Monthly Archives: May 2013
Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board OKs seismic testing by Shell – “is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects,”
Shell Canada Ltd.’s plan for seismic testing in the Shelburne Basin got the green light from the
, according to documents made public Friday. If mitigation measures outlined in the project’s environmental assessment are followed, the 3-D survey “is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects,” says a letter, dated May 1, from the board’s chief executive officer to Shell’s environment planner. continued “is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects,”??? Read this about the planned South East/ Mid Atlantic seismic testing. A real eye opener!
Fisher could have been paid $16,000 for his ‘wasted fish’ – David Tomasson, Chairman, Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp.
I am dismayed to see the recent stories in the Winnipeg Free Press about the commercial fishing industry in Manitoba, specifically the issue of usable fish going to waste. (posted here 4/20/2013) Your story featured commercial fisher Frank Kenyon — an outspoken critic who represents a small minority of regional fishers. I — along with dozens of other fishers — disagree with both his sentiments and the potentially catastrophic approach this article took to one-sidedly presenting a contentious topic. continued
N.S. builders of small boats say bidding for federal contracts too complex
Halifax Herald – OTTAWA — Nova Scotia boat builders are eyeing a share of federal shipbuilding contracts, but they want Ottawa to rework the bidding process first. The Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association is pushing the federal government to make changes before hundreds of new contracts open up for bidding in the coming decades. continued NSBA website
Shrimper ready for Blessing – F/V Miss Alena will be the lead boat Brunswick Ga. 75th Annual Blessing of the Fleet 3 p.m. Sunday
Looking at his office wall, Speedy Tostensen admires all the pictures of his shrimp boats.Some are newspaper clippings in black and white. Others are photos in bright, vibrant colors that show off the fishing boats he decorated for special events such as the Blessing of the Fleet procession in East River Sunday. All of the photos are from the past, including the Brunswick Spring Fiesta – a city-hosted festival held in the 1980s at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in conjunction with the annual Blessing of the Fleet. continued
How big will the Gulf Dead Zone get this year?
LiveScience -The predicted size of this year’s Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone depends on whom you ask. One forecast model predicts an unusually small area of oxygen-depleted water, while another predicts an extent in line with the recent average. continued
Body of missing fisherman from Port Norris found in Delaware
pressofAtlanticCity.com -Missing Port Norris fisherman Joshua Catlett’s body was found Thursday on the beach in southern Delaware and identified Friday, New Jersey State Police said. Catlett, 24, was missing and presumed dead since his fishing vessel capsized April 4, sending him and two surviving crew members into the Delaware Bay about six miles west of Cape May Point. continued
The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission affirms ocean salmon, halibut seasons
The News Guard – SALEM – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission at its meeting today made official the 2013 ocean salmon and Pacific halilbut seasons, including several fisheries that opened earlier in this month under temporary rules. The Commission adopted regulations for ocean coho and chinook salmon fishing in Oregon’s territorial waters that are in line with the seasons set by Pacific Fisheries Management Council in April for ocean waters beyond three miles. continued
Monday – New Bedford meeting to tackle fishing rules rewrite – The session is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. at the Whaling Museum. It is open to the public.
NEW BEDFORD — A summit meeting of sorts is set for Monday to prepare for this year’s reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act that regulates commercial fishing. The meeting will open with remarks by Mitchell and Keating, and brief presentations by people active in fisheries issues. UMass professor Kevin Stokesbury will give a presentation of experiments in counting fish using video and an ordinary trawl. The rest of the meeting will address Magnuson. The session is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. at the Whaling Museum. It is open to the public. continued In depth details here
Driftnetter Bangun Perkasa to be cut up, not used for target practice
thebristolbaytimes.com – 
The high seas driftnetter Bangun Perkasa will never fish or float again, and it won’t be going down in a blaze of gunfire. “We’re going to cut it up and make it go away,” said Dan Magone, whose company was awarded a federal contract last month to destroy the vessel seized by the Coast Guard in September 2012 for violating an international ban on driftnet fishing. continued
Maritime fishermen remain in port to protest rock-bottom lobster prices – “It’s a dysfunctional system,”
The Tyee – Peter Dowd of the Gulf Nova Scotia Bonafide Fishermen’s Association said fishermen need to be invited to the table to discuss how they can secure a fair price. He says people in some parts of Nova Scotia were hearing that the price would be as high as $6 a pound early in the season and then dropped to about $3. “The protest is about how is it possible that the market has changed so drastically,” he said from Antigonish, where fishermen met again to discuss the way forward. “It doesn’t make sense that to most of the fishermen how the market could fluctuate so much.” continued ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
Awright guy’s. The hot news is the ongoing Lobster Strike. Some include video.
PEI – Lobster blockade faces court injunction link PEI – Boats blockade 2nd P.E.I. lobster plant link – They brung the boat’s with ‘m! NB – Lobster protest continues over low prices link
Serge Shipley, one of the protesting fishermen, said it’s difficult to see some of his peers decide head out onto the water while others are trying to hold out for a better price. “Well it’s not too nice really because we are all in the same hole,” he said.”Everybody should stick together as fishermen, it’s unfortunate. But there are meetings going on after this to talk to them guys to see what their point of view will be after today.” Shipley puts the blame for the low prices squarely on one group. “It’s not the processors’ fault, they’re not making money, the fishermen are not making money. It’s the brokers that are making all the money,” he said.
BULLARD, SHELLEY, and COD: or Fish Being and Nothingness – Dick Grachek
“Returning Our New England Fisheries to Profitability”: “You’re doin’ a great job, Brownie” aka, Janie, Johnny, Petey. You should be proud. Mission Accomplished?
