Daily Archives: May 26, 2015
Once again, Lu Dochtermann tells it like it is
Once again, Lu Dochtermann tells it like it is, in the decades long fight to reduce 
for trawl catcher processors targeting other species for export. He calls the crying misbehaving bottom trawlers “outlaws” that they are. The NPFMC letters so far number in the 300 pages realm. Lu’s stands out because this is about disaster economics, politics, and he sees it for the ruckus that it is – and calls for PROHIBITED SPECIES CATCH cutbacks commensurate, in parity with, those the directed halibut commercial fleet has taken (over 70% drops in allowed catch of the target species itself). He’s on board his halibut boat right now in the Gulf of Alaska as he submitted his testimony with the assistance of his office. Read the rest here 22:54
NO DEAL Ottowa- Minimum Processing Requirements ‘off the table’ in CETA spat
A dispute between the Newfoundland and Labrador government and Ottawa surrounding the Canadian European Union Comprehensive Trade Agreement (CETA) was reignited Tuesday, with the province saying it will not relinquish authority over minimum fish processing requirements, or MPRs. Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, said the decision is related to the federal government’s refusal to live up to an agreement reached in 2013 on the creation of a $400-million fisheries renewal fund, Read the rest here 17:40
South Carolina Commercial shrimp trawling season opening May 27
Shrimp season normally opens in mid to late May, after the peak spawning period of white shrimp has occurred. Following a relatively mild winter, this year’s opening date is fairly typical. Eight smaller provisional areas were opened last week to shrimp trawling. S.C. Shrimpers Association president Richard Billington said that shrimpers are looking forward to a good harvest of large, white shrimp in 2015. Read the rest here 16:41
In the Village of Kaltag, Fishermen and Processors Without Summer Employment – NOAA diverts disaster relief money
Yukon River Gold LLC, the sole salmon processor in the village of Kaltag announced that it will not operate this summer,,, Why isn’t the disaster assistance making it to the victims of the disaster? The Federal fisheries disaster assistance is intended to help get the commercial fishing communities back on their feet, but the middle and upper Yukon River has had their disaster assistance diverted by NOAA to the politically powerful and largest Alaska Native organization Tanana Chiefs Conference/Doyon, have combined annual revenues of $400,000,000, and hardly need the money. The Kaltag region in contrast has only $9,361 in per capita income, 25% unemployment, and desperately needs the jobs. Read the rest here 16:18
Always Top Quality! Your Seafreeze Ltd. Preferred Price List for May 26, 2015
Contact our sales team today @ 401 295 2585 or 800 732 273 Click here for the complete price list from Seafreeze Ltd. We are Direct to the Source-We are Fishermen-We are Seafreeze Ltd! Visit our website! 13:12
Prince Edward Island Lobster season should be extended, says fisheries minister
P.E.I. Fisheries Minister Alan McIsaac has written to his federal counterpart, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea, to ask for an extension to the lobster season. Because of ice conditions around the scheduled April 30 season start date, fishermen on the North Shore were delayed getting out of their harbours by eight days, and fishermen on the South Shore were delayed 11 days. An extension of the lobster season would benefit everyone involved in the fishery, said McIsaac. Read the rest here 12:18
Halibut bycatch issue: A poster child for complex fisheries policy in Alaska
What a conundrum. How does the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council respond to the proposed 50 percent reduction of halibut bycatch in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands groundfish fishery requested by halibut fishermen in the region, without significantly impacting the Amendment 80, Trawl and Freezer Long Line vessels in their stead? Regardless how you look at it or what your personal involvement in any of the above fisheries is, major policy shifts in any of the multiple fisheries in the Bering Sea can absolutely impact,,, Read the rest here 12:08
Think seals as a substitute for deer, cod as a substitute for sapling – Growing deer population taking a toll on forests
Environmental leaders blame bigger herds, fewer predators and decreased harvests by area hunters for the state’s dwindling vegetation. Wow! “The deer just munch, munch, munch,” said Douglas K. Bassett, Letchworth’s naturalist. How about that! “The only way to get things into balance is to have less deer seals,” Bassett said. Another solution, ecologists say, could be allowing commercial hunting for deer to create a market for venison. Bingo! Read the rest here 10:54
Buyer: Lobster fee deal must involve fishermen
Any belief that a potential lobster marketing fee can move ahead without fishermen from southwestern Nova Scotia was categorically put to rest Monday by a buyer from the region. Terry Zinck was reacting to comments made Thursday by Fisheries Minister Keith Colwell who said any potential agreement on a fee could be reached with buyers only in the province’s largest lobster fishery. Colwell clarified the comment a day later, saying any contribution from lobster buyers and processors would require the support of the entire industry. Read the rest here 10:24
Back to the ways of the past to save the future of our coastal waters – Salvatore Novello
Lets look back into past of fishing ,In 1950s to 1980s ,most of the fishing boats were eastern rigged side trawlers, and were limited to how much wire that could be used in front of their net. Most of the boats used 15 ftms legs, and 15 ftms ground cables before their net. During this time period, fish stocks were good and sustainable. Lets talk about THE WIRE BEFORE THE NET. The wire used before the net makes a mud cloud when it makes contact with the ocean bottom and most fish will not cross this mud cloud. This called fish herding. Read the rest here 09:262 Alaska fisheries council representatives disqualified from voting on halibut bycatch
In a move that throws a curveball into the volatile halibut bycatch issue, two Alaska representatives have been disqualified from voting when the matter comes before the North Pacific Fishery Management Council when it meets June 1-9 in Sitka. Simon Kineen and David Long both must recuse themselves because of their employment by groundfish companies, creating a financial conflict of interest. Ironically, both had voted on the side of halibut small boat fishermen in December. Read the rest here 07:56
Elections fail to be a fisherman’s friend
This is what government looks like to us. Politicians a very long way from the action have or adopt ideas that range from the sensible to the downright idiotic. Without an effective check from an emaciated, austerity-hit civil service, they reach out to “stakeholders” – often organisations with no “stake” at all, such as green activists funded by giant multinationals – who hand them ready-made proposals for new regulations and laws. Once these policies are enacted, the politicians turn to the people and communities most affected and say, Read the rest here 07:37
