Monthly Archives: September 2013
Mass AG Coakley’s Fish suit picks up new steam – Rhode Island Attorney General has not ruled out the possibility of joining.
With Massachusetts and New Hampshire onboard, at least one other coastal New England state is tracking the federal lawsuit that accuses NOAA of wanton disregard for the catastrophic economic impact its catch quota policies have inflicted on the region’s fishing communities. ”Rhode Island has not signed on to the lawsuit, but we continue to closely monitor the status of that case,” said spokeswoman Amy Kemp. more@GDT 03:37
Fish and Game Provides an Overview of This Year’s Sockeye Fishery in the Nushagak District
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council delay action on new Marine Protected Areas
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Federal regulators decided Wednesday they want more information before adding another 300 square miles to areas where bottom fishing is banned along the Southeast coast. A proposal before a committee of the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council would have established 12 new Marine Protected Areas, to go with eight existing ones, in waters along the coast between the Carolinas and Florida. more@sfgate 23:01
Changes Urged in Reauthorization of Magnuson-Stevens Act
A University of Washington fisheries scientist says reauthorization of a major piece of fisheries legislation is a good time to focus on sustainable jobs, recreational opportunity and income to the industry. more@fishermensnews 20:36
oooh. I like it! Sen. Lisa Murkowski launches bill to stop gov’t meddling with seafood eco-labels
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Lisa Murkowski today introduced legislation (bill attached) to combat the influence of outside certification parties on Alaska’s sustainable seafood industry. Her Responsible Seafood Certification and Labeling Act would prohibit any federal agencies from using third party non-governmental certification schemes when considering or labeling any domestic catch as ‘sustainable.’ more@alaskafishradio 19:09
Otters bite into Southeast AK permit values
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch … Sea otters take a bite out of permit values. listen@alaskafishradio 19:04
Propeller For Sale – 75″ x 75″, 4 blade, Kaplan Style, .55 DAR, Nickel-Aluminum-Bronze, Right Hand, 7″ SAE STD Bore.
Subject: NEW BOAT PROPELLER FOR SALE Message Body: NEW propeller at a shipy
ard in Halifax for sale. 75″ x 75″, 4 blade, Kaplan Style, .55 DAR, Nickel-Aluminum-Bronze, Right Hand, 7″ SAE STD Bore. $15,000 USD or best offer. Call Jim Travis (228) 875-6611 17:03
The northern cod stewardship fishery comes under fire
If you are a New England ground fisherman, and you are not paying attention to what’s going on in the Canadian cod issues that are being discussed on the Fisheries Broadcast, you are missing out on a lot of relevant information. It affirms that the cod are not over fished and the only issue is the border the Cod don’t recognize. listen@thefisheriesbroadcast with Jamie Baker. Listen live @4:00 pm, M-F 16:23
MSC orders WWF Canada’s to yank the ‘We don’t farm like this’ animation that they thought was, oh so clever!
