Daily Archives: June 1, 2015
U.S. House Passes HR 1335 Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization with Bipartisan Support
This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1335, the “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,” legislation reauthorizing the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the primary law governing fisheries resource management in offshore federal waters. The legislation passed by a bipartisan vote of 225-152. Read the rest here 21:20
Here we go again. Animal Welfare Groups Seek Protection for Thorny Skate
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Defenders of Wildlife have asked the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to list the Northwest Atlantic population of the thorny skate as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. “This species is in serious trouble in the Northwest Atlantic, and if we don’t move to protect it now, we may never see it in this range again,” said senior staff attorney Jane Davenport at Defenders of Wildlife. Shut up. Read the rest here 20:48
Dan Bacher: 2010 article warned: MLPA Initiative will do nothing to stop a big oil spill
I wrote the following article in 2010 warning of the consequences of not protecting the ocean from oil spills, oil drilling, pollution and all human impacts other than fishing and gathering in the “marine protected areas” created under the. This article warned of the consequences of allowing a Big Oil lobbyist and other corporate operatives to oversee “marine protection” in California. Read the rest here 19:59 (photo)
Rep. Garret Graves pulls HR 1335 red snapper management amendment
Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, pulled his amendment Monday (June 1) that would have transferred the authority to set fishing seasons in the Gulf of Mexico for red snapper from the federal government to a coalition of five Gulf states. It appeared the amendment, which failed 16-22 in the House Natural Resources Committee, didn’t have the votes for House passage. ( reallocation away from commercial fishermen is unacceptable. They receive 51% of the TAC. They are the link to consumers that want to consume their resource) Read the rest here 19:31
NJ Rep. Pallone opposes fisheries reform bill HR 1335
On Monday, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-NJ, opposed the Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization legislation, H.R. 1335: Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act, introduced by Rep. Don Young of Alaska. While Rep. Pallone has long been in favor of increased flexibility in Magnuson-Stevens, he said the “lack of a bipartisan approach has left this bill to reform fisheries policies with unacceptable flaws”. BUNK! Read the rest here 19:08
House bill HR 1335 would add ‘flexibility’ to federal fishing law (Still in session at post time)
A bill sponsored by Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, was debated on the House floor and appeared likely to be approved. The bill would reauthorize the four-decade-old Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the top law regulating fishing in U.S. oceans, and give regional fisheries managers greater flexibility to shift catch totals as ocean conditions and science change. Read the rest here 17:38
A Fisherman’s Perspective: Catch Shares – Support HR 1335
EDF’s campaign to implement catch shares in our nation’s fisheries is not only misguided, but it is a serious threat to the livelihoods of the majority of American fishermen. Fishermen beware: you are gazing directly into the friendly eyes of a lion in sheep’s clothing! This is one of those panacea, cure-all fixes for fisheries management which NGO’s love to promote because they are easy sells to the legions of non-fishing folks who are easily convinced that something needs to be saved because EDF tells them so and they don’t have enough other information to know any better. Read the rest here 13:22
Asian demand, low supply set record price on Maine baby eels
Prices for tiny glass eels caught in river inlets along the Maine coast soared to record levels this year because a slow season resulted in reduced catch, fishermen and dealers say. The baby eels called elvers sold for $2,500 or more per pound at times this season due to low supply, fishermen and dealers say, beating the old record of $1,868.73 in 2012. This year’s average price, which the state has not yet calculated, seems sure to dwarf last year’s and possibly eclipse 2012, fishermen said. Read the rest here 12:50
Ramea’s new secondary scallop-processing plant started its first production May 24.
Plant owner Danny Dumaresque said it’s an exciting time for everyone as the production moves ahead as planned, although its original opening date of April was delayed due to winter weather. Dumareque said there are about 30 people on payroll at the moment, including the operations manager, quality control administrator and maintenance manager, who were all hired locally. The plant processes half-shelled scallops by removing their pancreas and freezing the remainder with added ingredients. Read the rest here 12:02
Misfits for Magnuson – Written by Jes Hathaway – Support HR 1335
I admit I had the wind knocked out of my sails late last week when I read that President Obama has opted to dismiss out of hand Alaska Rep. Don Young’s Magnuson-Stevens reauthorization draft, reportedly based on the advice of his staff. After the industry mustered support for the bill that could possibly be a Hail Mary pass for the Northeast groundfish fleet, I was excited to see it get widespread support (though Senate approval was uncertain), because that means more people understand the inordinate amount of pain under which New England,,, Read the rest here 11:31
Your View: Not all fishermen support Young bill, By Greg Walinski
We need to hang on to the fundamentals of the act, while improving monitoring, data collection systems — for both commercial and recreational fishing — and bycatch accountability. I recognize that this bill does create a good framework for the regional fishery councils to implement electronic monitoring and stresses the importance of cooperative research, but it also dismantles some basic requirements to achieve healthy fish populations by building in exemptions and loopholes. Read the rest here 11:15
Coast Guard responds to grounded fishing vessel near Half Moon Bay
Command Center watchstanders were notified at 11:22 p.m. Friday from a 50-foot commercial fishing vessel that had run aground near Half Moon Bay seven miles south of Pillar Point Harbor. The 50-foot vessel identified through FN inquiry is F/V Denise. Parker Diving Service fully removed all fuel from the fishing vessel before they and Coast Guard personnel departed the scene. The vessel owner is coordinating with NOAA for the vessel’s salvage and removal from the National Marine Sanctuary. Read the rest here 10:06
Despite promising numbers, king salmon managers still uncertain about run strength
A strong, early pulse of king salmon on southern and central Kenai Peninsula streams has runs off to a good start. But, managers say it is still too early to tell if the Cook Inlet’s ailing king salmon runs will rally from the last few years of poor returns. Thirteen days after the Alaska Department of Fish and Game began counting early run king salmon on the Kenai River, there are hundreds more fish estimated to have passed the sonar by the end of May than the last two years combined. On the Anchor River, there were more kings counted in the river by May 30 than any year since 2007. Read the rest here 09:30
