Monthly Archives: March 2014
Fish traceability is seafood expo focus
BOSTON — Nestled in a booth among displays of high-tech conveyer belts and gleaming ice makers, Braddock Spears sat at a table in an exhibitor’s booth, looking much like one of the fishing industry power players that flocked to the Seafood Expo North America at the state convention center. Gib Brogan, Oceana fishery expert – “It’s tough to be a seafood consumer right now.” Read more here capecodonline 08:11
Maine tribe resists same-rules-for-all elvers plan that caps individual catches
Under the bill, tribal fishermen would be subject to the same individual catch limits as other Maine fishermen. But the Passamaquoddies contend the tribe has made numerous other concessions, limiting itself to just one type of gear and agreeing to a decrease in its overall share of the elver harvest. Passamaquoddy officials say choosing who can fish is cultural, not just a matter of conservation. Read more here 21:35
Time for ‘Deadliest Catch’ to go home
To average Americans sitting in front of their televisions, “Deadliest Catch” is an interesting documentary in a historically ignored industry. However, there has been a big problem developing in one of Alaska’s most iconic fisheries as a result of the show and legislation known as Bering Sea Crab Rationalization. It’s obvious why the show has enjoyed such success, and I commend the captains, crew and boat owners who have been involved in the series over the last decade. But the fleet that appears on “Deadliest Catch” is creating a problem for the 65 or more other crab boats whose crews depend on the Bering Sea crab resource for financial survival but don’t appear on television. Read more here 18:44 alaskadispatch
Fishing Vessel Engineering – Bearing Failure On Fishing Vessels
Not every day in fishing boat engineering is a good day. When an engineer working a shift at a factory has a bad day, he goes home at the end of the shift and grabs a nice cold one. When a boat engineer has a bad day, the shift seems to never end and home is a place that takes days to get to and money for refreshments requires fish in the hold to pay for them. With that in mind I hope this fishing vessel engineering article series helps some of you to make it back to the dock with enough cash to pursue whatever makes you happy. Today’s disaster is,,, Read more here 17:22
Better Science Means More Fish
“States should apply the precautionary approach widely to conservation, management and exploitation of living aquatic resources in order to protect them and preserve the aquatic environment. The absence of adequate scientific information should not be used as a reason for postponing or failing to take conservation and management measures (from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries).” Or in fewer words, if you aren’t completely sure of the outcome, don’t take an action. It’s called the “precautionary principle”,,,Read more here onlinefisherman.com 14:16
Traumatized as a child, B-52s’ Fred Schneider: Don’t eat the lobster
(AP) — One of the founders of the quirky rock band B-52s is using the 35th anniversary of the hit “Rock Lobster” to reiterate his opposition to eating them. Read more here A Blast from the Past! The B52´s – Rock Lobster (Official Music Video) 13:57 (Hey Fred. Shut up) 13:59
Sound Science Underpins Minister’s Roe Herring Decisions
VANCOUVER, March 17, 2014 /CNW/ – “Fisheries Minister Gail Shea’s decision to re-open small scale fisheries on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, the Central Coast and Haida Gwaii was based on sound peer-reviewed science and solid policy,” says Greg Thomas, Chair of the Herring Industry Advisory Board (HIAB). Read more here 11:02
Minister Aglukkaq Leads Delegation to Defend Canadian Seal Hunt at World Trade Organization
“Let me start by emphasizing that seals have been harvested around the world for thousands of years for a variety of purposes, including subsistence, commerce, and the protection of fisheries. This is especially true for Canada,,, Read more here 09:28
Confessions from the Lone Shark Conservationist Who Supports California’s Drift Gillnet Fishery
Prej•u•dice, Noun – Preconceived opinion not based on reason or experience. – I’m telling my story for a couple reasons. First because I know a lot of folks share my intense passion and genuine intention to help preserve our world’s oceans, but like me are not very sure where and how to start. I want to share some lessons I learned the hard way in an effort to prevent you from wasting your time. I’m also writing this because I think it’s scary how easy it is for someone that knows very little about shark fisheries to be considered an “expert” on,,, Part 1, Read more here Part 2 Read it here Eat U.S.Seafood 08:35
BOSTON – Monday, March 17th, 8am – Please Join CSF, National Fisherman, and former Congressman Barney Frank
Please Join CSF, National Fisherman, and former Congressman Barney Frank in Boston for a Public Workshop on the MSA Reauthorization.