The MSC understands the concerns about the animation recently released by WWF Canada and appreciates their swift action at the request of MSC to remove it from their media channels. The MSC did not participate in the creation of the animation, nor does it endorse it. The message delivered in the animation is confusing, creates a negative message about some fishing gears,, [email protected] 15:57
This sucks – Fisherman loses $12,000 he saved for engagement ring
Matthew Camp, of Lower Township, Cape May County, had a recent run of good days aboard a scallop boat, the F.V. Nancy Elizabeth, and things were set to get even better Sept. 9 when he planned to buy an engagement ring and propose to his longtime girlfriend, Tabitha Bohn. Camp, 32, cashed a check for $12,000 at a bank that morning, stuffed the bills into his backpack and headed south on the Garden State Parkway on his motorcycle about 8 a.m. Then fate or a faulty zipper deep-sixed the day: All those bills fluttered out of his backpack, all those hours on the ocean tossed away like a shucked scallop shell. [email protected] 15:30
Aquaculture farmers flocking to Indian River County
As disease, drought and economics have altered the local agriculture industry, farmers are searching for new ways to produce food. For some, aquaculture is becoming a popular option. During a recent presentation to the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) President Dr. Anthony Catanese predicted aquaculture underwater agriculture — would be the next big industry for Florida. [email protected] 11:50
Coast Guard assists disabled tender “Express” in Gulf of Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa assisted the crew of the fishing tender Express after it suffered an engine casualty in the Gulf of Alaska, 70 miles west of Hoonah, Tuesday. The crew of the 110-foot cutter safely towed the 125-foot fishing tender, with two people aboard, to Hoonah. more@uscgnews 11:39
Power outage shutdown renews Canadian Coast Guard closure worries – Ucluelet monitoring station was down for 7 hours
The union that represents the Canadian Coast Guard says a power outage that shut down a monitoring centre in Ucluelet over the weekend is proof B.C. isn’t ready for the closure of coast guard stations next year. more@cbcnews 11:14
Supertrawler opponents call on Coalition to hold line – Cut this thing to pieces
Opponents of supertrawlers in Australian waters are urging the incoming federal government to stick with the current expert study into their potential effects. The supertrawler, Margiris, was banned by former environment minister Tony Burke, who ordered the prohibition continue until a scientific panel completes its work in a report not due until October 2014. more@thebordermail 09:11
Disabled shrimp boats still true to a Lowcountry way of life
Lady Essie and Dianie deserve better. From across a sea of marsh grass on Hilton Head Island, the two old shrimp trawlers appear to be resting on their sides. One was being used to pull the other out of Jarvis Creek, perhaps for one last hurrah on the big water. But they didn’t make it. They ran aground in the tight creek. And now a familiar cry goes up to clean up the mess, but we know it will be easier to find a sneaker knee deep in pluff mud. more@islandpacket 09:00
Dr. Ray Hilborn Discusses the Status of Federal Fisheries Management
On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, Dr. Ray Hilborn, of the University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources during a hearing on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Following his testimony on Capitol Hill, Dr. Hilborn sat down with Saving Seafood’s Executive Director Bob Vanasse for an in-depth discussion on his findings, and to present his full testimony, unhindered by the Congressional hearing’s five minute time limit. Video here 08:40
Maine denies PETA claim of cruel lobster ‘kills’
In a prepared statement, Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher called the claims by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals “nothing more than another disingenuous attempt to advance their agenda and negatively impact Maine’s most important coastal industry and the economy it supports.” more@portlandpress 08:06
Gloucester Daily Times Editorial: Fed loans don’t cut it when it comes to fishermen’s aid
The truth is, the dire catch limit cuts imposed by NOAA for the current fishing year — on the heels of what was already a recognized “economic disaster,” as declared by the Secretary of Commerce last year — have left fishermen in or beyond bankruptcy and to the point where they are selling their boats and homes. So without freeing up the catch limits, and boosting the quota for some of the industry’s staples, such as cod and yellowtail flounder, there would seem no way for fishermen to generate the level of income they would need to pay back any loans, regardless of rates. more@GDT 02:50
Letter to the editor: Fisherman’s letters deserve answers – Sam Parisi, Gloucester
I believe that fisherman Paul Cohan is right on target every time I read something he has written in the Times (Letters, “Fishery time lines a recipe for failure,” Wednesday, Sept. 11). He makes a lot of sense. However, it’s too bad that he — or we — can’t make NOAA listen to our pleas. And, I think, since they are paid from our tax money and have a job, why should they care about our fishermen? more@GDT 22:04
This is Fish Radio. I’m Stephanie Mangini. From the crab lab into the wild.- “Where we are now is actual experimentation in the wild.”
Phase two of a seven year project takes place this week. NOAA biologists along with their star dive team are releasing 13,000 hatchery raised Alaska red king crab into their new home on Kodiak in Old harbor. The AKCRRAB project started back in 2006 and is a coalition of managers, scientists, academics, and industry. What began as a test in the NOAA crab lab to see if it was possible to raise crab in a hatchery setting will now be taken to a whole new level. more@alaskafishradio 21:28
179 Mexican shrimping vessels depart Port of Brownsville and Port Isabel as weather calms and Hurricane Ingrid passes
“We safely and successfully provided safe harbor to 179 Mexican shrimping vessels. Now that the weather has calmed down, we’re faced with the equally challenging task of escorting these vessels out of the port,” said Cmdr. Daniel Deptula, the response officer for Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi. “We will continue working closely with our partners to ensure a safe and efficient transit out to sea.” more@uscgnews 19:22
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – The Pebble Mine is still on track, say developers.
