Daily Archives: April 24, 2015
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for April 24, 2015
Click to read Weekly Update for April 24, 2015 as a PDF To read all the updates, click here20:27
Coast Guard rescues 2 from sinking shrimp boat near Brunswic, Georgia
Two fishermen were rescued from their sinking shrimp boat by a Coast Guard aircrew Friday off the coast of Saint Simons Island near Brunswic, Georgia. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston received the initial report at approximately 9:30 a.m., on VHF channel 16 from one of the distressed fishermen, stating that their 55-foot shrimp boat, Miss Kathy,was taking on water and was in danger of sinking. Read the rest here Watch video here 18:25
Good News for Georges Bank! – Drilling Moratorium Extended, strong landings of lobster, haddock and scallops
The announcement in Finance Minister Joe Oliver’s budget that the federal government will join with the Nova Scotia government to legislate an extension to the Georges Bank moratorium adds to a recent spate of good news for the province’s fishing and seafood industry, says Denny Morrow,,, The coalition issued a news release saying strong landings of lobster, haddock and scallops; the lower Canadian dollar; and good demand for those seafood exports in U.S. and Asian markets are creating a feeling of optimism in the industry. Read the rest here 17:30
NMFS Announces Approval of Three New England Groundfish Rules for Fishing Year 2015 (May 1, 2015-April 30, 2016)
Today, NOAA Fisheries announces three actions affecting the Northeast Multispecies fishery. These are the final rules implementing Framework Adjustment 53 to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan and the Sector Operations Plans for 2015-2016, and the interim final rule that implements additional recreational measures for the Northeast Multispecies fishery. Read the rest here. If you can stand it.
COVER STORY: ‘Cold Water’ heroes
Forever, it seems to me, a weathered skipper sporting a sou’wester has been our founding industry’s face. But the 
fishery has evolved a lot since the days of sou’wester-wearing men who jigged cod or hauled cod traps over the side of a skiff. Nothing in my mind is showcasing the modern fishery’s risks, innovation and attitude better, nothing is changing the sou’wester stereotype with people outside the industry (especially the Townies and Mainlanders) faster, than “Cold Water Cowboys.” Read the rest here 14:41
P.E.I. Lobster season delayed because of ice conditions, delay surprises P.E.I. Fisherman’s Association
It was the right call to delay the lobster season because some harbours on the Island’s north and south shores are still impassable with ice, says the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association. Fisheries and Oceans Canada sent out the notice Thursday afternoon that fishermen won’t be setting and pulling traps next Thursday, as initially planned, because of ice conditions in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. Read the rest here Lobster season delay surprises P.E.I. fishermen Read the rest here 13:14
Seal hunt inhumane? How about a bullfight? – The hypocrisy of the European Union’s ban on Canadian seal products
The European Union, as you’re probably aware, bans all seal products from Canada. Last year, the European Unionappeals process upheld an earlier ruling that the EU’s seal regime is “necessary to protect public morals.” There are exceptions for European travellers who buy seal products in other countries, but I didn’t want to take a chance. The ban has always seemed to me to be a hypocritical policy, but never more so, than after an unforgettable day in Madrid — a bullfight at Las Ventas Bullring. Video, Read the rest here 09:40
Sambro fisherman charged for catching too many halibut – 48 pounds???
A Sambro, N.S., fisherman has been charged by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for bringing in too many halibut after a trip to sea last month. Bill Blackburn has been going to sea to catch fish for the 35 years. He plans to plead not guilty when he goes court next month. “I sold 1,548 pounds to Ocean View Fisheries, my hail in was 1,500 pounds. I’m getting charged for over-mishailing,” he said. Read the rest here 09:15
NEFMC fails to agree on scallopers’ wish to enter long-closed areas
Thursday the council failed to come to terms about the specifics of the plan in Georges Bank, which centers on an area on the Canadian line called the Northern Edge. On Wednesday the council approved several measures in the Gulf of Maine, delineating protected areas where certain forms of fishing gear will not be permitted. Georges Bank was another matter. NOAA Fisheries regional administrator John Bullard had signaled his disapproval of preliminary plans on the grounds that they weren’t protective enough of habitat. And when council member introduced an amendment to make the plan more acceptable to NOAA fisheries, the meeting collapsed into disarray. Read the rest here 08:28
American Seafoods Settles Over Scale Tampering
A Seattle-based seafood company accused of stealing groundfish from the Bering Sea has agreed to pay up. American Seafoods will pay $1.75 million to settle violations on three of its catcher-processors. The American Dynasty, the Ocean Rover, and the Northern Eagle were all accused of tampering with their scales for weighing fish at sea over a five-year period. Read the rest here 06:58
