Daily Archives: January 17, 2015
For Immediate Release: Press Conference – January 19, 2015 AT 1 PM – LOCATION: THE FISHING VESSEL ‘PROVIDENCE’, COMMERCIAL DOCK
CAPTAIN REED, ONE ON THE MOST RESPECTED FISHEMEN IN SHINNECOCK, IS FACING A CRIMINAL RECORD, POSSIBLE JAIL AND THE LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE FOR HIS FAMILY BY THE LOSS OF VALUABLE FISHING PERMITS IF HE IS CONVICTED OF THIS CHARGE. HE INTENDS TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY ON MARCH 4, 2015 BEFORE THE HON. BARBARA WILSON, IN THE SOUTHAMPTON TOWN JUSTICE COURT AND DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE TRIAL TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE. Read the rest here 20:00
Northbay Pelagic fish factory blaze in Peterhead brought under control
The building involved was formerly the Fresh Catch fish factory. The firm was taken over in a “joint venture” by new company Northbay Pelagic Ltd in 2013. Photos, Read the rest here 19:13
Aleut Corp., Adak finally receive access to pollock quota
Things have been rough for the western Aleutians town of Adak over the last decade, but the pollock season beginning Jan. 26 will finally make the town some money. After being passed over for Community Development Quota, suffering the closure of its Naval air base, then held under the thumb of Steller sea lion restrictions that essentially closed the Aleutian Islands subarea to pollock fishing, the Aleut Corp. and Adak will be able to harvest the 17,400 metric tons, or 38.3 million pounds, of pollock quota they were allotted 10 years ago by the late Sen. Ted Stevens. Read the rest here 17:45
Loophole allows illegal fishing harvests
A rowboat, kayak or inflatable raft should not classify as a licensed commercial fishing boat, say state fishery regulators. Current state laws on qualifying for certain commercial fishing licenses include a “loophole” that needs to be closed, according to a commercial fishing group and staff with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “Right now it’s far too easy to get a [restricted-species endorsement] falsely,” said Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. Read the rest here 17:19
Nantucket: Concerns Over Small Mesh Trawling for Squid Surface at DMF Hearing
New regulations for squid, conch and striped bass fisheries were among the topics of a wide-ranging public hearing Wednesday at the Katharine Cornell Theatre. About 20 people, including commercial fishermen from on and off the Island, provided comments on eight draft and emergency regulations proposed by the Division of Marine Fisheries. Read the rest here 13:16
Lobbying for lobster: N.S. pumps up markets
Geoff Irvine had one nugget of advice for the culinary students he addressed this week. “Learn Mandarin,” the executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada told the aspiring chefs, providing a clue as to where he thinks the lobster market is heading. For now, though, Irvine’s attention is on two issues: environmental certification for the industry, and finalizing a levy on lobster catches. Read the rest here 11:49
Governor Baker should meet this fisherman, too
Here’s a guy whose brain Governor Charlie Baker should pick. And on the double. Baker’s chief of staff, Steven Kadish, should scan the gubernatorial schedule and make room for Scituate fisherman Frank Mirarchi before the month is out. Why the urgency? Because our new governor himself has demanded it. “I promise — I’m telling you point-blank — that this administration is going to directly engage this issue, and we are going to engage it early in giving it priority,” Read the rest here 10:56
Seafood marketers face challenges in 2015
are facing some strong headwinds heading into 2015, notably, for sockeye salmon and crab. Snow crab is Alaska’s largest crab fishery, underway now in the Bering Sea. The fleet has a slightly increased 61 million pound catch quota; boats also are tapping on a hefty bairdi Tanner crab catch, the larger cousin of snow crab. Read the rest here 10:39
Red’s Best Seafood owner accused of violations
Jared Auerbach faces two charges of untagged striped bass, two charges of untagged shellfish, undersize conch and a public access ramp violation, according to Massachusetts Environmental Police spokesman Peter Lorenz. Read the rest here 09:50
NOAA science attacked at forum
As expected, Friday’s public hearing on the state of the region’s commercial fishing industry wasn’t exactly laden with magic solutions for reversing the fortunes of the beleaguered industry. Bullard largely defended NOAA’s ability to assemble the best available science,,,But when Fisheries Commission member Al Cottone, asked him if he felt confident that he was receiving the best available science to serve as the basis for his policy decisions, Bullard conceded that it’s not perfect. “There’s always uncertainty with the science,” Bullard said. “But the science coming out of Woods Hole is really good science.” Read the rest here 09:02
