Monthly Archives: April 2013
Greenpeace ranks Clover Leaf Seafoods worst in 2013 tuna ranking
“Clover Leaf has become synonymous with ocean destruction in a can,” said Sarah King, Greenpeace Canada’s oceans campaign coordinator. “Until Canada’s biggest brand sources its tuna responsibly,
Greenpeace is urging consumers to choose brands working to be ocean-friendly.” continued
Lobster fishermen are worried about another price-depressing glut because ocean temperatures are higher than normal.
This could be a rerun article, but it says it’s fresh. I swear I read it a month ago. PORTLAND, MAINE—Ocean temperatures have been higher than normal in the Gulf of Maine, creating worries among lobstermen. They fear there co
uld be a repeat of last spring’s early harvest, which resulted in a market glut, a crash in the prices they received and a blockade of Maine-caught lobsters in Canada. continued
European court expected to back attempt by pelt traders and sporran makers to reverse 2010 ruling Read the comments
The Independent – A Europe-wide ban on the trade of seal fur and products is expected to be overturned this week, in a move that will reignite one of the world’s most contentious wildlife issues. The actor Jude Law has written a letter calling for the ban to be upheld, which he says would be “in line with the wishes of compassionate people all around the world”. continued Read the comments at the article.
N.C. Fisheries Reform Act divides fishermen – “It should be ‘The Commercial Fishery Economic Devastation Act,’”
A recreational fisherman nonprofit group is in support of this bill. Chuck Laughridge, Harkers Island resident and representative of the N.C. branch of the Coastal Conservation Association, said the association not only supports the bill, but also worked with two of its authors, Rep. Tom Murray, R-Wake, and Rep. Tim Moffitt, R-Buncombe, to draft the portion on gamefish. “There’s nothing in the bill to justify this (gamefish status). The title is a joke; Rep. Murray and Rep. Wray should be ashamed of themselves for being used this way.” continued
Boston lockdown stalled lobster shipment
Portland Press Herald – New Meadows Lobster in Portland, which ships live lobster, said it had a shipment of lobsters stalled in Boston due to the city’s lockdown as officials continue the manhunt for one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects. continued
Snapper and grouper fishermen in the Keys don’t want proposed vessel monitoring systems, likening them to ‘an ankle bracelet.’
Miami Herald – Keys commercial fishers unanimously opposed mandatory satellite tracking while fishing for snapper and grouper in the South Atlantic at a meeting Wednesday in Key Largo. Key West fisherman Daniel Padron likened the VMS proposal to being under house arrest. “I have done no criminal action in Southeast Florida and I don’t deserve an ankle bracelet,” Padron said. “When the bad guys are caught, slap a VMS on their boat.” “You need to put your efforts into monitoring the recreational sector,” Stieglitz said. “You can’t run a fishery on just what the commercial fishermen are doing. You have no idea what recreational fishermen are doing.” continued
US witness claims BP gas explosion cover-up
Published on Apr 20, 2013 Just off the coast of the US state of Texas is where the Deepwater Horizon oil platform blew up exactly three years ago. Vast amounts of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico causing one of the biggest-ever environmental catastrophes. Now Al Jazeera’s been seeing video, which energy giant BP never wanted shown. And there’s accusations of a cover-up. Al Jazeera’s John Terret reports from New Orleans.
Newfoundland and Labrador crab tie-up ends – Processors agree to pay an additional 17 cents a pound
The Canadian Press Saturday, April 20, 2013 – 16:02 ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – A fisheries union and seafood processors in Newfoundland and Labrador finalized a deal Saturday that ends the tie-up in the province’s crab fishery. continued
A.F. Theriault delivers new dragger – F/V Nanny Bessie built for W.M. Schrader Fisheries of Larry’s River
A. F. Theriault & Son Ltd. has delivered a new fish dragger, the Nanny Bessie, built for W.M. Schrader Fisheries of Larry’s River. The vessel measures 63 feet in length, with a beam of 23 feet and a draught of 10 feet. continued
F/V Nite Owl Sinks in the Gulf – One recovered, four fishermen missing. Coast Guard converges in the area. Fisherman John Robinson safe.
“We have crews from all over the Gulf region descending on the general area where the boat went down to search for these remaining crewmembers.” continued
NBC news – About five hours after launching a search by air and by sea for the boat — which started to sink about 115 miles from its home port, Galveston, Texas — a Coast Guard search team spotted crew member John Robinson waving his arms aboard his orange raft. continued
Brown administration official claims “BDCP is not about, and has never been about saving the Delta. The Delta cannot be saved.”
Recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, Indian tribal leaders, family farmers, environmentalists, Delta residents and many elected officials strongly oppose the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build the peripheral tunnels because they say it will lead to the extinction of Central Valley salmon, steelhead and other fish species. Natural Resources Secretary John Laird and Governor Jerry Brown have constantly portrayed the BDCP as a visionary effort based on “science” to accomplish the “co-equal goals” of “ecosystem restoration” and “water supply reliability.” continued
Wind energy company works toward Coos Bay project
COOS BAY — For the first time in recent history, South Coast fisherman are on board with an offshore industrial project. Nick Edwards, a representative of the Southern Oregon Ocean Resource Coalition, said the organization supports Principle Power’s plans for a 30-megawatt wind energy flotilla off the South Coast. “It’s better to work with these people and be part of the process,” Edwards said. The commissioner said fisherman needed six months to reach agreement among themselves. “It’s still not going to make a bunch of people happy,” he said. continued
Compass: Support for Alaska fishermen does good from boat to table
Not all seafood is created equal; this is a truth Alaskans know deeply. In Anchorage, we live at the epicenter of the some of the most abundant, diverse and well-managed fisheries on Earth. Many of us don’t rely on restaurants or markets in town to put seafood into our bellies. continued
Eckel’s Diesel Service, Lower Township, NJ repair shop keeps commercial fisherman afloat
LOWER TOWNSHIP — Working as a mechanic is a study in crisis management. That is especially true when the engines being serviced are aboard commercial fishing boats. When these break down, time lost on the water can cost their crews and owners thousands of dollars per day. Bud Eckel, owner of Eckel’s Diesel Service in Lower Township, has become expert in making fast, efficient repairs to clamboats, scallop boats and sport-fishing boats. continued
Furlong | Fishermen aren’t thugs, but they shouldn’t act that way
CBC – I frequently lament the lack of attention people in this province pay to the fishery. That changed this week, but for the wrong reason. The dumping of more than $80,000 worth of crab over the wharf in Hickman’s Harbour outraged many, from both inside and outside the industry. About 200 fishermen gathered on the wharf at the Golden Shell plant on Random Island, bent on stopping the company from operating. They did that by entering the plant and throwing away crab the company had legally bought and legally owned. The province has an arm’s length mechanism in place for resolving fishery price disputes. It’s called the Standing Fish Price Setting Panel. continued
BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill draws wide array of comments on 3rd anniversary – “They’re caused by human and organizational malfunctions.”
A variety of elected officials and representatives of industry and environmental organizations are marking Saturday’s third anniversary of the blowout of the BP Macondo well. The explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig ki
lled 11 workers and injured dozens more, starting a three-month uncontrolled release of oil and gas into the Gulf of Mexico. continued
“They’re caused by human and organizational malfunctions.” NOAA Inaction in the Gulf of Mexico Nils Stolpe FishNet USA link
Coast Guard renews maritime warning: Vessels need lookouts
The Daily Astorian – This reminder is based on the fact that some vessel operators, including commercial fishermen, engage in the practice of working all day, then drifting at night in open water while the crew sleeps. “This practice is dangerous and a violation of basic seamanship law,” said Dan Hardin, 13th District commercial fishing vessel safety coordinator. continued
Want not, Waste lot, Manitoba fishers throw out millions of kilograms of edible fish a year because there is no viable market
Winnipeg Free Press — Early in the spring on the northeast corner of Lake Manitoba, commercial fisher Frank Kenyon spends an overcast morning pulling up two of the 45 gillnets he’s set below the ice of Portage Bay. continued
Your View: Cape Wind is already a bad deal, by Peter A. Kenney, Yarmouth Ma.
