Daily Archives: February 19, 2015
AK salmon permit values slump on forecast of lower fish prices
2014 was one of the busiest years ever for brokers who help Alaskans buy, sell and trade fishing permits and quota shares. Olivia Olsen runs Alaskan Quota and Permits in Petersburg. Early March through May is when sales pick up for salmon permits. Early indicators point to lower salmon prices this year in a plentiful market, and that’s having a downward press on permit prices – notably, at Alaska’s bellwether sockeye fishery at Bristol Bay. Read the rest here 20:02
Nova Scotia lobster exports grow! A cargo flight to east Asia that can carry up to 100,000 kg has settled into a weekly schedule
Here, some call them cockroaches of the sea. There, people see them as majestic dragons. China’s appreciation of Nova Scotia lobster is good news for local fishermen who have had trouble getting the past few years’ huge catches to market. Frozen lobster exports have risen exponentially, and the new Korea Air cargo flight helps smooth the way for the higher-priced live exports, said Mike Wolthers, a self-described “cargo travel agent” at Kintetsu World Express Canada. Read the rest here 19:41
Nominee Maw faces marathon board confirmation hearing
Roland Maw may not get confirmed for the Board of Fisheries until he hears from every Alaskan who’s ever cast a line or a net, whether politician or private citizen. More than 40 people registered for public comment online and were heard only after some aggressive questioning by committee members worried about Maw’s priorities, particularly his involvement with the Cook Inlet commercial fleet, the lawsuits of his former employer, and the consistency of his science and biology championing. Read the rest here 14:33
Fisherman Anthony Coffey’s funeral Fund – Please help if you can
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.” Please, if you can, contribute. Anthony left behind his wife, and two small boys, his Mother, and many loved ones. A Please click here 13:43
Buyers Say No: “The lobster levy is dead in Southwest Nova Scotia, absolutely, no question about it,”
A “unanimous no” vote this week has put the future of a Maritime-wide lobster marketing levy in doubt. The levy would take one cent per pound from fishermen and another cent per pound from buyers to pay for a generic marketing campaign run by the industry.In Nova Scotia, the levy would raise $1.8 million annually from fishermen. Terry Zinck, a lobster buyer in Clarks Harbour, was at the Tuesday vote that included most South Shore buyers. Read the rest here 12:42
Mid-Atlantic Council to Hold Workshop on Deep Sea Coral Zone Boundaries
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted during its meeting last week to postpone final action on its Deep Sea Corals Amendment in order to allow for further analysis of the alternatives and to provide additional opportunities for stakeholder input. In the coming months, the Council will convene a workshop with its advisory panels, coral experts, and other stakeholders to review and potentially refine the discrete protection areas being considered. Read the rest here Deep Sea Corals Amendment 11:26
High Liner sets record with $1b in sales
High Liner Foods says its annual sales surpassed the $1-billion mark for the first time ever in 2014 as two recent acquisitions offset the negative effect of a weaker Canadian dollar and higher one-time costs. The Nova Scotia-based frozen seafood company’s sales in the fourth quarter were up 6.5 per cent from the same year-earlier period at US$266.9 million, while annual sales rose 11 per cent or $104.3 million to $1.05 billion. Read the rest here 10:55
Harbour Breton plant should be operating later this year – waiting to ensure salmon anemia was no longer an issue
Last year, Barry Group decided not to renew Cooke Aquaculture’s lease to process fish at the plant in Harbour Breton, leaving about 150 plant workers in the lurch. Employees at the plant were concerned about what they said was an uncertain future after Cooke Aquaculture said it wouldn’t be continuing operations at the site. The plant was shut down because of an outbreak of salmon anemia. Then, the Barry Group decided not to renew Cooke Aquaculture’s lease. Read the rest here 10:32
Forum hosted by Vitter – Agriculture, forestry, seafood experts discuss key topics in Alexandria
Other topics Wednesday included the effect of government regulations, the slow recovery of commercial fishing following the BP oil spill, safety concerns about imported seafood and the risk to Louisiana’s timberland posed by a shrinking fire protection budget. “We spent millions of dollars on commercials convincing the rest of the country everything is ok, but it’s not really ok,” Barisich said, referring to the publicity campaign launched after the spill that was aimed at promoting Louisiana seafood. Read the rest here 08:46
Where’s the accountability from NOAA?, Sam Parisi, Gloucester, Mass
When I was growing up, my dad — a fishermen — told me that, no matter what I do in life, I have to be accountable. What I cannot understand is how, after our fishermen have done everything to comply with NOAA restrictions over the last 20 years, NOAA scientists can say that our groundfish stocks are depleted, cod biomass at 3 percent. If the head of NOAA was the CEO of Wendy’s, he or she would be replaced. So why is it, year after year, those at NOAA still get paid every week, every year, regardless if they or their policies succeed? Read the rest here 08:20
N.C. Charter Boat Captains not happy with proposed rules – Video
There weren’t very many positive words for the Marine Fisheries Commission at a public meeting Wednesday night. Charter boat captains are not happy with some proposed rules, especially with their log books. Captains would have to record what they see and catch. They say they don’t know what the commission will do with the information, and they worry they’ll be shut down because of it. Captains also said they just don’t think they’ll have time to fill out the logs. Read the rest here 07:54
