Monthly Archives: October 2013
Environmental Defense Fund Launches Toolkit to Help Fishermen and Managers
On the 17th October, in San Francisco, CA the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today launched the world’s most comprehensive toolkit for designing and implementing management systems that can restore the resiliency, sustainability and profitability of fisheries around the world. more@fishupdate 09:31
Of course, they’re lapping it up in Old Blighty – Smart fishery management will help fisherman earn a living – Laying the foundation for sound fisheries may be an unsexy task but it’s vital to tackle overfishing and pollution, writes Britt Groosman
Eliminate Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas in Hawaii, Western Pacific Regional Fishery Council Recommends
HONOLULU (21 October 2013) The State of Hawaii’s Bottomfish Restricted Fishing Areas (BRFAs) located in federal waters should be eliminated, according to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Meeting last week in Honolulu, the Council also encouraged the State to consider removing all BRFAs in State waters. More here 00:40
Escapees change the wild salmon
For the first time, scientists have managed to quantify how escaped salmon have interbred with wild salmon in Norwegian rivers. These results provide a basis for reassessing the impact that escapees from fish farms have on the wild salmon in Norwegian rivers. more@instituteofmarineresearch 00:28
NOAA eyes needs in wake of shutdown – “We lost some time, and now we have to prioritize
NOAA spokeswoman Maggie Mooney-Seus said regional administrator John K. Bullard has appointed an internal task force and charged it with reviewing all work that was in progress at the time of the Oct. 1 shutdown, then figuring out a way to make up for the lost time. more@GDT 00:21
Maryland Watermen challenge menhaden catch limits
A group of Maryland watermen has filed suit seeking to overturn the state’s catch limit on menhaden, arguing that it violates state and federal law and that the forage fish is not in need of conservation. more@baltimoresun 00:05
Geo Engineering – Science, or Quackery?!! – To Fix Climate Change, Scientists Turn To Hacking The Earth – 11 minute audio
Some very mainstream scientists are saying the climate change situation is so bad that saving life as we know it might require something radical: like shooting chemicals into the stratosphere to protect Earth from the sun. In essence, these scientists are talking about hacking the climate. listen@keranews 21:55
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Sitka wants input on a new boat haul out. More after this
Plans are in the works at Sitka for a bigger boat haul out and other marine related waterfront development at the Sawmill Cove Industrial Park. Listen to fish radio here 18:25
Greenpeace: ‘Our protest in the Arctic wasn’t piracy’ – I think the Russians disagree!
From the article: But, what would you say to people that accuse the Greenpeace activists of trespass? Do you think that is something that should be allowed? Well, we haven’t been charged with trespass, we have been charged with piracy. Quite clearly we are not pirates. Piracy has to be committed against a ship. This is an oil platform, not a ship. And it also has to be done with a threat of violence. [email protected] 16:06
Striped Bass Spawning in Chesapeake Bay Still Below Average
The state of Maryland has released the annual young of the year index for striped bass, and while the number is better than last year, it is still well below the 60-year average.The index measures how well striped bass spawn each year in the Chesapeake Bay. Numbers were released on Friday by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. more@vineyardgazette 15:33
Scientist look for new marine species for commercial use
In northwest Mexico, the biggest part of the fishery production is based in few species such as sardine, squid, tuna and shrimp. However, the Center of Biological Research of the Northwest (CIBNOR) has identified new marine species capable of increasing the volume of this production. [email protected] 15:14
Fox News Flub. Its bad enough they said lifeboat, but,,,,,,,,
We posted three items yesterday about F/V Aleutian Beauty rescuing five F/V Western Venture fishermen from a life raft in the Bering Sea Sunday. We always try to find media for the post’s and we really try to be accurate. Fox News put up this piece, Five crew members on lifeboat plucked from ‘Deadliest Catch’ waters. It’s bad enough that they said lifeboat, when in fact, it was a life raft, but to add insult to injury, they posted a picture of East Coast mid water trawler, the 164′ F/V Western Venture! 14:03
West Coast Region—Northwest Region & Southwest Region unite to protect marine resources West Coast-wide
“The integration of NOAA Fisheries NMFS offices across the West Coast will allow us to be more efficient and more consistent in our coast-wide programs, especially for salmon and groundfish,” said Stelle. “We’ll be better positioned to adopt the most successful approaches from each region, capitalize on the deep expertise of our staff throughout the coast, and generate new initiatives to streamline services and improve conservation of our resources and their habitats.” more here 13:43
New York Times picks up the Maine Lobstermen’s Union story, but is it legit?
