Daily Archives: December 8, 2012

Endangered Species: Small-Scale Fishermen Written by M. Ben-Yami —

They have solid sea legs, good seamanship, and first-hand experience in reacting to weather and sea vagaries and in handling navigational and working deck emergencies; but they are increasingly squeezed. In many developed countries small-scale/artisanal fisheries mainly supported by small family businesses (SSF) are dwindling. There’re several causes to this process. Read More http://fisheryworld.com/

Ninth Circuit Hears Steller Sea Lion Appeal – Unalaska Community Broadcasting – KUCB 89.7 FM – Channel 8

For years and years, a legal battle has been raging over the endangered western stock of Steller sea lions. That battle finally made its way to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals this week. The State of Alaska and the Freezer Longline Coalition petitioned to overturn a lower court ruling that said the National Marine Fisheries Service was justified in restricting fishing in order to protect the sea lions. http://kucb.org/news/article/ninth-circuit-hears-steller-sea-lion-appeal/

New England Fisheries to be Topic of Discussion on Boston’s WHDH Urban Update: Airs Sunday, December 9th at 11:30am

Barnett will be joined by Jon Mitchell, the Mayor of the City of New Bedford; Chris Basile, President of the Boston Fisheries Foundation; Dr. Les Kaufman, Professor of Biology at Boston University and Marine Conservation Fellow at Conservation International; and Dr. David Pierce, Deputy Director of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Urban Update will air at 11:30am on Sunday, December 9th, immediately following Meet the Press.

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries needs volunteers for shrimp committee

Adviser applications are available online at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/mfc-advisory-committees, at Division of Marine Fisheries’ offices or by calling 252-808-8022 or 800-682-2632.  Applications should be returned by Dec. 14 to the Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, Attention: Lauren Morris.  http://www.northcarolinasportsman.com/details.php?id=3027

Our View: Commerce Department’s release of report would help heal relationship with fishermen SouthCoastToday

Enforcement changes were implemented after Inspector General Todd Zinser’s report on whether different regions were being punished differently under NOAA, and on whether administration of the Asset Forfeiture Fund was appropriate, but the pace of the agency’s attempt to make good on inappropriate enforcement is holding back greater progress. http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121207/OPINION/212070308/-1/NEWS01

NOAA eyes easing redfish, dogfish rules

”Several of the new measures were conceived by fishermen, and others are the product of collaboration between fishermen, researchers and our staff,” Bullard, based in the Gloucester office in Blackburn Industrial Park, said in a prepared statement. “By working together and thinking creatively, we can find fishing opportunities even in these challenging times.” Nils Stolpe wrote that “there are approximately a million metric tons – that’s 2.2 billion pounds – of three species of catchable and marketable fish ‘available’ off our Northeast. “These three species – Acadian redfish, spiny dogfish and haddock – could sustainably support the entire out-of-work groundfish industry, and then some.” http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x2120612513/NOAA-eyes-easing-redfish-dogfish-rules