Monthly Archives: May 2013
Lobster Glut – Cape Breton plants struggle to handle extra lobster
Record landings along parts of the Cape Breton coast have resulted in a backlog of lobster. As a result, large buyers in Area 26B, from Pleasant Bay to the Canso Causeway, won’t be buying on Saturday, while they attempt to get rid of some of the backlog. continued
Privatized fisheries are poor public policy – Stephen Taufen
What a week. Apple Inc. was further exposed by the U.S. Senate for its global tax avoidance “economic chutzpah.” Tens of billions go untaxed within any world jurisdiction. Its defenders say it is all legal and claim it would be corporate malpractice not to fleece the world and keep more than $100 billion in “ocean income” away from the United States.
One can’t help but think of how Dutch Harbor and Kodiak fish plant artificialities are largely economic branches of Japan’s multinational corporations, and how they think globally too. continued
Crab protest over at La Scie fish plant – Daley Brothers produced bare minimum to qualify.
21:59 The crab protest at the fish plant in La Scie has ended. About 100 workers are upset with the Daley Brothers, for planning to ship crab from La Scie to another community for processing. continued
Larry the Lobster of Cape Breton is one in a million
Rocket’s Lobster Pound in Cape Breton says a 77-year-old fisherman caught a white lobster this week in Lingan. The chance of catching this breed is estimated at one in a million. The lobster pound doesn’t plan to sell the lobster they’ve affectionately named Larry. 
Instead, they’ll keep Larry in a tank, and release the crustacean when the season is over. here
Seal hunt off Newfoundland called best in years as protesters push for its end
Canadian Press – Frank Pinhorn, executive director of the Canadian Sealers Association, says about 91,000 harp seals were landed this spring. That’s far short of the federal quota of 400,000 but an increase over 69,000 last year and 38,000 in 2011. Pinhorn says the price for the best pelts was also up to about $35 from $28 last year. “This was probably the best year we’ve had since maybe 2008-09,” he said in an interview. “The seals were of good quality, and they’re all following the regulations in terms of harvesting — humane harvest and quality harvesting,” he said of sealers. continued
American Samoa: NOAA/ Marine Sanctuary money really does some good! diabetic patient successfully treated
A diabetic patient who could have had his leg amputated has been successfully treated through the use of the hyperbaric chamber at the LBJ Hospital. He’s the first diabetic patient successfully treated using the hyperbaric chamber or Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy that was donated by NOAA and the National Marine Sanctuary for the hospital. continued
Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation says it has removed Russ George, Leader of B.C. ocean fertilization project
The California businessman behind a controversial ocean fertilization project off B.C.’s west coast has been fired, but the group behind the project says it still supports the concept. Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation says it has removed Russ George as a director and terminated his employment as an officer of the Haida Gwaii-based corporation. continued
Historic Agreement: EU, US, and Canada Sign ‘Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation’ today
business world – Ireland, and Galway in particular, today sees the signing of an historic agreement between the EU, the US and Canada, all of whom share a North Atlantic coastline. The ‘Galway Statement on Atlantic Ocean Cooperation’ was signed today at a high level conference at the Irish Marine Institute in Galway. continued
North Carolina Fisheries Managers Seek Public Input on Issues Impacting Commercial Summer Flounder Fishery
Cape Fear Business News — The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will hold a meeting June 4 to discuss possible management strategies to address issue impacting the state’s commercial summer flounder fishery. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office, 943 Washington Square Mall, Washington. At this meeting, the division will seek stakeholder feedback on how to best use the state’s summer flounder quota, including: continued
Picnics and politics
The Cordova Times – Picnics are a universal sign of summer. Warm weather, friends and a hot grill. Here in Cordova, when people talk about picnics, it is likely a reference to the beginning of the commercial fishing season when seafood processors put out the welcome mat to fisherman and processor staff. A ritual filled with hope, expectation and excitement – regardless of the weather. continued
‘India has science, business interests in the Arctic’
Besides scientific interests, India also has business interests related to mineral resources, fisheries and shorter sea routes in the planet’s far north, Nayak said. “Once the Arctic is free from ice, fisheries will naturally emerge as a major resource. We will have other things like it could open up for shipping. So we also need to understand how situation would change from ice to ocean and its impact,” he said. continued whoo boy!
Monterey Bay salmon fishermen report record prices, disappointing harvest in the early season.
Monterey County Weekly – Boots planted on the floor of his boat in Monterey Harbor, Bryan Lucas hoists his only catch of the day: a sparkling 17-pound Chinook salmon caught May 17 off Pebble Beach.“The fish have been real spread out, so it’s kind of been hit and miss,” he says. “If you get into them, you catch pretty well. But right now there’s not a lot of fish in the bay.”
Lucas, who’s been commercially fishing Monterey Bay for almost three decades, isn’t complaining too much. Weather and ocean conditions that change by the day make patience a virtue of his industry. The great news, for him, is the $8 per pound he’s been getting off the dock from his buyers.
continued
Fish and Game discusses salmon research, Cook Inlet management with Mat-Su commission
The borough’s Fish and Wildlife Commission met with Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials and other interested parties to discuss plans for future research, and what that could mean for fisheries management in Cook Inlet, May 15.ADFG and the borough received a combined $7 million from the legislature for various fisheries projects, although that is still subject to Gov. Sean Parnell’s approval. Parnell had proposed spending money on statewide fisheries research, but whether or not he will approve the legislature’s plan, which sends more money specifically to research in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, has yet to be seen. continued
Robert Redford’s plea: Save Bristol Bay
Coursing through vast reaches of Alaskan tundra, glacial lakes and emerald forests, six major river systems converge along the rim of the Bering Sea to form the crystalline waters of Bristol Bay, the richest wild salmon grounds in the world. continued
Amberjack, triggerfish seasons set to close
On May 9,
NOAA Fisheries NMFS approved Amendment 37 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico. According to NOAA Fisheries NMFS gray triggerfish are overfished (population abundance is too low) and undergoing overfishing (rate of removal too high). This rule adjusts the commercial and recreational annual catch limits and annual catch targets, establishes a 12-fish commercial trip limit and a two-fish recreational daily bag limit. continued
Gulf Fishermen Get More Snapper!
