Daily Archives: May 18, 2015
Fishermen, Businesses, and Fishing Organizations Support House Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Bill
On Saturday, May 16, a diverse group of 20 businesses, 51 organizations, and 80 individuals representing fishermen and fishing communities from the East, West, and Gulf Coasts jointly signed a letter delivered to Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT), the Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, supporting HR 1335, the “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,” which would reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. Read the rest here 21:09
Coast Guard terminates charter boat voyage in Buzzards Bay for expired operator license, fishing violations
The Coast Guard terminated the trip of a 23-foot charter vessel today in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, due to an expired operator’s license and evidence of illegal fishing. During a random safety boarding, a crew from Coast Guard Station Woods Hole, Massachusetts, boarded the vessel and discovered the master’s license had expired in 2008. Upon further inspection, the crew found black sea bass which were illegally caught during the off season. Black sea bass season does not open until May 23rd in the State of Massachusetts. Read the rest here 20:47
Indonesian fishermen fighting for $2.6m unpaid wages
One of New Zealand’s largest fishing companies could become embroiled in a dispute with Indonesian fishermen who claim they are owed more than $2.6 million in unpaid wages. The 53 fishermen walked off fishing vessel the Pacinui when it docked in Timaru in February 2013, saying they had not been paid and were owed a total of around $2.68 million. The ship they worked on was chartered by New Zealand fishing company Sanford Ltd – one of the country’s largest fishing corporations, which turns over $450 million a year, and made a $22.4m profit in 2014. Read the rest here 19:18
NOAA Whoever Reminds Trap/Pot Gear and Gillnet Fishermen That New Rules Go Into Effect June 1, 2015
New limits and dates set for Atlantic bluefin fishing
Atlantic bluefin tuna limits are being altered. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a temporary rule in the Federal Register of Friday, May 15, 2015 changing the retention limits for the general and angling categories and announcing a new start date for the purse seine category. The new limit for the general category runs from June through August while the new limit for the angling category is in effect immediately and lasts through the end of the year. Read the rest here 14:04
N.C. Commercial shrimpers will have to add second bycatch device on June 1
The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission approved the new requirements as part of Amendment 1 to the N.C. Shrimp Fishery Management Plan. A bycatch reduction device is a fishing-gear modification designed to reduce the catch of finfish that do not meet the size limits or are too small to market. Currently, North Carolina requires shrimp fishermen to use one state-certified bycatch reduction device in shrimp trawls and skimmer trawls. Read the rest here 13:47
Port Clinton Fish company owner invests $170,000 into business
The business, located by the Madison Street dock, has new windows, steel siding and signage. A new roof was installed about a year earlier. Rich said he believes the site has housed a fishing company since the 1920s. “It was the largest freshwater fish company in the world,” said Rich, a Castalia resident. “Railroad cars came right out here where we park and would take the fish to Chicago and New York.” The Stinson family has owned the Port Clinton Fish Co. since Rich’s dad, Lee, purchased it in 1974. Read the rest here 13:31
Strong weekend for eastern Cape Breton lobstermen
Warm temperatures, sunny skies and decent prices greeted Cape Breton’s eastern shore fishermen at the wharf during the opening of their annual lobster season. It is a much different scenario than the one that played out two years ago when prices fell as low as $3.25 a pound in some areas. A lobster fisherman of over 40 years, Billy Wadden of Main-a-Dieu spent the morning cleaning up his boat in preparation for the annual blessing of the fleet. Read the rest here 11:58
The right to fish fairly – Marty Frost, Salter Path, N.C.
After reading your article in the Wednesday, May 13th edition entitled “Sound solutions targets gear,” one thing is for certain — conservationist organizations such as the N.C. Wildlife Federation won’t stop until it controls the N.C. state fishery management and the very lives of those who depend on the water to make a living.,, The commercial fishermen of North Carolina have given until they can’t give any more. They have been lied about, spit on and jeered for problems they didn’t create alone. Read the rest here 11:34
Fishermen Plan to Hold Summer Event at Menemsha
The Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust will host its first ever Meet the Fleet event this summer in Menemsha to showcase the Island’s working waterfront. “We hope to just educate the public — just the struggles and the reasons why the fisheries are in the state they are in,” Mr. Keene said. “And then the positive side to what our group is trying to do.” He hoped the event would allow people to meet the fisherman “and get a personal side to the whole industry.” Read the rest here 11:20
Owner Of Sunken Scallop Boat Says Captain Tried To Warn Approaching Vessel
The owner of the Elizabeth J said the captain of his ship attempted to radio the Nina Marie shortly before the sport fishing boat . Southampton resident Jeff Kraus, who was not on the boat at the time of the accident, said his vessel was traveling at about 3 knots and fishing for scallops when the captain spotted the Nina Marie on the boat’s radar approaching at roughly 20 knots. Read the rest here 10:59
Fisheries law renewal reignites conflict between fishing industry, environmentalists
The impending reauthorization of the federal laws governing commercial fisheries has mobilized environmentalists who contend that any relaxation of existing rules amounts to capitulation to reckless fishing interests and endangerment to the fish populations. Since 1996 the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act has been the underpinning of rebuilding fish stocks across the United States, say powerful non-profit environmental groups and their backers. Relaxing the rules now would be disastrous, they argue. Of course, they are wrong! Read the rest here 08:12
Had it with high halibut bycatch? Tell the NPFMC by May 26
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