Daily Archives: September 30, 2015
Northeast Fisheries Science Center say’s key fishing area for Atlantic cod in dire shape
New data from the
says research boats caught less of the fish this past spring than in all but one spring season dating back to 1968. A report from the centre, given to The Associated Press on Tuesday, states that the boats caught about 3.3 pounds of cod each time the net went in and out of the water last spring, compared to more than three times that amount two years earlier. “Is that coming as a surprise from anybody who knows what the water temperature is out there? No, it shouldn’t be,” said David Goethel, a New Hampshire-based fisherman. “These fish are declining because of climate change.” Read the rest here 22:13
The “West Coast Salmon Fishery Elimination Act.” – H.R. 2898 to help agribusinesses
Salmon, and the fishing community, are in trouble. This year, fishermen are seeing some of the worst landings ever of California king salmon. The fish we’re catching are scrawny and hard to find. Nevertheless, Congress is considering legislation to undermine laws that protect salmon, in order to divert more water for a few California industrial irrigators. The House recently passed H.R. 2898, the by Congressman David Valadao (R-California). More accurately, it is the “West Coast Salmon Fishery Elimination Act.” Read the rest here 20:05
FISHFEST – First Fish and Fleet connects California coastsiders to their seafood!
The family-style event was meant to raise awareness of the local commercial fishing industry by introducing the public to those who actually go out to sea to do it. The food trucks lining the parking area helped. Each of them offered a dish made with fresh fish from a boat kept at the harbor.Sam’s Chowdermobile offered chilipepper rockfish and chips caught by the fishing vessel “Mr. Morgan.” A booth representing Beyond the Border in El Granada offered black cod or black gill tacos made with fish from the “Moriah Lee. Read the rest here 19:02
Lobstermen, DMR talk state of lobster fishing
“We realize a fairly large amount of people want to transfer from other zones, and we are looking into that,” Keliher replied. Lobsterman Steve Taylor, of Kittery, said “I’m sorry if this is going to offend people, but what about the people who are on the waiting list that already have a cushy job somewhere and just want to make extra money lobstering? That worries us. We depend on this for out living. Everything else in the industry has been taken away.” Read the rest here 17:46
Former Patriot Jarvis Green stumps for small boat fishermen
Former 
says federal fishing managers need to do a better job of protecting the futures of New England’s community fishermen. Green joined a group called the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance on Wednesday to lobby regulators to urge them to consider small fishermen when setting policy. Green relayed his experience growing up around shrimpers in his home state of Louisiana and talked about the challenges faced by today’s fishermen around the country. He says fishermen “mean a lot” to New England’s economy and they deserve support. Read the rest here 17:07
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 56′ Steel Lobster/Gillnetter
Specifications, information, and 16 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 14:59
Our View: Fishery management needs balance
The requirement for consistency, above, might explain why Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator John Bullard told Rep. Ayotte that “eliminating overfishing” supersedes all other priorities. The Standard-Times is having a very difficult time trying to understand why a policy that will have such a clear negative impact on fishermen is being instituted when the beneficial impact on the resource — the fishery — is so unclear. Stock assessments are still determined by limited statistical sampling, which in addition to providing disputed results on stock health,,, Read the rest here 11:31
Gulf Stream ring water intrudes onto continental shelf like ‘Pinocchio’s nose’
Ocean robots installed off the coast of Massachusetts have helped scientists understand a previously unknown process by which warm Gulf Stream water and colder waters of the continental shelf exchange. The process occurs when offshore waters, originating in the tropics, intrude onto the Mid-Atlantic Bight shelf and meet the waters originating in regions near the Arctic. This process can greatly affect shelf circulation, biogeochemistry and fisheries. “I showed the glider data to a group of commercial fisherman back in April, in Rhode Island, and they were very surprised,” Read the rest here 11:05
Aleutians monument labeled threat, derided as ‘straw man’
Alaska Congressman Don Young and other Republicans on the House Natural Resources Committee Tuesday morning attacked the idea that President Obama might create a marine national monument around the Aleutian Islands, with unknown effects on the fishing industry. “I’ve watched this over and over: The creeping cancer of the federal government overreaching,” Young said. “The worst managers of any resource is the federal government. They do not manage. They preclude.” The idea of protecting the waters of the Aleutian Chain came from environmentalist and retired UAA professor Rick Steiner. Read the rest here 10:38
Cape Town fishing vessel swamped by high seas – Search called off in fishing sea drama
The death toll of Sunday’s sea drama in which a well-known Cape Town fishing vessel was swamped by high seas has officially been pegged at 12 after a search for one missing crewman was called off on Monday night. The fishing company, Viking Fishing, has, however, requested that passing vessels continue to keep a lookout for the body of the lost man, as well as those of two other men who were seen disappearing under the waves during the rescue attempts on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the wife of one of the victims of the fishing trawler disaster still believes her husband is swimming back home. Read the rest here 10:01
Fisheries observer program spawns more questions
The fisheries observer program that looms over the industry in the Northeast won’t go out for public comment until at least December, the New England Fisheries Management Council decided Tuesday. Years in the making, the preliminary draft of the measure numbers about 500 pages, testimony to the complexity of the effort. Then there is the cost, which the council staff researched and broke down. It detailed the costs of what the industry will have to pay, and what it will cost the government. Read the rest here 09:24
Our view: Loss of Large Pelagics Research Center a blow to Gloucester
It is difficult to think of the departure of the as anything less than a great loss for Gloucester. Officials from the facility, associated with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst since 2010, announced earlier this week that the center will move from Hodgkins Cove to Boston, and change its affiliation within the university system. UMass Boston’s gain is Gloucester’s loss. During its time at Hodgkins Cove, the center’s research on bluefin tuna and other highly migratory pelagic species drew international attention. Read the rest here 08:46
State probe faults DEC search, seizure policies on fishing
A state agency charged with policing Long Island’s fisheries failed to process years of vital fishing reports, had inadequate procedures for returning proceeds seized in fishing arrests and improperly allowed , a state probe has found. The findings follow a three-year probe of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation by state Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. Newsday obtained a draft copy of the report, which is scheduled to be released this week after years of delays. Read the rest here 00:39
