Daily Archives: February 17, 2015
1 Fisherman found dead, 1 rescued from Gulf
A shrimping trip turned tragic after a Pasco County boat sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, claiming the life of 29-year-old Anthony Coffey. His cousin, William Coffey, 17, was found hours earlier, clinging to a life vest.”We found out it was going down so we all hurried up and come back to the dock and unloaded our stuff and then we all went out searching for him,” said Matthew Hubbard, a cousin of the two men. The mayday call came in at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday from the Miss Melody Video, Read the rest here 22:24
And in New Jersey, Now They Want to Privatize Wildlife Management – No, I’m Not Kidding
The Greedy Green Mafia Strikes Again! As if Gov. Christie’s recent privatization of NJ’s water resources wasn’t bad enough, they’ve gone way too far now. And this one has the Keep It Green Coalition and/or NJ Audubon’s fingerprints all over it. I am referring to proposed legislation (S2624), sponsored by Republican Senator “Kippy” Bateman, that would establish a “private wildlife” management program. Read the rest here 20:27
Really? Gloucester officials unaware of fishery disaster funding role
Gloucester city officials, caught unaware of the city’s expected role in distributing federal fishery disaster funds to eligible local shore-side businesses, were scrambling today to determine exactly what the city must do to help get funds to affected businesses along the city’s waterfront. The question is whether the city should already have known about its role in the process of distributing the disaster relief to shore-side businesses in the second phase of funding. The state detailed the criteria for distribution in its fishery disaster relief application to NOAA Fisheries last September 30. Read the rest here 19:44
Changes to the Fisheries Act have some people concerned of potential harm to Atlantic Canada’s coast.
“All other industries have been able to comply with the general provisions of this act and still remain viable,” Bill Ernst, a former toxicologist with Environment Canada, told reporters on Tuesday. “In my opinion, the reason that the changes are being made is just to reduce the oversight of Environment Canada, who is the administrator of that section of the [Fisheries] Act and allow the industry more free access to some of the higher-risk chemicals” used to kill sea lice. Read the rest here 15:06
An Excellent Five Part Photo Series – Building a Wooden Lobster Boat
I love wooden lobster boats. This is a five part series, from start, to finish at Johns Bay Boat Company located in South Bristol, ME. The photographs were shot by Walt Barrows Photography. They are perfect. The craftsmanship of the builder is evident in every photograph. Being built by the John’s Bay Boat Company for James R. Tripp from Spruce Head, Maine. Boat is 46-feet, 3 inches long. Work began in July 2014. Click here for the images. 14:36
Do Not Allow Proposed Environmentally Damaging Aquaculture Activities Regulations – Coalition to Canadian Prime Minister
Business leaders, commercial and recreational fishing associations, scientists, lawyers and environmentalists are calling on Prime Minister Harper to halt the implementation of the proposed Aquaculture Activities Regulations. The changes will exempt the aquaculture industry from the Fisheries Act provisions that “prohibit the release of deleterious substances into water frequented by fish.” Read the rest here 13:55
Menemsha Fishmonger Sees Hope for Future in Blue Mussel Farm
The Vineyard’s first offshore blue mussel farm has a new owner with a long-term vision for the local fishing industry. Stanley Larsen, owner of Menemsha Fish Market, recently took over a shellfish grant for the continued operation of the aquaculture farm, which was established off Chilmark in 2006 with federal and local funding. Read the rest here 13:37
Audio Presentation: Eavesdropping on the Private Lives of Cod
If you want to protect New England’s most iconic fish and still allow fishermen to catch them, it’s critical to know when and where they reproduce. The trouble is, we don’t. It turns out cod and humans may not be as different as you’d think. Chris McGuire, marine programs director for The Nature Conservancy, says cod spawning (a.k.a. baby-making) behavior is a lot like a night club scene. Read the rest here 13:02
Video: Bitter cold weather is taking a toll on Portland’s fishing industry, and restaurants as well
Because of the weather, fishermen can’t take advantage of the higher demand for their catch. “I think a lot of guys want to go fishing because the market’s very good right now. There’s been a very high demand and low supply, but a lot of guys just don’t want to leave based on the condition of the harbor, because once you get out, there’s a very good chance, you come back, it’s still going to be frozen over. You’ve got a fiberglass hull fishing boat, it’s kind of dangerous,” said Bert Jongerden with the Portland Fish Exchange. Read the rest here 12:42
CSU Monterey Bay study backs targeted bottom trawling
The icy standoff between fishermen and environmentalists over trawling may thaw a bit thanks to new and more targeted research on its effects. James Lindholm, a professor of marine science and policy at CSU Monterey Bay, partnered with commercial fishermen and conservationists to study the effects of bottom trawling near Morro Bay. Together, they found that trawling with a small-diameter net had a negligible impact when fishing in areas with soft, sandy ocean floor. It confirmed what many fishermen already believed. Read the rest here,
Inverness Mounties nab yet another fugitive seal
Inverness District RCMP always get their man, and increasingly these days, their marine mammal. Mounties were called to Highway 19 just north of Port Hastings on Saturday after a seal was spotted on the highway. Officers found the critter and relocated him or her to the Strait of Canso off the Port Hawkesbury wharf. Although police took the animal into custody, briefly, no charges were laid. Read the rest here 11:03
DNV GL Rules for US Fishing Vessels
The fishing vessel industry fatality rate is 30 times higher than the average of all US industries. To address this, US legislation requires that all new fishing vessels bigger than 50 feet must be built to classification rules. DNV GL is the only classification society to develop rules specifically for the US domestic fishing fleet, addressing how fishing vessels are designed, built and maintained for safety. Read the rest here 10:47
State review triggers talk of cutting back Alaska’s Commercial Fisheries Limited Entry Commission
A new state review suggests the three-member state commission overseeing some of Alaska’s most lucrative commercial fisheries is prone to inefficiency and ripe for overhaul, with a few employees who are paid but rarely show up at the office. The review of , conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, comes as officials struggling with a forecast $3.5 billion shortfall look to trim state spending. Read the rest here 08:13
American lobster: the new Chinese New Year delicacy – a good-luck symbol but also a mark of prosperity
Now on the menu in Beijing for Chinese New Year: lots and lots of American lobster. Exports of U.S. lobster to China have rocketed in the past few years, largely to satisfy the appetites of the communist country’s growing middle class, to whom a steamed, whole crustacean — flown in live from the United States — is not just a festive delicacy and . Read the rest here 07:38