In her resignation email Lubchenco made the gravity-defying claim that she had made “notable progress” in “ending overfishing, rebuilding depleted stocks, and returning fishing to profitability”; but soon after, John Bullard “In an interview at the Times, Bullard said the telling figure was that the fleet caught only 54 percent of the allowed catch in 2012, and reasoned from that statistic that there is a dearth of inshore cod, a situation that warrants serious action to reverse.” Richard Gaines March 8, 2013 Gloucester Daily Times, “NOAA head explains stock stand” continued
“If the choice has to be between fish and mining, we choose the fish. Our challenge is to prove that the two can coexist.” Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively
TheHuffingtonPost. 
Alaska Pebble Mine Clash Heats Up – Kevin McCambly was born and raised in Dillingham, Alaska, just downstream from the proposed Pebble Mine, a massive copper and gold mining project that is pitting corporate interests against commercial fisherman, conservationists and local residents. Last week, he and many others demanded answers from Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) at a town hall meeting in Anchorage. continued
Big skate retention prohibited for Prince William Sound, Cook Inlet, central Gulf of Alaska
Fishermen in Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound targeting halibut and groundfish may not retain incidentally-caught big skates as of noon today. Skates cannot be retained for the rest of the year. Instead, they must be released with minimum injury. continued
Record-breaking Norton Sound winter king crab fishery to end May 15
The winter Norton Sound commercial king crab fishery is coming to a close after a record-breaking season. The winter commercial king crab fishery in Norton Sound will end May 15. continued
Researchers test bycatch reduction device for groundfish trawling – tested a new “flexible sorting grid excluder”
statesmanjournal.com. – In a series of tests that included 30 tows off the Washington coast, commercial fishermen were able to reduce the number of halibut taken as bycatch by 57 percent, while retaining 84 percent of the targeted groundfishes, according to Mark Lomeli of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, a multistate agency charged with sustainably managing Pacific Ocean resources. continued
The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both Texas and federal waters closing May 23
The Texas closure applies to gulf waters from the coast out to nine nautical miles. The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced federal waters out to 200 nautical miles also will be closed to conform to the Texas closure. continued
1,000 lobster boats tie up to protest low prices
thechronicalherald – “We’ve got to stick together,” Dan MacDougall, president of the Gulf Nova Scotia Bonafide Fishermen’s Association, told the crowd. continued
West Coast fisheries to see ecosystem approach – Pacific Council to adopt ecosystem approach to managing West Coast fisheries
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — Federal fisheries managers for the West Coast are poised for a major change in the way they make sure that plenty of fish remain in the sea. continued
UPDATE: P.E.I. lobster fishermen on strike – Photos – The Guardian
Photos of the strike at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Charlottetown. here
DFO ends in stalemate – 800 fishermen protested at DFO offices Thursday – Video
A meeting about lobster prices between P.E.I. fishermen and the seafood processors association ended in a stalemate Thursday afternoon, just a few hours after about 800 people gathered at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Charlottetown demanding a higher price. continued
It’s OK to be crabby
DURHAM — They’ve got blue blood, more than four eyes, have been around since the time of the dinosaurs, and could save your life. It’s no wonder University of New Hampshire graduate student Helen Cheng is so passionate about horseshoe crabs. continued
Powerhouse Bristol Bay, Alaska salmon fishery produces $1.5 billion in value-Accounts for nearly 20% of total value of all US Seafood exports, according to new report
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 9, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ — The Bristol Bay, Alaska commercial salmon fishery is the world’s most valuable wild salmon fishery and in total produces an astounding annual value of $1.5 billion, according to a new report, continued
Grey seals blamed for lobster population boom
YARMOUTH — Grey seals may ultimately be to blame for — get this now — a population boom in lobster. So said an industry source Thursday. His comments echoed recent scientific findings. The six-month lobster season in southwestern Nova Scotia will close in another three weeks. Every indication shows it will be one of the best ever. And the glut of lobster may be due to the fact the lobsters’ predators — cod, pollock and cusk — have been nearly devastated by hungry grey seals. continued
Magnanimous on Magnuson – Jes Hathaway – Editor in Chief – National Fisherman
As we looked at each other over steaming cups of coffee yesterday morning, somewhat in awe of the atmosphere of the NOAA conference we’re attending, New Hampshire groundfish fisherman Dave Goethel summed up my sentiments exactly: The tenor of the panel discussions at Managing Our Nation’s Fisheries is surprisingly amenable to the commercial fishing industry. continued
Hundreds Prince Edward Island Lobstermen gather for lobster price protest – Video
Close to 800 fishermen gathered at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans office in Charlottetown Thursday, demanding a higher price for lobster. “Here we are making a stand,” said McGeoghegan. “We are going to win this figh
t. I guarantee it.” Fisheries Minister Ron MacKinley also attended the gathering. continued
Swordfish Find Squid Delicious; Suffer Consequences
science2.0 – From a certain perspective, it’s really weird that we manage fisheries in these discrete little units based on species. There are swordfish permits, swordfish boats, swordfish managers. There are squid permits, squid boats, squid managers. And so on. But species don’t exist in neat boxes. That’s the fundamental truth behind ecology. When you go out to catch one species, you’re bound to run across several other species as well, and even the most carefully designed fishing gear will occasionally catch something it wasn’t supposed to. continued
Where are the Cod??If you are a New England Ground Fisherman, you’ve got to listen to this! The Fisheries Broadcast with John Furlong
The new nuisance in our waters… codfish.
They’re eating all the crab!! We’re not talking about small fish, or a slight increase. We’re talking about huge cod fish like legends were created from! This is interesting, and amazing. It removes the credibility of Dalhousie biologist Jeff Hutchins. Link
