Daily Archives: May 31, 2015
Last of the Eastern Side Wooden Draggers “Little Sandra”
When the distinctive white-tipped orange mast of the fishing vessel Little Sandra slipped below the ocean’s surface 18 miles off the coast of Rockport beyond Thacher Island this past weekend, the intentional sinking marked more than just the end of the line for the 63-foot-long vessel. It was the end of an era for Gloucester’s historic fleet of eastern-rigged trawlers as well. Original post June 5, 2013. The art of Gloucester’s Paul F Frontiero Jr listed on e-bay is linked, as well as the GDT article about the end of an era. Photos and links here. 22:28
Greenpeace-friendly Boston Globe Botches Tuna Report
From the Letter-Another symptom of how Ms. Zwirn indulges Greenpeace is that they are presented with virtually no skepticism or scrutiny — not on their ideology, nor their methodology, nor their expertise, nor the feasibility or consequences of the demands they make. Here are some easily confirmed facts, for instance, that might have been shared with readers: The methodology Greenpeace uses is entirely subjective, kept confidential, and unverifiable. They have precisely zero experience in fisheries management and the “seafood project leader” Ms. Zwirn cites repeatedly has actually spent his career in labor organizing, and joined Greenpeace only recently. Read the rest here 20:38
North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting in Sitka! June 1st thru the 9th. This is a big one!
The Council will meet the week of June 1 2015 at Centennial Hall, Sitka. Other meetings will be held during the week, and all can be reviewed in the Agenda by clicking here The Draft Agenda Schedule can be reviewed by clicking here Listen on line while the Council is in session, by clicking here 16:45
Cape Breton lobsterman enjoys good catches, prices
Blair Campbell doesn’t have much to complain about these days. Not after enduring a couple of less-than-stellar lobster fishing seasons. Take, for example, two years ago, when he and the other 19 licensed lobster fisherman here at Big Big Bras d’Or’s Factory Wharf were forced to sell their catch at a miserable $3.25 a pound. He considered calling it a career. But he persisted. Last year was a little better. Fishermen here recorded solid landings and while lobster prices increased to about $4.50, it was still below the five dollar mark they were after. Read the rest here 15:24
Underutilized fish can be overfished too – Sam Parisi, Gloucester
I keep hearing of the need to find markets to develop underutilized species, and it could help. The problem I have is every time we do this, all of a sudden these species are overfished. I blame NOAA for this because instead of putting a quota on these species they let the fishermen catch all they want. This is what happened to dogfish — there there was no quota and in no time, they were over fished. Read the rest here 14:25
Seattle company has worst rate of halibut dumping and a lousy track record
There are big differences within the bottom-trawl fleet that works the Bering Sea in how much halibut is caught and discarded, a Seattle Times analysis found. For the past four years, Fishing Company of Alaska, a Seattle firm, has had the fleet’s highest rate of dumping halibut, which federal rules say must be discarded if caught by trawlers. Through the years, the company has come under scrutiny for the use of Japanese fishmasters who help conduct the harvest. Read the rest here The struggle for power on doomed Alaska Ranger Satoshi Konno was a tall man with ramrod posture and a volcanic temper. Read the rest here 11:54
TV show ‘Briefcase’ poses tough decision for part-time Keys man
A North Carolina man who works as a commercial fisherman in Marathon for about half the year had to make a decision that would be tough for anyone: If given $100,000, what does he do with it? That’s the premise of the CBS TV show “The Briefcase,” which includes and their three children. It debuts at 8 p.m. Wednesday.The show involves two families who are each given $100,000. They have the option of keeping all of the money or giving part or all of it to the other family. Read the rest here 11:25
Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update, May 31, 2015
The Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance is dedicated to its mission of continuing to help create sustainable fisheries without putting licensed fishermen out of business.” Read the update here To read all the updates, click here 10:58
What is killing off the menhaden in Long Island Sound? ‘Whirling disease’ suspected
What is killing off the menhaden? The die-off has been reported at several locations, including in Long Island Sound along eastern Connecticut and in the estuaries of several area rivers. A viral “whirling disease” is believed to be the chief suspect in the die-off, said Mark Alexander, supervising fisheries biologist for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Read the rest here 10:08
Ignoring the instructions of Fisheries department 7,000 fishermen venture into sea sans permit
Ignoring the instructions of Fisheries department, over 7,000 fishermen ventured into sea in 1,400 trawlers without obtaining fishing permits on Friday night as the 45-day ban period drew to a close. The ban period ended on Friday midnight and the Fisheries department instructed fishermen to venture into sea on Saturday morning after getting permits, but the fishermen in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban started from 8 p.m. on Friday. Read the rest here 09:37 Decision to resume fishing in TN, Puducherry decried 09:49
Dumping of halibut sparks fight among North Pacific fishing fleets
When Skipper Bill Hayes brings up his trawl net from the bottom of the Bering Sea, he often finds halibut mixed in with the yellowfin sole and other fish he pursues with a Seattle-based trawler. People often pay more than $15 a pound for halibut at the store. But federal harvest rules only allow hook-and-line fishermen — not trawlers such as the boat Hayes captains — to sell these fish. To make trawlers try to avoid halibut, they are required to dump this “bycatch” overboard. They can’t even donate the fish to a food bank. Read the rest here 08:29 Related articles, click here
