Monthly Archives: July 2013
Proposal to halt shrimp trawling in coastal North Carolina areas – video – Marine Fisheries Commission meets today in New Bern
The State Marine Fisheries Commission is considering a controversial fishing ban that would stop shrimp trawling in North Carolina inner coastal waterways. The commission will discuss the petition at a meeting on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center.
This year’s dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico covers an area the size of Connecticut
The dead zone covers a large area of the Gulf but is not as large as scientists originally predicted, according to Nancy Rabalais, executive director of LUMCON, the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, and head of the dead zone research cruise. continued@houmatoday
$1,000 REWARD! Vandalism that occurred on the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area
An LDWF bulldozer and utility vehicle (UTV) were first noticed missing on July 24 on the Big Island portion of Atchafalaya Delta WMA. The bulldozer was buried in mud and water up to the floorboard. The UTV was found stuck in a ditch. continued@katc
Sen. Durbin criticizes plan to cut Great Lakes program funding
Durbin says cuts would have a major impact on federal programs created to address ecological problems facing the Great Lakes, including fighting the spread of Asian carp. continued@wls
Bristol Bay Fisheries Report for July 27 and 28 with Mike Mason
The Bristol Bay Fisheries Report for July 27th and 28th includes several stories that were not included in the Fisheries Report aired on Friday. listen@kdlg
Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay disappointed by Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea’s response to crisis in the lobster industry.
Shea recently dismissed MacAulay’s calls for a return to short-term help to assist low-income lobster fishermen with the price crisis. continued@the sou’wester
NEFMC to NOAA on Closed Area Access: “Council Opposes 100% Observer Requirement” – “Your Arguments Are Not Convincing”
New England Fishery Management Council Chairman C.M. “Rip” Cunningham has written to NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Administrator John Bullard expressing the Council’s opposition to NOAA’s requirement for the industry to fund all at-sea monitoring coverage for closed area access. Chairman Cunningham suggests this requirement may prevent any participation in the program. He notes that as a result of the fragile economic state of many participants, the increased costs to fund observers may not be affordable. He also noted that little, if any, justification for this requirement was provided other than two general statements which the Council did not find convincing. Read the Letter
Each June and July near the full moon, the northern Gulf of Mexico hosts a mysterious gathering of sharks.
Dozens of hulking whale sharks glide around each other with mouths agape as they skim the water’s surface during a 12-hour tuna egg buffet of sorts. A decade ago, records of these unusual gatherings existed only in the tales of fishermen. LWDF fisheries biologist Jennifer McKinney said these assemblies coincide with tuna spawning events and consistently occur near the Ewing Bank, about 100 miles from Cocodrie. continued@houmatoday
Cape Breton Twin Maggies Captain Dwayne Matthew Samson, Petit-de-Grat murder suspect denied bail
Dwayne Matthew Samson appeared in court on Monday. Samson’s lawyers said he will reapply for bail. The body of 43-year-old Phillip Boudreau has not been found, but three men —Samson, James Joseph Landry and Craig Landry— have been charged with second-degree murder. continued@cbcnews
East Coast Fishery Managers Sign Agreement to Coordinate Deep Sea Coral Conservation
Attached is a joint news release from the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, New England Fishery Management Council, and South Atlantic Fishery Management Council continued here
BOEM Announces Second Potential Wind Energy Research Lease for Federal Waters Offshore Virginia – Agency Seeks Public Comment on Virginia’s Proposed Project
WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy development, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today – continued@publicnotices/pressreleases
Lolo cites fisheries and construction as best options for economic expansion
PAGO PAGO, American Samoa – According to Lolo, in spite of international political and financial trends, at a local level there is resurgence in the fisheries industry and that is a positive indicator that the local economy may be headed in the right direction. “We must be aware, however of aggressive investments in fisheries development by China and European countries which continue to threaten the competitive advantage of our canneries. [email protected]
Register for the webinar Stonington Blessing of the Fleet a mix of solemn ritual, colorful party
A throng filled the streets of the borough Sunday morning to remember fishermen lost at sea and watch Bishop of Norwich Rev. Michael R. Cote bless the vessels that comprise the state’s last surviving commercial fishing fleet. continued@theday
Abandoned rigs in the Gulf of Mexico
The abandoned rigs question is already getting a first-rate look by the right eyes – researchers at the Gulf of Mexico Institute at the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi. That work, which will require four years to complete, is being funded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It should be allowed to be finished before far-reaching conclusions are drawn. [email protected]
Tribute: Barnegat Light memorial unveiled to lost fishermen
BARNEGAT LIGHT — Tears mixed with the salty air of the sea Saturday as more than 200 people showed up to help dedicate the Fishermen’s Story Memorial near the Barnegat Lighthouse. The memorial was created in memory of Jim Mears, who died Jan. 11, 2012, when his commercial fishing boat, the Mandy Ness, sank off Long Beach Island. He and his two brothers, Dan and Rick, had gone out in three separate boats in search of monkfish. [email protected]
Made in NC: Swan Quarter seafood company survives despite challenges
SWAN QUARTER There was a steady pulse on the crab picking floor at Mattamuskeet Seafood in Swan Quarter last Tuesday morning. continued@charlotteobserver
Are you a survivor like John Aldridge?
