Daily Archives: January 5, 2015
Trudeau offers support to Newfoundland over disputed fisheries fund
Federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he supports Newfoundland and Labrador’s bid to get the federal government to spell out its financial commitment for a special fisheries fund. The Newfoundland and Labrador government says Ottawa set up the Fisheries Investment Fund in exchange for the province giving up minimum processing requirements for fish plants as part of a free trade agreement with the European Union. Read the rest here 22:29
County authorizes tourism grant of $300,000 to dredge Oregon Inlet
Dare County commissioners voted Monday morning to authorize providing local money for dredging Oregon Inlet. The Dare County Tourism Board approved a grant of $300,000 last month to help secure matching state funds to contract with the Army Dare County Tourism Board for a dredge to clear out the latest shoaling blocking the channel under and just east of the navigation span of the Bonner Bridge. Read the rest here 21:33
PFMC Scientific and Statistical Committee to Meet Via Webinar 1 p.m. PT, Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (Council’s) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will hold an online webinar to review new methodologies proposed for 2015 west coast groundfish stock assessments. The online SSC webinar is open to the public. The SSC webinar will commence at and continue until 3 p.m. Click here for Agenda, and webinar registration 19:31
2014 Arctic Year in Review
With the year drawing to a close, Eye on the Arctic is looking back at this year’s news and events with some of our experts from around the globe. In the coming days, we’ll be checking in with them for their views on all things Arctic, and what they’ll be watching for in 2015. Arctic Council, indigenous issues, energy – 2014 Arctic Year in Review Read part 1 here – Politics, media misinformation and #sealfie — 2014 Arctic Year in Review Read part 2 here 18:49
Carlos Rafael in talks to sell scallop vessels to Canadian Cooke Aquaculture
In a deal put together by Sam Daniels, currently president of Wanchese and one of the owning families, Canadian salmon farmer Cooke is also in talks to buy Rafael’s 12 New Bedford-based scallop vessels, sources said. For Rafael, part of the deal is that the vessels leave Massachusetts. “I don’t want them to bring in $1 for this state again.” He then plans to sell his fleet of 37 working groundfish vessels, he said. This would leave only 11 left in the port. What a guy! Read the rest here 17:46
For sea lion pups, it’s a battle to survive
When baby sea lions are healthy, the curious and bright-eyed creatures sit up on their front flippers and take in the world around them. When humans approach, they skedaddle and leave nothing behind except a fishy, musky smell. But along the Central Coast in 2013, the pups were often down to skin and bones. To marine biologists, the deaths were the clearest sign yet that California sea lions, whose numbers skyrocketed for decades, are now smacking up against the limits of their environment. Read the rest here 17:17
FWC announces new law enforcement director
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced a new law enforcement director, Col. Curtis Brown. Brown, known among colleagues at the FWC and partner agencies for his dedication to conservation, will oversee more than 1,000 employees in the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement.“We are excited about Col. Brown’s passion and positive attitude,” Read the rest here 16:36
Father, Son Charged For Overfishing Summer Flounder in Southampton
A father and son fishing team from Hampton Bays are facing misdemeanor illegal commercialization charges after New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) caught them violating summer flounder trip limits when their boat returned to port in Southampton late last month. Two ECOs boarded the FV Mary Elizabeth, a 60-foot Stern trawler, when it returned to port on December 22 at the Southampton town dock in Shinnecock Inlet. Read the rest here 16:09
First Bluefin Tuna of the New Year Sold for $37,500 in Tokyo
A sushi restaurant chain owner paid ¥4.51 million ($37,500) for a 180 kilogram Bluefin tuna at the first auction of the year in Tokyo’s Tsukiji fish market. Kiyoshi Kimura, president of Kiyomura Co., has won the year’s first bid for four consecutive years since 2012. He told reporters Monday after his purchase that it was cheaper than he had expected thanks to a successful haul of tuna near the Tsugaru strait this year. Read the rest here 15:11
Fish Distribution: Warmer waters shake up Shore fishing
“Marine fish are very sensitive to a change in temperature — they can only survive in a narrow range, so they are seeking out cooler waters toward the poles and deeper in the ocean,” he said. “And deeper generally means farther from shore.” As the species shift north, fishing industries are hampered in making adjustments because federal fishing quotas that determine how much of each species can be caught are based on decades-old data. “The regulations are based on the idea that fish distributions are static. Read the rest here 11:06
Keys fishery issues back on tap
The ban and a lack of consistent fishing regulations among the major government fishery agencies that have jurisdiction in Keys waters has led to the formation of a committee to look at South Florida fishing regulations. The committee — which is comprised of members from South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management councils and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) — will meet for three days in Key West starting Jan. 13 Read the rest here 10:18
Job Opening! NOAA – Title: Director, Office of Enforcement – Can YOU Cut the Mustard?
Salary Range: $120,479.00 to $181,500.00 / Per Year – Duty Location: 1 vacancy in the following location: Silver Spring, MD – Job Summary: Unlock secrets in deep oceans, track rapidly moving storms, operate state-of-the-art environmental satellites, chart the Nation’s waterways, formulate models to forecast climate trends, protect and preserve our living marine resources…it’s all in a day’s work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)! Join a dedicated workforce committed to a vital mission: safeguarding the public, protecting natural resources, strengthening the economy. A career that makes a world of difference! Job particulars here 08:11