An existing group, the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, earlier this year published an op-ed and created a short-lived Web site questioning the need for a union.“To me, it undermines the very strength of the industry,” said Patrice McCarron, the executive director of the association, which counts more than 1,000 lobstermen as members and has an additional 125 members from other parts of the industry. “To put lobstermen in the role of a laborer, rather than a business owner, I don’t think is a healthy way to characterize this fleet of lobstermen.” more@NYT 11:43
“Alaska Salmon Now”, Applauds Federal – Corporate Decisions to End Controversial MSC-Only Sustainability Policies
“MSC-only policies are unfairly hurting American jobs and consumers,” said Greg Gabriel, Executive Director of the Northwest & Alaska Seiners Association. “Alaska has proven time and time again that our fisheries have been sustainable long before MSC, and retailers should be proud to provide sustainable Alaska salmon to its customers.” more@prnewswire 10:55
More and More Non-Residents Hold Fishing Permits in Alaska
A new report indicates that more and more non-residents hold commercial fishing permits in Alaska. Limited entry permits are needed to fish in 65 commercial fisheries in Alaska and there are 79-different kinds of permits that cover different gear types. Currently there are over 16.5-thousand permits issued in Alaska. more@kdlg 10:48
Gulf of St. Lawrence oil drilling concerns coalition – The Old Harry project is now undergoing environmental assessment
A coalition of groups from the five eastern provinces met on P.E.I. Saturday to discuss strategies to stop drilling in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. more@cbcnews 10:37
Just now! Lobster boats drift waiting to buy bait in Gloucester harbor.
With herring fishery in area 1A closed fresh bait and tempers are getting a little short. At least one of these boats was turned away due to the bait dealer reserving supply for his regular vessels. Many lobster boats were buying cheap dragger bait this year and may find themselves left out when it comes time to buy bait stored by regular bait suppliers. 06:40
Video: Coast Guard, Seattle-based F/V Aleutian Beauty Rescue 5 Fishermen From Life Raft in Bering Sea, Alaska
Good Samaritans aboard the 98-foot Seattle-based fishing vessel Aleutian Beauty, responding to a Coast Guard issued urgent marine information broadcast, rescue five uninjured fishermen from a life raft in the Bering Sea off the Alaskan coast Oct. 20, 2013. The mariners set off their emergency position indicating radio beacon, prompting a Coast Guard response, and abandoned ship into the life raft from the 59-foot Kodiak-based fishing vessel Western Venture after it caught fire 69 miles west of Adak. U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Kodiak. Video here 04:53
Poachers thought no one would be monitoring the Federal Vessel Monitoring System during shutdown!
A pair of Florida men face two misdemeanor fishing charges for reportedly fishing within Dry Tortugas National Park on Tuesday — a day the federal government was still shut down. Jailed were James Mooneyham, 48, of Madiera Beach, and James Redden, 43, of Cape Coral. The FWC says one of the reasons for the poaching venture is that the pair thought no one would be monitoring the Federal Vessel Monitoring System due to the government shutdown. more@keysnet 23:27
A Pinch o’ this, and a Dash o’ that – To Fix Climate Change, Scientists Turn To Hacking The Earth – DON”T FORGET THE CALCIUM!
An Experiment With Unclear Results One of the wild things about geoengineering is that even the scientists proposing it don’t really want to do it. The need for it, says Matthew Watson, is just a sign of how bad things are. “That’s why I push the research agenda so hard,” he says. “I’m pretty appalled by the thought of full-scale deployment, but I’m also pretty worried about burying our heads in the sand and not thinking about what that would mean.” more@alaskapublic 21:52
F/V Aleutian Beauty rescued five F/V Western Venture fishermen from a life raft in the Bering Sea Sunday.
