Daily Archives: February 11, 2014

Boldt decision on tribal fishing rights maintains rippling effects 40 years later

The court ruling Boldt handed down 40 years ago this week is a decision now recognized as one of the most sweeping documents of economic and social reform in Pacific Northwest history. The central question in United States v. Washington concerned tribal fishing rights, but ripples from the decision went far and wide. Read more@peninsuladailynews  19:30

Geoduck quota within reach for Lower Elwha Klallam tribe despite China’s ban

PORT ANGELES — The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe expects to meet its geoduck quota despite an indefinite Chinese ban on shellfish imports from Northern California to Alaska that caused the tribe to lose about $100,000 in revenue. Buyers are contravening the ban by going through Canada and Hong Kong to get restricted American geoducks to China, he said. Read more@peninsuladailynews  19:18

WARNING BULL BLEEP ALERT: Why You Should Care About The “Empty Oceans Act”

You probably haven’t heard of this bill, but you should, they say. But you will only hear about it from the Eco evangelical’s (thank you, Jonathan!) that have a arrogantly decided that rewriting the MSA is a bad idea. Click to watch   Feature Writer Joel Hovanesian responds here  18:36

Study Finds There Are Literally More Fish in the Sea

A new study from researchers with the Malaspina Expedition, managed by the Spanish National Research Council, found there could be 10 times more fish mass in the ocean than previously estimated.  According to a release about the research published in the journal Nature Communications, 1,000 million tons of fish had been estimated prior to the study. Read more@theblaze  16:18

Council asks for info on halibut vessel caps

23523_354387901211_7651997_aAfter extensive public testimony on the matter, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council agreed to take an initial step in possible changes to the existing vessel caps in halibut and sablefish fisheries. Read more@alaskajournal 15:47

Fundraising push is on for Down East memorial to honor lost fishermen

BDNLUBEC, Maine — Supporters of a memorial that would honor fishermen lost at sea plan to jumpstart what they hope may be the final leg of a fundraising campaign to build and erect the memorial. Please consider a donation to the Lost Fishermen’s Memorial Fund and mailed to Lost Fishermen’s Memorial Association, P.O. Box 194, Lubec, ME 04652. To donate online, visit www.lostfishermensmemorial.com/.   Read more@BDN 15:28

Fish Factor: Alaska seafood safe

SitNews) –  Alaska seafood is free of radiation stemming from Japan’s 2011 tsunami and Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster.  That was the take home message from the Alaska Dept. of Conservation to the state Senate Resources Committee at a recent hearing. Read more@sitnews  10:41

MAFMC Meeting February 11- 13, 2014 Kicks off with workshop on Climate Change and Fisheries Science – Listen Live

We are kicking off our February meeting today with a workshop on Climate Change and Fisheries Science. Agenda items can be found here  Listen live@adobe connect 10:00

Fisherman Coast Guard Medevaced from 158-foot F/V Arica near Cold Bay, Alaska

JUNEAU, Alaska — A Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew medevaced an ailing mariner from a vessel in the Bering Sea near Cold Bay today. The helicopter crew safely transported the man to emergency medical services in Cold Bay for a commercial flight to Anchorage. Read more@uscgnews  08:20

Coast Guard aircrew assists sinking Honolulu F/V Sea Moon, dump the pump, saves crew, vessel

uscg-logoHONOLULU — Six mariners are safe after their vessel began sinking approximately 173 miles north of Oahu Monday. At 11:15 a.m., a Good Samaritan notified watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Command Center that the 66-foot commercial fishing vessel Sea Moon was flooded and dead in the water with crewmembers using buckets to dewater the boat. Read more@uscgnews 08:07

Ipswich Clammers, officials discuss solutions for devastating green crabs

The obvious solution

They’ve been in the ocean here since the late 1800s, but there is a growing concern about the continued invasion of green crabs and their impact on the region’s clamming industry. “Green crab will eat about anything, especially juvenile shellfish,” said Scott LaPreste, Ipswich’s shellfish constable. “It is our biggest shellfish issue right now,” he said.   Read more@salemnews 07:43

Letter: Welcome fishing aid no long-term answer – Sam Parisi, Gloucester

gdt iconThanks to Congressman John Tierney, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, state Sen. Bruce Tarr, Mayor Carolyn Kirk and others, we finally sent a strong message to Congress conveying that our fishermen need help. Now, let’s just see to it that these funds go to those who need it most — our fishermen. Read more@GDT  01:41