News on Monday that Anglo-American has withdrawn from the Pebble Mine partnership was greeted with joy by mine opponents. Pebble would be the largest gold and copper mine in North America, and its location looms over the world’s biggest sockeye salmon fishery at Bristol Bay – listen@fishradio 16:07
NMFS proposes reduced halibut bycatch limits for Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries
NOAA Fisheries NMFS (according to the Federal Register) is seeking public input on a plan that would tighten limits on the amount of halibut bycatch that could be caught in the commercial groundfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska. The proposed fishery management plan amendment, “Amendment 95,” would minimize halibut bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska groundfish fisheries to the extent practicable while preserving the potential for the full harvest of groundfish in the GOA. [email protected] 15:11
Laine Welch at Fish Radio wrote about this notice, and it’s worth clicking the link .17:47
Injured fisherman airlifted from boat in high seas near Tofino
An injured fisherman was airlifted off a commercial boat while it was thrashing about in high seas close to Tofino, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Monday evening. The fisherman suffered a potentially serious eye injury while working on a 20-metre commercial fishing vessel, 30 nautical miles northwest of Tofino, according to Capt. Trevor Reid, spokesman for Royal Canadian Air Force base 19 Wing Comox more@timescolonist 14:59
Over 300 dead dolphins recovered from Virginia beaches
Mortality numbers of dolphins in Virginia continue to rise, outpacing yearly averages from the last 25 years. Over the weekend, the total of deceased dolphins recovered by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center’s Stranding Response Team reached 300. The average rate of annual recovery for the past 10 years has been 65. [email protected] 14:23
HONOLULU: 25,000 fish killed in Matson Molasses Spill
Keith Kawaoka, Chief of the State Health Department’s Hazards Evaluation and Emergency Response said today, “Just to give you an indication of what the fish kill count has been, we’re just over 25 thousand as of today.” more@hawaiinewsnow 14:17
ICYMI: A look into Magnuson-Stevens with On the Record with Greta Van Susteren
Posted by Committee Press Office on September 16, 2013 – Last week, On the Record with Greta Van Susteren took a look at Northeastern fishermen whose businesses have been affected by the Magnuson-Stevens Act. On Wednesday, the House Natural Resources held a hearing on the “Re-authorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act” where witnesses called for increased flexibility in the Re-authorization of the act. [email protected] 14:04
F/V Bristol Leader catches fire in Seattle
Firefighters were called to Pier 91 in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood for a fire on a fishing boat. Crews responded shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday at 2001 West Garfield Street. The fire erupted in the galley of a 167- foot fishing vessel called the Bristol Leader. The fire was behind a stove two decks below the main deck. more@kirotv 11:26
Crosscut Series: Thanks for all the fish – The Fishing Life, Rick Wood
There have been a number of times over the course of my 38-year career as a fisherman when I have questioned my choice of occupations. Usually it happens when I am staring at my empty net strung out behind the boat while listening to radio reports which make it sound like everyone else’s net is on the verge of sinking with fish. It’s also happened when I’ve been on my knees on the back deck, seasick, waves breaking over the stern, puking as I try to run the hydraulics. Or one time when,, more@crosscut 10:44
Gaming of observer program before NPFM in October
The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a draft report on its revamped fisheries observer program after nearly a full year of implementation, and few changes are planned for 2014 although issues surrounding tendering continue. The new annual deployment plan, or ADP, does not have any major changes. In addition to predicted “gaming” where vessels in the trip-selection pool can continuously deliver to tenders without having to register for a new trip that may result in an observer on board, less information is available about salmon and halibut bycatch in deliveries to tender vessels compared to vessel deliveries to shore-side processors. more@alaskajournal 10:34
