Daily Archives: March 25, 2013
Tories promise wider shark fin ban
OTTAWA — The Harper government, in an apparent nod to public concern over the “barbaric” shark finning industry, said Monday it will consider regulatory changes to block the importation of fins from countries that permit cruel shark hunt practices. continue reading
P.E.I. looks to Japan for seafood exports
There’s growing potential for P.E.I. seafood in the Japanese market, says Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Ron MacKinley. He says a recent visit by the Canadian trade commissioner for Japan provided an opportunity to promote the high quality and value of P.E.I. seafood products. continue reading
Anti-whaling Sea Shepherd group turns their attention to Oregon’s sea lions
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — A conservation group known for interfering with whaling ships wants to stop Oregon’s killing of sea lions that eat endangered salmon in the Columbia River. The group Sea Shepherd was in Astoria on Sunday photographing and video-taping Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife technicians as they captured and branded 38 sea lions at the East Mooring Basin. continue reading
Officials: Elver eel season stunted by low temperatures, prices – Fishery in the government crosshairs!
ELLSWORTH, Maine — The 2013 elver fishing season in Maine has begun with cooler temperatures and cooler prices, according to a state official. “They’re a little bit on the spotty side,” Separate from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission process, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is considering listing American eels under the federal Endangered Species Act, which could result in a ban on all American eel fishing. continue reading
Urchin depletion leads to crab abundance, study says
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A boom that saw Maine fishermen harvest millions of pounds of sea urchins for the lucrative Japanese market depleted the spiny sea creatures, turning the ecosystem upside-down and creating an ideal habitat for an urchin predator that has flourished, according to a new scientific study. continue reading
Scientists confirm first two-headed bull shark
(Phys.org) The study, led by Michigan State University and appearing in the Journal of Fish Biology, confirmed the specimen, found in the Gulf of Mexico April 7, 2011, was a single shark with two heads, rather than conjoined twins. continue reading
Give the public answers on jellyfish proposal
Proponents of a new jellyfish harvesting and processing industry in Beaufort County say they want to start fishing for the Asian delicacies by May. But that’s too fast. State environmental regulators say many questions remain 
unanswered. And the public first got wind of the proposal in early March. It needs more time to ask questions and give feedback. Cannonball jellyfish are the most common jellyfish in our waters, but they are not harvested or eaten here. In Asia, however, continue reading
The Fisheries Broadcast with John Furlong – Bottom Trawling and Seals
Bottom-trawling study has a critic calling for crab grounds to be protected, and We’ll check in the Northeast Coast Sealers Co-op in advance of this year’s seal hunt. listen here
RFA ASKS SENATE TO HOLD NOAA ACCOUNTABLE – Letter Spotlights Government Failure To Meet Federal Data Deadline
In their letter to Chairman Begich, RFA cited recent testimony given before the House Natural Resources Committee by Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) at the U.S. Department of Commerce when he revealed that legal requirements to improve recreational fishing data have not been implemented. “It is correct that we have a 2009 deadline that we did not entirely meet,” admitted Sam Rauch, III on March 13, explaining that angler registry requirements have not yet been implemented despite a 2006 congressional mandate. continue reading
Auctions confirm renewed ‘uptick’ in cod – following its age-old pattern
Both of Gloucester’s general fish auction houses are confirming reports by fishermen that cod — the fish that helped make this city the world’s oldest, most famous and, for a long time, its busiest fishing port — appears to be following its age-old pattern as it swims in increasing numbers into the shallow waters off Cape Ann. continue reading
Letter to the Editor: Lobster bill deserves lawmakers’ support – Capt. Arthur “Sooky” Sawyer, Vice president, Massachusetts Lobsterman Association
After reading the story about selling of processed lobster tails and the followup editorial (the Times, March 19, March 21) plus letters to the editor, a few facts need to be emphasized. continue reading
Republican Senate candidate Dan Winslow wants to fight for fishermen, National Standard 8, Saltonstall-Kennedy funding
“Fishermen by default are environmentalists. I think you can be pro-fisheries and pro-environment.” Winslow criticized catch limits and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration policies, and said that his commitment will be twofold: to ensure that environmental agencies that oversee the fishing industry adhere to the laws that already exist to protect fishing communities, and to keep fishing families in business through a common-sense regulatory structure based on trusted science. continue reading
