Daily Archives: May 21, 2013
Shellfish industry pins hope on Freeport research
Clammers, who have been anecdotally documenting green crabs devouring the clam populations for the last few years, are now getting a chance to put defensive measures in place with this project. They also hope to get some reassurance from the scientific data that the defensive measures work. continued
Maine’s elver industry could be shut down in August
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An interstate fisheries commission postponed a decision Tuesday on whether to scale back or even shut down the highly profitable baby eel fishery in Maine and South Carolina after members decided they needed more time to weigh options. continued
Deaths of 3 Tabusintac fishermen could have been prevented, peers say
Ian Benoit had complained to the provincial government about the shallow channel earlier this spring, according to his father-in-law. (Jennifer Choi/CBC)
cbcnews – As the northeastern community of Tabusintac still struggles to come to grips with the loss of three fishermen over the weekend, some people say their deaths could have been prevented. Samuel-René Boutin, 23, of Saumarez, Alfred Rousselle, 32, of Brantville, and Ian Benoit, 35, of Tabusintac were killed when their boat capsized early Saturday morning. The boat had hit a sandbar in rough seas and began taking on water. continued
Some found guilty in Alaska illegal fishing case
BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — A Bethel judge has ruled against some of nearly two dozen Yup’ik Eskimo fishermen cited for illegally fishing king salmon in the Kuskokwim River during a poor run last year. Several of the fishermen were found guilty Monday after their trials by judge resumed. Magistrate Bruce Ward adjourned the cases last month until he could determine whether the fishermen have a spiritual right to fish for king salmon when restrictions are in place, as they claim. continued
DENIAL, DELUSION AND NMFS STILL DOESN’T KNOW ITS NAME
“Fishlink Sublegals.”- The third “Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries” conference was held on 6-9 May, 2013 in Washington, DC. Titled, “Advancing Sustainability,” the national event, sponsored this time by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, is in preparation for the upcoming Congressional Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act (MSA) reauthorization, a law set to expire in September of this year. continued
This is not good, friends. Not good at all. Parasites in Yellowtail Flounder Could be Preventing Population Rebound
Yellowtail liver with Ichthyophonus granulomas. Photo courtesy of Dr. Roxanna Smolowitz.
Scientists at the Coonamessett Farm Foundation (CCF) in Massachusetts are researching the effects of a fish-killing parasite recently observed in Georges Bank yellowtail flounder populations. The organism, Ichthyophonus, progressively invades its host’s vital organs, destroying their liver, kidneys, and heart. It generally afflicts older fish in a stock, which are also the most important for repopulation. continued
Homer-based North Pacific Fisheries Association has received a $147,400 NFW Foundation grant to use electronic monitoring
Homer-based North Pacific Fisheries Association has received a $147,400 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Fisheries Innovation Fund grant for a two-year project to use electronic monitoring in the pot and longline cod fisheries. National Marine Fisheries Service is providing another $120,000 in matching funds. NPFA president Buck Laukitis said the focus would be on the small boat cod fleet. The grant was awarded while NPFA was wrapping up a similar grant project for smaller halibut boats. continued
ASMFC 2013 Spring Meeting Tuesday, May 21, 2013 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM EDT – Listen via webinar
Webinar Registration The webinar will provide audio and visual access to the proceedings of the ASMFC management boards meeting from May 20-23, 2013. For a detailed agenda and meeting materials, go to http://www.asmfc.org/spring2013Mtg.htm. Register to listen The eel management board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission is voting Tuesday on proposed new regulations. The three options are to keep the status quo, close the fishery or set a catch quota.
Shell Canada Ltd to deploy seismic survey ships to survey deepwater sites off Nova Scotia’s southwestern shore.
Starting next week, Shell will begin exploring about 12,200 square kilometres of an area known as the Shelburne Basin. The 3-D seismic survey program is to continue until early September, reporters assembled near the ships were told Saturday. It’s the largest seismic program in the province’s history. If the exploration activity bears fruit, initial drilling is expected to begin in 2015.The provincial government’s analysis of potential energy reserves indicates some 120 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and eight billion barrels of oil could be extracted. continued
Excellent Article: Fishing the Gulf of Maine: Tradition at a Crossroads By Michael Sanders
When most of us go down to the coast, whether to walk or swim or fish or sail, we take for granted what we see before us. We see the lobster boats and the colorful buoys marking the strings of traps, the bobbing green and red cans marking safe passage, the gulls and other seabirds. In the larger working harbors like Portland and Stonington and Port Clyde, there might be draggers tied up, unloading fish they’ve caught far out in the Gulf of Maine and on Georges Bank. What we don’t realize,,,,,,,,continued
Lessons Learned: Commercial prawn-fleet accidents prompt new best-practices recommendations – Fishing Vessel Stability
Vancouver Sun – The dramatic loss of two commercial prawn vessels last season has prompted the fishery — now in full swing on the B.C. coast — to adopt a set of best practices aimed at ensuring hundreds of traps per vessel are transported safely. The industry’s new best-practices document — in place for the current spot-prawn season — recommends, in part, that gear be stored low to maintain stability, that traps be stacked evenly and protected against shifting, and that crews realize that winds across a loaded deck can affect stability, as can low fuel levels. continued
Coast Guard continues response to Fishing Vessel Arctic Storm fire off Grays Harbor, Wash.
Commercial fishing vessel Arctic Storm experiences an engine room fire approximately 32 miles west of Grays Harbor, Wash., May 20, 2013. CoastGuard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews and 47-foot motor lifeboat crews oversaw the evacuation of 78 crew members after Arctic Storm’s Halon firefighting system successfully extinguished the blaze. continued From komonews.com
Letter to the Editor: Mayor wrong to throw NOAA a ‘white flag’ – Paul Cohan, Captain, F/V Sasquatch, Gloucester
I am writing in response to the story regarding Mayor Kirk and her planning for “transition” on Gloucester’s waterfront (the Times, Page 1, Monday, May 20). One thing I’ve noted over the years is that “nicey nice” doesn’t work with the National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, the Department of Commerce, or any other federal agency. In D.C., it seems, diplomacy is seen as weakness and something to be exported overseas (where it clearly doesn’t work either). Domestically, it’s gloves off, bare knuckled, all out, do or die persistence that carries the day. continued
Editorial: Naive fishing ‘bridge’ plan wrongly lets NOAA off hook
But the idea of “redeploying” shut down fishing vessels for research, and a hope of “working with” NOAA leaders on that and other projects comes across as so naive that it’s virtually insulting to both fishermen and state and federal lawmakers who have pursued cooperative research with NOAA for years and basically told to take a hike. And that naivete is topped by city waterfront development director Sarah Garcia’s embarrassing comment that “before, it was characterized as handouts to fishermen; this is different, this is investing in a new marine environment.” continued