Following the saga of Cape Wind has been nothing if not amusing. Since 1999 when he first hired an engineering firm to survey likely sites in Nantucket Sound, Boston energy developer Jim Gordon has been dogged in his pursuit of profit. Make no mistake, for Jim Gordon, Cape Wind is about the biggest score of his already rich life. If achieving his goal means making claims about environmental motives or even about saving electric ratepayers money, so be it. Whether such claims can be proved is another matter. continued
Mainers take to the water in ‘Wicked Tuna’
The current standings show that Hebert and the crew of the Lisa & Jake are in sixth place. Bruce Hebert’s younger brother, Paul, captains the boat. “We know what we’re doing. We work well together,” the elder Hebert said. “This isn’t over.”Garon Mailman, 30, of Saco knows that’s the truth. Mailman is a deckhand on the first-place boat on the show, the awkwardly named FV-Tuna.com. As a Mainer, he reveres Bruce Hebert and respects the older fisherman’s experience, which is legendary across New England. continued
Past, present, future discussed at the first-ever Maryland Watermen’s Symposium
WYE MILLS – The first-ever Maryland Watermen’s Symposium on Thursday was a time to share treasured stories of the past, concerns about the present and hope for the future. Del. Jay Jacobs, R-36-Kent, who is a fourth-generation watermen, was at the symposium and said in his third year in the Maryland General Assembly he has seen the demise of an industry.”It’s being regulated to death. I hear from watermen all over the state of Maryland that regulations being put forth are so severe … the entire industry is really in a tailspin, in my opinion,” Jacobs said. continued
From the Moderator : NOAA Fisheries Service? No such agency! It’s still the National Marine Fisheries Service
First off, I’m a cranky old person.I wasn’t always like this, but time and events have taken their toll. I’m not ready for the dirt sandwich, although, ya never know! For quite a while now, something has been bugging me, and it has nothing to do with my crotchetiness. NOAA, and the National Marine Fishery Service have pulled an MMS. continued
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Is illegal Russian Crab holding down prices in Newfoundland?
Illegal Russian Crab Exports Surge in 2012 -KUCB 89.7 FM After several years of steady declines, illegal crab fishing in Russia spiked in 2012. The resulting glut of crab hurt Alaskan prices, and reignited concerns about how to combat the illegal harvest. Andy Wink tracks the Russian fisheries for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. He says Russia’s illegal harvest is staggering. continued
MAN UP!!! NIOSH to fishermen: wear your PFD
thecordovatimes.com – It’s not one size fits all, but there are enough styles of personal floatation devices out there now to fit every commercial fish harvester’s needs, says Ted Teske of the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety. “Our message to fishermen is find something that works,” Teske told participants in COMFISH Alaska 2013 in Kodiak on April 12. To help them do that NIOSH worked with several dozen commercial fishermen in Alaska who volunteered to wear a variety of PFDs for 30 days and complete an evaluation form for each one. continued
Drop in Chesapeake Bay’s crab population to bring new catch curbs
The Baltimore Sun – The annual winter survey of Maryland and Virginia waters tallied 300 million crabs, down nearly two-thirds from the number seen the year before, the Department of Natural Resources reported. Though the number of female crabs increased and remains well above the threshold scientists say is needed to sustain the population, the survey found the crop of juvenile crabs has fallen by 80 percent since last year. Officials said overharvesting didn’t appear to be the problem, but possibly an influx of fish into the bay that feasted on the young crabs. continued
Jim Gossen: The Old Man and The Seafood – Louisiana Seafood News
As Jim Gossen got older, his sleep patterns changed. No longer a night owl, these days Gossen prefers to have an early-morning coffee on the docks with local fishermen near his Grand Isle, La., camp. And while his sleep times are switched, the 65-year-old Gossen still maintains his around-the-clock energy and enthusiasm for seafood, especially Louisiana seafood. continued
Fishermen’s Fund benefits now at $10,000
Alaska’s Fishermen’s Fund, an emergency medical fund for commercial fishermen now has a benefit limit of $10,000, up from the old maximum of $2,500, program director Velma Thomas told participants in COMFISH Alaska 2013
on April 11. continued
The NFI claims that Greenpeace is a “science-averse” organisation that only cares about fundraising. (They ain’t the only ones!)
Fish Info & Services Co.Ltd – 
The National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is accusing Greenpeace of lying about US retailers’ seafood sustainability practices, and thus challenging reporters to interview Greenpeace before “regurgitating” the information in its press releases. continued
Alaska’s GM salmon protest comes to P.E.I. – Alaska concerned over economic impact of genetically-modified fish
A member of Alaska’s state government is meeting with P.E.I. politicians Thursday to share concerns over genetically-modified salmon. continued
Newfoundland Crab plant suing FFAW – Golden Shell is asking for $85,000 for the crab, cleanup and the company’s lawyer.
The company that runs a Random Island fish plant at the focus of a mass dumping of crab this week has filed a statement of claim against the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union. continued
