Daily Archives: January 12, 2013
Battle for the Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna
Given the Atlantic bluefin fishery is worth about $1 billion annually, and individual fish can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, it’s no surprise that politics has played such a prominent role in past management decisions. In 2008, ICCAT’s handling of bluefin tuna was deemed a “travesty in fisheries management” and an “international disgrace.”
More Attacks on Science?
These politically motivated attacks on the science are not unique to Atlantic bluefin tuna and are being waged in multiple fora in the quest for higher catch limits on depleted species. Requests for annual stock assessments are distracting scientists from more pressing priorities such as improving their models to reduce uncertainties. Competing models presented by industry-funded scientists are being touted as equally likely to those models presented by independent scientific bodies. It’s a clever strategy—muddy the scientific advice enough to justify any management decision. Read more
Front line in Asian carp battle upstream from Starved Rock – “The commercial guys, they’re a wonderful asset,”
The battle line stretches along 40 miles of the Illinois River, from the Starved Rock Lock and Dam upstream past Morris to within 10 miles of an electric carp barrier. This is the front in the state’s fight against Asian car
p. Over 2½ years the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and state-contracted commercial fishermen have removed more than 500 tons of bighead and silver Asian carp from the Illinois River. In 68 days last fall, the DNR and fishermen netted and removed 248 tons, according to the DNR. Read More
New salmon plan would restrict gill-net fishing on lower Columbia
The state Fish and Wildlife Commission is expected to approve phasing out commercial gill nets on the lower Columbia River, except in a few spots. While winning praise from sport fishermen, the plan is strongly opposed by gill-netters. Read more
NZ fishing company Sanford fined $2.3m – dumped oily waste in waters off American Samoa.
An Auckland-based commercial fishing company has been fined $1.9 million ($NZD2.3 million) after being found guilty in a US court of dumping oily waste in waters off American Samoa. Read more
Kenai council gets an earful after biggest-ever “Alaskan Woodstock”, dipnet season
According to the Peninsula Clarion, frustrated residents at a recent Kenai City Council meeting all seem to agree: Kenai River dipnetting season is becoming an unbearably messy and costly party. Read more
NOAA DECLINES TO PROBE VAST UNDERESTIMATE OF BP SPILL
“By refusing to investigate this serious, detailed well–supported complaint, NOAA undermines rather than enhances its reputation for scientific integrity,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that this was the first such complaint NOAA has handled under its new rules. “By blocking an investigation behind closed doors, NOAA appears to value damage control over the truth.” Read More
US scallop inventories expected to decline in 2013 on new management plan
Framework Adjustment 24 to the Sea Scallop Plan was approved at the November 2012 meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council. The action sets specifications that include adjusting the days-at-sea allocations, general category fishery allocations and the area rotation schedule for 2013. Video
Chinook conservation, permit stacking approved for Bristol Bay fisheries (innovation!)
Commercial salmon fishermen will see a number of changes. Under the changes to how permits can be stacked, two driftnet permit holders can fish from the same vessel and jointly operate 200 fathoms of drift gillnet gear except in the Togiak District, in a special harvest area, or when the Naknek River Special harvest Area is open. Read more
Tusks of Whimsical-Looking Whales Lead to Charges for 2 in a Maine Courtroom
The defendants, Jay G. Conrad of Tennessee and Andrew J. Zarauskas of New Jersey, face four kinds of charges in a 29-count indictment filed in federal court here late last year: conspiracy, conspiracy to launder money, smuggling goods into the United States and money laundering. Two Canadians, whose names were redacted in the indictment, were also charged. “
are the most vulnerable of the ice-dependent species — vulnerable to climate change,” said Peter Ewins, a senior officer at World Wildlife Fund Canada. (senior officer?) The tusk, found mostly on males, is actually a single tooth growing out of the upper lip. Many scientists believe it is a sexual trait, like peacock feathers or antlers on a stag. “It’s a sexual thing,,,,,,More
Seven US fisheries scientists have raised a formal complaint of political interference over salmon studies – complaint of scientific misconduct
The letter alleges that Klamath Basin area office manager Jason Phillips violated the agency’s scientific-integrity policy, adopted in 2011 as part of US President Barack Obama’s nationwide initiative to protect science from political interference. According to the letter, the scientists believe Phillips intended to shut down the research group — known as the Fisheries Resources Branch — believing that the team’s work on salmon and other fish contradicted the plans and findings of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Read more Read the original complaint
