Monthly Archives: May 2013
All eight of the nation’s regional fishery management councils back Magnuson flexibility
All eight of the nation’s regional fishery management councils, the grassroots panels that work with NOAA in fishery management and on regulatory rules, put themselves on record Tuesday in favor of Congress’ writing flexibility for rebuilding timelines for overfished stocks in the Magnuson-Stevens Act. continued
Congress eyeing changes to commercial fishing law
mainetoday.com – WASHINGTON — As Congress prepares to revisit the law governing how U.S. fishermen ply their trade, New England’s beleaguered groundfish industry illustrates the challenge of reviving a historic fishery in the face of climate change and other factors. For some, the industry’s struggle to survive is cited as proof that current federal fisheries regulations are too rigid to respond to unique circumstances. For others, the regulations are seen as the type of strong, science-based management that should have been in place decades ago. continued
A little bit about the gal overseeing our industry – she ain’t real people! Obama’s priorities are not what’s in the public interest.
AlterNet – Obama Embraces Plutocrats Again With His Billionaire Commerce Secretary Choice – May 6, 2013 President Obama has let the public down once again with his pick for Secretary 
of Commerce Penny Pritzker, the billionaire businesswoman who led the national 2008 fundraising effort that kept the Obama campaign’s hopes alive and catapulted him to the White House. continued
Pamlico leaders give thumbs down toHouse Bill 983
Sun Journal Staff – The board gave a unanimous vote of disapproval to House Bill 983, which would classify the species as game fish, limit harvests to hook-and-line catches by recreational anglers and prohibit sales. continued
Blue North to Build First-of-Its-Kind Low-Impact Sustainable Fishing Vessel – includes innovative feature called a “moon pool”.
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) May 07, 2013 – Blue North, a sustainable natural resource company crafted for the 21st century, today announced that it has signed a contract with Dakota Creek Industries in Anacortes, Washington, to build one of the most environmentally friendly and technologically advanced fishing vessels in the world. The innovative “green” boat – which will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2014 – was specifically developed for the Alaska cod hook-and-line fishery, and was designed by Skipsteknisk AS, a Norwegian ship design firm. continued Moon pool video
Bad lobster prices on PEI souring season
MONTAGUE, PEI – Two fishermen in the local grocery store here over the weekend couldn’t believe their eyes. “Take a look at that price,” said one angrily. “And they’ll get it.” The price on the cooked lobster wrapped in cellophane was $12.56. Around the corner in the display tank, live lobster was selling for $10.99 a pound. “And all we might get is $2.75……we should just tie up the boats and have done with it,” said the other. sadly continued
New robotic instruments to provide real-time data on Gulf of Maine red tide
Phys.org – A new robotic sensor deployed by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Gulf of Maine coastal waters may transform the way red tides or harmful algal blooms (HABs) are monitored and managed in New England. The instrument was launched at the end of last month, and a second such system will be deployed later this spring. continued
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-05-robotic-instruments-real-time-gulf-maine.html#jCp
Sitka herring near 10-year average for spawn miles
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SITKA — Sitka Sound herring spawn measured close to the 10-year average for spawn miles, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Spawn miles are a measure of shoreline. The spawn from the massive congregations of herring turns the water white along shorelines white and can be detected from the air. continued
Sturgeon’s designation had minimal data, major impacts – Debate growing over fish’s label as endangered
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently issued estimates of coastal populations of the fish that are healthier than many thought. The estimate of more than 400,000 fish per year from Maine to North Carolina raised eyebrows among scientists and highlighted the lack of population data that were available when the designation was made. heh! continued
Changing the Bait in Chatham! Humans in Cages – Chatham, Orleans talk sharks
WickedLocalCapeCod.com Selectmen Chairman Jon Fuller is not keen on the idea of having tour boats based at town landings heading out, dropping some chum in the water, and then lowering cages with folks angling for a 
personal experience with a great white shark. Natural Resources Director Dawson Farber doesn’t disagree. continued
Undercurrent News erects a Paywall
Deciding to make our content paid-for has not been an easy decision — even harder was deciding how to price ourselves. continued Adios!
