Monthly Archives: February 2015
Itchin’ for a Fight! Métis hopeful fishing trip will end with court victory
Three Métis fishermen had their fish and nets confiscated during the weekend after illegally catching and selling their catch, and they couldn’t be happier. However, the men tipped officials from Fish and Wildlife Enforcement on the scheme, hoping to be charged. Their goal is to have a court rule whether or not they have a right to fish throughout an area straddling the Alberta-Saskatchewan border. Read the rest here 15:07
Fishermen OK with colder weather on way, as Mother Nature chills the Keys
Commercial fishermen are one group of locals who welcome the cooler, breezy weather. “A little weather is always welcome to get fish, especially spiny lobster, stone crabs and mutton snapper, moving and feeding,” said Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. “This type of weather moves fish like mutton snapper out of the back country and over to the ocean side, where they aggregate on patch reefs and along the reef line.” Read the rest here 14:32
It takes fish to make fish – Larry Engel
The uptick in silvers to the Mat-Su is part of what we on the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Fish and Wildlife Commission were asking for last February when we took our plea to the Alaska Board of Fisheries, the state’s highest fisheries regulating board. In February, by a vote of 7 to 0, the Board of Fisheries agreed on changes to commercial fishing regulations for the drift gillnet fleet in Upper Cook Inlet. Read the rest here 13:44
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update FEB 15, 2015
The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the update here To read all the updates, click here 10:45
Wicked Tuna Fisherman Tyler McLaughlin Receives Prestigious First Responder Award
New Hampshire fisherman Captain Tyler McLaughlin was named as a 2015 Hero by the Red Cross of Northwest Massachusetts for his heroic efforts rescuing a sinking vessel in October 2014. The prestigious First Responder Award was presented to McLaughlin by American Red Cross Board Member DawnMarie Corneau at the season four premiere of National Geographic Channel’s hit series Wicked Tuna at the New England Boat Show. Read the rest here 10:00
Virginia Marine Police arrest two accused of poaching thousands of protected fish
Marine police have had numerous complaints about poaching in the southern branch of the Elizabeth River over the last two weeks, according to Marine Police Officer Bill Thompson. Marine police had found many untended, illegal and hidden nets that had trapped and killed between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds of protected fish species in that waterway recently. Both Yuan Li of Chesapeake and Bi Chen of Norfolk have been charged with several Class 1 misdemeanors and there are several felony charges still pending,,, Video, Read the rest here 08:10
Coast Guard cutter Polar Star frees fishing vessel Antarctic Chieftain trapped in ice
The vessel called the Antarctic Chieftain, got out of its icy trap Friday night with the assistance of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Polar Star. The Antarctic Chieftain’s 26-person crew is fine, with plenty of provisions and fuel. They got a Valentine’s Day present of sugar cookies from the Polar Star crew. The Polar Star got a call for help Tuesday night and sailed for two and a half days to reach the Australian vessel. Read the rest here 03:49
Sport fishing priority leaves most of us (the consumer’s) out
The authors of this OpEd assert that “recreational fishers contribute vastly more income to our state’s economy …” than commercial interests and further state that “Overall, recreational fishing is a $1 billion industry in Washington.” Dr. Hans Radtke, a natural resource economist from Oregon, published a comprehensive study on Washington commercial fisheries in January 2011 documenting $3.9 billion in economic activity by all commercial fisheries in Washington State. Read the rest here 19:53
Three too many in the waters of Maine today. All Survived.
