Monthly Archives: July 2013
California representatives: Federal reports confirm Bay Delta plan not based on sound science
On Friday, several U.S. Representatives from Northern California called on the Brown Administration to withdraw and fully revise their proposed Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) in light of draft environmental documents being found “biased” and “insufficient” by federal agencies in public comments made available Thursday. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service provided these comments to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) as part of a review of the draft environmental impact report/environmental impact statement. continued@lakecountynews
Ever wonder if federal officials jumped the gun in declaring the Atlantic sturgeon an endangered species?
In its listing proposal, the agency, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that Atlantic sturgeon population numbers in the Carolina region had declined to less than 3 percent of historical levels. Data collected by state agencies seems to suggest otherwise. continued@starnewsonline
Happy Anniversary to Vital Ocean Policy – Andreas Merkl – President and CEO of Ocean Conservancy
This policy directly addresses the key challenge of our time: how to meet the enormous resource demands of a rapidly growing global population without destroying the natural systems that sustain us. The ocean, of course, is at the center of every aspect of this challenge—food, energy, climate and protection of our natural resources. continued@natgeo
Garden State Board of Public Utilities rejects latest plan for New Jersey’s first wind farm proposed off coast of Atlantic City
The state Board of Public Utilities today rejected the latest plan for a 25 megawatt offshore wind farm, saying New Jersey taxpayers would be on the hook for too much money should the anticipated federal grants fall through. continued@nationalwindwatch
Link to nj.com
Herring Town’s Whittenton Pond dam demolition begins along with new accountability to the River Herring
All remnants of the troubled Whittenton Mill Pond Dam are gone for good. Representatives of groups belonging to Mill River Restoration Partnership held a news conference Friday morning on the banks of a section of Mill River known as Whittenton Pond. Within 15 minutes of the end of the press conference an excavator operated by an employee of SumCo Eco-Contracting of Salem tore away what remained of a stone and earthen spillway put into place in 2005. continued@tauntondailygazzette
Regulating fishermen out of business – President Barack Obama’s 2010 National Ocean Policy executive order and his National Ocean Council
In recent years, high fuel prices and stringent federal regulations have combined to take an especially heavy toll on charter boat owners and operators across the United States. President Barack Obama’s 2010 National Ocean Policy executive order and his National Ocean Council’s recent release of a final implementation plan now set the stage for a one-two punch that could choke off access to fishery resources and add to already-high fuel costs by restricting opportunities to develop energy here at home. continued@postandcourior
Fed panel backs $150M in fishing aid – U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee also OKs research mandates for NOAA
The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has included $150 million for fisheries disasters in its fiscal 2014 budget proposal for the Department of Commerce, Justice, Science and related agencies.And the budget measure includes a number of other directives aimed at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including a proposed requirement that NOAA charter private and commercial fishing boats to carry out cooperative research with an eye toward addressing a long standing gulf between NOAA and the industry regarding credible fisheries science. continued@GDT
“Decentralization” – Senate Appropriations Committee would dissolve NOAA’s Northeastern Regional Office, Provide $150 million in disaster relief, allocated to three regions
A key Senate committee approved a bill that would dissolve NOAA’s Northeastern Regional Office in a proposal some fisheries advocates say could make things easier for the region’s fishermen. “This new approach is seemingly advantageous,” said Jim Kendall, head of New Bedford Seafood Consulting and a longtime critic of NOAA and regulations affecting area fishermen. “Decentralization — it sounds good, and it sounds like it could be very beneficial if it works.” continued@southcoasttoday
EPIRB notifies Coast Guard of disabled vessel with 3 people 63 miles offshore
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Three people stranded on a disabled fishing boat 63 miles east of Mount Pleasant, S.C., are receiving Coast Guard assistance Friday because of a life-saving piece of equipment on board the vessel. The trio, too far offshore to communicate using their VHF-FM radio, activated the vessel’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon at 10:54 a.m., which instantly provided GPS coordinates, notifying Coast Guard watchstanders that a boat was in trouble. continued@uscgnews
The Long Haul: Shared Hopes for Our Fisheries’ Future
As fishing areas close in the face of dwindling stocks, we look at what the hopes are among fishing folks for the future. In some areas — such as lobsters, scallops and striped bass — there are success stories that can be looked at to determine what is going right. But other areas of the sea are closed, and some wonder if they will stay that way. continued@wcai
Bureau of Reclamation plans water release for lower Klamath in hopes of preventing fish kills
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.—The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation proposes to release water later this summer from the Trinity River in California in hopes of preventing fish kills in the lower Klamath river. The Klamath Basin straddling the California-Oregon border is in a drought that has led to irrigation shutoffs, recalling similar events more than a decade ago when thousands of fish died in the lower Klamath. continued@marinindependent
NOAA hosting open house of Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is hosting an open house of its Ted Stevens Marine Research Institute. continued@ktoo
Thanks to those who’ve taken our Long Haul poll. What We Agree On: Healthy Oceans, Sustainable Fisheries
Thanks to those who’ve taken our Long Haul poll. You’ve reminded us that, for all our differences, we agree on some fundamental issues in fisheries. continued@wcai
Fisheries Economist Gunnar Knapp on This Year’s Price Increase in Bristol Bay
The sockeye harvest this year in Bristol Bay came in short of the pre-season forecast and is low compared to the harvest’s recorded in recent years. However, the base price paid to fishermen jumped up by 50-cents. KDLG’s Mike Mason recently spoke with a leading fisheries economist in an effort to explain how the base price is set and why in increased this year. Listen @ kdlg
THE COMMITTEE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TAKE ACTION AND DIRECT NOAA TO CLOSE NERO IMMEDIATELEY
Posted 13:03:54 DEPARTMENT’s of COMMERCE and JUSTICE and SCIENCE and RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2014
p. 30 “Northeast Regional Fisheries Office. However, given NOAA’s lack of cooperation and reversal of commitment, the Committee has no choice but to take action and direct NOAA to close NERO immediately and to dissolve all necessary operations into existing facilities located throughout the region. Specifically, NOAA is directed to improve outreach and services to the fishing industry by configuring fishery science centers and fishery statistic offices as newly configured and less stove-piped portals to the local fishing communities. With minimal overhead investment, including technology investment and updated staffing plans, these offices could be much better utilized to serve a larger NMFS purpose. Instead of relying on, or having to travel to, the NERO office for direct industry support, fishermen would have better and more immediate access to NMFS support services at existing NMFS offices in their home states, if not their homeports. The Committee directs NOAA to ensure that core NMFS support services be retained and accessible in all regions currently served by NERO, including New England, Mid-Atlantic, and South-Atlantic regions, at these local centers and offices. NOAA, in consultation with the Committee, shall work with the General Services Administration immediately to develop a plan to resolve NERO’s current leased space, and create a plan to redirect an adequate portion of NERO’s larger operational costs to outfit the local regional offices.” THE REPORT
From the Deckboss: Walmart keeps hearing it from Alaska. I wonder if the Governor knows they are back dooring Alaska Salmon to Brazil?!!
