Daily Archives: December 16, 2014
Tignish fisherman continues fight with DFO over crab licence
Tignish lobster fisherman Henry Doucette says he wants justice — and compensation — for DFO denying him a lucrative career as a snow crab fisherman. Doucette blames the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for costing him millions of dollars in lost potential earnings over the past 13 years. Doucette’s lawyer Clifford Hood hopes the judge finds DFO “acted contrary to law… Read the rest here 23:41
Roof Top Protestor Paul Garrett Fraser agrees to conditions which prompted the Crown to consent to his release
Fraser, 54, of Eighth Street is charged with mischief by interfering with the lawful use of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans building on Westmount Road in Sydney. He is alleged to have climbed onto the roof shortly after 9 a.m. on Dec. 9 and came down around 4:30 p.m. and was arrested by Cape Breton Regional Police. Read the rest here 22:45
Could Canadian Fish Farms Harm California’s Wild Salmon?
An independent documentary from last year suggested that farmed salmon from the B.C. coast may pose a threat to wild salmon runs in other places, as the viruses that afflict the farmed salmon may survive the journey from fish farm to grocery store to your kitchen sink. California salmon may also be at risk when they mingle with Canadian wild salmon in the North Pacific. Read the rest here 21:07
Pregnant orca died of bacterial infection
Cottrell said the infection likely originated with the calf before spreading to the mother. He said the calf weighed 175 kilograms, and it was too soon to say whether the orca suffered long-term starvation. “With the calf dying in the womb, of course J-32 was in distress,” he said, adding it’s unlikely the mother fed for several days because of the infection and dead calf. Read the rest here 20:54
Vinalhaven Me – Father, son swim to safety after lobster boat Midnight Rider goes up in flames
A father and son were forced to swim a few hundred yards to shore after a swiftly moving fire engulfed their vessel. David Anthony and son Blake Anthony were resting Tuesday afternoon after the ordeal. Vinalhaven Fire Chief Marc Candage said the two men were fortunate to have survived swimming a long distance in such cold waters. The water temperature was about 43 degrees on Tuesday. Read the rest here 20:05
President Obama Protects Bristol Bay from Oil and Gas drilling
Today, he signed a Presidential Memorandum that withdraws these beautiful and pristine waters from all future oil and gas drilling. “These waters are too special and too valuable to auction off to the highest bidder,” the President said. Here are five things you need to know about Bristol Bay: Read the rest here 17:53
Reminder – NEFMC, Notice of Public Hearings for Habitat Amendment 2
This is a reminder that there are still five Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 public hearings scheduled before the comment period for this action ends on January 8, 2015. The remaining hearings will be held in New Bedford and Gloucester, MA, Newport News, VA, and in Brewer and Portland, ME. A webinar is scheduled for Monday, January 5, for those who cannot attend any of the hearings. Information here,, Public Hearing Doc here 16:50
Coast Guard to present award to fishing vessel captain, crew
The media is invited to an award ceremony at Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Thursday, where the Coast Guard is scheduled to recognize a Point Loma fishing boat captain and his crew for their efforts in a rescue 1,500 miles off the coast of Hawaii. Gregory Virissimo, the captain of the fishing boat, and his crew discovered the fishing boat Fu Yuan Yu 065 on fire with 11 survivors in a life raft a few feet from the burning vessel, May 2, 2014. Read the rest here 16:15
Presidential Task Force on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing and Seafood Fraud
The “recommendations for the implementation of a comprehensive framework of integrated programs to combat IUU fishing and seafood fraud that emphasizes areas of greatest need” have now been provided to the President through the National Ocean Council. The Task Force is requesting comments from key stakeholders and interest groups to advise on how to implement these recommendations. Read the rest here 15:21
The interagency love affair – Strengthening Coast Guard, NOAA partnerships
In 2013, the Coast Guard and NOAA signed the Nation’s first-ever 
, which strengthened the relationship between the two services. Even more recently, in October 2014, the Fleet Plan and Officer Exchange memorandum was signed, which acts as a supplemental document to the earlier strategy. Read the rest here 12:54
Off the hook: Research shows minimal shrimping industry impact on sea turtles
The shrimping industry’s impact on 
is at an all-time low, according to a recent study by fisheries management expert Benny Gallaway, one of the presenters at the International Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle Symposium that took place in Brownsville last month. Read the rest here 12:24
California Air National Guard rescue’s 24 year old ill Fisherman 160 miles off the coast of Monterey
Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing completed an overwater rescue mission Dec. 15, saving the life of a 24-year-old male on a commercial fishing vessel approximately 160 nautical miles off the coast of Monterey. Read the rest here 11:37
Lobster poacher gets more probation in the largest poaching case in Keys history
A federal judge extended the probation Monday of a former commercial lobster fisherman who was banned from fishing and served more than two years in federal prison in the largest poaching case in Keys history. David Dreifort, 47, found himself afoul of the law again,,, Read the rest here 08:41
Alaska’s Dan Sullivan Delighted with U.S. Senate Committee Assignments
Sullivan will serve on Armed Services, Veterans Affairs, Commerce, and Environment & Public Works, and he says he can hardly pick a favorite. “Well look, I’m pleased with all of them,” he said. “These were actually the four committees that I requested.” Audio, Read the rest here 08:31
$200k investment in Canadian cod processing
Canadian cod and , is investing in new equipment to help boost product yield and quality after receiving CAD$200,000 from the Provincial Government.The funding, provided through the Fisheries Technology and New Opportunities Programme Read the rest here 08:16
Fishermen Convicted of Improperly Harvesting Seals
Duncan Sharpe of Gander, Kevin Blackler of St. John’s, and Richard Worthman of Heart’s Delight were convicted for improperly harvesting seals in accordance with humane harvesting requirements under the Canadian federal Fisheries Act. Read more here 07:46
