Monthly Archives: October 2013
Protestors demand open-pen farmed salmon be pulled from Walmart’s shelves
Green, and several other supporters in Duncan, claimed activity and compounds in open-pen fish farms are basically poisoning coastal waters — claims that are vehemently disputed by the industry and not supported by government. They also cited sea lice, and three viruses, affecting wild-salmon stocks. “It’s affecting the ecosystem,” Green said. “Lots of people don’t know the dangers of open-pen farmed salmon.” more@cowitchannews 20:29
Gov. Scott Requests Economic Injury Declaration for Impacted Commercial Oyster Fishery
TALLAHASSEE – Today, Governor Rick Scott requested from the U.S. Small Business Administration an Economic Injury Declaration for Franklin County as a result of impacts to the region’s commercial oyster fishery. Congressman Steve Southerland said, “I appreciate Governor Scott’s tireless efforts to strengthen Franklin County’s economy, specifically its once-thriving oyster industry. [email protected] 19:59
Nils Stolpe – Fishosophy – A New Blog and, Is this any way to manage a fishery?
“Deep-Sea Plunder and Ruin” reads the title of an op-ed column in the New York Times on October 2 (also in the International Herald Tribune on October 3). The column, by two researchers who focus on oceanic biological diversity, is aimed at pressuring the Fisheries Committee of the European Parliament to “phase out the use of deep-sea-bottom trawls and other destructive fishing gear in the Northeast Atlantic.”,,,and, Is this any way to manage a fishery? The status of river herring and shad has be an ongoing concern of anyone interested in the well-being of the fisheries in the Northeast U.S. From high abundance a few decades back these anadromous fish are presently at low levels. more here 18:59
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species: Swordfish Landings Update Through September 30, 2013 Sharks through October 18, 2013.
Please see the attached swordfish landings update as of September 30, 2013. For previous swordfish landings updates, click here Shark Landings Update Through October 18, 2013 click here 16:53
Oregon Court of Appeals: Recently adopted rules that would phase out gillnet use on the lower Columbia River will now go into effect.
The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that they would not impose a stay on enforcement of the rules while they review a lawsuit against the policy changes. Steve Fick and Jim Wells filed a petition with the court in July after the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the rules in June. The appellate court found that petitioners did not show commercial interests would be harmed during the judicial review. [email protected] 16:32
NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center scientists Look Into Mystery Of Giant Sea Serpents Found In SoCal
Two giant, sea serpent-like oarfish have been found dead in Southern California in the last week, and now the question is why? Searching for clues about the rare find, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center scientists on Monday performed a necropsy on the 14-foot specimen that washed up in northern San Diego County on Friday. The other specimen, discovered dead off Catalina, last week is being dissected and analyzed by University of California researchers. [email protected] 14:34
All Northeast Fishing Vessels Authorized to go Paperless by National Marine Fisheries Service
Fisheries officials said participants must use one of two approved software applications – FLDRS or FACTS – that NOAA Fisheries NMFS have confirmed as capable of meeting technical requirements for reporting trip data, such as information about catch, gear used, and areas fished. Filing reports electronically is voluntary. more info here 14:21
Ocean Zoning Grab: Cape Wind seeking government help to secure financing – video
Cape Wind has yet to announce it has lined up financing to pay for the massive project they are proposing to build in Nantucket Sound, a delay that has critics hopeful the project will never get off the ground. Cape Wind for its part isn’t saying anything, but public records obtained by FOX Undercover show the would-be wind farm builders are asking the federal government for help in the way of a loan guarantee they need to help get loans. more@myfoxboston 14:08
Marine geoengineering including ocean fertilization to be regulated under amendments to international treaty
35th Consultative Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, 1972 (London Convention) 8th meeting of Contracting Parties to the 1996 Protocol thereto (London Protocol) Marine geoengineering, including ocean fertilization, will be regulated under amendments to the 1996 Protocol to the international treaty which regulates the dumping of wastes and other matter at sea. [email protected] 12:33
Boat of the Week from the Athearn Agency: 70′ RSW Lobster/Crabber with permits
Specifications here 12:03
Household products, pharmaceuticals make fish unafraid of predators – Waste Water Treatment is Inadequate
A recent US study into the presence of pharmaceuticals in freshwater areas receiving sewage effluent found evidence of the Prozac in fish brains. Showering, brushing your teeth, and going to the toilet can wash dangerous contaminants into waterways that can disrupt fish reproductive systems and make them unafraid of mortal predators, scientists have found. And current sewage treatment processes were not designed to remove the dangerous contaminants. more@nzherald 11:12
The sound is driving them crazy! The Mystery of the Hummers
IT’S the mystery hum that is making life a misery for people living on both sides of Southampton Water. Noise experts are still trying to solve the puzzle surrounding the origin of the low frequency drone, which has sparked dozens of complaints from families suffering sleepless nights. Some observers say the sound is similar to the so-called West Seattle Hum, which plagued parts of the US city this time last year. Play the clip (starts about 20 seconds in) [email protected] 10:30
Access to Information Act Docs: Federal fisheries office in Comox on chopping block for more than a year
Critics of the government’s plan to cut $100 million from the ministry over three years say the elimination of an administrative position and the movement of enforcement officers to Campbell River represents a gutting of the department. more@timescolonist 10:09
Virginia winter blue crab dredge fishery closed for another year
The Chesapeake Bay winter crab dredge fishery will be closed for yet another year after Virginia Marine Resources Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to give the bay’s depleted stock of iconic blue crabs time to rebuild. [email protected] 10:02
Offshore Wind Shill Interior Secretary Sally Jewell – former engineer, banker and business executive cheers for wind power tax credit’s
Shutdown to delay fish Saltonstall-Kennedy grants
The original NOAA timetable for awarding the funds, estimated at between $5 million and $10 million, set Sept. 29 as the deadline for proposals, followed by the review process that was expected to have money flowing into communities by the end of December. more@GDT 05:45
Canada’s Environment minister would not comment Monday on the results of a survey commissioned to determine the extent to which government scientists are censored.
