Daily Archives: November 20, 2015
North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission places emergency limits on Southern Flounder
After five hours of motions, amendments and haggling over details, the 
approved an emergency measure Thursday that will close down most fishing for southern flounder in the state’s sounds after Oct. 16. The restrictions, which are aimed at allowing larger numbers of fish to migrate into the ocean to reach spawning age, were deemed necessary by the Division of Marine Fisheries even though the usefulness of a 2014 stock assessment was challenged by a peer review. Here is what the commission settled on: Read the article here 15:31
FDA approval of AquaBounty GMO salmon decried by environmental and consumer groups
Environmental and consumer groups in the United States and Canada are denouncing a decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approving genetically modified salmon as food. The eggs for the salmon, which grow at twice the rate of regular salmon, are raised in a facility in the eastern Prince Edward Island community of Bay Fortune and exported to Panama, where they’re grown in above-ground tanks. Sharon Labchuk of the group said P.E.I. has been thrust into a negative spotlight with the FDA’s decision. Read the article here 13:18
NPFMC Introduces New Alternative After October Meeting for Gulf trawl bycatch management
The Kodiak Fisheries Workgroup sent a letter of community input to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council before the council’s meeting in early October. The letter focused on the gulf trawl bycatch management issue. “The new alternative does not do catch shares on those fisheries resources such as pollock, but provides a share instead of the bycatch quota, which is either halibut or salmon. Chinook salmon. And so, if you’re given a share of that bycatch, you can take that bycatch share into a co-op.” Read the article here 12:29
Three men charged with fishing offences in Victoria County
Three Cape Breton commercial fishermen were arraigned in Ingonish provincial court Thursday for alleged fishing violations. Robert Courtney, 63, faces eight charges, including two counts of failing to hail, or count, the accurate round weight of fish on board his vessel. He also faces two charges of failing to enter an accurate amount of fish caught in monitoring documents and two charges of producing other documents that contain false or misleading information. Courtney is also twice charged with hindering or obstructing a fishery officer from,,, Read the article here 10:24
Governor pleads to Commerce Secretary for help, NMFS maybe leaning towards longliners in LVPA rule
Two posts – “Less time need be spent on researching how dependent we are on tuna and more time must be spent on getting our fleet to high seas waters.“ That’s a statement in a four page letter from Governor Lolo to US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker expressing his disappointment, Read the post here Meanwhile, The National Marine Fisheries Service says it’s not ready just yet to decide on lifting large fishing vessel restrictions in a 50-mile prohibited area near American Samoa, Read the post here 09:40
Migrant fishermen permit scheme to be capped at 500
A new work permit system for non-European migrant workers in the fishing industry is to be capped at 500 individuals. Minister for Agriculture and the Marine Simon Coveney announced the details of the new scheme, which will initially apply only to people already working in Ireland. The proposals emerged from a working group set up by the Coalition, including a number of Government departments and State agencies. The establishment of the group three weeks ago followed a report in the Guardian newspaper. Read the article here 09:09
Man rescued from Peterhead Harbour after fire breaks out on fishing boat
A man had to be rescued from the water after a fire broke out on a fishing boat last night. It’s unclear if he had jumped from the burning vessel which was docked at Peterhead Harbour in Aberdeenshire. Two other men were rescued from the boat while rescue teams searched the water after reports someone else could have jumped in. Read the article here 08:45
Fishing for facts on the Southern flounder in NC
Some claim that a 40 percent Southern flounder harvest reduction is needed to avoid a collapse of the stock, but there is no science to support that. Perhaps most disturbing is that the Marine Fisheries Commission has yet to receive any recommendations on the options from the Division of Marine Fisheries, professional experts who are supposed to guide the MFC on scientific and economic/social facts. Read the article here 07:46