Date: Monday, March 17th from 8am-10am Location: Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Room 254B 415 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210 617-954-2000
On-site parking is available for $12/ day for self park or $25/day for valetClick to view the Invitation to the Boston Workshop: CSF – Boston Invitation
Click to view the Agenda for the Boston Workshop: MSA PUBLIC WORKSHOP AGENDA – BOSTON
Coast Guard responds to grounded F/V Kim Thanh
LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Coast Guard worked with local agencies and commercial response companies to remove a grounded fishing boat from Ormand Beach, Ventura County, Calif., March 15, 2014. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach received a distress call from the captain of the fishing boat Kim Thanh reporting that his vessel had run aground late Thursday night. Read more here uscgnews 18:44
Local view: Sweeping salmon harvest reforms tread water
About a year ago, The Columbian wisely urged the Fish and Wildlife commissions of Oregon and Washington to adopt sweeping salmon harvest reforms on the Columbia River (In Our View: Regulate Gillnets, 12/7/2012). Coastal Conservation Association Washington concurred, and lodged immediate support for the four-year phase-in plan. The sweeping changes would relegate deadly, non-selective commercial gillnets,,, Read more here theoregonian 12:43
Staying Alive In The World’s Most Dangerous Job w/ Joel Woods – Photo article by John Johnson
Commercial fishing is the world’s most dangerous job. Even with all of the advances in safety equipment and modern weather prediction the chances of a fisherman being injured or killed still remain very high. Life at sea on a fishing vessel can be very unpredictable,,,Read more here John Johnson is a featured writer at fisherynation.com. Comments are welcome. 11:05
Minister Shea announces that Canadian seafood exports continued to grow in 2013
March 16, 2014 – Boston, Massachussets The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today released the 2013 trade figures for Canada’s exports of fish and seafood products. Once again, Canada’s seafood exports continued an upward trend, with an overall increase of $268 million or 6.5 percent over the previous year, with total sales reaching $4.42 billion. Read more here gc.ca 10:29
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update March 16, 2014
“The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the update 09:17
Seals and Sealing Network Geneva Bound – seal hunt is sustainable, humane and necessary
newswire.ca – Representatives of the Canadian Seals and Sealing Network (SSN) are travelling to Geneva to observe the WTO public hearings into the European seal products ban. The hearings, scheduled for March 17 – 19are the latest development in the WTO’s final Appellate body review of the European trade ban. Read more here 09:08
Fishermen are still at the mercy of Mother Nature
But fishermen today can take heart from the following story written by Frank Weeks and published in The Guardian May 29, 1961. “Lobster fishermen in Alberton and Tignish set their traps on 30 May 1961, possibly the latest date ever recorded for the spring season in,,,In his story, Weeks writes of some of the older fishermen who remember times when they had to fish lobster through the ice and special gear had to be used. “They say it has been 50 years since they were forced to fish lobsters through the ice. Back in the years around 1911, Read more here 23:27
P.E.I. lobster fishermen have eye on Boston, European Union
The future may bode well for lobster prices across Prince Edward Island with a European free trade deal signed but this spring’s prices will hinge on the largest worldwide seafood show this weekend and final talks next month with processors, fishery officials say. Read more here theguardian 23:05
Fishing for innovation, Maine finds Iceland’s got it hooked
In 1981, Icelanders were catching 400,000 tons of cod annually. Twenty years later, although the annual catch had fallen to 180,00 tons, revenue adjusted for inflation more than doubled. Icelanders figured out that they could make more money by selling almost all parts of the fish rather than just fillets, Read more here portlandpress 17:48
Weather slows halibut opener, first prices similar to 2013
Commercial halibut fishers began targeting 16.7 million pounds of quota March 8, but bad weather kept many off the fishing grounds. Individual fishing quota, or IFQ, holders will take the majority of the Alaska commercial catch limit, about 15.9 million pounds, with Community Development Quota landings from the Bering Sea areas making up the remainder of the catch. Read more here 13:36
Opposition to GM salmon has no scientific basis: researcher
A scientist behind genetically modified salmon technology says new opposition to his work is misguided. Dr. Garth Fletcher of Memorial University’s department of ocean scientists said Friday that two environmental groups opposed to the sale of AquAdvantage salmon for human consumption — currently being assessed by Health Canada — are rehashing old arguments that have no basis. Read more here the telegram 13:24
Court environmental victory is major setback for Cape Wind
Federal agencies violated Endangered Species Act and must go back to the drawing board to evaluate impacts and protection measures for birds and right whales. …The plaintiffs have long argued that Nantucket Sound is the wrong place for this project. The court’s decision requires the federal government to go back to the drawing board to take the required hard look at the impacts that make Cape Wind’s proposal so harmful for the environment. Read more here 13:03
P.E.I. boat manufacturer switches industries to stay afloat
Prince Edward Island’s oldest producer of fibreglass fishing boats is shifting its focus to another industry. Gordon Campbell and his son Jay own Provincial Boat and Marine Ltd. in Kensington. They say since fewer fishermen are buying boats, it’s time to diversify the business. They have decided to start manufacturing oil tanks for home heating. Read more here 12:32
Judge orders Oregon hatchery to release fewer fish
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A judge has ordered federal fish managers in Oregon to release fewer young salmon into the Sandy River this year to ensure that hatchery fish don’t harm wild fish – but has left other hatchery operations intact. Read more here 12:23
Not all king crab at festival is from Alaska’s well-managed fishery
Mike Erickson, president of Alaska Glacier Seafood Co., said by phone from Juneau that in years past, his company has been a major supplier. “But our resource is dwindling. It has to be coming from somewhere.” Read more here globeandmail.com 11:37
Reflections on the success of traditional fisheries management – Hilborn and Ovando
The argument persists that the continued overexploitation by many fisheries around the world is evidence that current approaches to fisheries management are failing, and that more precautionary management approaches are needed. We review the available estimates of the status of fish stocks from three sources: Read more here 11:31
Make way for herring
HARWICH — In the next two weeks, the herring will start their annual run from Nantucket Sound to Hinckleys Pond. But before this annual rite of spring starts, Herring River has to be cleared to make the journey a little easier. Read more here 06:55
Fishing boat runs aground near Ormond Beach; fuel tanks damaged
The boat, named Kim Thanh out of Long Beach, is intact, but the fuel tanks were compromised, said spokesman Eric Laughlin with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Office of Spill Prevention and Response. Read more here 06:40
New speckled trout rules will affect commercial fishermen
The most frequently caught fish in the Gulf will soon be off limits to part-time fishermen. The rule was needed because recreational fishermen were buying commercial licenses and selling their catches. Read more here 03:07
