Monthly Archives: October 2015
Not clear how TPP will affect fishery, says FFAW’s Keith Sullivan
The president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union says it’s not yet clear how the 
deal reached this week will affect Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing industry. On Monday, a 12-nation tariff-cutting trade deal was reached that will see the participating countries enjoy a significant drop in tariffs almost across the board. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper says the deal with “without any doubt” in Canada’s best interests. But FFAW president Keith Sullivan said he’s still not sure how significantly the agreement will affect fish harvesters in this province. Read the rest here 09:38
Atty. Gen. Lynch: Deepwater settlement historic (it ain’t enough)
The justice department says a settlement to resolve claims against BP for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico deepwater horizon
oil spill is ‘historic’. The agreement with the five Gulf States affected is worth billions in civil claims. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch made the announcement at the department of justice Monday: (Loretta Lynch) “Today, I am pleased to announce, that we have secured an historic resolution of our pending claims against BP totaling more than 20-billion dollars, making it the largest settlement with a single entity in American history,,, Read the rest here 09:08
New Hampshire: NOAA monitoring fee will kill local fishing industry
Local fishermen say the looming cost of paying $700 per day, for at-sea monitors, could put them out of business by the end of the year. It’s a threat that everyone should take seriously. “The day I really have to pay for this is the day I stop going fishing,” says David Goethel, a commercial fisherman from Hampton. “The airlines do not pay for the TSA, agribusiness does not pay for meat inspection, and pharmaceutical companies do not pay for the FDA, to name a few,” Goethel said. “These are considered functions of government and so is catch monitoring.” Read the rest here 08:40
Mixed messages for the New England fishing industry
Last week brought a mix of news for the region’s fishermen, some of it straight-out bad, some offering a glimmer of hope for the future of one of New England’s oldest industries. We’ll start with the bad news — the state’s rejection of the so-called “Gloucester Plan” for distributing the last batch of U.S. fishery disaster aid to Massachusetts fishermen with federal permits. Instead, the stead opted for a plan with much lower standards. Allowing a boat with one monitored trip in a year to qualify for disaster aid seems an overly lax standard. Read the rest here 08:07
UPDATED: Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting in Philadelphia, Oct 6,- 8, 2015
Briefing Materials & Agenda Overview Agenda, click here Complete Briefing Book, click here Attend Meeting with Adobe Connect Click here Webpage, click here 20:29
Obama: new measures to crack down on illegal fishing at “Our Ocean” 2015 Pow Wow!
The Obama administration on Monday announced plans to further crack down on illegal fishing, a global problem that can hurt both fishing communities in impoverished nations and the seafood industry in the United States. President Barack Obama announced new steps to tackle illegal fishing. They include the launching of a program called “,” Experts say the problem is extensive around the world. The Pew Charitable Trusts said Read the rest here 18:03 It’s a big ENGO Spankfest in Chile! All the Big Green “Big’s” are there, and plenty of Global Capitalists just itching to help save the fish from fishermen through “investment”. Click here for the latest! https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurOcean2015?src=hash
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for Oct. 5, 2015
Click here to read the Weekly Update, to read all the updates, Click here 16:59
Alaska salmon permit values nosedive after the fishing season
The value of Alaska salmon permits has taken a nosedive directly after the fishing season. The permit market is really unsettled right now after the season we just had. There were a few bright spots out there, but fisheries in a few areas of the state that did not do well, either because of production or price or both. So the dust really hasn’t settled here since the season ended. Doug Bowen runs Alaska Boats and Permits in Homer. permits have taken the biggest hit after another huge sockeye run ran into a perfect storm of global currency chaos amid a glut of wild and farmed salmon on the market. Bay fishermen got a dismal price of just 50 cents a pound for their reds. Listen, Read the rest here 16:12:06
“It’s a boat-to-table concept,” A net gain for Sandwich Marina District
Two brothers who have been fishing out of the Sandwich Marina boat basin for three decades are looking to open a seafood restaurant and market that can benefit from their catch. Robert and Dennis Colbert, who both live in South Plymouth, have purchased the site of the former freezer plant along the Cape Cod Canal and have been meeting with town officials informally on a plan to build a 7,600-square-foot building that will feature a restaurant and sales of fresh seafood to retail and wholesale customers. The Colberts own three fishing vessels: Miss Julie, Virginia Marie and Chelsea Girl. Read the rest here 14:32
One body found, empty lifeboat located in search for crew of El Faro