New Georgia law puts redfish off limits to commercial fishing
The Times-Union – Monday, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law House Bill 36, sponsored by Rep. Ben Watson, R-Savannah. It formally designates the red drum as a “game fish,” limiting it to recreational fishing. continued
Red snapper off overfishing list – Ocean Conservancy and the Pew Charitable Trusts report described as “propaganda.”
The News Herald -PANAMA CITY BEACH — After 13 years on the federal overfishing list, red snapper has been removed after a report showed the species has made a comeback in the Gulf of Mexico. . “The critical list that it’s still on is the overfished designation,” said local charter captain Bob Zales. “Many of us believe we’re past that and this fishery is not overfished anymore.”Zales described the report, a collaboration between the Ocean Conservancy and the Pew Charitable Trusts, as “propaganda.”Released in conjunction with a fisheries summit set to begin today in Washington, D.C., the document hails the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the law governing fishery management in the U.S. continued
‘Mystery fish’ turns out to be 125-pound opah, a rare catch aboard Southern California half-day boat
Anglers and crew aboard a Southern California half-day boat were astonished last week to see what the captain had reeled from the depths: a stunningly gorgeous moon-shaped denizen with a speckled body and bright-red fins. continued Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch says no no!
Managing Our Nations Fisheries 3, May 2013 JOIN THE WEBINAR LIVE JOIN THE WEBINAR LIVE JOIN THE WEBINAR LIVE
Live Streaming – May 7-9, Washington, DC. Conference agenda Details. To Listen to the Conference
Join the Webinar click here 2. Enter the Webinar ID – The MONF3 Webinar ID is: 948-811-386 3. Please enter your email address (required)
Life raft cause of three deaths – incorrectly stowed life raft failed to float free and automatically inflate when their vessel sank.
UK- A man who lost his son at sea says tighter safety regulations should be introduced to prevent further tragedy. Peter Prowse’s son, Robert, died along with two crewmen when their boat, the Purbeck Isle, sank. A report said a lifeboat had not been correctly fitted. His body was never found. continued
Alaska’s 2013 First Runs of Reds & Kings
By LAINE WELCH – 
SitNews – It might still feel like winter in some parts of the state but Alaska’s 2013 salmon season will officially get underway on May 16, when the first runs of reds and kings are scheduled to arrive at Copper River. The season’s first fish will attract the usual media hoopla – helicopters whisking salmon from the fishing grounds to awaiting planes, ready to fly them to eager restaurateurs and retailers in Seattle,,,,,continued
“My name is Kelly Padilla, and I come here today to fight for my livelihood,” Game-fish bill discussed at public forum
Washington Daily News – Supporters and opponents of House Bill 983 made their cases Monday during a public forum on the bill conducted at the N.C. General Assembly on Monday. continued
My View: Northeast Administrator for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration John Bullard
With the groundfish fishing season now underway, Northeast fishing communities are facing very tough times. The Department of Commerce and NOAA are standing with the New England Fishery Management Council, fishermen and local, state and Congressional leaders to help fishing communities transition so that groundfishing continues for generations to come. continued
BULLARD, SHELLEY, and COD: or Fish Being and Nothingness – Featured Writer 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”
Peter Shelley of Conservation Law Foundation explains the Cod Dilemma in a wormy little video he so humorously named “For Cod’s Sake”…..continued
Arctic Ocean “particularly vulnerable” to acidification: new report. “When marine ecosystems are affected, this will also have implications for humans”
Nunatsiaq News- 
Climate change is affecting the Arctic Ocean in ways that may deal a severe blow to marine life and people. The world’s oceans are becoming more acid, says a new report from the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme. And this ocean acidification in the Arctic might affect commercial fisheries in the Arctic and the marine resources that are important for indigenous peoples in the Arctic, the report says. continued
New Brunswick – Probe of fishing boats fire in Tabusintac continues
CBCNews – The fire ravaged the vessels, which were burned so badly, they sank. Ian Benoit and his twin brother both lost their boats in the blaze. Benoit, a captain for eight years and fisherman for 18, said he’s devastated. It’s a huge finan
cial blow, he said. Although he has insurance, it will only cover about $50,000. The cost of his boat is at least $150,000, he said. continued
Prince Edward Island Lobster price could be below cost
Prices for P.E.I. lobster at the wharf could come in around $3 a pound, and if that’s the case fishermen should tie up their boats, says P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association executive director Mike McGeoghegan. continued
Opinion: Some students learn from mistakes – Jack Emberly, retired teacher, local author and environmentalist.
