Daily Archives: February 8, 2013
Guest opinion: Dumping on our fisheries – Rep. Les Gara
Care much about the decline of Alaska’s king salmon and halibut? I do. You do, and that’s why you voted in 2006 for strict water quality standards to prevent cruise ship companies from dumping poorly treated, damaging copper and human waste—20,000 gallons at a time—into our fishing waters. Unfortunately, in my view and many of yours, the Governor and GOP-led House passed a bill this week to weaken this voter initiative. Read more here
Holly Bamford appointed new NOAA assistant administrator
“Holly not only brings strong scientific credentials to this position, but she also has significant leadership and management expertise. She is particularly well qualified for this position and I’m confident in her ability to lead NOS as it works to support healthy communities and economies,” said Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, in a statement. Read more here
Editorial: Time to pull plug on NOAA’s joke of observer program
Speaking last week at a meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council, current NOAA regional administrator John Bullard announced that, because NOAA somehow didn’t include full funding for the observer program, New 
England’s fishermen will have to pick up the cost themselves. That sounded ridiculous last week. But the now-documented and continued unfit status of these observers — and frankly, those who hire them — have now carried Bullard’s and NOAA’s demand to the level of the absurd. Read more here
Fairbanks fishing guide lands on fisheries board
FAIRBANKS — An Arctic grayling fishing guide from Fairbanks has landed a spot on the Alaska Board of Fisheries. Reed Morisky was named to the seven-member board by Gov. Sean Parnell. Morisky will replace Bill Brown of Juneau, who resigned in January with 18 months left on his three-year term. Read more here
Catch shares constitute best free-market solution
Catch shares are the best solution to dwindling fish stocks. They provide for more stable consumer prices, prevent overfishing, empower fishermen and reduce inefficient government regulation. Read more here
Maine’s shrimp fishing days increased
The number of days for shrimp harvesting was doubled to four days a week due to the weak catch since the season started last month. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Northern Shrimp Season voted to double the fishing days on Thursday afternoon. Read more here
Maine lawmakers urge help for fishermen – The state’s members of Congress join others from the region
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers from Maine and two other states are urging federal regulators to “exercise all authority under the law” to help the New England groundfishing fleet weather severe catch limits that many fear could decimate the industry. Rep. John Tierney, D-Mass., plans to submit legislation seeking disaster funding for the New England fishery as well as other U.S. fisheries. Tierney said his bill would tap money collected on imported fish to pay for the disaster relief and additional scientific research. Read more here
Council takes final action on skate habitat protections
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council made quick work of a number of issues today, taking final action on skate habitats and doing the initial review of other habitat and groundfish issues. Read more here
New England – Coast Guard air crews warn boaters as winter storm approaches
Stations along the coast issued radio broadcasts and communicated with partner organizations to warn of approaching weather conditions and help the maritime community prepare. Out of Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, an HU-25 Falcon Jet overflew offshore regions to communicate directly with vessels and issue a general broadcast to any vessel within range. Read more here
New England – Drastic Cuts to Imperiled Cod Fishery
Rip Cunningham, chairman of the New England Council, told the Gazette this week it was a difficult process. “I continue to think it was a tough decision to make,” he said. “Given the circumstances, I think the council made the right decision. The council understands that when they make their decision there are real people that are going to be impacted. I certainly hope everyone is thinking that we have to do a balance between mitigating short-term impacts to the fishermen and the long-term impacts to the resource.” Read more here
Alaska Board of Fisheries to Meet in Anchorage
All portions of the meeting are open to the public and a live audio stream is intended to be available on the Board of Fisheries’ website at www.boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov. Documents submitted to the board are intended to be p
osted online throughout the meeting. Copies of advanced meeting materials including the agenda and roadmap can be obtained by contacting Boards Support Section at 907-465-4110 or viewed online at: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo. Read more here
Volusia planning artificial reefs a mile from shore
“You know I have been a big supporter of our artificial reefs program,” Councilwoman Pat Northey said Thursday of the system the county has been rapidly expanding since 2010. “But there are a lot of questions out there about this. I’m certainly not saying no today, but I’m saying I have a lot of questions yet.” Read more here
Research shows dogfish are a significant threat to cod
February 7, 2013 — Dogfish provide significant competition for cod. The estimated biomass of dogfish is 240,000 tons vs. only around 23,000 tons for both Georges Bank and Gulf of Maine Cod. Scientists found dogfish can tolerate temperatures from 32 to 80 degrees, far more than most other fish, meaning as water warms, they can easily adapt to new temperatures. Read more here
South Carolina. Fishing industry suffers as drought worsens in Beaufort County
When Larry Toomer hauled in 60 crab traps Tuesday, it was another reminder of how bad the winter fishing season has been. The owner of the Bluffton Oyster Co. caught about 150 blue crabs — only two bushels. Last year, he pu
lled up 20 to 30 bushels a day. Now? “We’re barely breaking even.” Drought is making the seawater saltier and driving many crabs too far up freshwater rivers and creeks to catch legally, Toomer said. Read more here
Pretty snazzy. 
AquaBounty Hoping to Serve DNA-Altered Salmon on US Plates
Deep in the rain forests of Panama, in a secret location behind padlocked gates, barbed-wire fences and over a rickety wooden bridge, grows what could be the most debated food product of our time.”The idea of changing an anima
But it is one critics call “Frankenfish.” Read more here
Markey eyes fishing, opposes NOAA aquaculture “when it is failing its core fisheries mission to restore wild stocks, like cod, haddock and flounder.”
U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey of Malden, who, along with Congressman Stephen Lynch of South Boston, has declared for the special election race to fill the seat long held by John F. Kerry, wrote to Acting Commerce Secr
etary Rebecca Blank to advise against any NOAA approval of a pending proposal to regulate a future aquaculture farm in the Gulf of Mexico under the terms of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.”Congress did not intend for NOAA to regulate aquaculture as a fishery under the (Magnuson-Stevens Act),” Markey wrote. “I share the skepticism of fishermen in my home state of Massachusetts over NOAA”s ability to take on this additional responsibility.” Read more here