The online survey was commissioned by the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC) and hosted by Environics Research. Of the 15,398 PIPSC members, including scientists, researchers and engineers, invited to participate in the survey, 4,069 responded between June 5 and 19. more@whitehorsestar 22:51
Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford rules against net ban as ‘legal absurdity’
In a sweeping judgment in favor of Wakulla County commercial mullet fishermen, Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford on Tuesday ordered a halt to enforcement of Florida’s constitutional amendment limiting net fishing in state coastal waters. Fulford sided with the Wakulla Commercial Fisherman’s Association, Panacea bait-and-tackle shop owner Ronald Fred Crum and county mullet fishermen Jonas Porter and Keith Ward, who sued FWC in 2011. [email protected] 21:46
Sad news from Point Judith – The Passing of Harold A Loftes Sr, Commercial Fisherman
December 31, 1917 – October 20, 2013 Harold A. Loftes, Sr., 95 of Normandy Rd., Wakefield, passed away Saturday, October 20, 2013. He was the husband of the late Virginia May (Bossard) Loftes. Born in Providence, he was the son of the late Alvin and Sigred Loftes. Mr. Loftes was builder, owner, operator of many fishing vessels and a commercial fisherman out of Pt. Judith all of his life. He was a founding member of the Pt. Judith Fisherman’s CO-OP and a member of Hope Lodge #25 AF & AM, Wakefield. He was the father of Harold Loftes Jr. and his wife Mary of Wakefield; father of the late Bruce Loftes and his wife Connie; grandfather of Brian, Brent, Amanda and Kevin Loftes and great grandfather of six. Funeral services and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to The Pt. Judith Fisherman’s Memorial Foundation, Box 3315, Narragansett, RI 02882. 19:11
$5 million grant announced to support U.S.-Canadian salmon research
The needs of salmon on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border will get a hand from a $5 million announcement last week. more@campbellrivermirror 18:43
Fisherman ‘Billy Mac’ honored in birthday vigil – “He had a lot of friends and everybody loved him — everybody misses him,” father Sonny McIntire, said.
More than 300 friends and family members of Billy “Billy Mac” McIntire gathered at Ogunquit Beach under a fiery orange sky at sunset on Monday evening to pay tribute to the local fisherman who would have been 52 years old Oct. 21. more@seacoastonline 17:52
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheris Service is back to work, and they’re giving away plenty of loot!
$36 Million in Funding for Coastal Habitat Restoration Projects to Benefit Fish In the Northeast Region, In the Southeast Region, In the Northwest Region, In the Southwest Region, In the Great Lakes, 16:21
Alaska fishermen gain edge in fight over sustainability labeling
Early last year, Alaska’s wild salmon fishing industry decided to end its partnership with the seafood world’s most prominent sustainability certification group in favor of its own labeling efforts. But the move quickly drew a reaction from customers, as Wal-Mart and others said they would no longer buy Alaskan salmon without the independent check. Now, the Alaska salmon industry appears to have won the fight, recently saying it was standing firm in its decision to drop the outside certification group. more@adn 15:22
ASMI All-Hands Meeting Information
UFA members and friends, UFA is headed to Sitka for our semi-annual Board meeting which runs from October 23rd to 25th at Centennial Hall (http://www.ufa-fish.org/ ). For those of you who can’t make it to the UFA meeting, hopefully we can encourage you to attend the ASMI All-Hands meeting next week in Anchorage. more info @Public Notices 13:38
Founder of Maine lobster processor wins national entrepreneurs award
Kyle Murdock, founder of Sea Hag Seafood, a lobster processing facility in St. George, is among five recipients of the 2013 Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs award. more@portlandpress 13:31
Ready to respond: FOL Cold Bay
For many, the fall season means cooling temperatures, leaves turning and all things pumpkin. But for the men and women of Air Station Kodiak, the fall is all about the cold, Cold Bay to be exact. Kodiak stood up a seasonal forward operating location in Cold Bay, Alaska, in advance of winter fisheries with one MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and rotating crews. A second helicopter and crew will remain at the ready in Kodiak to assist in any long-range or complex cases. [email protected] 12:53
Jellyfish futures ring global ocean industry alarm bells
Those pretty translucent blobs that the word “jellyfish” conveys? Who’d have thought? Few of us know the half of it. Closer to home, jellyfish can massively sting salmon to death. They increase the ocean acidification that has ravaged our Northwest shellfish, eating away their shells. Pink jellies are abundant in late summer in Deep Cove’s Indian Arm. To say the least, jellyfish are bad for business. (Coincidentally, last week the Vancouver Sun’s Larry Pynn detailed the total collapse of B.C.’s sardine fishery but mentioned no role for jellyfish.) https://fisherynation.com/archives/16084 [email protected] 12:27
Roger Berkowitz, Legal Sea Foods CEO talk’s about the new restrictions on New England fishermen – Video
In addition, Berkowitz also weighs in on everything from global warming and impact on fish stock to traffic in the innovation district. more@necn 11:36
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council SSC Meeting: October 22-24, 2013
The scientific advisors to the South Atlantic Council meet this week to talk about blueline tilefish, Spanish mackerel, snowy grouper, and other issues. You can listen in via webinar here 11:04
Editorial: Another baby step in fishing aid
The state Senate’s approval of a $50,000 appropriation that should help fund a state Division of Marine Fisheries aid plan is no doubt appreciated by those still caught in the throes of Gloucester’s and other fishing communities’ federally-recognized economic disaster. more@GDT 10:05
