Daily Archives: January 15, 2015
More Menhaden-Scientists have found new data that may prove there’s more of the fish than once thought.
Atlantic Menhaden, the tiny fish that, two years ago, created big trouble between Chesapeake Bay environmentalists and commercial fishermen, is surfacing once more. In 2012, data indicated the fish were in trouble so regulators cut commercial harvests and fishermen lost jobs. But the data used was flawed. Read the rest here 23:08
Overreach of Obama’s National Ocean Policy Begins in NY, issues 10-year Ocean Action Plan
“This marks the first time a state member of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body for the National Ocean Policy has issued a statewide ocean action plan,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens in a statement. “This plan will help protect the more than 300 marine fish species reproducing and growing in these waters, support the valuable commercial and recreational fishing industries, as well as the 94 miles of New York State beaches that attract millions of visitors each year.” Read the rest here 22:07
Stricter West Coast fishing rules spur new technology aimed at recovering groundfish species
Sara Skamser has to do a lot less convincing these days. The owner of Newport’s Foulweather Trawl fishing net company has been a trusted business partner of West Coast trawlers for three decades, but many of them were skeptical when she began developing special nets designed to keep out unwanted species. Read the rest here 21:53
SAFETY FIRST! Southampton commercial fisherman charged with exceeding state fluke limits
A Southampton commercial fisherman charged last week with exceeding state fluke limits by 630 pounds had informed authorities of his need to return to port because of bad weather, and will fight the charges, his lawyer said Wednesday. Bill Reed, who owns two commercial fishing boats at the Shinnecock Commercial Dock in Hampton Bays, said he encountered bad weather during a Jan. 6 fluke fishing trip 50 miles from the Long Island, and made a decision to return home. Read the rest here 20:18
Fishermen’s Views of a Changing Ocean – Is it your view?
But for commercial fishermen,* 
is not a future economic problem: It is a problem right now, and it is costing fisherman both income and jobs. Is it? From the pdf version, The breakdown of those interviewed. 146 ground fishermen, 163 Mass lobstermen, = approx. 10% of Mass fishermen and lobstermen combined. 262 Me. lobstermen = approx. 5% Maine lobstermen. Read the rest here pdf version here with interesting citations, Pauly, Pappalardo, etc. 17:43
Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence – Direct link between the increase in the herd of seals and increased the mortality of cod
A study conducted by researchers from fisheries and Oceans Canada just give reason to those who believe that the grey seal is a real threat to the balance of the cod stocks. For Magdalen Islanders hunters as for Gaspé fishers, this conclusion says and just put an end to a debate that lasts for years. This article was translated from French Canadian Read the rest here 16:49
Magnuson-Stevens Act – National Standards 1, 3, 7 – Proposed Revisions
Today, a proposed rule to revise guidelines for National Standards 1, 3, and 7 was filed in the Federal Register. National Standards 1, 3, and 7 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act pertain to overfishing, rebuilding overfished stocks, and achieving optimum yield. NOAA Fisheries NMFS will accept public comments through June 30, 2015, Proposed rule (as filed version).Read the rest here 16:16
Interview: John Bullard shut down cod fishing in the region for at least six months. It’s not making him any friends.
You served three terms as mayor of New Bedford, which made you one of the chief advocates for one of the biggest fishing ports in the country. Now, with the cod fishing ban that you ordered, you’re being called the guy who’s killing the fishing industry. When I left City Hall, I was actually hired by the fishing industry. I worked for New Bedford Seafood Co-op for six months,,, Read the rest here 12:34
‘Deadliest Catch’ crabber sues Time Bandit after maiming fireworks explosion
A crab fisherman featured on “Deadliest Catch” after his hand was shattered by an exploding firework has sued his former employers, claiming they’re to blame for his injury. David “Beaver” Zielinski was working as a deckhand aboard the Time Bandit in January 2013 when a mortar-style firework blew up in his hand. Bones in Zielinski’s right hand and forearm were shattered by the explosion. Filing a lawsuit on Tuesday in King County Superior Court at Seattle,,, Read the rest here 11:36
Headline hype – Ocean ‘calamities’ oversold, say researchers
The state of the world’s seas is often painted as verging on catastrophe. But although some challenges are very real, others have been vastly overstated, researchers claim in a review paper. The team writes that scientists, journals and the media have fallen into a mode of groupthink that can damage the credibility of the ocean sciences. The controversial study exposes fault lines in the marine-science community. Read the rest here 10:31
Pine Island: New shrimp farm owner addresses concerns
“Thank you for inviting me here tonight,” Pearl said. “My farm is located about one mile south of here. We started planning about 4 or 5 months before we broke ground last August. Over the last year and a half we’ve built the largest indoor shrimp farm in the United States and probably in the world. More info here Read the rest here 09:52
Three vessels discovered fishing illegally in the Southern Ocean have links to a Spanish company
The vessels are being pursued by HMNZS Wellington, and the Minister reports that the New Zealanders have so far hailed and attempted to board two of the vessels but that their captains both refused to allow boarding. Read the rest here 09:26
Bering Select Opens First Ever Omega-3 Plant in Dutch Harbor
Bering Select, a new manufacturing facility began producing premium quality omega-3 ingredients in Dutch Harbor this week. The plant produces the rich omega-3 oils of locally caught Alaska cod and other fish species. “The Bering Sea cod fisheries are robust and produce vast amounts of a high quality omega-3, a resource not utilized until now.,, Read the rest here 08:12
