Daily Archives: September 29, 2013
How Government shutdown will Affect NOAA Emloyees and other agency’s
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, based in Silver Spring, will lose about half of its staff in the face of a shutdown. According to a recent Commerce Department document outlining its shutdown plan, roughly 6,600 NOAA employees would stay on the job. Most of those workers would come from the National Weather Service, which is required to continue functioning because its work can identify “imminent threats to protect life and property.” In addition, about 500 employees from the National Marine Fisheries Service, which regulates and enforces laws related to marine wildlife, would also stay on the job. However, even with those exceptions, approximately 5,400 NOAA employees — about 45 percent of the agency’s workforce — would be sent home. more@thedailyrecord 20:18 4 comments
All around Washington State, Salmon returns to the Rivers
A major annual salmon migration from sea to river happens around the state in the fall. Community festivals, salmon bakes and 10K runs are scheduled to recognize this annual event. The Governor’s Salmon Recovery Office also is releasing six, 2-minute videos that focus on those affected by the decline of salmon populations and those working to restore salmon and salmon habitat, all available on YouTube. Commercial fisherman Marc Jerkovich, Gig Harbor more@maplevalleyreporter 18:26
Seismic airgun activities place Georgia’s right whales at risk during oil exploration
Highly endangered right whales, which give birth in the waters off Georgia, could be harmed by the use of seismic airguns to explore for oil and gas there, said panelists at a forum Thursday night at Savannah State University. In its draft environmental study, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management estimates that seismic airgun activities planned for an eight-year span for the Atlantic will injure and possibly kill 138,500 dolphins and whales. more@savannanow 17:56
Defending the Lionfish while slamming Artificial Reefs
The spear-it-on-sight mandate and eradication tournaments targeting Gulf of Mexico lionfish are well-meaning sleights of hand. Now the hobgoblin of anyone who bottom-fishes, lionfish have been portrayed as a serious threat to the Gulf’s recreational and commercial fishing businesses because they eat the fry of red snapper, grouper and triggerfish. more@nwfdailynews 17:35
Regulators in New England cap river herring catch
The caps proposed Thursday by the New England Fishery Management Council during their meeting on Cape Cod target so-called mid-water trawlers, which catch herring by pulling a large net between them. The caps limit the trawlers to a total of 500,000 pounds of river herring in three areas off New England. [email protected] 17:15
Alaska Board of Fisheries focus will be on Pacific cod Oct.18-22
Thirty-six proposals related to Pacific cod will be up for consideration when the Alaska Board of Fisheries meets Oct. 18-22 in Anchorage. In addition to submitting written public comments, the board is inviting the public to offer oral testimony during the meeting, beginning Oct. 18. Any person intending to testify in person must sign up at the meeting site at the Anchorage Hilton by 2 p.m. on Oct. 18. The testimony will continue until everyone who has signed up and is present have had an opportunity to speak, the board said in an announcement issued in late September. more@cordobatimes Board of Fisheries website Agenda 13:08
Community Supported Fishery: Beaufort seafood business to sell shares in exchange for fresh fish – video
“There’s less infrastructure, (fewer) boats,” Craig Reaves says. “If something doesn’t change, there’s not going to be a fishing industry.” So he’s adopting a model small farmers have turned to to bolster business — community-supported sales. Reaves, who owns Sea Eagle Market in Beaufort, has spent decades connecting with fishermen across the state and serves on the board of the S.C. Seafood Alliance. He’s been searching for a way to help preserve fishing heritage and believes a community-supported fishery might be the answer. more@islandpacket 11:32
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update September 29, 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 11:08
Glider Palooza 2013 – Diving ocean gliders capture valuable data
“That boat is right where we want to be,” Rock said, glancing down at his GPS screen and pointing to where a big fish dragger, with long mantislike stabilizer arms spread wide, towed a net right through the area where the torpedo-shaped glider should be waiting for them. more@capecodonline 10:49
NH Public Hearing: October 16, 2013, Marine Aquaculture License Amendment – Proposed Shellfish Aquaculture Operation
The proposed amendment would be for an Aquaculture License held by Michael Chambers of the University of New Hampshire and would modify an existing Marine Aquaculture License (2013-12) by adding three shellfish species and six seaweed species to a license that currently allows for growth and sale of steelhead trout and blue mussel. [email protected] 09:58
Better Sitka fisheries aim of scientist’s work
SITKA, Alaska — Jamal Moss is one of the scores of scientists working on the most exhaustive studies to date on the fisheries of the Gulf of Alaska. Moss, a principal investigator for the ongoing 
Gulf of Alaska Integrated Ecosystems Research was in Sitka last week preparing for another study of Southeast fisheries. The multi-year project started with a pilot study in 2010 and focuses on the survival rates of black cod, Pacific cod, rockfish, pollock and the arrowtooth flounder. more@adn 09:35
Exploring aquaculture on Newfoundland’s south coast
Check out the videos above as CBC’s Mark Quinn takes a closer look at farming on the south coast of the island, and the ups and downs the industry is experiencing. more@cbcnews 09:22
North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting September 30 – October 8
Agenda, (updated 9/27) September 30 – October 8, Anchorage Hilton. To listen live while the meeting is in session: npfmc.webex.com 08:43
The Will of Wanchese by Susan West
Wanchese, North Carolina, wears its heart on its sleeve. Located on the southern tip of Roanoke Island, where the Roanoke and the Croatan sounds spill into the Pamlico, the fishing port holds a fiery grip on the lashes binding it to the sea. “We might go down, but we’ll go down swinging,” says fish dealer Billy Carl Tillett, sitting in his office at Moon Tillett Fish Company in Wanchese. The office sits high above the harbor, like the osprey nests over the marsh on the outskirts of town. more@workingwaterfront 08:12
New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival features tunes and tales
NEW BEDFORD — Thousands congregated on the city docks Saturday afternoon for the Working Waterfront Festival, getting a taste of the city’s seafood and the death-defying efforts to bring it to shore. New Bedford fisherman Phil Ashworth sat with a bare prosthetic leg and an American flag bandana around his forehead, featured at a music and poetry event titled Storms & Close Calls. more@southcoasttoday 01:22
