Daily Archives: January 28, 2015
Central Northumberland lobstermen have high hopes after downturn
1906, 1932, 1959 and 1987. “Those were the really good years for lobster fishing in the central Northumberland Strait,” Eben Elliott said Wednesday. “There’s lots of different theories about what’s caused the highs and the lows for lobster landings, but in the end, it’s what’s going on in nature that is responsible.” The fortunes of Elliott’s family have been tied lobster stocks in the central Northumberland Strait since his great-grandfather set his first traps in Port Howe around the beginning of the 20th century. Read the rest here 21:34
Pacific Seafood Group calls off acquisition of Ocean Gold Seafoods – Fishermen press forward with the lawsuit
Pacific Seafood Group announced Tuesday it has canceled plans to acquire Ocean Gold Seafoods, citing a legal challenge from commercial fishermen who allege the purchase would expand Pacific Seafood’s monopoly power over the groundfish, whiting and coldwater shrimp markets. A federal judge granted the fishermen a temporary restraining order to block the acquisition of the Westport, Wash., fish processing plant and scheduled a hearing for early February. Read the rest here 19:50
Kodiak: Study Shows Skepticism With Fisheries Privatization
A survey of fish harvesters in Kodiak by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers shows much concern over future of fisheries access because of privatization of fishing rights. While survey data showed a range of perspectives on the effects of privatization on fishing and the Kodiak community, respondents to the study tended to talk about privatization as a significant change that had divisive, negative impacts in the community. Crewmembers and the next generation of fishermen were identified as disproportionately affected by privatization processes. Read the rest here 17:09
Pew Pornographic: ‘Eyes on the Sea’ Curtail Illegal Fishing? Spying on ALL Fishermen around the World!
The display shows 120,000 blinking white lights, each a fishing vessel equipped with AIS. While the device is mandatory, illegal operators often switch it off and no one is the wiser. Long says to combat that, Project Eyes on the Seas combines multiple sources of satellite tracking data with secret government information and documentation on every ship’s history.“The same system the fishing vessels use to predict where the fish are going to be, we can bring that environmental source into this data,, Read the rest here 13:56
Man charged after cops find explosives; he says they’re for fishing
For the second time in two days, a bomb squad and investigators searched the home of a Wilton Manors man Tuesday where police said four homemade explosive tubes, including one with nails on the outside, were confiscated the day before. Residents in four blocks surrounding Gregory Knepper’s house on the 400 block of NW 24th St. were evacuated Monday for about eight hours, Read the rest here 12:58
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 37′ Repco Lobster (High Sheer),1980, Lobster Fiberglass\Cored, CAT
Specifications, and information and 22 photos click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 11:55
Our view: Bridging NOAA’s credibility gap
Bill Karp, director of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, should have a chance later this week to bridge some fundamental gaps in trust and credibility when he delivers a report on NOAA Fisheries’ stock assessment process and scientific models program. To his credit, he concedes the enormous disconnect between what NOAA Fisheries has found in its stock assessments and what fishermen see every day on the water is a significant problem. Read the rest here 11:26
Alaska needs a major halibut bycatch reduction, by David Bayes
I’ve watched as longline and charter halibut allocations have declined steadily, and have long awaited the day when regulators would hold trawlers accountable for their waste. 
Though the halibut stocks in the Bering Sea may seem unimportant to Anchorage and the Peninsula, the Northeastern migration of growing halibut means problems that begin in the Bering Sea will soon enough carry through to our area. Though the Bering Sea is a remote region, what precedent does Alaska set by allowing this blatant abuse of one of our most valuable and symbolic resources? Read the rest here 11:11
American Shrimp Processors Association pushing for legislation to help the industry
It is estimated Americans will eat 1.5 billion pounds of shrimp this year, but it’s not 
that will benefit. According to NOAA, it’s foreign countries. In an effort to change that, members of the American Shrimp Processors Association recently met with Washington lawmakers urging them to support legislation they believe will help the shrimp industry. The “Leveling the Playing Field Act” would allow American industries, such as the shrimping industry, to be able to compete with foreign imports. Video, Read the rest here 08:18
Public Comment of Stephen Taufen, founder of Groundswell Fisheries Movement – Re: C-5 Bering Sea Halibut PSC
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