The Coast Guard said it found the body of one crew member amid several survival suits floating amid debris from the El Faro, and crews also found one of the ship’s lifeboats, but it had no people or signs of life. The ship had two lifeboats, and each can hold 43 people. Chief Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios said the Coast Guard and the owner of the 790-foot container ship El Faro concluded that the vessel sank after debris, containers and an oil sheen were found. ‘‘We’re definitely still looking for survivors at this time,’’ Rios said. ‘‘It’s still a very active search and rescue operation.’’ Read the rest here 11:01
US, Chile to announce new marine sanctuaries at “Our Ocean” conference
President Barack Obama will declare new marine sanctuaries in the tidal waters of Maryland and Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan Monday, while Chile is expected to block off a more than 200,000 square miles of sea from commercial fishing and oil and gas exploration in an area of the Pacific Ocean near the world-famous Easter Island. The announcements were to be made when top officials, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, attend an international conference on marine protection in the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Monday. The “Our Ocean” conference,,, Read the rest here 08:36
Tradex 3MMI – Preparing for Chinese New Year & Lent – What you Should Know about the Seafood Market
As Chinese suppliers gear up for Chinese New Year, production is in full swing before the plants close at the end of January. Here is a recap on twice-frozen production inventories and production. #Haddock #PacificCod, #AtlanticCod Watch the Tradex 3 Minute Market Insight here 08:07
Seafood development association shifts focus away from Pebble Mine
The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association took another step away from prior efforts to fight Pebble Mine with the election of a new board president. The fishing association, or BBRSDA, is funded by a 1 percent tax on Bristol Bay drift fishermen. Historically it has opposed , including spending at least a fifth of its budget on sustainability and anti-mining efforts over the past several years and a policy statement adopted in 2008 that opposed large-scale mining. But that focus has been shifting away from that work. Read the rest here 21:30
North Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting in Anchorage
The Council will meet the week of October 5, 2015 at the Hilton Hotel in 
, AK. The AGENDA and SCHEDULE are available and will be updated as documents become available. Public comment information here, and the latest Council mailings are here. Other meetings to be held during the week are: Click here While the Council meeting is in session, you can follow along at https://npfmc.adobeconnect.com/oct2015. 19:31
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting in Galveston, TX October 5 – 8, 2015 Listen Live!
The public is invited to attend the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting at the Hilton Galveston Island 5400 Seawall Boulevard
Galveston, TX . Read the Committee and Council Agenda, Click here Read the briefing material, Click here, Register here to listen live 19:05
Blessing of the Fleet in Morehead City honors tradition, Joaquin be damned.
Commercial fishing trawlers cruise around the N.C. State Port of Morehead City as bands a rain and wind zip across the Intracoastal Waterway during the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony on Sunday where family and friends gather to honor and remember the fallen. (Dylan Ray photo)16:01
Massive search on for fishermen lost In the West Philippian Sea – 55 rescued, 42 missing
A massive multi-agency search-and-rescue (SAR) operation is underway to locate 42 missing fishermen, following the rescue over the weekend of 55 of the 97 fishermen who had set out to the West Philippine Sea aboard 15 fishing boats from the towns of Infanta, Bolinao, Dasol, and Agno, this province, during the onslaught of tropical storm “Kabayan.” Reports of the missing fishermen being plucked from the sea by various vessels have come in,,, Read the rest here 14:34Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance Weekly Update, October 4, 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 12:01
Three Maine Lobsterman Organizations weigh in on Cashes Ledge Monument Proposal
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Downeast Lobstermen’s Association and 
are weighing in, along with groups from other states, on the new National Marine Monument proposed for Cashes Ledge and the New England Canyons in the Gulf of Maine. “To unilaterally allow such a designation would usurp the established habitat and fisheries management public process and could be economically catastrophic not only to the commercial and charter fishermen but also to hundreds of small coastal communities in New England,” Read the rest here 11:18:08
It’s simple for Alaska: Fish first means no to Chuitna coal project
In 1920, the Boston Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Even today we recognize that decision as one of the worst in the history of baseball. Today, we Alaskans are facing an even worse trade: wild salmon for coal. In the next two weeks, the Walker administration must decide whether to grant the right to keep water in a salmon stream — something most Alaskans would consider a no-brainer — or instead award the water rights to a coal company so it can dig up the stream, kill off the salmon there forever and export the coal. Read the rest here 10:03
Bahamas search finds life ring but no other sign of El Faro
