Daily Archives: November 30, 2012
NOAA Fisheries to close white hake fishery for Groundfish Common Pool on December 5, 2012
NOAA announces, based on available data, that 90 percent of the available Trimester 2 white hake quota has been harvested. Effective 0001 hours December 5, the groundfish common pool will no longer be able to harvest white hake. This closure will remain in effect until the end of Trimester 2, which is 2400 hours December 31.
|
International Pacific Halibut Commission looks at possible 30 percent reduction
Halibut catch limits could be cut more than 30 percent under preliminary numbers discussed at the International Pacific Halibut Commission’s interim meeting Nov. 29. The commission met in Seattle and heard from staff about a new stock assessment model and new format for harvest advice. Read more: http://www.alaskajournal.com/Blog-Fish-Bytes/April-2012/Halibut-Commission-looks-at-possible-30-percent-reduction/#ixzz2DjvqMCdZ
Interior Secretary Announces First-Ever Renewable Energy Lease Sales on the Outer Continental Shelf
“Wind energy along the Atlantic holds enormou
s potential, and today we are moving closer to tapping into this massive domestic energy resource to create jobs, increase our energy security and strengthen our nation’s competitiveness in this new energy frontier,” said Salazar, with the look of discomfort like a fisherman that just got a windfarm stuffed up his ass. “Holding competitive lease sales on the wind-rich east coast means blow jobs all around,” promised the Secretary as he wore a pleasantly painful expression.http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=bgwiiwiab&v=001J8BvtJGIt7uojsOTOb5KB021g8lTQl8JZ-9Wx7XCNysfPazHAWJ0FGociM0JkJ4smHQSmT21lEJ60zRNFH5qI5aA44FfU6BKmoG13dCY1UoXvX-qaK3-mdVfd2e81Jcq36-z4FrJKbOTPv56lKh5gXDevAUtPTyiPq2k8Mzc2x6_2T0FkCGESg%3D%3D
Fishing groups object to federal program putting part-time observers on small halibut boats
The new North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program was approved Nov. 20 by the National Marine Fisheries Service, an arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Starting Jan. 1, biologist observers will be placed on some of Alaska’s 1,300 small commercial halibut and sablefish boats to collect harvest data. http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/3b1aa773bc72404e9d9212dad10fced9/AK–Halibut-Fishery-Observers
Commercial crabbers concerned about Center for Biological Diversity’s coral petition
“We’re terrified of the petition,” Linda Kozak, a fisheries consultant in Kodiak, told the Fisherman. “This could be another sea lion issue where just to be safe they close all the fishing to bottom contact gear.”
Fishing Permit the Main Catch in Viking Purchase – buyer is primarily interested in the inshore state fishing permits
With the sale of Viking, a 40-foot fishing boat that has plied the waters off the Vineyard for three generations, the Island’s once-vibrant fleet of small wooden draggers is now at the brink of extinction.
Craig Coutinho of Vineyard Haven confirmed this week that he will sell Viking along with his fishing permits.http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2012/11/29/fishing-permit-main-catch-viking-purchase
photo Mark Lovewell
BURT PARKER, CHRIS PETERSON, AND DENNIS RYDMAN: NOAA must change Pacific whiting quotas to benefit small fishermen
The first
inconvenient truth is that the allocation was purely political and was made primarily to gain support of those who wanted to retire from the fishery holding IFQ to lease or sell to active participants.
The second inconvenient truth is that the Pacific whiting fishery, after being listed as overfished in 2002-2004, had by 2010 become the model of good management, earning the right to use the Marine Stewardship Council sustainability logo.
The third inconvenient truth is that studies of earlier IFQ Programs, in particular the British Columbia halibut fishery, have concluded that IFQ Programs that do not consider the cost of leasing going forward have shown very little improvement in efficiency.
They called these hidden costs of leasing IFQs ”the elephant in the room.” This elephant is now rearing its ugly head in the Pacific whiting fishery because of the poorly conceived initial allocation of IFQ approved by NOAA in 2010.
Read More Here.
City loses bid to have catch share tossed By Richard Gaines
The pla
intiffs included U.S. Congressmen John Tierney, whose district includes Gloucester, and Barney Frank, who represents New Bedford. The Conservation Law Foundation was allowed to intervene, allied with the government. A core complaint by the plaintiffs, rejected by the court, was the adoption of the catch share system without putting the regimen to a binding referendum. “Not allowing a referendum on such a measure effectively leaves the fishery up for grabs to the highest bidder,” said Tierney in an email. “This isn’t in the best interest of fishermen.”http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x1839362063/City-loses-bid-to-have-catch-share-tossed
Feds shut down 100-year-old oyster company, Stooge Salizar caught with smoking gun. Video of the year! Must see.
Sec. of th
e Interior Ken Salazar decided todaythe farm’s lease will not be renewed, despite some support for it from from Sen. Dianne Feinstein and serious questions raised by scientists about the research used to impugn the Lunnys.
“After careful consideration of the applicable law and policy, I have directed the National Park Service to allow the permit for the Drakes Bay Oyster Company to expire at the end of its current term and to return the Drakes Estero to the state of wilderness that Congress designated for it in 1976,” Salazar said in a statement. “I believe it is the right decision for Point Reyes National Seashore and for future generations who will enjoy this treasured landscape.”http://hotair.com/archives/2012/11/29/video-feds-shut-down-100-year-old-oyster-company-destroys-some-lives-and-dreams/ http://oysterzone.wordpress.com/about/
