Daily Archives: July 9, 2013

From one island to another: Crew recreates Essex-built boat’s Maine voyage

More than 250 years ago, Abraham Somes, his wife Hannah and their four daughters piled into a Chebacco boat in Gloucester and sailed up the coast to Maine, where they settled in what is now Somesville on Mount Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park. continued@gloucesterdailytimes130708_GT_ABO_STORY_9

Federal fisheries officials are predicting below-average brown shrimp season for the next year in waters off Louisiana and federal waters off Louisiana and Texas.

The juvenile brown shrimp population and growth estimates are obtained by monitoring the inshore commercial shrimp fisheries in Texas and Louisiana. Data is obtained from multiple state and federal offices and the commercial shrimp industry. continued@dailycomet

As Pacific fisheries observer force grows, so do complaints

As the Marshall Islands and other islands ramp up recruitment and training of fisheries observers, the number of reports by observers claiming verbal and physical abuse aboard fishing boats has escalated. continued@islandbusiness

As green crab invasion takes toll on Maine clams, researchers worry that lobsters are next victim

In recent years, clammers say the rapid growth of the green crabs along sections of Maine’s coast has ravaged shellfish populations, particularly mussels and soft-shell clams. There is concern now that even Maine’s lobster industry may be at BDNrisk. continued@bdn

Commercial fishers’ suit says recreational anglers taking too many red snapper

The suit alleges that the federal government’s “failure to effectively manage the red snapper fishery has resulted in chronic over harvesting by the recreational sector,” which “undermines the conservation goal of rebuilding the red snapper stock and harms all stakeholders in the fishery.” [email protected]

New Brunswick fishermen steamed after feds boost lobster size by one millimetre

“It’s very frustrating,” Brun said. continued@theobserver863a4ac9dc_64635696_o2

Call a Place Paradise and Kiss it Goodbye – Long Bar Pointe Guardians Fear Beginning of End

On the south side of Tidy Island, just across a narrow channel that connects to Sarasota Bay, lies a 530-acre parcel of land called Long Bar Pointe. Local residents, environmentalists, career fisherman and even some economists have united to challenge the proposed project. continued@bradentontimes

Scientists Eye New Threat to Gulf of Maine Ecosystem: Microplastics.. New?

An estimated 280 million tons of plastic is produced globally every year. Most of it is not recycled, which means it ends up either in landfills – or in the ocean. continued@mpbn

Letter: Searching for an explanation on fishing woes – Pew Charitable Trusts, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization” doesn’t have the answer

Question: Where have all the fish gone? Overfishing? Doubtful. Consider that NMFS has levied quotas, closures, species limitations, increases in net sizes, tracking programs on fishermen, etc. for several years; couple that with the fact that the fleet has been, continued@salemnews

BP asked a US appeals court on Monday to scuttle a “feeding frenzy” trial lawyers attempting to secure money for themselves and their clients

“Not only is the claims administrator’s misinterpretation contrary to the plain language of the settlement agreement and the intent of the parties, but it has ignited a feeding frenzy among trial lawyers attempting to secure money for themselves and their clients that neither deserves,” continued@channelnewsasia

Oil well leaking into Gulf of Mexico, 4-mile-wide visible sheen, Coast Guard says

The Coast Guard says it is responding to a “loss of well control event” at an oil and gas platform 74 miles southwest of Port Fourchon, La., in the Gulf of Mexico. Energy Resources Technology Gulf of Mexico LLC reported the event, saying that a 4 mile-by-.75 mile “rainbow sheen” was visible in the gulf via flyover.  All platform personnel were evacuated safely, and the Coast Guard is working with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to investigate the occurence, a release said. al.com

NMFS denies ribbon seal endangered species listing

The National Marine Fisheries Service announced Tuesday it is rejecting a listing for ribbon seals as it did in December 2008. continued@seattlepi   center for biological diversity statement

Various reports of salmon news from Bristol Bay – KDLG Radio

Just 71,000 Sockeye Harvested Sunday   More Fishing in Egegik Monday   Outbound! King Salmon Airport Busy Monday as Eastside Districts Wind Down  Flying the Togiak River

A tale of two fishing trips with ‘Wicked Tuna’

The captains of the “Wicked Tuna” hit reality television series have started the tuna season with tales to tell — and not all are fish tales. Meanwhile, Capt. Dave Marciano of Hard Merchandise welcomed aboard Allison Wishnov, the e130703_GT_OUT_TUNA_2cstatic eight-year-old from Pennsylvania, who wanted to break her piggy bank and send him all the money when she learned that his boat sank last December.  continued@gloucesterdailytimes

Begich to NOAA: Extend Public Comment Period for Halibut Catch Sharing Plan

In a letter to Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, Acting Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Senator Mark Begich requested a 45-day extension continued@ senate.gov

Douglas Ward Wickens fell off a fishdragger. If Ward had been wearing a PFD…

Douglas Ward Wickens fell off a fishdragger, the Silver Angel, on May 3, 2011, about nine kilometers south of Cape Sable Island. His captain, the only other person aboard that night, tried to reach him with a gaff, then threw a life ring towards him and went for a longer rope. When he came back, Wickens was gone. continued@novanewsnow

The Long Haul: What Do New England’s Fisheries Mean to You? Contribute to the Survey

    

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The Long Haul:Cooperative Research Improves Fishery Science and Relationships

Credit WCAIHeather Goldstone /

Credit WCAI
Heather Goldstone /

Tensions between fishermen and the scientists and managers that oversee their industry are more than just unpleasant. They actually affect the quality of fishery research and management. There’s a catch phrase that’s adorned the tailgates of pick-up trucks up and down the New England coast for years: National Marine Fisheries Service: Destroying Fishermen and Their Communities Since 1976. Joel Hovanesian claims to be the creator of the once-pervasive bumper sticker. listen:continued@wcai

Commercial Fishermen: Southern shrimpers work through dangerous conditions

From 2000 to 2009, 504 fishermen were killed while on the job.  The fatality rate in 2011 was 35 times higher than the rate for all U.S. workers.   The majority of the deaths was a result of drowning, followed by injuries sustained on board – mostly by the mechanical deck winch. continued@wcsc

Coast Guard rescue crews medically evacuated a 72-year-old Fisherman from F/V Good News II

Watchstanders  received notification at approximately 4:30 p.m. from the Good News II of a crew member reportedly suffering from a potential stroke. continued@uscgnewsuscg logo

Former chief of fisheries for Michigan DNR John Robertson,receives C.D. “Buzz” Besadny Award

The C.D. “Buzz” Besadny Award is named for the former Wisconsin DNR secretary and  chair who epitomized the role of the partnerships in fisheries management. Such cooperation is particularly important in the Great Lakes basin as eight states, the Canadian province of Ontario, and U.S. tribes work with federal agencies and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to manage the shared fishery. continued@grandhaventribune

Undersea cable project would ease need for lines – Officials with both companies said they sympathize with the situation of lobstermen.

gdt iconRepresentatives from Tetra Tech, a  technical engineering firm, and New Hampshire Transmission, the developer exploring the installation of a 55-mile long underwater cable, are poised to meet with lobstermen and fixed-gear fishermen tonight to discuss the plans and impact of a Sonar survey around Cape Ann.  continued#gloucesterdailytimes

Coast Guard outlines F/V Osprey case response – “There is a Coast Guard policy of how and when we send helicopters,,

He explained that statistics show a person undergoing chest compressions will typically survive for under an hour without access to a heart defibrillator. A Coast Guard helicopter could have reached,,,gdt icon

continued@gloucesterdailytimes