July 24, 2013 – John Aldridge, a crewmember of the 44-foot lobster vessel Anna Mary was last seen aboard the boat during his watch relief at 9 p.m., Tuesday, while the vessel was underway off Montauk, N.Y. How many times have you read of or heard of a fisherman going overboard, only to watch an unsuccessful chain of events involving fruitless search and rescue operation’s to see them become possible recovery operation’s, and predictably, abandoned after a period of time, dictated by estimates of rate of survival and sea conditions? Way too many. Scroll down the page to continued here
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has signed legislation that will make it illegal to possess, sell, or distribute a shark fin in New York State. (with exceptions)
This bill addresses the growing global demand for shark fins and provides a fair balance between the market for this ingredient and the need to protect sharks by allowing the sale of shark fins of two species of dogfish, which is the most abundant shark species in the North Atlantic Ocean. It also has an exception for shark fins used for educational purposes. continued@wkbw
Endangered Species Act gone wild! The ENGO Northern spotted owl in the Coal Mine?, or Nature Prevail’s despite Meddling
Endangered Species Act gone wild! It’s too bad another species of owl must lose its life in the process: Authorities are proposing to shoot or remove more than 3,600 barred owls from four test areas of California, Oregon and Washington forests. The more successful barred owls — larger, less picky about their food and more aggressive — have taken over much of the spotted owl’s territory. That territory used to be prime timber harvest land until the Endangered Species Act, which protects the spotted owl, forced the government to shut down 90 percent of logging on federal lands in the Pacific Northwest. continued@dalleschronicle
Local investors have received approvals needed to move full speed ahead on a $3.1 million fish Asian Carp rendering plant
The plant primarily will render Asian carp for high-protein supplement products, but can render any fish caught by commercial fishermen contracted to bring in fish for the operation. continued@thetelegraph
Crews in Florida count scallops to determine water quality
SANIBEL ISLAND, FL – Hundreds of volunteers spent their Saturday morning counting scallops. It sounds silly, but the scallop population has plummeted in recent years because of red tide and freshwater releases. [email protected]
NOAA ship Fairweather to take acid trip with ENGO’s – setting sail Monday (July 29) on a monthlong research cruise off the U.S. and Canadian West Coast
The world’s oceans are 30 percent more acidic than they were before the Industrial Revolution, scientists estimate. This cruise follows up on a similar effort in 2007 that supplied “jaw-dropping” data on how much ocean acidification was hurting oysters, said Brad Warren, director of the Global Ocean Health Partnership, at a news conference today (July 25). (The partnership is an alliance of governments, private groups and international organizations.) continued@yahoo
Oyster virus delegation hopes to revive Maritime industry – Representatives from all Maritime provinces traveling to Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Eleven years after a fatal disease damaged Nova Scotia’s oyster industry, a maritime delegation is travelling to the United States to learn how New England’s aquaculture industry was so successfully revitalized. continued@cbcnews
WPRO’s “Fishing for Answers” – a conversation about the Rhode Island fishing industry and where it’s headed
Published on Jul 26, 2013 – WPRO continued our Debate Series with “Fishing for Answers,” a conversation about the local fishing industry and where it’s headed. Hosted by WPRO’s Tara Granahan, the discussion featured panelists Rick Fuka of the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance; Representative Joe McNamara; Narragansett Baykeeper Tom Kutcher, and Tina Jackson, President of American Alliance of Fishermen and their Communities. Filmed July 24, 2013 at Rhode Island College. Watch the 56:45 video here
Certified salmon: Park Service director endorses Alaska fish without the MSC label. He does NOT go far enough.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski put Jon Jarvis, director of the National Park Service on the hot seat, and he tried to wiggle his way off the hook by seeking closed door discussion over the Alaska Salmon issue. That’s all well and good for Alaska, while the point is missed that by law all US fishery’s are regulated to be sustainably fished. What about other sustainable by law fish that does not carry the British ENGO label? This NPS issue is just getting started.
From newsminer – So Mr. Jarvis obviously felt a little uncomfortable at a hearing in Washington, D.C., on Thursday when Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, dug into a Park Service recommendation that could curtail Alaska salmon sales by park concessioners nationwide. continued@newsminer
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update July 28, 2013
“The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the update
SitNews – Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions Misinformation about halibut catch sharing plan by Tom Gemmell
There has been a lot of misinformation going around about the halibut catch sharing plan (CSP). In an effort to correct this the Halibut Coalition prepared a commentary on Mr Medred’s article in the Alaska Dispatch published on July 20 and other online publications. continued@sitnews
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Sells Out It’s White Shark’s?
The below permit was just made available to me by a shark advocate on the east coast. It is the most incomplete, unprofessional, ridiculous farce for a permit I’ve ever read. continued@whitesharkvideo
Laine Welch: Cam sled gives researchers live video of the sea floor
There’s a new Alaska reality show, courtesy of the Alaska Cam Sled. “Alaska Cam Sled is a towed imaging system that takes a lot of high-resolution pictures of the bottom of the ocean,” explained Gregg Rosenkranz, a state scallop biometrician based in Kodiak. continued@adn
