Daily Archives: August 7, 2015
Panther Industries Inc. and West Coast Reduction Ltd. Fined for Violating Fisheries Act
Investigators with Environment Canada levied fines against companies based in Alberta and British Columbia in late July, in two separate incidents, for offenses under the Canada’s Fisheries Act. The Canadian agency said that Panther Industries (Alberta) Inc. pleaded guilty on July 28 in Alberta Provincial Court to violations under the Fisheries Act, West Coast Reduction Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been ordered to pay $90,000 in Vancouver Provincial Court after pleading guilty to an offense under Canada’s Fisheries Act. Read the rest here 22:20
Lobster fishing starts Monday – Miminegash Fishermen hopeful of price increase
Fall lobster fishermen are not appearing too pressed for time this week. Next week will be a different story, though. The fall lobster fishery is set to open at 6 a.m. Monday morning, weather permitting. This week, with much of their gear already piled on the wharves and waiting, some fishermen are enjoying some down time while others are fussing with last minute details, like tying on bunches or making sure their boats are in good running order. Miminegash fisherman Jamie Ellsworth, who is heading into his 47th fall lobster season said,,, Read the rest here 21:29
Bluefin quota increased for harpoon fishing
Harpoon fishermen will be able to catch an additional 40 metric tons of bluefin tuna this year. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration at the United States Department of Commerce announced in the Federal Register of Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015 that it is transferring the 40 tons to the harpoon category from the reserve category. The in-season quota transfer is in effect immediately. Read the rest here Notice @ NOAA 17:41
How to Sear Scallops
I’d been cooking scallops for years in restaurant kitchens with no problems. How different could it be at home? Quite different, apparently. The problem came down to two things: using the wrong scallops and mismanaging moisture. Let me give you some details so that you (and your date!) won’t suffer the same fate. Wet and Dry scallops. The first problem with scallops occurs before you even buy them. Read the rest here, and enjoy your dinner! 14:38
New England: Catch accountability should take place at the dock
NOAA’s denial of the New England Fishery Management Council’s June request to suspend at-sea monitoring has satisfied environmental groups, but it serves as the latest example of their inappropriate and misguided influence in management of the Northeast fisheries. The Management Council had asked the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for emergency relief, as the cost of at-sea monitoring shifted from the government to the fishermen, a $700-$800 cost per trip. Fishermen and regulators alike anticipate that it will make a more trips unprofitable. Read the rest here 12:39
Seabrook, New Hampshire honors fishermen lost at sea
The first days of October had been warm in 1851, and seas were calm in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as much of the New England fishing fleet worked in the waters not far from Prince Edward Island. That picturesque scene would change unexpectedly, when the ocean grew heavy with swells and the winds rose fiercely. What would be known as the “Yankee Gale” struck on the evening of Friday, Oct. 3. By Monday morning, when the storm finally subsided, records show from 70 to 90 boats were sunk, capsized or wrecked ashore, and 160 men lost their lives, leaving families and friends at home in mourning. The Yankee Gale took most of New England’s fishing vessels. In Gloucester alone, 19 fishing boats went down. Read the rest here 10:25
South Carolina eyes protecting the tiger shark
The huge tiger shark caught by a commercial fishing boat last weekend was at least 50 years old. It was brood stock for an important apex predator. It doesn’t even taste that good. And it might not be legal to harvest next summer. A bill now in the state Legislature would restrict fishing for tigers to catch-and-release to protect the large predator and help keep an ecosystem healthy by culling the weak and diseased of other species. Read the rest here 09:52
Mass Delegation pressures NOAA over Lobster Boat Observer coverage
According to NOAA’s figures, Massachusetts-based 
are scheduled for 266 sea days of monitor coverage in the 2015 fishing season, compared to only 218 in Maine where there are significantly more lobstermen fishing. Together, Massachusetts and Maine will account for 78 percent (484 of 619) of all sea days of coverage scheduled in 2015 for lobster boats fishing from Maryland to Maine. “While NOAA has indicated that lobstermen will not be financially responsible for observer coverage during the 2015 season, the agency has not indicated if this will be the case in subsequent years,” the letter said. Read the rest here 09:01
Must Read: Taking the P out of Marine Protected Areas? Dr. Magnus Johnson
The Scottish government has recently announced plans to double the areas of Marine Protected Areas in its waters with plans including 11 new MPAs and 9 Special Areas of Conservation. Somewhat predictably perhaps various conservation groups have been supportive of the measures announced although continue to seek further designations. Also somewhat predictably perhaps fishing organisations such as the Scottish Fishermens’ Federation (SFF) have accused the Scottish Fisheries minister of making irrational and damaging decisions. Absolutely, Read the rest here 07:51
