Daily Archives: June 13, 2013
Dateline Delaware: Leipsic’s way of life pulled from the water
LEIPSIC — Capt. Craig Pugh is a vision of the commercial crabber, dressed in a predawn hour in a red and black checked shirt, boots to his knees, jeans and a camouflage cap. His hands are leathered, his face ruddy from the sun. His fingernail beds are wide and worn. In the liner of his black pickup, 50-pound boxes of frozen menhaden await a final dip in the Delaware Bay – this time as bait. But there’s something not so predictable about this Kent County crabber. Onshore, Pugh, 50, is the mayor of Leipsic, tending to a population of 183. continued@delewareonline
Fish stocks ‘can recover,’ marine expert says at URI lecture
The data should help dispel a common misperception that once a population has collapsed, it cannot rebound, said Olaf Jensen, an assistant professor at Rutgers’ Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. “Stocks do and can recover,” he said. “There is no evidence of a point of no return. … Most fish populations seem to retain their resiliency.” continued@providencejournal
When enviro bloggers go koo koo
The saddest untold story in the environmental movement is the demise of the world’s oceans. We are literally eating it to death. Fish stocks are collapsing all around the world as more than a million commercial-sized fishing boats drag traps, nets, and miles of hooked line, snaring over a hundred million tons of sea life a year. Modern fishing techniques like trawling and gillnetting scoop up everything in the water for miles, much of the fish and other marine life is simply tossed back into the sea, dead or dying. It’s clearcut hunting, and it’s happening everywhere on the planet where there are still fish. continued@mothernaturenetwork
The Hebert Boy’s – Maine fisherman making waves on reality show ‘Wicked Tuna’
We grew up tuna fishing — it would be our only source of income in the summer. In the winters we’d go cod or bass fishing,” Paul Hebert said. Brother Bruce said he caught his first giant tuna when he was about 11 years old. 
“I can remember wanting to skip school every September because that’s when tuna fishing is best in New England,” said Bruce. continued @ BDN
Rep. Doc Hastings’ bill would protect salmon from California sea lions
Opponents of the bill argued that the Marine Mammal Protection Act already grants local authorities appropriate action to safeguard the local fish species, saying that there was no demonstrative threat that numbers of the salmon population were falling below what was acceptable by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Advocates of the bill, including Hastings, argued that the bill was a proactive measure that would build on previous methods which he said have been proven effective. continued@mcclatchy,com
Richard Gaines, Staff Writer, Gloucester Daily Times
Richard Gaines, Staff Reporter, Gloucester Daily Times
For years, we found his byline under the headline of every major fishery article that we read at the Gloucester Daily Times. It told us to read on for the truth and an unbiased perspective that a great journalist presents regarding our livelihoods.Richard’s articles provided the information to the public of the complexities that made up the convoluted issues surrounding the stories of the New England ground fishery — something that was just about impossible.
Some of the articles would leave the public confused, but industry insiders knew exactly what he was bringing up. At times, these controversial to insider articles would erupt, causing some noses to get out of joint, generating lively, pointed, and sometimes fierce debate.
Those were my favorites, and I know what Richard wrote was on the money, even though some would disagree, of course.
To those people I say, some of these issues will be raised again, because there has been no closure.
There’s a lot of unfinished business to be settled, and our literary warrior, Richard Gaines, forever rides with many of us in our hearts and minds. Many of us that will attempt to keep those issues alive.
There are some that won’t share in our feelings regarding our beloved friend and beacon of justice for the small boat fishermen, and for fishermen in general, and we understand this.
ENGO’s and the “too big to fail” fishing conglomerates and even the bureaucracy of NOAA/NMFS, that includes OLE/OGC, may be breathing sighs of relief, or are even content to know that Richard Gaines won’t be watchdogging them.
While such agenda bound groups might find temporary relief in Richard’s passing, his crossing the bar merely reaffirms to us that we must each continue the struggles that are easier to walk away from than to stand and fight back. To those bad players, we’ll steadfastly say, “As long as we draw a breath of existence, let it be known that our loss will not be your gain.”
I also realize that many who do understand what I’m trying to say are battle weary. For many, it’s been a decade’s long continuous fight, but it is a worthy one.
Richard Gaines created a standard that we all now expect in the esoteric arena of fishery journalism; but sadly, there is no one individual to carry on the legacy he left for us. During this time of awakening to this cruel reality the question becomes, “How do we continue Richard’s work that still demands greater accountability to the resource and the public?”
