes along the U.S. West Coast that led to an unprecedented spike in the numbers of whales that became entangled in fishing gear. “With the ocean warming, we saw a shift in the ecosystem and in the feeding behavior of humpback whales that led to a greater overlap between whales and crab fishing gear,” said Jarrod Santora, a researcher in applied mathematics at UCSC’s Baskin School of Engineering and first author of the study,,,,>click to read< 10:02
Port of Bellingham plans Fisherman’s Pavilion for commercial fishermen, events
The Port of Bellingham recently applied for a shoreline permit to build a 9,000-square-foot unheated building in the outdoor storage yard near the park. The building, referred to as the Fisherman’s Pavilion on the permit, will have large roll-up doors to create an open-air atmosphere, Mike Hogan, spokesman for the port, wrote in an email. The building will be used as a work space for commercial fishermen and other members of the working waterfront during the winter months,,, Video, >click to read< 09:42
Terra-Gen Critics Said We Should Wait for Offshore Wind, But Will That Project Spark an Even Nastier Debate?
Last month, under intense public pressure, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors rejected the $300 million Humboldt Wind Energy Project, bringing a dramatic end to the most polarizing countywide policy debate this community has seen in years.,, But if anyone thought we could sidestep controversy by moving wind energy proposals from land to sea, well, think again. In conversations with the Outpost, local and regional stakeholders expressed serious concerns about a range of issues, including conflicts with the fishing industry, impacts to birds and marine life and more. FIGHT! >click to read< 10:42
Coast Guard reminds mariners of hazardous bar conditions in Pacific Northwest
Recent incidents have highlighted the challenges of attempting to cross waterway bars in heavy weather and at night. The marine casualty of a commercial fishing vessel on the Coos Bay bar resulted in the loss of a vessel, but miraculously all three crew members were saved. Unfortunately, in a similar incident on the Yaquina Bay bar, both the crew and the vessel were tragically lost. The Coast Guard previously established regulated navigation areas for specific locations on the Oregon and Washington coasts and created guidance for these locations. >click to read< 18:25
Commercial crab season north of Klipsan Beach opens Saturday
The 2020 commercial Dungeness crab fishery north of Klipsan Beach will start at 9 a.m. Saturday, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The commercial fleet in Westport was loaded and ready Monday for the 73-hour gear pre-set period that begins today at 8 a.m. >click to read< 07:46
Washington Legislature’s sneaky bill considers salmon the 4th branch of government
Senate Bill 5130 purports to be about raising revenue to remove state fish barriers. The bill writers maintain that this would help save the salmon, which in turn helps save the orcas. It sounds good, right? But then you go down a ways in this bill and learn that they want to raise the money by charging an excise tax on every real estate sale — thousands of dollars when you sell your home. Alright, but it’s for the good of the salmon, isn’t it? Read down a little further. It will go toward helping the salmon, right? Wrong. Here is how it will be spent: >click to read< 08:44
Matt Becker, One of the Most Gifted Fisherman-Surfers You’ll Ever Meet
He’s young, gifted in riding big waves, and he’s in tune with the ways of the world. Mostly because he’s spent his early adult life as a fisherman, taking to the family business he learned from his father growing up in Santa Barbara. In fact, he’s probably one of the best professional surfers who also doubles as a professional fisherman in the world today. He might be the only one. “When I was young I was thinking I wasn’t going to be a fisherman, but I got older and met all these interesting people.” Video, and a great interview! >click to read< 19:59
Drunken assault at sea leads to a federal prison sentence for a Winchester Bay man
39-year old Brandon Vanderploeg was sentenced Thursday to 18 months behind bars and two year of supervised patrol for assaulting his then-girlfriend about a fishing vessel in August of 2018. According to court documents, on August 16, 2018, members of the U.S. Coast Guard were dispatched to a situation at sea involving the report of a woman who had been assaulted by her boyfriend onboard a commercial fishing vessel. >click to read< 07:39
Herrera Beutler calls sea lion bill critical to preserving salmon habitat
For Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, the package marks her latest attempt in a series of incremental efforts aimed at boosting salmon runs without resorting to such drastic measures as breaching Columbia or Snake River dams. The congresswoman is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Now that my sea lion bill has been signed into law, I am working with members from both political parties to take the next critical step: protect salmon habitat and increase hatchery production,” Herrera Beutler said in a media release. >click to read< 12:44
