Daily Archives: July 31, 2013
Marine experts: Gulf of Maine has become a cod-forsaken place, endangering all fisheries
“Big fish are ecologically extinct,” Steneck said of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. “They’re not absent … but in terms of an ecological presence, they’re extinct.” The same warmer ocean temperatures that have helped push cod populations north, Steneck said, have provided lobster with a deeper range in which to settle their larva. Sea surface temperatures in the North Atlantic were the highest ever recorded in 2012, following years of historically rapid warming.
“We had a big red hake fishery 30 or 40 years ago,” testified veteran Rhode Island fisherman Rodman Sykes during a morning panel discussion. “We’d fill our boats with them. … We didn’t know where they went. I learned today they came up here [to Maine].” continued@portlandpress
Florida aquaculture officials take cautious approach to Apalachicola Bay aquaculture leases
In a lengthy and detailed face-to-face meeting with local seafood industry leaders Monday afternoon, Florida aquaculture officials signaled they planned to take a cautious approach to opening up Apalachicola Bay to small oyster harvesting leases. continued@thetimes
The Gulf of Maine has experienced significant warming over the last 40 years “It’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen before,” Will Enviro’s continue to blame?
Maine’s fishermen must be better informed, more communicative about conditions on the water and responsive to change to survive the constant shifts brought by a warming climate and water that is growing warmer and saltier. That was the message from about 100 marine biologists, fisheries managers, commercial fishermen and others who shared both scientific findings and anecdotal observations on the changes that are occurring in the Gulf of Maine. continued@kennebecjournal
Commercial fishermen protest proposal as they anchor boats, pack public hearing
Fishermen showed their opposition on Tuesday as well, with nearly two dozen fish captains anchoring their commercial vessels in the Neuse River in protest and more than 600 people attending a public hearing on the petition at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. Jimmy Ruhle, a third generation commercial fisherman from Wanchese, said he thought the petition was a back-door attempt to attack allocations. He also said banning trawls from the coastal waters would increase the problems with oxygen depletion in deep waters – due to trawls not being there to turn over the bottom and disperse toxins – and with invasive species not getting caught. continued@carteretcountynewstimes
Third Time in Three Years – Pesticides Believed to be Cause of Fish Kills in Canada
For the third time in three years, dead fish have been spotted rising to the surface of Barclay Brook where thousands of fish died in 2011 and 2012 after pesticides from farmers’ fields ran off into the water. Agricultural runoff into streams and other aquatic habitat is not a rare occurrence. Runoff impacts aquatic life, especially sensitive and endangered species. In the U.S., sizeable fish kills have resulted from pesticide use, continued@newsparkforest
Harvesters Land and Sea Coalition alleges Maryland Department of Natural Resources illegally set menhaden regulations
EASTON — A recently organized group, the Harvesters Land and Sea Coalition, is calling for the withdrawal of regulations put into effect in June by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on the total allowable catch of menhaden, alleging that DNR didn’t follow proper procedure for promulgating the regulations. “We’ve tried and tried and tried to work with DNR, and the reason this coalition was started is we can’t do anything else,” Bob Newberry, spokesman for the coalition, said. continued@stardem
Native Olympia oysters may be doing OK and recovering in Coos Bay despite ocean acidification,”
As a federal research vessel heads out to study the impact of ocean acidification on Pacific marine life, Oregon biologists are reporting both benign and negative impacts on regional shellfish. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dispatched the R/V Fairweather from Seattle on Monday for a month-long cruise to collect water, plankton and algae samples. But biologist Steve Rumrill said the future of the South Coast’s native oyster isn’t looking too bad. continued@theworld
Results Are In for Public Survey on Goliath Grouper – News Bulletin From University of Florida IFAS and Florida Sea Grant, July 31, 2013
Among the survey results: Many commercial reef fishermen believe that goliath grouper negatively impact ecosystems by decimating other fish populations. In addition, goliath interfere with fishing operations and many commercial fishermen (43 percent of hook and line, 87 percent of spear fishermen) have had to change where and how they fish to reduce such interactions. More than 70 percent of commercial fishermen surveyed would like to see the goliath-harvesting moratorium lifted. continued@floridasportsman
Setnetters – Alaska Department of Fish and Game head-to-head in an Anchorage courtroom on Tuesday. Kenai King Salmon Alliance granted intervention status
Setnetters and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game went head-to-head at a preliminary injunction hearing in an Anchorage courtroom on Tuesday. The Kenai King Salmon Alliance was granted intervention status by the court on Monday, meaning it will be allowed to advocate for the state. continued@ktuu
Today, A Christening. Washington Gov. Inslee to christen F/V Northern Leader
The ship’s company, Alaskan Leader Fisheries, is holding an open house at Pier 91 at the Port of Seattle between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. Inslee will put his christening powers to work at 1 p.m. continued@q13fox
In advance of the vessel’s christening in Seattle today, all of the Northern Leader’s Alaskan cod is already earmarked for distribution through a marketing partnership announced by Alaskan Leader Fisheries and Copper River Seafoods. “The completion of the Northern Leader project represents the culmination of over three years of hard work and the commitment of many people,” said Robin Samuelsen, board chairman of Alaskan Leader Fisheries and Bristol Bay Economic Development Corp. continued@fishermensnewsonline
The Diroccos: Early San Pedro settlers built fishing industry into town’s legacy
There wasn’t much to see when two Italian-born brothers sailed into San Pedro Bay in 1883. Although there were some shops in the downtown and an established railroad, old photographs of the bay itself show little more than a hilly waterfront with dirt roads dotted with shacks. But there was one major attraction: the fish. The ocean was teeming with them. continued@dailybreeze
A convenient truth: 90% of the tunas are gone! The ENGO battle cry of sensationalism based on a known flawed Myers/Worm analysis.
Many environmental groups embraced it as proof that all tunas, not just the bluefins, were in serious trouble. On the other hand, tuna scientists who were actually conducting stock assessments, especially for tropical tunas knew immediately that the 90% number was totally wrong. [email protected]
OCEARCH Research team sets out to tag great white sharks off Chatham shore
“We’re going to learn about how this animal lives from day to day,” said Greg Skomal, a state scientist and leader of Massachusetts’ shark research project, who set sail with the OCEARCH on Tuesday. The vessel is named after the nonprofit ocean-based research organization that spearheaded the trip and got the funding. continued@capecodtoday
NOAA Ripped and Gutted the Heart and Souls of those seeing no way out of financial ruin – ‘We’ve been left with nothing’
A few years back, when the feds advised Joe Orlando to increase his number of fishing permits, he invested some $400,000, continuing to follow all the rules and expecting to see the industry bounce back as promised. continued@GDT
Gang Green Controled NOAA SLASHES Extending Comment Period on Controversial Halibut Catch Share Plan From 45 to14 days
“I think it’s absolutely silly,” said chamber Executive Director Monte Davis. “We asked for enough time so that people in their busiest time of year would have time to comment.” Begich also expressed disappointment. “Giving Alaskans just two weeks more during the busy summer fishing season to comment on a contentious plan on how we manage our state’s halibut fishery is a disservice,” he said. Begich and Murkowski had asked for a 45-day extension and the chamber requested a 60-day extension. In a press release,
NOAA FisheriesNMFS said it recognized the concerns of working fishermen who want the chance to comment. However, extending the comment period longer would jeopardize the prospects of implementing it for the 2014 fishing season,NOAA FisheriesNMFS said. continued@alaskadispatchShare this post