Daily Archives: January 22, 2014
Maine Blood Wormers: We’re not to Blame for Clam Flat Devastation
Invasive green crabs have decimated the livelihoods of Maine clammers in recent years. And now green crabs are coming to lawmakers’ attention. Today the Marine Resources Committee heard public testimony on a bill that aims to restore ravaged clam flats by allowing towns to prohibit both clam and marine worm harvesting. But worm diggers say the bill unfairly targets their industry for a problem they have nothing to do with. Patty Wight reports. Listen @mpbn 19:22
Slumping Maritime lobster prices focus of March meeting – Summit in Halifax in March will focus on Maritime Lobster Panel recommendations
Fisheries ministers in the Maritimes will host a summit in March to discuss ways to restore prices in lobster markets. The lobster value recovery summit will be held in Halifax March 26 – 27. The summit will focus on the recommendations from the Maritime Lobster Panel report, which was presented to the three ministers in November. Read more@cbcnews 18:52
Sens. Murkowski & Begich differ on EPA and Bristol Bay
This is Fish Radio. I’m Laine Welch – Alaska’s US Senators don’t see eye to eye on the EPA at Bristol Bay. Their views can be heard here 18:36
In depth: Fins Up for Oregon’s Albacore Tuna Season – Trollers land second highest to-the-boat value in past decade
It was almost the worst of times. It was almost the best of times. After another lackluster opening that spawned worries among commercial fishermen, the Oregon albacore tuna fishery went on a wild late season run to bring in 10,104,702 pounds of tuna that fetched to-the-boat revenue of $15,916,410. Those numbers easily bested the 10-year averages of 9.8 million pounds and $11.9 million. Read more@fishermensnews 17:42
Walmart Agrees to Work With ASMI on Sustainability Particulars
The nation’s largest retailer has reaffirmed its commitment to buy Alaska seafood, and will work with the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute on sustainability issues to meet needed criteria. Sustainability of the state’s seafood is mandated by the state’s constitution. Read more@fishermensnews 17:28
Taking the Helm of an American Tradition
Southern New England Fishery News did an interview with Kip Files, the Captain appointed by Mystic Seaport to be Master of the Charles W Morgan’s 38th voyage slated for May, 2014. Read the interview at SNEFN on page 25 of the December issue. Click here, scroll down 16:05
Mississippi Commision on Marine Resources keeps oyster season open
BILOXI — The Commission on Marine Resources, against the recommendation of its Shellfish Bureau, voted 3-0 Tuesday to keep oyster dredging season open for 30 days more. Richard Gollott, a CMR commissioner who’s also vice president of the shrimp-packing firm Golden Gulf Coast Packing Co., pushed for the longer season during a presentation on the oyster reefs by the DMR’s Fisheries Division. Read [email protected] 13:10
Martin Fish Co. asking county leaders to dredge West Ocean City harbor
A persistent sandbar at the entrance to the West Ocean City commercial fishing harbor is causing problems for incoming fishing boats, meaning additional dredging may be needed to improve maritime traffic. John Martin, of Martin Fish Co., said the sandbar between buoys 11 and 12 has been keeping 80-foot fishing trawlers from getting into the harbor with their daily catch. The boats only can get in when it’s high tide, and even then, Martin said, they’re scraping the bottom. That’s because the harbor is 10 feet deep, and his boats have a 12-foot draft. Read more@delmarvanow 12:46
A commercial fishermen’s group Plans Ads Thanking Begich for Pebble Stance
A commercial fishermen’s group is running TV ads thanking Sen. Mark Begich for his opposition to the proposed Pebble Mine. Bob Waldrop is executive director of the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association. He says ads will begin running Wednesday. Read [email protected] 12:10
John Price, owner of J.P.’s Shellfish, pleads guilty to federal cash transaction charges
The owner of an Eliot seafood company pleaded guilty Tuesday to a dozen federal charges for directing an employee to stagger more than $157,000 in cash withdrawals to avoid Treasury Department reporting requirements. The money was used to buy live lobsters off the dock. Read more@portlandpress 11:33
Marshfield, Massachusetts: Local fishermen react to federal disaster relief funding
John Haviland, a fisherman from Marshfield, said issuing fishermen a check, though well meaning, is not the answer. “Commercial fishermen want to be allowed to catch fish and be commercial fishermen,” he said. “We want to fish.” He said while $75 million sounds like a lot of money, “the pool is relatively large for that amount of money.” “By the time it gets to the fishermen, there is not going to be enough to sustain them,” he said. Read more@wickedlocal 10:25
Lobster marketing wars? Canada launches effort to develop unique Canadian lobster brand
When someone orders lobster at a restaurant in New York City, chances are the menu touts it as “Maine” lobster. Ask someone on the streets of San Francisco where lobster comes from, chances are they’ll refer to our great state. Lobster is to Maine as bourbon is to Kentucky. It’s iconic and an incredibly valuable piece of the overall Maine brand. Read more@bdn 08:48
North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries to hold public meetings on shellfish habitat
The meetings will begin Wednesday in Bayboro, followed by one Thursday in Morehead City. Meetings also will be held Feb. 4 in Swan Quarter, Feb. 5 in Manteo, Feb. 6 in Ocracoke, Feb. 11 in Wilmington and Feb. 12 in North Topsail Beach. Read [email protected] 08:06
