Daily Archives: March 22, 2015
Cold-Water Safety Workshop for Commercial Fishermen in Santa Cruz – March 26-27
The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association is offering an 18-hour cold water safety and drill conductor workshop this week. The workshop will be held Thursday and Friday, March 26-27, at the Harbord Department Public Meeting Room, 365A Lake Ave., Santa Cruz. There will be an in-the-water practice session where workshop participants will practice skills with PFDs, immersion suits, and a life raft. This workshop meets the training requirements for documented commercial fishing vessels operating beyond the federal boundary line. It meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for documented fishing vessels. Cost is $75 for commercial fishermen, $195 for all others. Register: 907-747-3287, www.amsea.org. 18:38
Fire destroys crab processing plant in Cottlesville
A fire has destroyed a crab processing plant in New World Island, on Newfoundland’s northeast coast. Rod Wheeler, the mayor of Cottlesville, said the fire broke out at the Breakwater Fisheries plant around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. Wheeler said he was shocked to hear the news. “It was devastating. Actually devastating,” he said. “That fish plant is a major employer to not only this town, but the whole area.” Read the rest here 13:55
Fishermen can catch more butterfish; Rhode Island lands half of the catch + video
Federal fishing regulators say fishermen can catch more butterfish in 2015 because the condition of the fish stock is improving. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration officials say they are increasing the butterfish quota from 3,200 metric tons in 2014 to 22,530 metric tons in 2015. Fishermen caught 1,333 metric tons of butterfish up and down the East Coast in 2013, the most recent year for which federal statistics are available. Rhode Island had the largest fishery in the country, with more than 700 metric tons. Video, read the rest here 13:03
Geoduck season in Southeast nearly over
The geoduck fishery is a smaller fishery with just 60 permit holders participating. However, it can be a lucrative venture as prices in the past have reached $20 a pound. The average price is around $10 a pound but this season it’s been below the average at about $6. The geoduck fishery is one of the three commercial dive fisheries in Southeast Alaska. Divers also go after sea cucumbers and sea urchins. Breese says both the sea urchin and geoduck fisheries are feeling the effects of sea otter predation. Audio, Read the rest here 11:33
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update, MAR 22, 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 11:14
Really, Rosemary
Lifelong Alaskan Rosemary McGuire, 38, who grew up in a home here without electricity or running water, has commercially fished out of Cordova, paddled miles of wild Alaskan rivers (many of them with her dad, Tom), and now — to no one’s surprise — published a book of Alaska short stories. “Creatures at the Absolute Bottom of the Sea” comes out this month from the University of Alaska Press. “Everything I’ve ever written has been about Alaska in some way or another. It’s the place I know,” McGuire says. Read the rest here
Editorial: Get federal fisheries aid to those who need it
The talk of scuttling or at least pushing back any buyback program surfaced through a meeting held a week ago today among NOAA representatives, New England state fishery directors, and a number of stakeholders within the fishing industry, whose input rightfully seems to be playing a role once again in a key decision. Those include the Gloucester-based Northeast Seafood Coalition, which is on board with the potential change. Read the rest here 09:35
USCG Suspends Search for Overdue Boat near Majuro
The Coast Guard suspended the search Saturday for an overdue 83-foot commercial fishing vessel near the Republic of Marshall Islands. Fishing vessel Clear Water 02 reportedly went missing with nine people aboard while en route Majuro for offload, March 12. Sunday, good Samaritan vessels recovered 34 fishing floats labeled “CW02” 224 miles east of Majuro. Two life rings marked “Clearwater 02” were located by one of the fishing vessels searching 114 miles south east of Kwajalein on Tuesday and Friday. Read the rest here 09:14
Unalaska fights to save Stimson
Despite departing City Manager Chris Hladick’s discouraging comments, the Unalaska City Council, mayor, and natural resources analyst are all calling for a big push to keep the state fisheries patrol vessel, Stimson, in Unalaska. They also want local residents to join the fight by contacting legislators and oppose sending the boat to Kodiak. Read the rest here 08:58
