Daily Archives: January 4, 2015
Ken Cuccinelli’s post-politics endeavor: oyster farming
After losing an election, some politicians become lobbyists. Others immediately begin running for another office. Cuccinelli helped start an oyster farm on 
, in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. Praised on Fox News, scoffed at by “The Daily Show,” the outspoken conservative now seems focused on creating a new source of sustainable jobs for people on Tangier. And on how the oysters taste. Read the rest 21:50
American Samoa sets up fisheries task force
The Government of American Samoa has set up a fisheries task force to track developments posing a threat to its canneries. The task force is charged with tracking all fisheries-related developments, policies, treaties, activities and issues to ensure that the economic security and competitive advantages of the local canneries are not compromised.Read the rest here 21:31
Coast Guard conducts medevac from fishing vessel near Oahu
The Coast Guard medically evacuated a
approximately 92 miles southwest of Oahu, Sunday. The crew aboard the Lady Karen contacted watchstanders at Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu at 5:25 p.m., Friday, regarding medical assistance for an ailing crewmember with a heart condition. Read the rest here 18:34
Lobster trap seizure sparks dispute with Passamaquoddy Tribe
A dispute over tribal fishing rights in the Canadian waters of Passamaquoddy Bay has surfaced, following the recent seizure by the Canadian government of lobster traps being fished by members of the . The issue highlights tribal members’ lack of rights in Canada, since the tribe is not recognized by the federal government. Kani Malsom, a Passamaquoddy fisherman from Sipayik, says about 175 of his traps were seized this fall. “It’s our inherent right to fish on that side of the border. We never had to have a license,” Read the rest here 15:21
Jan. 5, 2015 Public Hearing, Draft Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 – Mon, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM EST
Meeting Notice – click here, Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 Public Hearing Document – click here, Staff Presentation – click here, Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 – click here, NEFMC is holding an online public hearing (webinar) for the Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 – Register here 14:12
“I’m gonna cash in and screw.” – King of New England groundfishing plans to sell his fleet out of New Bedford
The biggest player in the New England groundfishing industry says he is cashing out of the business, selling off his scallopers and later his groundfish draggers, which count among the last in t
he country’s top-grossing fishing port. Rafael refused to name the company but said his decision is in response to the state’s cutting in half the amount of federal groundfish disaster relief aid he would get. The policy applies to all Massachusetts permit holders but will affect only Rafael because he’s the only one with more qualifying permits than the 10.9 permit cap. Read the rest here 11:38
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update, January 4, 2015
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 here To read all the updates, click here 11:11
Oil-covered seal, ducks seen on Cape Freels beach
While walking along the beach, Bryden said he saw several ducks, as well as the seal, covered in oil. Bryden said the seal was not in good shape when he spotted it. “Got half of the fur scraped off both of his front legs, half of his back has no fur, but back of his neck is all scratched raw. He’s been in a lot of torture,” said Bryden. “He’s going to die a slow, long, painful death. Read the rest here 10:28
Alaska – 2014 Retrospective, Fishing Notables, Fish Picks and Pans
Alaska still has its share of naysayers who will quibble about the seafood industry’s importance to our great state. They dismiss the fact that fishing was Alaska’s first industry and was fish that spawned the push to statehood. Shrimp remained as America’s top seafood favorite, but salmon bumped canned tuna to take over the second spot. A first lawsuit challenged a new law designed to clamp down on hired skippers fishing the halibut and sablefish quota shares owned by others. Read the rest here 10:00
From Down East to the Far East, lobster exports expand
Stephanie Nadeau pulls two lobsters out of a pile and holds the pair up. One droops while the other swings out its claws and arcs its body as if ready for a fight. “He’s got plenty of energy to make it to China,” says Nadeau, a lobster dealer in Arundel. The droopy lobster gets a truck ride to a processing facility. The feisty one wins a 10,600-mile, 35-hour journey to Shanghai in an insulated air cargo container. December is the busiest time of year for lobsters heading overseas for the Christmas and New Year’s market Read the rest here 09:32
Putnam: Promise of progress in hard lessons learned
Our local fishing fleet received some early Christmas presents this month, providing for some rare good news when it comes to the regulation of their business.The four-month ban on lobstering in 912 square miles off Massachusetts which was scheduled to start on Jan. 1, 2015 has been postponed by one month. The lobstering moratorium is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. Read the rest here 09:10