Addison man rescued after spending 30 minutes in the waters of Eastern Harbor – “The subject was going out to tend his boat, which was on a mooring, [and] with the storm coming in, people want to get things tidied up,” Moore said. “He was in a small skiff and we don’t know how, but he wound up in the water in excess of 30 minutes.” Read the rest here Capt. Charles Philbrook ferry rescues fishermen from sinking boat – Two fishermen aboard the 35-foot Loretta, homeport Matinicus Island, were rescued this morning, Feb. 14, at approximately 9 a.m. by the crew aboard the Capt. Charles Philbrook ferry, which runs from Rockland to Vinalhaven. Read the rest here 17:49
High seas fishing ban could boost global catches, equality
We should use international waters as the world’s fish bank,” says U. Rashid Sumaila, director of the UBC Fisheries Economics Research Unit and lead author of the study. “Restricting fisheries activities to coastal waters is economically and environmentally sensible, particularly as the industry faces diminishing returns.” Read the rest here 16:43
Crab prices spike to $9 a pound in advance of Chinese New Year
As the Dungeness crab season reached the end of its peak this month, commercial crab fishermen saw a massive increase in what processors paid per pound. In Oregon and Washington, fishermen reported they were getting about $9 per pound. Some heard rumors that this could skyrocket to $11 right before Valentine’s Day. The season started in December at a negotiated price of $3.10 per pound, which later rose to $3.50 per pound, an increase over last year when fishermen saw prices of $2.62 per pound at the start of the season. By Christmas, fishermen were getting close to $4.50 a pound. Read the rest here 12:16
North Pacific Fishery Management Council adds 50% option for bycatch cut
In January, the 
put a Band-Aid on a Bering Sea halibut situation that needs a blood transfusion from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council. Halibut fishermen earned a breather in 2015, with slightly raised allocations all around and a status quo 1.285 million pounds for the central Bering Sea quota holders, but the bulk of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s February meeting took a look at every way possible to get those numbers higher. Read the rest here 11:38
Louisiana coastal restoration: State studying diversions’ effects on economy, fishing
Louisiana’s coastal restoration officials said the state has embarked on a comprehensive socioeconomic analysis of the effects of four proposed sediment diversions along the lower Mississippi River on coastal communities and the economy.The plan includes studying the effects of land loss without the diversions and the effects of the diversions over time on various segments of the state’s economy, including commercial and recreational fishing, the oil and gas industry, and hazard and flood insurance rates,,, Read the rest here 10:47
Pacific Bluefin Tuna – why California’s fishermen are impacted
Recent actions and findings by international, federal and state fishery managers will result in reduced commercial and recreational take of Pacific Bluefin tuna. California based purse-seine vessels will see their catch limit reduced by a minimum of 40%. California based recreational anglers will see their daily bag limit reduced from 10-fish to 2-fish. New filet regulations developed with input from enforcement, scientists, and the sportfishing community were recently approved by the California Fish and Game Commission which will impact how you process your fish at sea. Read the rest here 10:25
You Asked For It! New U.S. recreational fisheries policy announced
NOAA Fisheries
Public meeting scheduled for input on Magnuson-Stevens fishery guidelines – Make your Public Comment!
Everyone’s got a chance to weigh in on possible revision of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act Guidelines. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration () has scheduled a public meeting and comment period to hear from the public. NMFS announced in the Federal Register of Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 that it will accept comments until June 30 and conduct a meeting on Wednesday, March 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. Read the rest here 08:21
State warns that Oregon LNG project could disrupt fishing
Warning of a potentially substantial disruption, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife has recommended that Oregon LNG perform a thorough analysis of the impact of its proposed terminal on commercial and recreational fishing in the Columbia River. The department, in comments on the project in January to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, found that Oregon LNG has not sufficiently characterized the local importance of fishing,,, Read the rest here 08:04
Federal Offshore Leasing: Another ‘No’ For Energy – Robert Bradley Jr.
Is the Department of the Interior’s new offshore energy proposal a long-needed step toward unlocking the public domain’s vast oil and gas resources? After all, the five-year plan would authorize 14 leases for oil and gas development, mostly off of the Southeast Atlantic and Gulf coasts, which led to fussing from the Don’t Drill, Baby, Don’t Drill lobby. Read the rest here 19:52
UPDATE 2 – USCGC Polar Star On Scene With F/V Antarctic Chieftain
A U.S. Coast Guard crew is on scene with the 207-foot fishing vessel that is beset in ice approximately 900 miles northeast of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. After traveling more than 430 miles, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star has reached the crew of the Australian-flagged fishing vessel, Antarctic Chieftain, who contacted Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand Tuesday evening for assistance after becoming trapped in the Antarctic ice. Read the rest here 18:01
Next round of federal fishery disaster funds to start going out in early March
The approximately $8.3 million in the second round of federal fishery disaster aid should begin going out to eligible Massachusetts beneficiaries around the first week of March, the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs said today. The funds, the second installment of the fishery disaster assistance designated for Massachusetts fishermen, crew members, shore-side businesses and recreational fishing stakeholders, brings the state’s total to about $14.8 million to date from the $75 million Congress allocated more than a year ago. Read the rest here 17:15
Prowler Fisheries, aka Alaska Longline Company will move offices to Seattle – Site the high cost of Affordable Care Act in Alaska
The Petersburg offices of 
will be moved to Seattle by April 1. Larry Cotter—CEO of APICDA, of which Alaska Longline is a subsidiary—said that juggling two offices along with high health insurance costs are the driving forces behind the consolidation of offices in Seattle. He said other businesses in Alaska are likely to face similar challenges as the Affordable Care Act regulations come into play this year. Read the rest here 15:43
Lobster plant puts spark in Sonora
The Goldens’ latest fishery business is about to become one of the area’s largest employers. Longshore Fisheries Ltd. begins processing lobster in Sonora, a community of a few dozen, next week. Twenty-one-year-old Wade Tibbo came home after graduating from Acadia University to take a job marketing lobster for Longshore Fisheries. There could be a lot of lobster to market. The hope is to process two million pounds annually. Read the rest here 15:18
Lobster fishermen in Sambro have mixed opinions on the idea of paying a one cent a pound levy!
