Daily Archives: June 1, 2013
Fisherynation Featured Writer Dick Drachek – CLF NMFS AND LAWSUITS
Conservation Law Foundation has been suing NOAA since 1991. In 2001 during a speech to an audience in Phoenix concerning the cost/benefit of litigation in fishery management, entitled Ten Years ‘After The Fall’: Litigation and Grou
ndfish Recovery in New England, Peter Shelley, senior attorney at CLF and a Pew Marine Fellow, refers to the National Marine Fisheries Service as “… A kind of bumbling adolescent” and CLF, the adult, had to step in with a lawsuit to straighten out and save the fishing industry and the agency from its adolescent ineptitudes. This paternalistic role became the paradigm for the Conservation Law Foundation’s behavior toward the Fishing industry and The National Marine Fisheries Service, which is evident in CLF’s current legal machinations.
But it wasn’t just about groundfish it was more about CLF gaining a seat at the bargaining table in terms of fishery management, it was also about, in Shelley’s words “…our suit was the first suit that tried to look at the Magnuson-Stevens Act itself and determine which statutory requirements in the Act actually had teeth.” continued
News Release: Coast Guard, others offer commercial fishing drill conductor course in Astoria Oregon – You MUST pre register!
WHO: Coast Guard, AMSEA, Oregon Crab Commission, Oregon Sea Grant, Englund Marine, WHAT: Commercial fishing, drill conductor, marine safety and survival training course, WHERE: Englund Marine, 95 Hamburg Ave., Astoria, OR 97103, WHY: to educate mariners about marine safety and survival, WHEN: 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 – Wednesday, June 5, 2013 info link
Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk backs AG suit vs. NOAA
Kirk said Coakley’s suit “zeroes in on the requirement under Magnuson to protect fishing communities like Gloucester while also protecting the fishery resource.” “Focusing on our fishermen and the preservation of the port is exactly what is needed today as our city grapples with the impacts of the devastating cuts that were enacted May 1,” the mayor said in a Friday email to the Times. continued
Shrimp subsidies in five nations undercutting U.S. prices, importers must pay bonds up to nearly 63 percent to offset – US Commerce
“It’s a good day. It means that a substantial percentage of the shrimp imported into this country will face some level of at least temporary tariff until such time as the final determine is made about the amount, if any,” said David Veal, executive director of a group representing shrimp processors in the five Gulf of Mexico states, Georgia and North Carolina. continued
North Carolina Finfish, shellfish harvests continue to decline
JDNnews.com – The commercial and recreational harvests of finfish and shellfish continued a decline in 2012. Commercial fishermen harvested 56.7 million pounds of seafood with an estimated dockside value of $73 million. That is down 16 percent from 67.5 million pounds the previous year. A contributor to the decrease on the commercial side is the shoaling of Oregon Inlet, which has particularly impacted fisheries such as summer flounder. continued
Wesley Crowell 72, has fished for more than five decades and always from a small, open skiff. – Season’s not been one of his best
Chronical Herald – The end of the local lobster season Friday comes with hundreds, if not thousands, of personal assessments of how things went financially. There have never been as many lobster crawling around on the bottom as now, although not every fisherman will admit to having had a great season. continued
Sustainability certification – Questionnaire on a NOAA alternative
The Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee (MAFAC) advises the Secretary of Commerce on matters relating to Fisheries and Aquaculture. We would greatly appreciate the NFI’s assistance in distributing this brief survey about seafood certification to your members. A working group of MAFAC is considering the appropriate level of involvement of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) in the sustainable seafood certification process for domestic fishery products. The group is collecting stakeholders’ views on the benefits and limitations of third party certifications, and the potential for a federal government role. This information will be used to help inform MAFAC’s future recommendations. Here is the link for the survey.
The Green Goon Squad Strikes AGAIN! – NOAA sued again, this time by environmentalists
NEW BEDFORD — For the second time this week, NOAA has been sued — this time twice — by two environmental groups “Managers should be acting conservatively to steward the remaining fish and the places they have retreated to, not making them more available to the fishing fleet. “Opening up protected areas will not magically create new fish.” Seafood consultant James Kendall of New Bedford, a former member of the council, said Friday, “I think they’re full of it.” (oh yes they are, Jim, lawsuits based on random notions!) continued
Conservation Law Foundation and Earthjustice file lawsuits in federal district court challenging NMFS
Suits challenge plans to open no-fishing zones and to boost catch limits. Attorneys from Conservation Law Foundation and Earthjustice filed a pair of lawsuits today in the federal district court challenging recent decisions by the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding New England groundfish. continued
North Carolina Commercial Fishing Exclusion Bill, the Game-fish bill tabled in North Carolina
Washington Daily News – “I spoke with the bill sponsor this evening (Wednesday) after the bill was considered in the majority caucus and he assured me the bill will not be run or folded into the budget,” said Tine. “It was truly a bipartisan effort to defeat the bill, and it would not have happened without all the work of the opponents who made sure their voice would be heard in Raleigh.” continued
iSnapper helps track and monitor catch as snapper season opens on June 1
An iPhone-based application designed, tested, and analyzed by a team of scientists from the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi will provide the necessary information as the commercial snapper season approaches. continued
Changes to FL Gulf gray triggerfish season in effect June 10
Changes to how Gulf of Mexico gray triggerfish are managed in state and federal waters will go into effect June 10. These changes include a recreational and commercial season closure and the implementation of recreational and commercial bag limits. continued
Maritime provinces appoint lobster panel – to work on marketing initiatives as well as reaching out to their counterparts in Newfoundland, Quebec, Maine
The Canadian Press – HALIFAX – Fisheries ministers from the Maritime provinces have named a three-member independent panel to examine slumping lobster prices in the region. The ministers made the announcement late Friday after a meeting in Fredericton. continued
