Daily Archives: March 12, 2014
Support the Seal Hunt. Boycott The Ellen Degeneres Show – Petition published by Robert Byrne
Petition Background (Preamble): Ellen Degeneres’ campaign of misinformation against the seal hunt has gone to new lengths with the famous oscar selfie, raising $1.5 million dollars to the HSA to further propagate lies and misinformation about the Canadian seal hunt. Sign the petition here Some back ground of Ellen’s efforts from Newfoundlander Christopher Mitchelmore here 21:48
UPDATED:SEARCH SUSPENDED – Search on for overboard fisherman from F/V Seeker 10 miles northwest of Unimak Island
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard and good Samaritans are searching for a mariner who reportedly fell overboard from the fishing vessel Seeker 10 miles northwest of Unimak Island in the Bering Sea Wednesday morning. Read more here uscgnews 21:32
The Coast Guard suspended the active search for a fisherman 10 miles north of Unimak Island in the Bering Sea Wednesday. Read more here 07:20
Fairness and equality
How many threatened loggerhead, green and marine sea turtles and the endangered Kemps Ridley turtle are off the coast of the United States? How many are off the North Carolina coast? These questions need answers. Because for years and years only commercial fishermen — those who provide restaurants and markets with seafood — have been required to report any interaction they have with sea turtles. Read more here 17:48
As Our Climate Changes, We Must Base Our Policies in Sound Science – Richard Merrick, Chief Scientist for NMFS
For some people, climate change is just a theoretical possibility. But ask fishermen, and many will tell you that climate change is well underway. Along the Atlantic Coast, commercially valuable species of fish, including silver hake and winter flounder, are moving north to stay within their preferred temperature range. Read more here noaa.gov 16:47 about nmfs
Kodiak fish processor slapped with $205,000 fine for illegally dumping ammonia
Kodiak fish processor North Pacific Seafoods pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to illegally dumping ammonia into the Kodiak city sewer, while the processor’s chief engineer faces charges of his own. North Pacific Seafoods is a Seattle-based company and a subsidiary of Japanese corporation Marubeni. It owns five seafood processing plants in Alaska. Read more here alaskadispatch.com 15:51
O’Malley has failed to protect the Chesapeake Bay [Letter]
In his recent State of the State Address, Gov. Martin O’Malley touted his accomplishments in Chesapeake Bay restoration. On closer examination, the record reveals that his claims were misstatements, at best. Robert Lyon, Annapolis Read more here 15:43
A Maine lobstermen union?
Maine lobstermen may not initially strike you as the type of workers who would join a union. Yet as of this past fall, approximately 600 lobstermen from up and down the coast had done just that. Why would lobstermen join a union, and what does this say about the state of organized labor in today’s economy? Read more here blr.com 15:12
Bradley Beach says ‘no’ to offshore seismic oil and natural gas exploration
One Jersey Shore borough is telling the Obama Administration that it doesn’t want to gamble the region’s tourism economy for a shot at lower fuel costs. Seismic testing could also impact fisheries, Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf said. Read more here NJ.com 14:35
Ketchikan commercial fisherman charged in death of sea cucumber diver
KETCHIKAN, Alaska — A 32-year-old Ketchikan commercial fisherman has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and criminal negligent homicide in the death of man who died while diving to harvest sea cucumbers. Read more here ADN 11:39
Improving the Endangered Species Act for the 21st century
Over forty years ago, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with the noblest of intentions – conserve and recover wildlife facing preventable extinction. This is a moral obligation on which we can all agree. But with a species recovery rate of only two percent, the ESA has proven to be ineffective at protecting truly imperiled species and has unnecessarily hurt people’s livelihoods in the process. Read more here dailycaller 11:20
Bucking conventional wisdom, researchers find black sea bass tougher than expected – discard mortality rates
The researchers had put the fish in the experimental group into one of four categories: those without visible injury; those with visible barotrauma; those with hook trauma (meaning the hook had caused significant internal injury); and “floaters” – those that couldn’t swim down into the water at all. To their surprise, the researchers found that approximately 90 percent of the fish,, Read more here phys.org 09:57
Boat of the Week from the Athearn Marine Agency: 56′ Fiberglass Lobster/Tuna, 550HP Volvo Diesel
Specifications, and information here 09:01
Massachusetts: More cuts for commercial striper fishermen
CHATHAM — Commercial striped bass fishermen will have to make do with a lot less this year as state fishing regulations for the summer season cut in half the number of days they can go fishing and the number of fish they can catch each day. State fishery officials at public,, Read more here capecodonline 08:46
Fairhaven Shipyard proposes controversial wall
The North Shipyard has been the subject of environmental investigations in recent years. In 2012 EPA cited it for violations of the Clean Air Act. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is in ongoing negotiations with the yard’s owners about dust and noise pollution. Read more here southcoast 08:27