First global atlas of marine plankton reveals remarkable underwater world
Now researchers from the University of East Anglia have helped to compile the first ever global atlas of marine plankton – published today in a special issue of the journal Earth System Science Data. [email protected]
President Barack Obama and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick are working together to push Cape Wind forward for political advantage.
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For example, a May 3, 2010, FAA PowerPoint presentation to Eastern Service Area Directors includes a slide titled “Political Implications” which states: “The Secretary of the Interior has approved this project. The Administration is under pressure to promote green energy production. It would be very difficult politically to refuse approval of this project.” continued@dailytimes
Commercial fishing brothers fight over fishing spot – Deputies reel one in for battery, criminal mischief
Lance Lamee, 51, asked his brother if he was going to fish the frontside or backside of the location, to which Lawrence replied “all of it” and that Lance wouldn’t be messing with him anymore.
‘Real-time’ fish counts from in Gulf of Mexico a Senate priority, and it should be in every US Fishery Management Region
WASHINGTON – Senators want federal regulators to start using “real-time” fish counts in assessing the health of red snapper and other species in the Gulf of Mexico, a move they say would ease catch limits. continued@newspress
Department of Fisheries concerned about low number of salmon in Skeena River – Video
Canada’s Department of Fisheries has responded by shutting down all commercial and recreational fisheries in the area. But local fishermen are worried that the Americans are not doing the same. link
Coalition of commercial fishermen have sued the Alaska Department of Fish and Game over its management of the 2013 sockeye run
In its 19-page lawsuit the Cook Inlet Fisherman’s Fund — a commercial fishing advocacy group — accuses the commissioner of Fish and Game of reallocating fish from the commercial groups to other user groups by refusing to allow commercial setnet fishermen extra hours of fishing during the heaviest portions of the sockeye salmon run. continued@penclarion
Great urgency in debate over Great Bay – reduce the level of nitrogen and other pollutants discharged
This is a point in the regulatory process where all citizens have the ability to affect the final outcome and language of a critical regulatory process. This is an opportunity that cannot be taken lightly, and a deadline that cannot be missed. continued@seacoastonline
Virginia is coping with its first run-in with a phrase no one in public health or the seafood business ever wants to hear: oyster disease outbreak.
Three people became sick recently after eating raw oysters collected from the same private grounds off Fisherman Island on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. They ate the oysters at restaurants in Massachusetts and Maryland, victims of a pathogen that grows naturally in warm waters known as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. continued@pilotonline
StarKist Celebrates 50th Anniversary In American Samoa With Commemorative “Made In America” Canned Products
In celebration of its 50th anniversary in American Samoa, StarKist Co. today announced the launch of newly branded “Made In America” canned StarKist, continued@prwire
Fishery Disaster Funds Included In Early Appropriations Bill – AUDIO
Funds have been included in the Senate Appropriations bill. The bill passed out of the Senate’s Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee Tuesday and through the Appropriations Committee today. The bill allocates $150 million for fisheries disasters in Alaska, as well as in New England and Mississippi. Senator Lisa Murkowski says it is uncertain how the money would be split. continued@kyuk
Commercial fishermen in Bristol Bay hauled in another 53-thousand sockeye on Wednesday to push the season total to above 15.5-million fish.
The District leading all others in harvest this season is the Naknek-Kvichak District where fishermen hauled in another 24-thosuand sockeye on Wednesday, continued@kdlg
MSC Eco-label seafood body attempts to convince critics
“My first question is, where is the science?” says Jennifer Jacquet, an environmental-studies researcher at New York University who has been critical of the MSC in the past (including in Nature). The report looks at the MSC’s scoring of the fisheries. continued@nature
Is it time to shut down the Department of Homeland Security?
Charles Kenny makes the case that DHS should just be put out of its misery and that now is a good time to do it with Janet Napolitano’s resignation from the top spot. From his piece, here are six reasons Homeland Security should be put to bed: continued@msnmoney
