Daily Archives: February 21, 2014
International Pacific Halibut Commission sets crushingly low quota for halibut in area 4E
Because of an adjustment in the catch limits by the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the Coastal Villages Region Fund’s allowable catch will be reduced by almost 50 percent. “It looks pretty bleak,” said Mitchell. “The other thing is that there has not been a setline survey done in 4E, which is the most eastern area of the Bering Sea closest to Bristol Bay, in what is probably close to 25 years.” Read more@thebristolbaytimes 19:36
N.C. Department of Marine Fisheries increase commercial fishing licenses 100 percent
Commercial fishermen will be paying more to catch fewer fish in the future, after the N.C. Department of Marine Fisheries commission voted for a 100 percent increase in commercial fishing licenses and the elimination of a harvest season for river herring. However, a feared vote to add further limitations to spotted seatrout harvests and requirements for reduced bycatch devices of shrimp trawlers did not go through. Read [email protected] 19:19
Lobster fishery sustainability program a success – objective was to reduce fishing capacity
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Gail Shea, Newfoundland and Labrador Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Keith Hutchings, and Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) President Earle McCurdy today said that they are very pleased with the results of the program and the direct benefits for lobster harvesters who remain in the fishery. Read [email protected] 17:43
Final Rule Available for Amendment 14 to Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Fishery Management Plan
Today at the recommendation of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, NOAA Fisheries is approving a number of revisions to the Atlantic mackerel, squid, and butterfish fishery management plan to improve catch monitoring and reduce river herring and shad bycatch through Amendment 14. Click here to read the final rule. 17:34
Fisheries Minister Gail Shea overruled the recommendation of her most senior department staff, scientists, and herring managers in BC.
In a surprising revelation, a document provided by Canada in a legal action brought by five Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations shows that Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) supports the Haida, Heiltsuk, and Nuu-chah-nulth Nations’ view that there should be no commercial roe herring fisheries in their territories in 2014. Read [email protected] 16:32
DFO approves grey seal hunt in southern area of gulf
SYDNEY — The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has approved a grey seal hunt in the southernmost area of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which includes the waters off western Cape Breton. Read more@capebretonpost 15:24
NMFS to cover all groundfish sector at-sea monitoring costs for fishing year 2014
Today, NOAA Fisheries announced that the agency will cover observer and at-sea monitoring costs for groundfish sectors in 2014 to meet the requirements developed and recommended by the New England Fishery Management Council under its groundfish plan. Read more here 15:13
Three from Molly Dischner at Alaska Journal of Commerce – Magnuson-Stevens Act revisions – UFA scallops back on the menu – protections under Gulf rationalization
Magnuson-Stevens Act revisions focus of fishers in 2014- Bycatch reporting, transparency and the role of the National Environmental Policy Act in fisheries management are among the proposed Magnuson-Stevens Act amendments the North Pacific Fishery Management Council scrutinized during its February meeting. Read here UFA wants legislature to put scallops back on the menu – The United Fishermen of Alaska are trying to revive the legislative discussion in Juneau about the vessel-based scallop limited entry program as managers and participants prepare for the new open access state-waters fishery that will open July 1. Read here Stakeholders ponder protections under Gulf rationalization -Fisheries stakeholders gathered Feb. 10 to talk about community protections in the pending Gulf of Alaska rationalization program. Read here 13:52
Oceana groundfish monitoring challenge fails
The government need not face claims that the amended New England fishery program leaves groundfish vulnerable to overfishing, a federal judge ruled. Fishery management plans establish catch thresholds and “outline procedures for monitoring commercial fishing,” under the oversight of the National Marine Fisheries Service, according to the Tuesday ruling. Read more@courthousenews 12:44
Bill would ban drift gillnets in California – “This is really a moral imperative,” Geoff Shester, Oceana
SACRAMENTO — Some Assembly Democrats on Thursday took steps toward ending California’s drift gillnet fishery, introducing a bill that would effectively ban the controversial gear for boats operating along the West Coast.This week, Oceana announced a $3 million grant from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation to protect ocean habitat and key species, including sharks. Read more@montereyherald 12:24
National Marine Fisheries Service to tighten rope rules for lobster fishermen
In 2009, federal regulators set their sights on groundlines that linked lobster traps on the ocean bottom. In 2014, it’s the vertical lines lobstermen use to connect their traps to surface buoys that federal officials say need to be more tightly regulated in order to protect whales from entanglements. Read more@BDN 12:15
The difference between halogen lights and L.E.D.
The lamp on the left is a 1500 watt halogen, the lamp on the right is a 100 watt L.E.D. The 1500 watt lamp has a life of 2000 hours and uses 15 times as much electricity as the 100 watt which can be left on for 11 to 15 years before needing to be changed. As the price of these modern lights drops the fishing fleet is gradually changing out the halogen lamps that were until recently an industry standard. 08:55
Illinois-based Mazzetta Company, seafood processor and wholesaler is moving into Gloucester
Mazzetta has other New England facilities, including a freezer warehouse in Londonderry, N.H., and the Atwood Lobster Co. in Spruce Head, Maine, which it purchased in May 2011. The company is a far-flung international importer of various frozen seafoods, which it markets in its SEAMAZZ line. That line includes various species of fish, as well as shrimp, crabs and mussels. It offers lobster tails from its Maine producer, as well as from New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, the Caribbean, Australia, South Africa and Tristen. Read more@GDT 08:05
Nova Scotia Lobster fishermen urged to find common ground
Politicians of all stripes agree addressing challenges in the lobster industry will require finding ways to unite fisherman in the two largest (and most lucrative) fishing areas in Nova Scotia. The issue was discussed Thursday during a meeting of the province’s standing committee on resources. Read more@chronicleherald 07:40
Send this Monstrosity to the Breakers. – Super trawler Abel Tasman won’t operate in Australia, loses bid against ban
THE controversial super trawler Abel Tasman won’t operate in Australia after its owners lost a challenge in the federal court.Justice John Logan said former environment minister Tony Burke was within his rights to ban the factory freezer trawler, which would have had uncertain impacts on small pelagic fish. Read [email protected] 07:09