The good Samaritans, responding to a Coast Guard issued urgent marine information broadcast, were first on scene about 69 miles west of Adak and rescued the crewmen from the life raft. All five mariners are reportedly in good condition and will transit to Adak aboard the Seattle-based longliner Aleutian Beauty. more@uscgnews 21:16
Coast Guard, good Samaritans respond to radio beacon alert from the 59-foot fishing vessel Western Venture in the Bering Sea Sunday
Coast Guard 17th District command center watchstanders in Juneau received a personal locator beacon alert registered to a crewmember aboard the Kodiak-based Western Venture at about 9:05 a.m. The PLB notification was quickly followed by a second alert from the vessel’s registered EPIRB. The notifications identifed the vessel and indicated the longliner’s position was 69 miles west of Adak. Communication with the vessel’s owner revealed the captain of the Western Venture reported a fire aboard the vessel Sunday morning via email. No further communication with the crew by the owner or the Coast Guard was possible. Watchstanders directed the launch of Coast Guard assets. more@uscgnews
Imported seafood? Will North Carolina’s commercial fishermen benefit?
Gov. Pat McCrory and N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker are tone deaf. They took great pleasure in announcing in a press release Friday that RC Creations LLC, a seafood processing company, would establish a facility in Pender County to import fresh and frozen seafood from around the world (read foreign seafood from Southeast Asia) to create ready-to-eat packaged seafood products that it will ship domestically and internationally. more@carolinacoast 16:00
Price pressures and national pride rankles lobstermen
“Something is seriously wrong, somebody’s getting a whole ton of money,” said Charles McGeoghegan, a Prince Edward Island lobsterman, referring to the wholesale price going down while the retail price at the grocery store has held near $15 per pound. “We know that the fishermen aren’t getting it,” McGeoghegan said. more@upi 15:29
The AquAdvantage “super salmon” “Frankenfish” expected to be approved for sale in the US within the next few weeks
The salmon would be the first GM animal ever approved for human consumption, and has been under development in Massachusetts for 18 years. It is expected to be cleared for sale soon by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and now American supermarkets are coming under increasing pressure to refuse to stock the fish. more@theprovince 14:25
What is really happening in the Gulf? Declining seafood catches and deformities, and a legacy of psychological and social problems
“It’s disturbing what we’re seeing,” Louisiana Oyster Task Force member Brad Robin told Al Jazeera. “We don’t have any more baby crabs, which is a bad sign. We’re seeing things we’ve never seen before.” Robin, a commercial oyster fisherman who is also a member of the Louisiana Government Advisory Board, said that of the sea ground where he has harvested oysters in the past, only 30 percent of it is productive now. “We’re seeing crabs with holes in their shells, other seafood deformities. The state of Louisiana oyster season opened on October 15, and we can’t find any production out there yet. There is no life out there.” more@aljezeera
BP’s silent disaster – 2010 oil spill has left a legacy of psychological and social problems among residents in the impact zone. John Gooding, a fisherman and resident of the coastal city of Pass Christian, Mississippi, began having health problems shortly after the disaster began. He became sicker with each passing month, and moved inland in an effort to escape continuing exposure to the chemicals after being diagnosed with toxic encephalitis. More here 13:27
Fishermen: Canadian gold mine endangers salmon
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A British Columbian gold mine would pollute a major tributary of a Ketchikan fjord, threatening fishing stock and tourism, locals say. They allege the mine’s s massive amounts of water requiring treatment, sludge, tailings, rock and processing would be a “looming train wreck.” more@sfgate 12:08
Lady Washington out of the water is still shipshape – ON THE WATERFRONT WITH DAVID G. SELLARS
The Lady Washington ran aground late Thursday afternoon at the entrance to Westport Marina in Grays Harbor. I understand that it is not an uncommon occurrence for the sailing ship’s 11-foot keel to occasionally disturb a little bottom mud. The mishap occurred close to where the Coast Guard was holding drills and stood by until she freed herself. The Coast Guard then ordered the Lady Washington to Port Angeles for the emergency inspection. more@peninsuladailynews 11:54
Man eats 25 crab claws in 17 min. in Keys contest
Alfredo Munoz of Moses Lake cracked and consumed 25 claws in 17 minutes and 35 seconds during Saturday’s contest that attracted more than 50 competitors at Keys Fisheries restaurant. more@wtsp 11:10
Necropsy finds 5 fish hooks in dolphin in Hawaii
HONOLULU (AP) — A rare dolphin found dead on a remote Hawaii beach earlier this month swallowed five fish hooks, but they apparently didn’t cause its death. A necropsy of the dolphin — called a false killer whale — showed the hooks were floating in its stomach along with the partially digested remains of a large marlin, some tuna and several types of squid. more@gosanangelo 11:05
