Daily Archives: April 13, 2013
State of Alaska Denies Herring Forage Fish Status
SitNews – Currently Pacific herring are acknowledged as a keystone forage fish species that is responsible for maintaining the health of the marine ecosystem in the waters of California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia (BC). As you cross the maritime boundary between BC and Alaska herring lose their forage fish status and become just another commercially harvested finfish. continued
Gulf oil spill’s effects still has seafood industry nervous
Three years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry is still holding its breath and expecting the worst. After all, sick fish are still turning up off Louisiana. Scientists are still probing potential problems with crabs and shrimp. “There’s still a lot of nervousness,” said Bob Jones of the Southeastern Fisheries Association, a commercial fishing trade group based in Tallahassee. continued
NOAA swordfish plan met with opposition at public meeting
If the U.S. government wants to create new opportunities to harvest more swordfish in order to fulfill its international quota by creating a new open-access commercial handgear permit, it should happen anywhere but South Florida. continued
Dead salmon found along muddy Elwha River after hatchery release
Staff at the department’s Elwha Channel hatchery released 196,575 juvenile fish, ranging from 4 inches to 8 inches in length April 5, about 3½ miles from the mouth of the river, said Randy Aho, hatchery operations manager for the Fish and Wildlife region that stretches from the Long Beach Peninsula to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sediment coursing down the Elwha has been freed by the removal process for the once-towering Elwha dams, part of a $325 million river restoration project still under way. continued
Salmon Confidential—How a Canadian Government Cover-Up Threatens Your Health, and the Entire Ecosystem
Many environmental experts have warned about the unsustainability of fish farms for a decade now, and we have documented those objections in many previous articles. Unfortunately nothing has yet been done to improve the system. As usual, government agencies and environmental organizations around the world turned a blind eye to what was predicted to become an absolute disaster, and now the ramifications can be seen across the globe, including in British Columbia, Canada. continued
UPDATE: Fishing vessel aground in Digby Gut
A fishing vessel, F/V Chief Charles Paul, a scallop dragger, is aground in Digby Gut waiting for high water to refloat it. continued
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing – Commerce, NOAA
Apr 12, 2013 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) — INTRODUCTION Chairwoman Mikulski, Vice Chairman Shelby, and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee, I am pleased to be here to discuss President Obama’s budget request for the Department of Commerce for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. continued
Wally Ericson – A Truely Interesting Guy. A former dredger recalls shaping the Pinellas coast
Before Wally Ericson made a career from boatbuilding and fishing, which took him as far north as Canada and as far south as Nicaragua, and before he and Nancy raised their three children while operating Ericson Marine in Tarpon Sp
rings, he worked as a dredger. He and his dredge created the foundation for many of the waterfront communities in Pinellas County. continued
Trials set to begin in Alaska subsistence fishing case
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Sam Jackson believes a favorable trial verdict for him and other Alaska Natives cited for illegally fishing king salmon could help his people reclaim the subsistence rights they’ve enjoyed for thousands of years. continued
Good news from the Gulf of Mexico – will the Green Taliban rejoice or grieve? – or Crackers in New zealand!
There is a heartwarming BBC report of research showing that nature largely detoxified BP’s Deepwater Horizon contamination of the Gulf of Mexico within 18 months. The conclusions are astonishing, and far less qualified and far less qualified than one would expect for such a significant reversal of previous beliefs. continued
Gov. Bobby Jindal announced the appointment of five local residents to state boards
Dan Davis, of Houma, will serve on the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Lance Nacio, of Montegut, was reappointed to the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force. continued
Our View : Legislature should permit lobster by-catch
Portland’s wharves tell the story of Maine’s struggling groundfish industry. Where dozens of commercial fishing boats once tied up, you might find only one or two today. That is mostly a result of the collapse of groundfish stocks and their slow rebound under tight federal regulations. New England is asking for disaster relief funds for the fishery — and it’s a disaster not just for the fishermen, but also for the businesses that sold them food, gas and ice, repaired their engines and sold and processed their catch.
But that’s not the whole story. continued
Maine man summonsed for illegal possession of elvers
YORK – A Rockland man was summonsed on the Maine Turnpike earlier this week for illegal possession of $22,100 worth of elvers. Dale A. Boyington, 36, was pulled over by a Marine Patrol officers who were conducting surveillance at the York toll booth, according to a new release. continued
Placentia Bay rescue recognized 41 years later
On Thursday, the Canadian Red Cross recognized Capt. Ray Berkshire and Loyola Pomroy who were involved in a rescue in July 1972. Pomroy, who was 24 at the time, was one of 15 passengers on the schooner Delroy crossing from Merasheen to Arnold’s Cove. continued
Petersburg Alaska Seafood Company Makes Big Move – Audio
KFSK – Petersburg – One of Petersburg’s small seafood processors is about to get a lot bigger. Tonka Seafoods has bought a long-unused cannery building and dock from Trident Seafoods. continued