“I think it’s totally unnecessary. We’ve survived with the past 50 years without this stuff,” said Nick Henneberry, one of a handful of people who turned out for a government sponsored meeting about the levy on Friday. “More involvement. More bureaucracy.” Paddy Gray, another lobster fisherman, believes fishermen are ready to be convinced. Read the rest here 14:29
To save their depleted species, female blue crabs go the extra mile to spawn in the bay
Deep under the cold, dark waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the answer to whether the decimated blue crab population can survive lies buried in mud. Tens of millions of female crabs are scattered across the floor of the lower bay in southern Virginia, where the estuary pours into the Atlantic Ocean, waiting out winter for one of the most important events in their short lives. When spring comes, they will inch closer to the ocean with billions of eggs. Read the rest here 11:21
Plan for artificial reef off Ocean County fuels fighting among fishermen
New Jersey plans to limit commercial fishing to small sections on the two existing artificial reefs in state waters and construct a third one off Ocean County just north of Barnegat Inlet that will be available exclusively to recreational anglers. “It’s not defendable. There is no biological justification, and we’re hoping the state reconsiders that,” said Greg DiDomenico, who heads the Garden State Seafood Association. Read the rest here 10:38
Sources: Davis in deal for US scallop catcher Peabody Corp.
After being in talks to buy Oceans Fleet Fisheries and looking at Wanchese Fish Company, Jeff Davis and his private equity partners are reportedly set to buy a US scallop company at last. Davis is being named by sector sources as the prospective buyer for Peabody Corp., a scallop fishing firm based in Virginia with seven or eight vessels.,,Davis was looking at Suffolk, Virginia-based Wanchese, which Canadian salmon farming firm Cooke Aquaculture is reportedly set to buy, Cooke is also thought to be looking to acquire Carlos Rafael’s 13 New Bedford-based scallop vessels and move them to Virginia, as part of the deal. Read the rest here 09:07
ASMFC considering limiting entry into the Gulf of Maine Northern Shrimp Fishery
Regulators are 
, if and when the decimated stock rebounds enough to reopen the fishery, according to a document seeking public comment on the possible revisions to the region’s management plan. The document, known as a public information document, is the first step in the process to amend the fishery’s management plan. That process, which is scheduled to extend into the winter of 2016, includes a number of hearings in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to gather public comment. Read the rest here 08:34
Friday the 13th~ Salty Sea Superstitions
A life of danger and uncertainty has seafarers observing a strict set of rules steeped in myth and superstition. Many sea going beliefs are based on the Bible, for example, Friday is the worst day to set out to sea. Most sources credit that to the belief that Christ was crucified on a Friday. Similarly, Sunday is the best day to begin a voyage, because Christ’s resurrection on that day is seen as a good omen. Thus the old adage, ‘Sunday sail, never fail.’ Listen, and read the rest here 07:36
Coast Guard medevacs fisherman near Cold Bay, Alaska
The Coast Guard medevaced a 36-year-old man from the 252-foot fishing vessel American Triumph approximately 92 miles north of Cold Bay, Alaska, Thursday. Watchstanders at the Coast Guard 17th District command center in Juneau were notified of the man’s injury by the crew of the American Triumph. It was reported two of the man’s fingers were severed by a steel door. Watchstanders consulted the duty flight surgeon who recommended the medevac. Read the rest here 21:09
