Daily Archives: March 6, 2015
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for March 6, 2015
Click here Weekly Update for March 6, 2015 20:57
Fishing industry takes PBS to task for misleading promotion
In a letter to Paula A. Kerger, President and CEO of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) which is attached and pasted below, the Seafood Coalition pointed out the inappropriateness of a publicly funded network using glaring distortions to hype an upcoming PBS miniseries. From the letter, “researcher Jeremy Jackson indicted by implication every U.S. fisherman – recreational, commercial, or party/charter – and the federal fisheries management system that we are and have been heavily invested in making the best in the world since the passage of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976.” Read the letter here An Interview with Jeremy Jackson, Renowned Oceanographer PBS Trailer Click Here 19:49 photo credit ocean.si.edu 19:55
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council Press Release 6 March 2015
The Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council will meet March 10 to 12, 2015, to consider and make recommendations on the issues summarized – American Samoa Large Vessel Prohibited Area Temporary Exemption – American Samoa Longline Albacore Catch Limit – 2015 US Pacific Territory Longline Bigeye Specification, Read the rest here 17:11
To Be A Crab Fisherman. by Joe Hall
Fishing is one of the most growing, beneficial forms of hunting, I have found. I was raised in Idaho by a father who would take me fishing on the Owyhee River in Oregon. It was always a fun activity for the both of us, and I’ll never forget the talks and the times spent with him as we patiently learned to be patient, waiting for just the smallest bite, and sometimes coming home with nothing. Unfortunately, fishing with my dad isn’t something that happens very often anymore with me living in Alaska. Read the rest here 16:06
Fish and Game predicts average year for Cook Inlet commercial harvest
Commercial fisheries managers in the Cook Inlet are predicting a run of about 5.8 million sockeye salmon with a harvest of about 3.7 million of those fish by all user groups, according to its 2015 outlook for commercial salmon fishing. Commercial Area Management Biologist Pat Shields said the harvest, if the forecast is correct, would be about average. The Kenai River sockeye salmon forecast is about 3.6 million fish, while the Kasilof River sockeye salmon run is about 1,092,000. On the Susitna River, 276,000 sockeye salmon area expected to return. Read the rest here 15:01
West Coast fishery managers (PFMC) days away from landmark decision on forage fish
West coast fishery managers are poised to make a decision next week that could alter the future of fishing in federal waters off the Pacific Coast, as well as in Oregon’s state-regulated nearshore waters. The Pacific Fishery Management Council is scheduled to vote Monday on a proposal to restrict new forage fisheries off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington unless prospective fishermen can prove harvesting a new species would not damage the ecosystem. Read the rest here 14:21
Connors Bros. confirms cutting second shift at sardine plant due to decline in catch forecasts
Connors Bros., Limited has confirmed it will not recall a second shift at its Blacks Harbour sardine plant this season. The company blames a decline in the weir fishery and herring catch forecasts for 2015 for the decision. About 60 jobs will be affected, spokesperson Dave Giddens said in an emailed statement. 11:08
Tonka brings shrimp back to Petersburg Local company purchased 250,000 pounds over the winter
Tonka Seafoods, Inc., announced last year that it was working to bring shrimp fisheries and processing back to Petersburg after a nearly decade-long absence. Well, it’s delivered. The fishery is closed for March and April, but Chief Financial Officer Seth Scrimsher said they purchased 250,000 pounds of pink shrimp from fisherman at a price of 40 cents per pound over the winter. “There is a lot of interest in this cold water pink shrimp right now, especially worldwide,” he noted. Read the rest here 10:43
Maine Elver fishery value plunges 74%
After two years of runaway catches and explosive value, Maine’s elver fishery fell substantially back toward Earth in 2014, according to state officials. But despite a near 75 percent reduction in the value of the volatile fishery, elver fishermen in Maine still did pretty well last year, bringing in the third-most valuable annual elver harvest in the past two decades. With the fishery’s reduced value, elvers became the fourth-most valuable commercially harvested species in Maine in 2014, behind lobster, softshell clams and herring, in that order. Read the rest here 10:07
NOAA should extend fishermen’s input to new year’s rules, too
The announcement that 
Fisheries has agreed to pull back elements of last November’s emergency Gulf of Maine cod protective measures represents good news on several fronts. Now, it’s important that this cooperation be extended when it comes to setting regulations for the next fishing year, which is due to start May 1 — or in just eight weeks. Read the rest here 07:53
Trawling has “negligible” effect on soft-bottom seafloor
Trawling is continually criticised by environmental advocates for the damage it causes to rocky marine habitats and the long-lived animals that occur in them. However, important questions remain about the extent of any damage to sandy and muddy environments. During the three-year study, fishermen trawled patches of the ocean floor off Morro Bay. Those areas were analysed by underwater photos and video and compared with nearby areas that were untouched. Read more here 07:37
AMSEA: Free safety workshop for commercial fishermen
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association will offer a Fishing Vessel Drill Conductor Workshop from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 at the University of Alaska Southeast Technical Education Center, in Juneau. The workshop will cover cold water survival skills, EPIRBs (emergency beacons), flares, maydays, man-overboard recovery and firefighting, immersion suits and PFDs, emergency drills, helicopter rescue, life rafts and abandon ship procedures. Read more here 07:06
