Daily Archives: February 26, 2014
Where’s the fishing disaster aid going? N.J., N.Y. get $3.8 million; New England banks majority Pallone is HOT!
Rep. Frank Pallone @FrankPallone 39m Unacceptable that @NOAA is only allocating $3mil to NJ/NY fisheries out of $75mil w/ the extent of #Sandy devastation http://1.usa.gov/Ny1vDp
Industry advocates in New Jersey blamed the latest allocation on John Bullard, NOAA’s Northeast regional fisheries director based in Massachusetts — ground zero of the near-meltdown in New England’s fishing fleet for cod and other groundfish. “That $33 million goes to groundfish, which largely helps New Bedford, where he was the former mayor,” said Thomas P. Fote, legislative chairman for the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and a New Jersey representative to interstate fishery management groups. Read more here app.com 21:24
Three poachers plead guilty and sentenced for oyster theft
On Feb. 25, John Phillipe, 32, Patrick Sylve, 25, both of Port Sulphur, and Jean Taylor, 32, of Sparta, Tenn., pleaded guilty to numerous commercial oyster violations in Plaquemines Parish, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Read more here kalb.com 20:19
25-30-year-old man Coast Guard medevaced from 680-foot fish processing vessel Ocean Phoenix
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau received the request for medevac from the master of the Ocean Phoenix when a crewman suffered a severe injury to his left hand. Read more here 16:27
Boat of the Week from the Boat of the Week from the Athearn Marine Agency:: 2006 – 46′ Long Beach Lobster Boat, Fiberglass, 800HP, 8 Cylinder Scania D116
Specifications, and information here 15:25
Greater Atlantic Region fisheries to receive $36 million in disaster relief funds – (post- tropical cyclone Sandy?)
As part of the Fiscal Year 2014 federal budget, Congress approved $75 million in fishery disaster relief funds. Today, NOAA NMFS announced that the New England groundfish fishery will receive $33. Commercial and recreational fisheries in New Jersey and New York will receive $3 for relief effort to address the impacts following Hurricane/post-tropical cyclone Sandy. Read more here 14:41
R.I. fishermen to share in $32.84 million for New England disaster relief – Read more here Providence Journal 17:06
Chinook Fishermen to Get $20 million for 2012 Disaster – Read more here ktuu 17:20
NOAA Awards State $10.9 Million for Commercial Oyster & Blue Crab Fisheries Disasters – Read more here Senate.gov 17: 26
Sen. Murkowski scores ~ $21 million for AK regions hurt by low Chinook runs Read more here The Fluff ‘n Buff @ Fish Radio 22:29
P.E.I.’s North Shore lobstermen vote down trap reduction
Lobster fishermen on P.E.I.’s North Shore have once again voted down a proposal to reduce the number of traps they put in the water. The proposal was to cut the number of traps allowed from 300 to 270. Read more here 14:12
Alaska to get $20.8 million in fish disaster funds
Alaska communities will receive $20.8 million in aid for the disaster declarations on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers and in Cook Inlet. The designations came in 2012, although it included 2010, 2011 and 2012 on the Yukon and 2011 and 2012 for the Kuskokwim. Congress included $75 million for fisheries disasters throughout the country, including New England, Alaska, and Lousiana, in its most recent appropriations bill. Read more here 13:27
Gulf Oystermen Harvest Support from D.C. Legislators and Organizations
Over the course of four days, the oystermen met with more than 20 Congressmen or staff, as well as with the House Transportation Committee, the Food and Drug Administration, the Senate Labor Appropriations Subcommittee, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s new head of fisheries Eileen Sorbeck. Read more here 13:14
BREAKING: $33 Million to New England in Disaster Funding.
Bruce Tarr confirms officials expect NOAA to announce about $33 million in fish disaster aid for New England. More to follow. 11:36
Your View: Eric Hansen – Scallopers need access to Georges Bank
The scallop fishery has become the lifeblood of the New Bedford waterfront, a bright spot in a fishing industry encumbered by onerous regulations and heavy-handed management. It has helped make New Bedford, for the 13th year in a row, the most valuable port in the nation. But,,,Read more here 11:11
Pebble Mine Opponents Urge EPA To Kill Project
About 30 opponents of the proposed Pebble Mine met in Washington today with White House and high-ranking EPA staff. They came armed with a new EPA study that found a mine of Pebble’s size would pose a significant risk to Bristol Bay and its valuable salmon fisheries. Now they’re asking the Environment agency to take the next step and kill the project. They didn’t get a definite answer. Listen and Read more here 10:34
Deadline for Terminating Inshore Fishing Controlling Agreement Fast Approaching
OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Feb. 24, 2014) – Inshore fishermen in Atlantic Canada and Québec are reminded that they have until April 12, 2014 to terminate or adjust their controlling agreements in order to comply with the policy on Preserving the Independence of the Inshore Fleet in Canada’s Atlantic Fisheries (PIIFCAF). “The objective of the PIIFCAF Policy was to strengthen the Owner-Operator and Fleet Separation policies. We remain fully committed to these policies and we will continue to work with the industry to ensure that the fishery remains economically prosperous for future generations.” Read more here 09:57
Millions of shellfish are dying off before they can be harvested at Island Scallops
The deteriorating health of B.C.’s oceans is impacting not only the province’s marine life, but also its economy. Millions of shellfish are dying off before they can be harvested at Island Scallops, near Parksville, B.C., due to increased acidity levels in the ocean. Read more here 07:23
Viewed as necessary for the betterment of the country? Newfoundland’s place in the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement
One of the more contentious issues related to CETA is the impact it may have on the province’s fish processing industry. CETA may reduce the 11 – 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian fish products creating the incentive to avoid value-added processing in the country. The agreement will not protect…Read more here. The Muse 06:56
Status quo reigns with New England Fisheries Management Council
DANVERS — Tuesday morning had morphed into afternoon and then on toward the evening — not that anybody attending the New England Fisheries Management Council meeting inside the artificial gloaming of the DoubleTree Hotel’s grand ballroom had the slightest idea of what time it was. Read more here 03:37
City port recovery plan touts $12M needs – GDT Editorial: Port recovery plan an important step for city’s future
Transitional aid to shoreside business and fishing crews, specific uses for Saltonstall-Kennedy Act money, and federal money to hire idled fishing boats to serve as research vessels. Read more here
GDT Editorial: It is headlined as a Gloucester Groundfish Port Recovery & Revitalization Plan. Read more here 03:31
