Daily Archives: September 14, 2015
Pacific Fishery Management Council and Enviro’s Cripple California Swordfish Driftnet Fleet.
The measure approved by the Pacific Fishery Management Council would cap at two over a two-year period the number of creatures such as sperm whales and loggerhead turtles that could be injured or killed after becoming entangled in gillnets, said Kit Dahl, staff officer with the council. The measure was lauded by environmentalists who have waged a years-long battle with gillnet fishermen who harvest swordfish mostly in Pacific waters off San Diego and Los Angeles. It was unclear how often fishermen capture endangered species in the gillnets. Read the rest here 20:19
Con group buys $1m worth of groundfish quota
The 
(MBFT) bought $1m worth of groundfish quota — 4.2m annual quota pounds — from the nonprofit Nature Conservancy which it plans to use to benefit the area’s fishermen, MBFT said in a release. As part of the agreement, MBFT, which was formed to protect central California fisheries in the Monterey, Moss Landing, and Santa Cruz harbors, plans to retain ownership of the quota. It will lease the fishing rights to fishermen “while working to improve the economic and environmental performance of the fishery,” the group said in the release. Read the rest here 17:08
Decision Soon on Listing Eels Under Endangered Species Act
An environmental advocacy group wants the federal government to list the American eel as threatened, giving the fish protections that would greatly limit fishermen’s ability to pursue and catch them. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision about protecting the eels will likely come toward the end of September, said Steven Shepard, a spokesman for the agency. Only Maine and South Carolina fishermen harvest elvers, and South Carolina’s fishery is much smaller. Several other states have fisheries for older eels, including Maryland, Virginia and Delaware. Darrell Young, who co-directs the Maine Elver Fishermen’s Association and has fished for elvers for more than 20 years, said,,, Read the rest here 16:20
Lobster prices hold steady as demand wavers in US, rises in China
Despite the annual post-Labor Day slowdown in US demand for lobster, high prices, initially caused by a shortage of product after a harsh winter, are unlikely to start dropping anytime soon, bolstered by the growing Chinese demand. According to Peter McAleney of New Meadows Lobster in Portland, Maine, lobster prices are about 50 cents higher than they were this time last year. Neil Zarella of the Boston Lobster Company said that soft-shell lobsters are selling from $4.75 to $5.75 per pound. Read the rest here 12:52
READER’S CORNER: Boycott open-pen fish farming products – Fred Giffin, Hantsport
The 
and governments are likely quite pleased that attention to this crisis has died down a bit. It’s time that it was brought back to the forefront. Here are some unanswered issues: What is being done about the Doelle-Lahey report? Two lawyers pocketed a significant amount of taxpayers’ dollars to relay what every coastal resident already knew about the disastrous pollution, disease and poisons of ocean-based fish farms, seemingly to have their findings shelved by the Liberals. Read the rest here 12:12
Tradex 3MMI – Where’s All The Norwegian Cod Going? West Coast Algae Bloom Effects on Pink Shrimp Supply
If the CIQ lifts the ban on Norwegian fish 30,000 to 40,000 tons of fish would flush into the market. A large algae bloom in the preferred West Coast fishing area for Pink Shrimp has halted some of the fleets – buyers should expect their shrimp supply to take a hit. Watch the Tradex 3-Minute Market Insight here 09:06
Unalaska opposes new ‘Super 8’ fishing vessels
Wider, deeper and able to pack more fish, they’re the “Super 8s,” a new breed of 58-foot-long fishing boats that some don’t want to leave the light on for in the Dutch Harbor subdistrict, and are calling for a limited entry system in the local Pacific cod state waters fishery. “It’s a new kind of boat,” said fisheries lobbyist Brent Paine. “It’s not a cheap little pocket seiner.” He said via teleconference that one of the proponents recently spent $4.1 million for a new 58-footer. The Unalaska/Dutch Harbor Fish and Game Advisory Committee last month voted down Read the rest here 08:40
First Nations blockade Clayoquot Sound salmon farm
Members of Ahousaht First Nations are currently blockading the attempts of Cermaq to install a new open-net salmon farm at Yaakswiis, north of Tofino BC. On Wednesday Ahousaht members took boats out to the site and prevented Cermaq from anchoring the controversial new farm, which was assembled off-site and towed to Yaakswiis. “Wild salmon are in decline everywhere salmon feedlots are in operation around the world. We will stop any future activity at this location”, said Tom Paul, an Ahousaht member. “We will stay out there until we are moved—we will be arrested if need be” he added. Read the rest here 08:19
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting – Hilton Head, South Carolina. Listen Live
The public is invited to attend the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to be held in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Read the Meeting Agenda Click here, Briefing Book – September 2015 Council Meeting Click here Webinar Registration: Listen Live, Click here 07:32