Associated Press – Updated recreational landings data and new information from Louisiana and Texas prompted the change, according to a release from NOAA Fisheries, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA Fisheries also raised the total allowed red snapper catch from 8 million pounds to nearly 8.5 million pounds, with 51 percent for commercial boats and the rest for anglers. continued
Charges filed in Oregon commercial fisheries probe – (but it was sport caught)
The News Guard – Several people face charges following an commercial fisheries investigation by the 
, according to a release issued by OSP. continued
Gretna, Louisiana fishing captain Nam Nguyen fined $62K for illegal longline fishing
BATON ROUGE, La. – Federal authorities have fined a Gretna fishing captain $62,500 for allegedly using live bait on longline gear and possessing J-hooks and a permit to catch highly migratory species. continued
Chicago billionaire Penny Pritzker answers questions in controversy-free hearings for Commerce confirmation
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who is not on the committee, said Thursday that she has a meeting on tap with Pritzker after the Memorial Day recess. She’s undecided about how she’ll vote, wanting to talk to her about Alaskan fisheries, something Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, brought up during the hearing. It was among dozens of queries Pritzker fielded – involving trade, tourism, jobs, education, employment skills, patents, killer storms and even electromagnetic spectrum resources. continued
Mayor Carolyn Kirk’s “bridge plan” bypassed key panels
Mayor Carolyn Kirk’s “bridge plan” for modernizing and retooling America’s oldest fishing port was never presented for comment or criticism to the city’s own Fisheries Commission she created to advise her on fisheries issues, or to the 
Gloucester-based Northeast Seafood Coalition, the region’s largest and most influential industry group. continued
Mass, Senate hopeful Gomez hears fishermen’s concerns
03:11 In his low-key manner, Gomez echoed the approach taken by Scott Brown, then a little-known Republican state senator from Wrentham who pulled a major upset in 2010, winning the special election to fill the seat vacated by the death of Edward M. Kennedy. “I don’t pretend to be an expert,” said Gomez. “I’m hear to learn and listen.” continued
Environmental Group Sues Over Seismic Work in Cook Inlet
23:33:26 – Oral arguments are being heard Friday in US District Court in Anchorage for a lawsuit that challenges the decision made by the National Marine Fisheries Service to authorize the first of at least three years of seismic exploration in Cook Inlet. continued
Bureaucratic miracle of cooperation saves sturgeon fishery – Why we must increase industry based collaberative research
21:20:25 – Ron Arnold – On Tuesday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a draft document called a “biological opinion” — more powerful than the nice name implies — that commercial fishing posed “no jeop
ardy” to the endangered sturgeon in seven key Atlantic Coast areas. Why is that worth headlines? Because it’s extraordinary: Ultrapoliticized NOAA officials rarely fail to bludgeon commercial fishermen out of business with “jeopardy” findings based on virtually no information. continued
Government ‘hell bent’ on destroying commercial fishery, says Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen.
The Northern View – “The Federal Government seems hell bent on getting rid of the commercial fishery… This appears to be the way of killing the fishery, death of 1,000 cuts,” he said, adding that the fishery doesn’t appear to be on the government’s radar. “Salmon simply aren’t the priority for this government. Pipelines are. We have an unwilling and unintelligent government right now and I can’t think of a lower priority for this government right now.” continued
Your New Seafreeze Ltd. PRICE LIST for 5/23/2013 has arrived!!
Click here 
for the complete list!
New Brunswick lobster fisherman Alfred Rousselle, 32, remembered as a family man who always had a smile for others
More than 300 people packed the small Catholic church in Brantville on Thursday for the funeral of one of the fishermen killed in Tabusintac last weekend. An honour guard and fishermen stood in the aisle of St. Louis as the casket bearing Alfred Rousselle, 32, was slowly wheeled to the front. Rousselle’s partner, Erica LeClerc, followed in tears.
Men with weathered faces and strong hands wiped away tears. continued
Workers stage blockade at La Scie crab plant – Daley Brothers pull a fast one
A shipment of crab remains stuck on Newfoundland’s Baie Verte Peninsula, as plant workers refuse to let the seafood leave for processing somewhere else….Calls to Daley Brothers have not been returned. Toms says between 70 and 100 plant workers are now unexpectedly out of a job. continued
The Port of Bandon, Oregon invite’s you to the annual Blessing of the Fleet at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 25
Loved ones who have been lost at sea and those in the military who gave their lives for the country will be honored. A blessing for those men and women currently serving and veterans who have returned from war or served in any capacity is planned as well. The blessing also will include those who fish the seas and those who make their livings commercial fishing. Port of Bandon General Manager Gina Dearth asks those interested to call the port to include in the service the name of a loved one who died in a water-related accident. continued
Chile’s indie fishermen say new law favors big business – Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system
In this three-part blog series, GlobalPost Special Reports explores what’s at stake for 
following the passage of major new federal legislation governing one of the largest fishing industries in the world. continued
House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Hearing – Opening Statement – Randy Fisher Executive Director of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
May 22, 2013 (Congressional Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) — Good Morning. My name is Randy Fisher and I am the Executive Director of the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The Commission represents the States of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California and Alaska. The Commission manages a number of large projects that focus on scientific, inventory and economic research and data collection. continued
