Monthly Archives: March 2013
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update MARCH 17, 2013
“The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the update
Crawfish are a legacy of Louisiana
Throughout the history of south Louisiana crawfish were a highly sought-after food source. continue
New fish hatchery opening up next month
A new fish hatchery is opening on 21 April in combination with a stewardship centre that will educate the public on the protection of salmon. Metro Vancouver parks is investing CAD 500,000 (USD 486,964) in the construction of the entire project and the Pacific Parklands Foundation is injecting the same amount into the venture. The Pacific Salmon Foundation and KEEPS are also putting money in. continue
Final Miss Ally service honours skipper Katlin Nickerson
Bracelets in Memory of the Miss Ally
WOODS HARBOUR — Katlin Nickerson’s birthday was Friday.
The young fishing boat captain, lost at sea last month with four others in the Miss Ally disaster, would have turned 22.
Saturday family, friends and neighbours gathered to honour Nickerson’s memory. continue
The last moments of the Bounty, the ship with Maine ties that fought Sandy and lost
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The ship’s engineer was seasick and spitting up his medication. A deckhand had been tossed past the mainmast, breaking three ribs. The captain had been slammed against a cabin table, wrenching his back. He could barely walk. continue
Three from Maine charged with poaching elvers from NJ creek
Robert Royce, 65, of Hope, Maine, and Neal V. Kenney, III, 53, of Thomaston, Maine, were arrested while possessing more than three pounds of the juvenile eels, which translates to about 8,000 individual eels, the DEP said. Officers then found a truck with a tank holding another six pounds, or 16,000 eels. Conservation officers then arrested the driver, Dale Witham, 54, of Medomak, Maine. continue reading about the POACHERS!
Coast Guard busy from Coast to Coast!
BOSTON — Rescue crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba, a 270-foot Medium Endurance Cutter homeported in Boston assisted F/V Titan approximately 72 nautical miles east of Portsmouth, N.H., March 15, 2013. link
KODIAK, — A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak medevaced a crewman who was exhibiting symptoms of hypothermia from the F/V Stella in Shelikof Strait Friday. link
KODIAK, — A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, forward deployed to St. Paul Island, medevaced a fisherman who suffered a hand injury from F/V Beauty Bay near the island Friday. link
Missing Prince Rupert crewman triggers massive search – (they found him, though)
A missing Prince Rupert fishing boat crewman triggered a massive pre dawn search by Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Marine search and rescue units Tuesday morning. continue
The Unforgiving Sea by Laurent d’Entremont
The mighty sea has always been unforgiving, and this was sadly brought home recently, when five young men from the Woods Harbour and Cape Island area of Shelburne County did not return from a fishing trip. Talking with old and seasoned sea captains, I came to the conclusion that the boat capable of winning a battle against a ferocious and unforgiving sea has yet to be built. And, sometimes, huge ships go down even in calm waters…if you doubt this, just ask the captain of the Titanic. continue
Now this is important! We’re talking beer! Guinness’ Fish Bladder Problem: Ingredient Used In Brewing Process Means It’s Not Quite Vegetarian
Smithsonian.com’s Food&Think blog published on Wednesday an in-depth explanation of isinglass, a form of collagen culled from a dried swim bladder, an internal fish organ that helps regulate buoyancy in water. It’s used in a process called fining — when unwanted leftovers, like solid particles and degenerated yeast cells, are removed from the brewing process. These elements settle on their own to the bottom of a cask in a jelly-like clump, but isinglass quickens the process and makes them easier to remove. continue
U.S., Canada to reconsider treaty governing Columbia River
The treaty created a massive system of dams for flood control and electricity for the Northwest, but changing weather now might mean fewer fish and might damage the river’s ability to feed the turbines that have produced billions of dollars’ worth of hydropower for both nations. continue
Herring fishery is well managed, sustainable – Proud to be fishing for a living, Paul Kershaw Qualicum Beach
In response to a couple of letters on the recent commercial herring fishery in our area, I would like to set the record straight with some actual facts. I have personally been fishing these specific herring stocks 39 of the last 40 years in the area from Comox to Nanaimo. This year’s abundance ranked near the top of those 39 years for returns. continue
Peña: Fishing remains a crucial engine for Ventura Harbor
Ventura Harbor prides itself as one of the largest squid harbors on the West Coast — offloading California market squid, otherwise known and served most commonly as calamari. continue
Big smelt run has stretch of Columbia alive with animal activity
A mass of smelt at least 20 miles long is moving up the Columbia River, attracting thousands of birds and dozens of sea lions and seals. continue
WPFMC: “Tuna Catch Reaching Maximum Sustainable Yield”
American Samoa – The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council Friday concluded its three-day meeting at the Governor H. Rex Lee Auditorium (Fale Laumei) in American Samoa with recommendations for the management of federally regulated fisheries in the US Pacific Islands. continue
National Marine Fisheries Service seeks to protect parrotfish, reefs in USVI – does not affect Earthjustice Endangered Species Act lawsuit
Andrea Treece, an attorney with San Francisco-based Earthjustice, said she was pleased with the proposal. But she said it does not affect a lawsuit the organization filed in January 2012 against the National Marine Fisheries Service, alleging that federal regulators violated the Endangered Species Act by allowing the harvesting of parrotfish at high rates. Earthjustice is representing environmental groups such as the Center for Biological Diversity. continue
Canada Announces Strong Fish and Seafood Exports Data in 2012
“Fish and seafood is one of the largest single food commodities exported by Canada. The strong exports in 2012 demonstrate the trust consumers place in our fish and seafood products worldwide,” said Minister Ashfield. “The sector curre
ntly employs approximately 80,000 Canadians who are involved in commercial fishing, aquaculture and processing activities. We are proud of this industry and will continue to support it.” continue
Note, to my Canadian friends, it’s a week old. I just found it! If there is something I miss, send the link so we can all see the material. Moderator
Ed Killer: Red snapper may come home again for anglers
Is there a new tide turning for fisheries management? The National Marine Fisheries Service, the arm of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration that oversees fishing regulations in federal waters, announced this week it is receiving public comment on the possible opening of an annual red snapper fishing season in South Atlantic waters. For recreational and a small number of commercial fishermen, this is good news, isn’t it? continue
A piece of Erie maritime history is for sale.
