Daily Archives: April 16, 2015
California salmon outlook is good for 2015, ominous in the long run
Reflecting optimism about this year’s abundance of chinook salmon, fishing industry regulators on Wednesday approved the longest commercial season in more than a decade. But the state’s record drought has darkened the long-term outlook for one of California’s most valuable fish. “I am feeling pretty good about this year,” said Pillar Point fisherman Don Marshall, who represents a group of roughly 75 small boat operators throughout California. “I think there are some fish around.” Read the rest here 19:38
Lawsuit Filed to Save Four Southeast Fish From Extinction
Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsui against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Human wellbeing is directly tied to the health of our waterways, so it’s scary”,,, The candy darter, ashy darter, longhead darter and frecklebelly madtom are at high risk of extinction due primarily to water pollution and dams. The four fish are found in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Read the rest here 18:29
Feds approve fish pots to outsmart opportunistic whales – Dungeness Gear Works is ready to deliver!
Gulf of Alaska whales that dine on hooked black cod are likely to find slimmer pickings in the years ahead. Under a measure approved late Sunday by the NPFMC, fishermen will be free to ditch their longline gear that frequently lose the fish to killer and sperm whales. The fishermen now will be permitted to use pots that trap — rather than hook — the bottom-dwelling fish, and then protect the catch from hungry cetaceans as it’s brought to the surface. Read the rest here, and NPFMC OKs pots to deter whales here 17:32
Irish Trawler Karen dragged backwards ‘by submarine’
Ardglass-based trawler Karen was almost 20 miles off the coast on Wednesday at around 4.20pm when skipper Paul Murphy discovered that his nets had been snagged and it was being dragged. “It happened that quickly, we kept our heads, we kept calm, the crew were straight to the winch to release the wires, so we knew what we had to do. Hats off to the guys, they actually saved the ship, getting to the winch that quickly,” Paul said. Read the rest here 14:08 On 3/21/2014, Fishing boat skipper claims his crew could have drowned after mystery submarine was snared in net off the coast of Outer Hebrides click here
United Fishermen of Alaska re-elect’s Mr. Jerry McCune of Cordova District Fishermen United as President.
United Fishermen of Alaska Announces New Officers and Executive Committee – United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), the largest statewide commercial fishing industry trade association representing 35 member organizations, announces the re-election of Mr. Jerry McCune of Cordova District Fishermen United as President. Joining President McCune is Mr. Matt Alward of North Pacific Fisheries Association as Vice President, and Ms. Megan O’Neil of Petersburg Vessel Owners Association as a co-PR & Membership Chair. Read the rest here
NOAA touts health of US fish stocks, but not for New England
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration submitted its annual report Wednesday to Congress on the state of all U.S. fishing stocks and did everything but paint a big smiley face on the cover. There was very little to smile about, however, in New England and its Northeast Multispecies fishery, which continue to lead all U.S. regions in the number of damaged or imperiled stocks. Read the rest here 11:46
Main-a-Dieu crabbers set traps after ice delays season
Joe Forgeron is finally set to go fishing. The crab fishery officially opened in fishing areas 23 and 24 on April 1, but heavy ice prevented the Main-a-Dieu resident and the other 115 licence holders and their crews in the region from setting their traps. Until now. Forgeron was planning to hit the water Wednesday. “Oh yeah, I’m excited, for sure. It’s in your blood. It’s hard to sleep this time of year. You get up early and you can’t wait to smell the salt water. Read the rest here 11:13
Cape Porpoise Harbor – A lobstering family
At 17 and 18 years old, Ben and Cooper Nunan are the two youngest siblings in a family of five. They’re also the in Cape Porpoise Harbor where the Nunan family has been fishing for more than a century. Their grandfather, great-grandfather and generations before have kept up a long tradition of making their living from the sea. Read the rest here 10:42
Catch quota may be raised for bluefin tuna, ‘one of the success stories’
The bluefin tuna is on the rebound a decade after it symbolized the failure of international fisheries management. Some scientists and Maine fishermen say the assessment by federal regulators is overdue. U.S. fishery managers announced Wednesday that they are removing bluefin tuna from the list of species subject to overfishing, and plan to recommend to an international body that the catch quota for the U.S. be increased. Read the rest here 10:07
Alaska Board of Fish nominee Robert Ruffner makes his case
OK, we’re all Alaskans and we seem to love a good political fight. We really like to fight about fish. So grab the popcorn for the next round. If you’re following this, then you’ve seen half a dozen editorials, letters to the editor and stories over my nomination to the Alaska Board of Fisheries, all written by someone else. Most recently from an out-of-state individual paid to advance one group’s vision. With a couple days to go before the Legislature makes a decision, you need to hear from the applicant himself. Read the rest here 09:40
Blessing boats for safe endeavors and a good harvest
Every year, in fishing communities along the East Coast of the U.S. and around the world, people gather to watch the annual Blessing of the Fleet. Darien, in McIntosh County, is no exception. Begun in 1968 by then-Mayor Jimmy Williamson to celebrate the commercial fishing industry, this is the 47th year of the event. The event was brought to the U.S. by immigrants who desired to maintain the traditions of their homelands in their new country. Read the rest here 09:29
