Daily Archives: March 13, 2013
Congressman John Tierney releases statement on Magnuson-Stevens Act hearing
“Without a doubt, today’s parameters are not working,” continue
Gulf of Maine shrimp season a bust
Gary Libby, a fisherman in Port Clyde, said he caught 800 pounds of the small, sweet shrimp on his best day this winter. Last year he averaged 2,000 pounds a day. “We were expecting it to be bad going in, but we weren’t expecting it to be as bad it was,” he said. Shrimp provide a small but important fishery for New England fishermen each winter. About 90 percent of the annual harvest is caught by Maine boats, with New Hampshire and Massachusetts fishermen accounting for the rest. continue
Fish farm rejected by Nova Scotia government, risk to wild salmon cited
The province’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sterling Belliveau, said Fisheries and Oceans Canada expressed concern about the salmon farm’s impact on wild salmon in the bay near Sheet Harbour during the 22-month review process. 
The federal department said the site would represent a moderate risk to wild salmon. continue
Final services for Miss Ally fishermen this week
Two weeks of memorial services for the five fishermen lost on the Miss Ally will end with a final service, one for Katlin Nickerson on Saturday, March 16 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Woods Harbour. The memorial service for Billy Jack Hatfield will be held Thursday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at Huskilson’s Funeral Home Barrington. continued
Territory dedicates WPFMC funded projects – Fisheries Council welcomed with ava ceremony
The Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources and the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council dedicated on Friday and Saturday several projects that were funded by the Council for the benefit of local fishermen. continued Local leaders today welcomed members of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council with an ava ceremony at the Fale Tele at Suigaula o le Atuvasa. continued
Starkist accused of ‘under filling’ products
A Californian citizen has filed a federal civil action against Starkist, accusing the owner “of consistently under filling certain Starkist canned tuna products”, reports atuna. Patrick Hendricks claimed, among other demands, that Starkist will provide full restitution – to all purchasers of Starkist tuna – of all the money the company obtained from the sales of these products. continued
Boston Seafood Show Science Forum Suggests ENGOs are Misleading Public on Sustainability
NEWS ANALYSIS by John Sackton SEAFOOD.COM – The dominant view expressed by leading fisheries scientists at the Boston meeting was that the NGOs have a profound misunderstanding about the scientific basis of sustainability. The contrast between the scientific message about sustainability and the actions of the three most powerful environmental organizations in fisheries (World Wildlife Foundation, the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, and the Marine Stewardship Council) could not have been made more clear. continued
Lawsuit against Jindal considered over reef money
At issue is Jindal’s continuing diversions of millions of dollars donated by oil companies to turn old drilling rigs into artificial reefs to instead pay for other items across state government. continued
First seal symposium in Chatham
Topics to be explored include: How are seals impacting fishermen? What are their impacts on water quality? Are they the reason why the great whites are here? How many seals are enough? Fishermen, scientists, managers and policy makers will offer their perspectives on these and other questions asked by the audience. continued
Is the seal hunt dead?
“See all those grey things?” Hiltz asks, pointing to what we figured were hundreds of big rocks. “Those are seals.” First, let’s address the issue of cuteness. A full-grown grey seal is bigger than any fat man you know, and when you walk up to one, it bares its teeth and makes a noise like the snoring that follows a dozen beer. They defecate prodigiously. continue
Scalloping days, open areas reduced in Cobscook Bay
ELLSWORTH, Maine — The daily limit for harvesting scallops along much of the coast has gone back up to 20 gallons, but further restrictions on fishing days and territory have gone into effect in Cobscook Bay, according to state officials. continued
Who Owns Fish Under Briberization?
Susanne Rust’s “Who owns the fish?” is a well written and insightful piece. But, like all Catch Share authors, including myself, we are still learning how to really describe what is going on – having been overly influenced by the language of the wordsmiths brainwashing Congress and the public about quotas. With all good intention, here’s an expanded Opinion Piece to go with the March 12 article.,,,,,,,,,,.Catch shares are really about asymmetric market power —especially by cartelized processors with plenary power over price-setting— being brought about under government sponsorship due to accompanying asymmetric political power. Nothing makes that clearer that the rigged witness list at today’s US House Natural Resources meeting (see Richard Gaines’ Gloucester Daily Times Editorial-Witness-list-shows-Magnuson-talks-a-sham-from-start ). John Pappalardo is a minor part of the national problem, as he was schooled by the real culprits of Alaska Ratz, some of whom are also on the rigged hearing witness list. continued
“End to end” fish assessment planned in NE
BOSTON (AP) — An ‘‘end to end’’ analysis of how regulators determine the health of New England groundfish stocks is now planned after being pushed by a federal advisory board. Massachusetts Congressman Bill Keating formed the Federal Fishing Advisory Board last year and advocated the review, which will be conducted by state and federal regulators and industry members. continued
Trying to save an old boat, and avoid eviction – Skugaid skipper determined to stay
The historic Chief Skugaid fishing boat set sail on Saturday for calmer waters. All of 100 feet west. But first the vessel’s skipper, David Cobb, had to dodge an attempt by bailiffs to seize the boat on Friday and then wait out a hefty breeze so a team of volunteers could tie the boat up to its new position. continued
NMFS is accepting proposals under the MAFMC Research Set-Aside Federal Funding Program – DEADLINE: May 6, 2013
March 12, 2013 — The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced that it is accepting proposals under the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program for research activities to be conducted in 2014. Applications must be received by NMFS on or before 5 p.m. EDT on May 6, 2013. NMFS is soliciting proposals that address Mid-Atlantic RSA research priorities concerning summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, longfin squid, Illex squid, Atlantic mackerel, butterfish, river herring, bluefish, and spiny dogfish. NMFS and the Council will give priority to funding proposals addressing the research needs as follows: Continued
Saving Seafood Analysis – Conservation Law Foundation Misleads Public on Habitat Closed Area Changes
WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) March 13, 2013 – In the article, “Destructive Trawling and the Myth of ‘Farming the Sea’,” Conservation Law Foundation’s (CLF) Sean Cosgrove argues against the New English Fishery Management Council’s (NEFMC) recent recommendation to open certain areas previously closed to fishing, claiming that trawling, in every instance, is detrimental to ocean habitats. But Mr. Cosgrove cites incomplete and unrelated evidence in order to argue that marine scientists “unanimously” agree with his allegations. In reality, Mr. Cosgrove’s claims are contradicted by numerous peer-revised studies focused specifically on New England’s marine ecosystems. Continued