A piece of Erie maritime history is for sale. The fishing tug vessel Jo-Ann M sits in a berth in the East Canal Basin just southeast of East Dobbins Landing. A placard atop the boat lists its price: $110,000. It’s owner, Ron Zielinski, 70, of Erie, has owned it for 15 years. He’s been trying to sell the vessel for the past three years. It was the last boat ever built on the south shore of Lake Erie for commercial fishing and the last one built in Erie,” Zielinski said. “It was built by a renowned boat-builder — Harold Paasch. He passed away in 1980 while they were building the boat. continue
Proposed quotas point to strong commercial salmon season
The Pacific Fishery Management Council earlier this week crafted three options for the commercial fleet fishing the Oregon half of the Klamath Management Zone, the waters between Humbug Mountain near Port Orford and Horse Mountain in Northern California. continue
N.C. Sea Grant Programs try to aid industry
When it comes to the future of commercial fishing, for Warren Judge, Outer Banks Catch chairman, the current commercial fishing regulations, with strict limits and season closures, are the biggest concern. Mr. Judge said if the industry stays on “the current course of regulatory strangulation, the future looks bleak.” “But I’ve got to believe that working with our elected officials, we can make them see commercial fishing creates jobs and is important to North Carolina heritage,” he said. continue
Proponents blitz federal energy department in support of Cape Wind project
Offshore wind energy supporters blitzed the U.S. Department of Energy earlier this week with comments aimed at pushing the agency into giving the $2.6 billion Cape Wind project a loan guarantee. The public comment period for the guarantee closed March 11, the day supporters sent the DOE their comments. continue
NOAA economic report seen as ‘sham’ – Sales, job data doesn’t add up, fishermen say
NOAA’s annual statistical progress report on the vitality of the nation’s fishing industry, which traditionally accentuates the positive, indicates that 2011 produced the “highest landings volume since 1997 and the highest value” in dollars “ever recorded.” continue
Helping Maine lobster crack more markets
Legislation proposed by Rep. Chuck Kruger, D-Thomaston, and supported by the Maine Department of Marine Resources after almost a year of meetings on the topic, provides a means to do a better job of touting the mouthwatering delights of Maine lobsters to the global marketplace. continue
Growing number of lobstermen looking to unionize, gain voice in Augusta
VINALHAVEN, Maine — Union-fished. It’s a slogan that has yet to, well, catch on — but if a growing group of lobstermen have their way, some of the state’s fishermen will join an international labor organization in a bid to have more clout in their industry. continue
Review of fishery stock assessments set to begin
Federal officials are poised to begin a review of fishery stock assessments, a multi-step process used to estimate fish populations that then serve as the basis for catch limits and season end dates. continue
Commercial Mackerel Hook-and-Line Fishing Closing In Florida Subzone
Commercial fishing for Gulf group king mackerel in the Florida southern subzone is closed effective 12:01 am, local time, 17 March, 2013, for commercial hook-and-line vessels. NOAA Fisheries has determined the 2012/2013 commercial quota of 607,614 pounds of king mackerel from this subzone will be reached by this date. continue
Does Newfoundland Fisherman Tony Doyle have the answer NOAA Doesn’t?
It’s a huge mystery to NOAA scientists. Where have the fish gone? The ENGO bunch seems happy to say that the New England fishing fleet has depleted the resource. Is that true, or have they done what the fishermen have said? They moved? Newfoundland Fisherman Tony Doyle says as far as ground fish go, he’s never seen anything like it in forty years of fishing! Listen to this audio, and key the broadcast to 13:40. I enjoyed hearing his description!
Otter bounty bill gets good, bad reviews
A bill rewarding sea otter hunters was praised and panned at its first hearing on Wednesday. continue
Commercial fishermen on Outer Banks struggling
WANCHESE — An 11th-generation Outer Banks fisherman, Jamie Wescott took a gamble recently in rough weather and worked until midnight netting 500 pounds of croaker. He hit the fish market the next morning, and workers sorted his paltry catch. continue
