Daily Archives: February 28, 2015
Coast Guard crew frees second fishing boat in two days from ice near Woods Hole
A Coast Guard crew responded to a fishing vessel trapped in ice in Woods Hole Passage, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Saturday. This is the second case in two days that Aids to Navigation Team Woods Hole rescued a fishing crew from the ice. At about 3 p.m., the crew of the fishing boat notified watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England that they became lodged in ice while returning to New Bedford, Massachusetts after a fishing trip. 23:12
At Board of Fish, a preview of pot vs. longline conflict
The Alaska Board of Fisheries on Friday (2-27-15) took no action on a set of proposals to allow pots in the Southeast black cod fishery. The fishery is now open only to longliners, with some exceptions. But the debate was a preview of a larger fight brewing later this spring — over what kind of gear will be allowed across the entire Gulf of Alaska. Audio, Read the rest here 21:09
Maryland, Virginia Members Disagree on Atlantic Oil Drilling
The Obama administration’s recent proposal to lease oil and gas drilling in a swath of the Atlantic Ocean generated the expected mix of cheers and jeers on Capitol Hill, but local reaction was mostly divided along state borders rather than party affiliations. Marylanders are reluctant, while Virginians appear to want to charge ahead, especially if it might mean more cash in their state coffers Read the rest here 16:12
Turkey’s unilateral decision to exceed catch limits threatening Bluefin tuna recovery
Documents seen by The Associated Press and EU comments on Friday show that during an intense meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas early this week, delegates were angry at for announcing it would catch up to 73 percent more Bluefin than under an internationally agreed plan. Turkey said this week that its “longstanding and rightful demand” for a higher quota had not been met, forcing it to take independent action. Read the rest here 15:12
Why is Ottawa drawing a blank on Georges Bank?
The productivity of this bank is witnessed by the largest year class of haddock (2010) that has been recorded in the last 50 years. You would think that governments responsible for managing this unique ocean area would want to protect it from . A blowout similar to the recent Deep Water Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico would be devastating to many fishing communities in southwestern Nova Scotia and New England. Eighty per cent of Georges Bank lies in American waters. Read the rest here 11:30
Canada uses Submarines for Fishery Patrols?
new Victoria-class fleet of submarines are now operational. HMC Submarines Windsor, Victoria, and Chicoutimi were all tested out at sea in December 2014, spending approximately 260 days out on the open water. Canada’s submarines are not just a war-fighting vessel, said a Royal Canadian Navy press release, they also fulfill a variety of peacetime naval roles such as fishery patrols, surveillance on Canada’s coasts, support of maritime law enforcement, and deterrence of would-be terrorists, smugglers, and polluters. Read the rest here 10:47
Coast Guard rescues fishermen in consecutive cases in Matagorda Bay, Texas
Coast Guard boat and air crews rescued a 64-year-old man after his oyster boat went aground and began taking on water in Matagorda Bay early this morning and rescued another man after his oyster boat went aground in the same area this afternoon. At approximately 5:30 a.m., the son of the master of the oyster vessel Two Sisters contacted Station Port Aransas by phone stating his father had run aground and his boat was rapidly taking on water. Read the rest here
Lionfish Causing Problems for the Panhandle
The FWC has been bringing awareness to some of Florida’s most invasive species with Invasive Species Awareness Week. One particular highlighted menace has been creeping into the Gulf since 1985. The lionfish is causing problems for some of Florida’s native species which is in turn causing problems for both recreational and commercial fishing, especially here in the Panhandle. Video, Read the rest here 09:42
Sacramento River King Salmon hold on, but drought, heat may take toll next year
The California drought and a strange warming trend in the ocean have not yet killed off the Sacramento River’s king salmon, which are swimming off the coast unaware of all the doomsaying. That could all change next year, fisheries experts warn, when the full effect of the four-year dry spell hits the scaly creatures where they live. There are 652,000 fall run chinook salmon that were born in the Sacramento swimming in the sea right now, about 17,000 more fish than there were at this time last year, according to estimates by the National Marine Fisheries Service. Read the rest here 09:23
PETA launches second attack on Cumbrian aquarium for selling fishing tackle!
An aquarium urged to cut fish from its cafe menu is once again facing pressure to change – this time for selling tackle and bait on the premises. Ms Bekhechi said: “From hacking fish apart and dropping them into a deep fryer to tricking them into impaling themselves in the face, the Lake District Coast Aquarium looks like a rough place for fish, who studies have shown are intelligent individuals who have complex social relationships and long-term memories.” Read the rest here 07:59
