Monthly Archives: June 2014
Coast Guard conducts safety inspections as Bristol Bay fishery begins
Over the course of nine days, the inspection teams issued approximately 303 examination decals and inspected an estimated 20 percent of the anticipated 1,200 vessels taking part in the fishery. During their stay in Dillingham, Coast Guard vessel inspectors met with fishermen to discuss regulations. Read more here 22:50
9 dead, 3 missing after trawlers collide off Peru
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Nine commercial fishermen died and three were missing after two trawlers collided off Peru’s central coast, capsizing one of the vessels officials said Tuesday. Read more here 22:45
The Mercury-Laden Fish Floated for School Lunches – Dogfish
From the article: Cussed Dogfish – New England fishermen have hated dogfish for a long time, and there has never been a significant domestic market for the species. New York Times articles penned more than a century ago bemoan the dogfish as “cussed,” “ferocious” and so thick “it’s good-bye fishin’.” Read more here 19:53
RFA calls Intersector trading concept “corrupt”
During a decade of debate on catch shares and individual fishing quota (IFQ) programs, proponents of this fisheries privatization plan have argued that the scheme isargued that the scheme. More recently however, the concept of intersector trading policies which would allow commercial IFQ holders, for-hire captains and organizations has gained traction in coastal communities. Read more here 17:32
Friendship, Maine – Arson caused by escalating feud between fishermen – So much for Friendship!
The feud reportedly began with lobster traps being cut, then progressed to gunshots fired at Donald Simmons and at James Simmons’ boat, and finally escalated to the arson fires. Video, Read more here 16:42
F/V Sea Angel catches fire at Providence scrap yard
Firefighters were called to a report of an intense fire on the Sea Angel out of New York shortly after 11 a.m. The boat was at the metal yard for below deck repairs. Providence fire officials told NBC 10 the fire was caused by welding work. Read more here 16:04
Pilot Point, Alaska – 1 fisherman dies, 1 missing after skiff overturns
PILOT POINT, Alaska (AP) — A commercial fisherman died and another is missing after a skiff overturned on the Ugashik (oo-GA’-shik) river near Pilot Point on the north side of the Alaska Peninsula. Read more here 14:16
Stronger restrictions adopted affecting California’s drift gill net fishery
West Coast fishery managers on Monday adopted stringent regulations against California’s swordfish and thresher shark drift gill net fishery, laying the framework to more aggressively limit its bycatch of endangered ocean species. Read more here 12:03
Will Suffolk County Fight for Fair Fishing Quotas?
(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) announced today that he has filed legislation asking the County Attorney to explore legal action against the Federal Government on behalf of Suffolk’s commercial fishermen. Read more here 11:10
Connecticut’s Waterways Take a Chemical Bath – (and they wonder why the River Herring are in trouble?)
Industrial facilities dumped 224,029 pounds of toxic chemicals into Connecticut’s waterways in 2012, according to a new report by the Environment Connecticut Research & Policy Center. Read more here 09:41
All hands on deck for Alaska plan to solve marine worker shortage
With our massive land endowment and bragging rights as the largest state in the nation, it’s easy to lose sight of an important fact – Alaska is a maritime state.,, The waters off Alaska’s shores produce more than 60 percent of the nation’s seafood harvest. Read more here 09:32
Pictou fish plant depends on foreign workers program, says owner
Paul Logan can’t get enough local workers in Pictou County to operate his fish processing business. “It’s just not the type of work they want to do in Pictou County,” the owner of North Nova Seafoods said in an interview Monday. Read more here 07:59
Snobby Wealthy Neighbors raise ante in oyster fight
MASHPEE — Residents opposed to a proposed oyster farm in Popponesset Bay are asking the state’s highest court to weigh in on the dispute. The homeowners’ attorney, Brian Wall of Sandwich, has filed an appeal of part of their case to the Supreme Judicial Court. Read more here 07:35
Software helps track shrimp back to Gulf
For those not fortunate enough to pull their seafood straight out of the water, it can be hard to tell where that shrimp originated from once its swimming in a scampi sauce or piled into a po’boy. That anonymity has been a challenge for Gulf fishermen for some time. A software program is changing that. Read more here 19:55
The Bristol Bay Run Summary For Sunday Shows No Harvest and Slowly Building Escapement
Commercial fishermen across Bristol Bay are waiting on fish and fishing time as the sockeye run appears to be building slowly. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s run summary for Sunday does not note any commercial harvest on Sunday despite the fact,,,Read more here 19:06
Sea King replacements: $7.6B Cyclone maritime helicopters lack key safety requirement
The Conservative government has agreed to accept new helicopters to replace Canada’s 50-year-old fleet of Sea Kings even though they don’t meet a key requirement recommended for marine helicopters by Canada’s air safety investigator, CBC News has learned. Read more here 18:31
