Daily Archives: May 13, 2015
Affidavit spells out allegations against Maine elver dealer
William Sheldon is accused of encouraging elver fishermen, some of whom were undercover federal agents, to fish in prohibited areas and of buying elvers that he knew had not been legally harvested. The allegations described in the affidavit constitute violations of the federal Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate transport or transactions of any species of fish or wildlife illegally harvested or handled in any state. According to the document, anyone found guilty of knowingly violating the Lacey Act faces a potential fine of up to $250,000 and as many as five years in prison. Read the rest here 20:43
N.C. Wildlife Federation’s Sound Solutions Campaign targets gear
The federation, a statewide conservation organization advocating for the state’s wildlife and habitat, held a press conference Tuesday at the Crystal Coast Civic Center, releasing what its described as a comprehensive campaign to maintain the inshore waters of the state. This campaign includes recommendations to state legislators and agencies to support more environmental protection and restoration and tighten regulations on certain fishing gears, particularly gill nets and trawls. Read the rest here 17:18
Great Lakes Commercial fish netters getting more for less
It’s no secret that I do not like commercial fishing. I don’t like it in the oceans where the greed of commercial netters and long-liners have a long record of collapsing stocks of fish with little regard to sustainability. The oceans are huge compared to the Great Lakes. Commercial fishing in the Great Lakes has an even worse record. Commercial fishermen mined the native lake trout in all the Great Lakes except Superior to the point the invasive lampreys could finish the job of extirpating them. Read the rest here 16:30
Do any of these issues, and notions bother you? Or is it only me?!!
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is gathering leaders in science, activism, media and the seafood industry at its home-base in Monterey, California for two days of in-depth discussions on sustainable food — especially seafood — this week. The event, “Sustainable Foods Institute”. Issues: Consultant: Thai slave labor reports are real – Whiskas maker to get into aquaculture by 2020 – Paleo diet days numbered, says panelist – Atlantic bluefin tuna stock down 96% on management failure – Damanaki floats idea of US-EU-Japan collaboration on global fisheries protection – Stakeholders relay ‘blood and guts’ story of West Coast groundfish climb to sustainability – Aquarium pumping expertise into ASEAN sustainability efforts Read the rest here 14:43
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 44′ 11″ x 17′ Novi Lobster,1987, Fiberglass, Volvo
For specifications, information, and 11 photos of the vessel, click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 11:19
Good hauls, lower prices expected as lobster season opens
ARISAIG — “I’ve got 11:58,” Gerard MacDonald called from the lobster boat’s bow. “I’ve got :58, too,” yelled another captain on the boat idling behind MacDonald’s vessel. “Imagine that,” declared MacDonald. “Our watches are synchronized.” Two minutes later, at the digital stroke of noon, they and the rest of the local lobster fishing fleet, held captive by ice for 11 days, charged past the Arisaig wharf breakwaters. Monday was trap-dumping day on the Northumberland Strait. Read the rest here 10:47
An open letter to NOAA, Sam Frontiero, Gloucester
Well, John Bullard, you have put the final nail in the fisherman’s coffin and you must be proud. You have taken away the livelihood of the fisherman and the thousands of related jobs to the industry. You must be proud. You have hurt our young people’s chances for an education with your junk science, people paying their mortgages and so much more. You must be proud. I’ve always said along with power comes corruption and NOAA has shown that now and in the past. Read the rest here 10:30
Passamaquoddy tribe and state trying to find middle ground over use of fyke nets
Passamaquoddy tribal leaders and the Department of Marine Resources met Tuesday morning, trying to reach some common ground about a new emergency rule. The chief of the tribe would not go into detail about what the meeting was about, but he said these meetings are because of some disagreement between the two parties, specifically the use of fyke nets . Video, Read the rest here 09:05
America’s Most Dangerous Job Is Still Fishing
Alaska’s commercial fishing industry remains one of the most dangerous in the United States, despite a series of government regulations designed to help fishermen in the state. But as Willem Marx reports, safety training that is currently voluntary may prove the best survival solution for those operating in this deadly environment. Video report here 08:54
Sea stars impacted by wasting disease spotted in chilly Alaska waters
A mysterious disease that causes sea stars to form lesions, lose arms, and eventually completely disintegrate was recently spotted en masse in the Gulf of Alaska. Konar said the location is part of the reason this mass die-off — which is believed to have started near Monterrey, Calif, and now stretches from Baja California to here — seems more troubling than similar past occurrences. The cause of wasting disease is still unknown, with a group of scientists,,, Read the rest here 08:29
Fishing boat capsizes spilling oil into Fraser River near Richmond (with video)
Oil spilled into the Fraser River after a 26-metre fishing boat capsized at a Richmond marina, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. No one was aboard the ship and there are no reports of injuries after the vessel, Western Crusader, overturned at the Shelter Island Marina in Richmond shortly before 8 a.m. A Canadian Coast Guard hovercraft was sent after the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria received a distress call, Read the rest here 07:29