An intensive search by U.S. Coast Guard and Navy aircraft has turned up a life ring but no other sign of a cargo ship with 33 people on board that lost power and communications off the southeastern Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin. The life ring was spotted 120 miles (193 kilometers) northeast of Crooked Island, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from the last known position of the El Faro. “While this reflects that the ship was caught in rough seas and extreme weather, it is in no way indicative of the ship’s fate,” the company said. “Small items such as life rings and life jackets are lost at sea frequently, particularly in rough weather.” Read the rest here 09:15
Winners in New Bedford’s Working Waterfront Festival contests announced
The 2015 Working Waterfront Festival on Sept. 26 and 27 featured a variety of competitions throughout the weekend. Participants participated in whaleboat races; a tugboat muster; net mending, splicing, link squeezing, and scallop shucking contests; a nautical tattoo contest, and a seafood throwdown. Each event showcased a variety of industry skills. Read the rest here 08:39
No legal barrier to South Australia’s fur seal cull in Coorong and Lower Lakes
Tens of thousands of long-nosed fur seals have taken to the lower stretches of the River Murray, causing problems for the local commercial fishing industry. I certainly think we need to proceed with a sustainable harvest,” Mr Pasin said. “These seals are wreaking havoc in the lakes and Coorong, they’re decimating the ecology, harming the industry and impacting on the culture of the Ngarrindjeri people.” Authorities have estimated there are as many as 100,000 fur seals in South Australian waters, reducing the fishing catch in the Lower Lakes and Coorong by 70 per cent. Read the rest here 19:51
28 Americans aboard cargo ship missing off Bahamas after hurricane
The crew of the El Faro, 28 from the U.S. and five from Poland, reported that the ship was listing at 15 degrees before they lost contact with authorities as the ship passed near the lightly populated Crooked Island at the height of the storm. The vessel carried 685 containers and had an EPIRB on board, which transmits distress signals. An initial ping was received Thursday morning, but no new ones have followed,,, Read the rest here 14:09
Could fish markets suffer when customers start buying from the wharf?
The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced this week it is relaxing rules for people buying fresh local seafood right from the wharf, to give individuals and restaurants greater access to fresh fish. A fish market owner in Twillingate says letting people buy seafood right from those that harvest it could hurt his business. While the new rules might be good for customers, who will have access to better products at cheaper prices, Watkins worries about how the new regulations will affect the bottom line of fish markets like the one he owns. Read the rest here 13:08
Lawsuit claims sexual harrassment, worker retaliation at seafood company in Skagit County
A seafood company that harvests and processes shellfish in Skagit County is accused of allowing a supervisor to sexually harass several female workers, according to a federal lawsuit filed Thursday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The commission alleges Trans Ocean Seafoods Inc., which does business as , violated federal civil rights law in not properly responding to complaints that a supervisor made unwanted sexual comments to four workers on multiple occasions in 2012. Read the rest here 12:26
Suncor Energy Offshore methanol leak being probed
Suncor Energy is investigating after a methanol leak was discovered from a subsea drill centre in the Terra Nova field. The leak occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Suncor estimates that 3,000 litres of methanol were released into the sea. Methanol pumping was stopped once the leak was detected and a remotely operated vehicle found a subsea methanol line to be the source. The Canadian-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board is reviewing the incident and Suncor is also investigating. link 10:33
Southern New England Fishermen try to preserve the lobster industry
Lobster fishermen packed a hearing at the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection headquarters on Friday, and said pesticides in the sound and predators like black sea bass are killing the crustaceans. “New York will not resolve their and the fishermen are taking a blunt,” said Roger Frate, a fisherman from Darien. Marine experts and scientists with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Southern New England Lobster Subcommittee considering potential management tools to help preserve the species, such as moratoriums and trap limits. Read the rest here 09:47
Tuna fisherman angry at Kermadec Sanctuary
Despite conservationists hailing the New Zealand government’s decision to turn the Kermadec Islands into a giant marine sanctuary, covering 600-thousand square miles, it hasn’t gone down well with some in the fishing industry. Charles Hummet, who’s based in Nelson, runs a tuna fleet out of Fiji. He told Jim Mora there was no consultation with the industry and says it’s a short-sighted decision. Absolutely staggered really because we talk about our quota management system and how it’s such a good system we’ve got and so on and to suddenly announce in New York,,, Audio, Read the rest here 09:25
North Haven fisherman found dead aboard circling boat
A 78-year-old North Haven man was confirmed to have died Friday afternoon aboard his lobster boat that was found racing in circles off the Rockland breakwater. Robert Staples died despite the efforts of emergency crews, who performed CPR aboard the lobster boat Legacy and at the dock of the Coast Guard station, said Maine Marine Patrol Sgt. Matt Talbot. The lobster boat, based out of North Haven, was first spotted by the crew of the Maine State Ferry Everett Libby shortly before 3 p.m Video, Read the rest here 09:11