Maple Ridge News – In the 1960s, the DFO paid $15 for harbor seal “snouts,” proof an enemy of Pacific salmon had been killed. Bounty hunters – commercial and recreational fishermen eager to help the cause – shot thousands of animals. Many seals sank before they could give up their noses. Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard, biologist Vancouver Aquarium, recalls this culling campaign as an example of government tinkering with a perfectly self-regulating bio-system. alrighty then ,,,,,,,,,continued
Atlantic Bluefish 2013 and 2014 Final Catch Limits Approved -New Spiny Dogfish Exemption Areas East and West of Cape Cod
Today, NOAA/ NMFS announced approval of the final 2013 and 2014 catch limits for the Atlantic bluefish fishery. The Atlantic bluefish total allowable landings are 23.861 million lb for 2013 and 23.446 million lb for 2014. The 2013 catch limits go into effect on June 6…..At the request of Northeast groundfish sectors, NOAA Fisheries is implementing an exempted fishery for spiny dogfish, which would exempt vessels from using a groundfish fishing day-at-sea. Link at Public Notices.
NOAA ship Miller Freeman NOAA ship Miller Freeman in Seattle
SEATTLE (AP) – Seattle firefighters are trying to extinguish a smoldering fire on a ship on Lake Washington. continued
Final draft of ocean plan out, management details unclear. Don Young see’s right through it!
Peninsula Clarion – “From the very beginning, I have voiced my opposition to this red-taped monstrosity the administration calls a National Ocean Policy. Through hearings, in both Washington D.C., and Anchorage, and in meetings with fisherman from across the country, it’s become clear that this National Oceans Policy will bring a variety of negative implications, from both an economic and management prospective,” Young said in a statement. “From oil and gas, to fishing, agriculture, or home building, no industry on land or at sea escapes the net of this new policy.” continued
Cool weather delays Louisiana inshore shrimp season
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — This has been the second-coldest spring in the last century, and as a result, brown shrimp have grown more slowly than the U.S. economy. That put the 
in a tight squeeze when setting the dates Thursday for the 2013 inshore shrimp seasons. continued
Calgary city council should just swim away from shark fin issue
Calgary Sun – The latest in this list of things that will supposedly make Calgary a world leader is a shark-fin registry. Yes. That whole thing is back. As we told you in Sunday’s Sun, the Shark Fin Task Force (do they come with a Mike Post-penned TV theme song?) held a handful of meetings, coming to the wise conclusion that a) a municipal ban would likely lose in court because the city has no authority to enact such a thing and b) there’s not much preference for a bylaw. continued
Great news for US fisheries! – Texan Perry speaks at offshore energy convention – It’s all about the oil!
Texas Gov. Rick Perry and leaders of several other coastal states will speak about energy development at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. A panel discussion will be held Monday afternoon. The event is promoted as a look at the appropriate role of coastal states and the federal government in making decisions for offshore development. Governors or other representatives from Alaska, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Louisiana are also scheduled to take part. The OTC 2013 technical program covers a wide range of topics related to the offshore energy industry. OTC offers key insights by leading experts on emerging technologies, project updates, best practices, safety and environmental issues, and the changing regulatory environment. details