We must find the way. Richard would want us to; and his bright beacon will forever guide us to that home harbor where truth and conscience tie up to the dock alongside integrity and grit.
U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland issued the following statement Monday in advance of a National Marine Fisheries Service stock assessment
“NOAA’s release next week of a recently conducted stock assessment on Gulf red snapper should confirm the concerns of local fishermen already painfully aware that the current system is broken. continued@apalachtimes
Portland body identified as missing fisherman
PORTLAND — A body that police divers found on Tuesday morning under Custom House Wharf has been identified tentatively as that of George Manning, 66, a well-known fisherman who was reported missing Monday. continued@morningsentinal
Steve Urbon discusses Richard Gaines – Reporter’s death silences voice for fishing industry
I had been on the fishing beat for just over nine months in 2010 when the fishing industry and local and state leaders during the Working Waterfront Festival presented the Friend of the New Bedford Fishermen Award to a reporter from the Gloucester Daily Times, Richard Gaines, along with his editor, Ray Lamont. continued@southcoasttoday
Fish Parts Smuggler Faces Up to 20 Years
A California man pleaded guilty to smuggling into the United States $400,000 worth of swim bladders from endangered totoaba fish, which some Chinese men believe helps them at sex. continued@courthousenews
N.S. fishermen say EI repayment crackdown unfair
Fishermen in a small Cape Breton community say the latest crackdown on Employment Insurance is casting a dark cloud over their community. continued@cbcnews
Community of Isle Madame divided over disappearance of man presumed murdered
PETIT de GRAT — There have been lines cut and lines crossed off the rocky shore of Isle Madame. Phillip Boudreau, a well-liked but widely accused poacher from Petit de Grat, is missing and presumed dead. The Mounties have charged the three crew members of the lobster fishing boat Twin Maggies with second-degree murder even though RCMP divers haven’t been able to find Boudreau’s body. And the small Acadian community of a few hundred souls on Isle Madame is reeling. A province is watching and everyone wants to know what happened. continued @ Chronicle Herald
“We know next to nothing about crew, this critical part of the fishing community, which also includes hired captains. (but we’ll still regulate to destroy ’em!)
The crew surveys are being conducted face-to-face and take about half an hour to complete. Interviewers come to the water front, and are trying to time their efforts with when crew are most likely to be available and not busy working. It isn
’t easy to get that timing right, and sometimes people are just reluctant to participate. (wonder who’s reluctant? the guys that get no settlement sheet?) continued here Too bad they didn’t do this before catch shares. There’s hardly anyone left!
Following the embarrassment – Find out What’s Been Happening with Atlantic Sturgeon
Today, NOAA Fisheries NMFS staff made a presentation to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to provide an update on what we know about population status and various management actions under development for Atlantic sturgeon. Click here to read more about this. NOAA concedes:sturgeon not endangered, after all Fisherynation.com Editorial: The Great Atlantic Sturgeon Debacle
Proposed Measures to Limit Lobster Trap Fishing Effort in Federal Waters — DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS IS JULY 29
At the request of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which has the lead for American lobster management, NOAA Fisheries NMFS today announced proposed measures to control trap fishing effort in Area 2 (Federal inshore waters–Southern New England) and the Outer Cape Area (Federal inshore waters east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts) and to provide a way for lobster fishermen to scale their businesses to optimum efficiency through the purchase and sale of lobster trap allocations. Click here for more information. To view the federal register notice, click here and then on tab that says June.
Editorial: Massachusetts State budget steps are vital toward credible fish science
They may deliver just what the doctor ordered to resolve the perpetual core disputes between fishermen and their federal overseers when it comes to carrying out credible, scientific stock assessments on which to base NOAA’s catch limits 
and other policy needs. Now, it’s up to either a federal judge, our federal lawmakers or perhaps both to confirm that the patient — the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration itself — is failing badly and needs the outside help it’s thus far refused to allow on board. continued@ Gloucester Daily Times
Convicted poacher turned lobbiest Arne Fuglov is getting the cold shoulder from Begitch, Murkowski. Young receptive.
In 2011, Arne Fuglvog pleaded guilty to illegal fishing and had to spend five months in jail. It was a mighty fall for a man who was then serving as an advisor to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and who had once been considered for the top fisheries management post in the country. Now Fuglvog is back — as a lobbyist. But APRN’s Alexandra Gutierrez reports, Alaska’s senators aren’t giving him access. continued @ APRN – Juneau Background story @ and.com