Meanwhile, in Ireland, Call for a seal cull in Killala Bay – >click to read<
Firefighters respond to boat fire at Port Dock 7
The Newport Fire Department responded to a report of a boat fire on Yaquina Bay at around 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10. The boat, identified as the F/V Nile II, was moored at Port Dock 7. Cub Barrus, a crew member aboard the F/V Misty, which is docked next to the Nile II, said, “We were just sitting here waiting to offload, and I said to my captain, ‘Is that smoke?’ So we called the harbormaster, got him on the case. They got it put out pretty fast.” >click to read< 09:58
3 crab fishermen survive harrowing capsize off Oregon coast
Three men were in good condition early Wednesday after being cut from inside the hull of a capsized crab boat off the Oregon coast. Their harrowing rescue was caught on video the night before. The 38-foot Pacific Miner was flipped upside-down by large waves,, Rescuers could not see the men inside the capsized boat and given the ship’s condition, rescuers searched for bodies in the water for more than an hour before a firefighter checked the boat itself. He heard survivors pounding on the hull from the inside, said Rob Gensorek,,, Video, >click to read< 08:55
Video: Terrier Inherited by Fisherman Adapts to New Life on the Waves
After inheriting Maggie the Welsh terrier from his grandpa, commercial fisherman Kale Pixey was determined to integrate her into his life. “Pretty crazy with the lifestyle of commercial fishing I have,” Pixey told Storyful of his grandfather’s bequest, “but he knew how much I loved her and would take care of her no matter what.” He’s had the dog for two years now. >click to read< 08:28
F/V Pacific Miner: Crab boat capsizes near Coos Bay; 3 rescued
An air crew and two boat crews searched for the men, and pulled them out of the water around 8:30 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. The men were safe, but were cold. The conditions when the boat capsized were 8-to-10-foot breaking waves and about 4 miles of visibility, the Coast Guard said. The boat also had about 300 crab on board. >click to read< 08:01
Watch: Fishermen rescued from inside capsized fishing boat near Coos Bay – >click to watch<
Coast Guard searching for 3 fishermen after finding capsized fishing vessel near Coos Bay jetty
A Coast Guard aircrew and two boatcrews are searching for three fishermen near the entrance to Coos Bay after finding a capsized vessel Tuesday evening on the jetty tips. The capsized vessel is the 38-foot fishing vessel Pacific Miner, which reportedly had three men aboard when it capsized. A Coast Guard Sector North Bend MH-65 Dolphin aircrew, flying on a routine training flight, spotted the capsized fishing vessel and immediately reported it to the Sector North Bend Command Center. >click to read< 22:39
Full Committee Markup, Legislative Hearing on Sustainable Fisheries
The Committee on Natural Resources will hold a markup on Wednesday, Jan. 15. On Tuesday, Jan. 14, our Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee will hold a legislative hearing on six bills that make our oceans and fisheries more sustainable in the face of manmade threats. The Committee’s full schedule and witness lists are available below. As with all hearings and markups, these events are open to media and the public. >click to read< 07:37
Coast Guard seeks public information after laser strike hits Port Angeles aircrew
The Coast Guard is seeking information from the public to help locate the person or persons who pointed a red laser light at a Coast Guard helicopter Friday at 10:23 p.m. as the crew was flying a mission northwest of Bremerton.,, The laser strike was reported to Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles, the Federal Aviation Administration and local police by the aircrew. The laser light came from the vicinity of the southwest corner of Naval Base Kitsap in Bangor. >click to read< 17:47
F/V Scandies Rose: Stuart Coast Guardsman recalls saving two fishermen off coast of Alaska
“I just told myself this what I trained for. I volunteered to do this so I knew what I had to. It was up to me to execute it,” said Evan Grills. Grills, 24,is a Petty Officer 3rd Class in the U.S. Coast Guard. “My nerves were OK until the door opened,” he said, as the rescue swimmer recalled the signal his crew received New Year’s Eve night. Video, >click to read< 06:22
Suit targets Alaska salmon management to protect southern killer whales
The Wild Fish Conservancy filed notice on January 9, stating its intentions to sue the National Marine Fisheries Service for violating the Endangered Species Act, and jeopardizing the existence of Southern Resident Killer Whales. The Conservancy argues that an important food supply of the whales, endangered stocks of chinook salmon originating in Puget Sound, the lower Columbia River, the Willamette River, and Snake River is being depleted by the commercial troll and sport harvest in Southeast Alaska. >click to read< 20:51