Scott Lang – Northeast Fisheries Science Center cannot ignore other fishery data
From the article: Prior to the June meeting, NEFSC hosted an “empirical approach” TRAC Yellowtail Benchmark meeting in April to “evaluate all relevant data sources with respect to their support for alternative hypotheses on stock status and . . . their directional impact on catch advice.” With NEFSC pledging that the “empirical approach” meeting would be new, innovative, inclusive, and transparent, there was much hype leading up to the April “Empirical Approach” meeting. NEFSC has been criticized in the past for a lack of transparency,,, Read more here 17:41
Traceability to help Newfoundland tell its unique story to the world
The world will now be able to find out if their seafood came from such colourfully named places as Black Duck Brook, Cow Head, Spirity Cove, Shag Island and a place simply known as The Bank. These are only a few of the 80 Newfoundland fishing ports where traceable Atlantic halibut and lobster will come ashore this spring and summer. Read more here This Fish website here 14:47
Request for applicants – Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee; Vacancies
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee. The Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security on various matters relating to the safe operation of commercial fishing industry vessels. Read more here 13:36
Whaling and the death penalty: US accused of hypocrisy – Iceland shunned at Kerry’s Ocean Palooza
A SENIOR Icelandic government minister has hit back at American criticism of his country on whaling by saying the US was in no position to talk while it continued to execute people, including innocent victims. Finance Minister, Bjarni Benediktsson, said the US should not take the moral high ground while the death penalty remained in many states. Read more here 13:14
Kasilof setnetters to open, some face gear restrictions
As sockeye salmon continue to slam into the Kasilof River, a portion of the commercial set gillnet fishery will get a chance to intercept salmon in the second largest escapement measured on the river. Read more here 09:17
Decades in the making, salmon-deboning Pinbone Wizard ready for market
Despite the name, don’t confuse the Pinbone Wizard the with classic The Who song about pinball. Though once you see the machine in action, quickly and efficiently pulling the tiny pin bones out of a salmon filet without wrecking the meat, it’s hard not to walk away with the descending chord progression of the classic rock song stuck in your head. Read more here 09:08
Tradex 3-Minute Market Insight – Poor Year for Russian Pink Salmon Ahead, Depleted Inventories of Chums
Packers in China indicate a poor year for Russian Pink Salmon ahead, pre-season estimates suggest higher returns than last year, but supply will still be tight. Depleted inventory levels of GMC Chum in China has left buyers looking for any GMC fish they can get. The Russian Government plans to cancel quotas of fishermen that produce less than 70 percent of their catch and will sell the seized quota at auction. Watch the 3-Minute Market Insight 08:59
Experts believe wind farm plans will permanently damage fishing
Plans for a huge wind farm off the Hampshire coast have sparked fears that the project will damage the county’s salmon fishing industry. Natural England, the agency that advises the Government on wildlife issues, claims the construction of the Navitus Bay scheme will prevent salmon from returning to their spawning grounds. Read more here 08:32
Shored-up fisheries museum to emerge stronger
Windows were cracked, doors didn’t match up, floors sloped and ducks made a home out of the impromptu pond that formed on the roof after rain.,, The biggest problem was the building’s supports.,,It meant the museum had to move 34,000 of its 48,000 artifacts last year to be stored in a nearby school that had closed the previous year. Read more here 07:16
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update, June 22, 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 more here 15:08:40
Maine to fight Canada’s hold on lobster processing – A November bond referendum would dedicate $7 million in public money .
The Canadian Maritimes have long dominated the lobster processing industry, but Maine officials are hoping an upcoming bond referendum will allow the state to claw back the revenue, taxes and jobs it has been sending north of the border for years. Read more here 12:57
Uncivil War Brews Over Summer Flounder as Waters Warm
The summer flounder – one of the most sought-after catches on the U.S. East Coast – is stirring up a climate change battle as it glides through the sand and grasses at the bottom of a warming North Atlantic. Some scientists say in recent years the species has begun adapting in another way. As the Atlantic Ocean has warmed, they say, the fish have headed north. (like codfish? yellow tail flounder? hmm?) Read more here 10:05
Bonavista man dies in fishing vessel incident
RCMP said a man has died at sea, off the Bonavista peninsula. Police said the incident happened on a fishing vessel on Friday, about 280 kilometres off the shores of Bonavista. Pleman Strickland, 42, from the Bonavista area, got caught in a fishing net, and was. The boat arrived back in the Bonavista harbour on Saturday afternoon. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning. cbcnews 09:01
