Monthly Archives: November 2015
Enviros Upset! Hawaii-based longline fishermen allowed to keep catching ahi
Regulators have approved a deal allowing Hawaii fishermen to attribute up to 1,000 metric tons of bigeye tuna catch to Guam, said Mike Tosatto, National Marine Fisheries Service regional administrator for the Pacific Islands. Environmentalists say the arrangement contributes to the overfishing of bigeye tuna in the western and central Pacific. Environmentalists argue this enables fishermen to circumvent international agreements aimed at controlling overfishing of bigeye. yeah yeah. Read the article here 08:45
Simple greed shut down cannery: Nobels
The Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District is demanding a higher stake in the region’s salmon resources, calling for a return to abandoned policies that protected communities precisely from those such as Canfisco’s closure of Prince Rupert’s salmon cannery. Vice chair and director of Area A, Des Nobels, wasted no time at the last regular meeting to blame the of simple greed for the hundreds of lost jobs at the Canfisco cannery. Read the article here 20:14
Lobster Fishermen Reminded of Safety as Season Starts
Lobster fishermen in southwest Nova Scotia are reminded to stay safe as they launch the start of their season Monday, Nov. 30. “Fishermen have led the change to improve safety across the fishing industry with more man-overboard training and an increased use of personal flotation devices,” said Kelly Regan, Nova Scotia Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. “I urge all fishermen to continue with the great progress they’ve made, and keep safety a priority as they head out,,, Read the article here 19:54
Toxic Truth – Brave Fishermen shut down their fishery
Newcastle Australia – 
Commercial fishers met at the Newcastle co-op on Thursday to discuss their options before they decided to place a voluntary ban on prawn trawling in the Hunter River because of contamination concerns. Robert Gauta, the manager of the Newcastle Commercial Fisherman’s co-op said the decision was “brave”. “It is going to have huge impacts for these people and it’s going to be felt right across the commercial fishing industry in the Hunter,” he said. “They could have gone back to work [but] they don’t want to be the ones whose produce it later turns out is going to harm people. Read the article here 18:21
Top science groups tell Congress to stop probing NOAA’s alleged misdeeds
Saying it will have a ‘chilling effect’ on science, eight scientific organizations have sent a letter this week to Rep. Lamar Smith (R) for investigating corruption at NOAA. Whistleblowers came forward during a congressional oversight hearing about data manipulation in a much-hyped global warming study. Rep. Smith, who chairs the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, has subpoenaed government-owned emails related to NOAA’s work,,, Read the article here 16:59Friday Tomfoolery with vegan Shadow Environment Secretary Kerry McCarthy
Members of the public should stop using the expression “fishermen” because it is sexist, according a member of Jeremy Corbyn’s frontbench team. The party’s Shadow Environment Secretary Kerry McCarthy was ridiculed (as she should’ve been) for suggesting on Twitter that Britons (I’m certain she’s a globalist) should not use the word “fishermen”. The minister, who does not eat meat but is in charge of food and rural affairs, said on Twitter that people should find a “gender neutral alternative”. Read the article here 14:22
If only these fishing vessels could speak! – Weathering the waves
The harbors are full of characters, silent and strong. Each one’s got a story, but it’s pretty hard to tease it from a boat. In Hammond’s basin, recently repaired and maintained by Astoria Marine Construction Company, the halibut schooner Arrow is moored, a remarkable example of the heavy, slippery-hulled wooden long-liners built in Puget Sound boatyards nearly a century ago. “Dave Kelly owns it,” says AMCCO’s Tim Fastabend. “He’s always taken care of it. He’s adamant about that.” Clear across town in Astoria’s East Mooring Basin a trio of modern trawlers,,, Read the article here with 8 photos 13:38
Protecting the fishermen: 20th annual Blessing of the Fleet
To mark the 20th annual Blessing of the Fleet in Trinidad, U.S. Coast Guard Humboldt Bay Sector Commander Capt. Art Snyder dazzled the large crowd gathered for the ritual with two low flybys in a Coast Guard rescue helicopter. Assembled at the Memorial Lighthouse above the ancestral Tsurai Village on a brisk Thanksgiving morning, the sea was calm and there was not a cloud in the sky as the smell of sage wafted through the air and people of all ages danced to tunes played by the Redwood Ramblers. Read the article here 10:43
Increased carbon dioxide enhances plankton growth, opposite of what was expected
Coccolithophores–tiny calcifying plants that are part of the foundation of the marine food web–have been increasing in relative abundance in the North Atlantic over the last 45 years, as carbon input into ocean waters has increased. Their relative abundance has increased 10 times, or by an order of magnitude, during this sampling period. This finding was diametrically opposed to what scientists had expected since coccolithophores make their plates out of calcium carbonate, which is becoming more difficult as the ocean becomes more acidic and pH is reduced. These findings were reported in the November 26th edition of Science,,, Read the article here 09:45
Georges Bank drilling moratorium extended by Nova Scotia government
The Nova Scotia government is extending the Georges Bank moratorium on oil and gas exploration and drilling. The fishing bank has been off limits since 1988. This extends the protection until at least 2022. Ottawa passed a similar protection bill last June. Such exploration comes under the joint jurisdiction of the provinces and federal government. BP and Chevron have drilling and exploration rights in the region, but will remain unable to use those leases. Read the article here 09:07
Projects Stall After Feds Allow Fish Farming in Open Ocean
Some 90 percent of seafood consumed by Americans is imported — a fact that the Obama administration vowed to start turning around by expanding fish and shellfish farms into federal waters. Yet nearly two years since the first permit was issued, the United States still has no offshore farms. The pioneers of offshore aquaculture say their plans have stalled or been abandoned because of the long and expensive federal permitting process that requires extensive environmental monitoring and data collection. Read the article here 07:36
Tests show progress toward lifting of Dungeness closure
Sport-crabbers could be back on South Coast bays in less than two weeks, and the state’s commercial crabbing fleet is eyeing a Dec. 15 opener after new tests on Dungeness crab show that levels of domoic acid that closed the fisheries are now falling, authorities said. But all eyes are on Monday’s results of Dungeness samples taken last weekend for Brookings and Port Orford to see whether they mirror crab in Coos and Winchester bays as dropping beneath health-alert levels or whether they join Northern California ports still seeing potentially unhealthy levels. Read the article here 07:11
Alaska, British Columbia sign transboundary MOU
Gov. Bill Walker and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark signed a Memorandum of Understanding Wednesday morning committing to cooperation on transboundary issues, particularly related to concerns about mines on the Canadian side of the border that share waterways with near Southeast Alaska. The MOU will create a Bilateral Working Group on the Protection of Transboundary Waters that will facilitate the exchange of best practices, marine safety, workforce development, transportation links and,,, Read the article here 12:30
Underwater footage of US dog diving for live lobster
A US man has trained his beloved pooch to jump off his boat and into the ocean to catch live lobster. The unbelievable events have all been caught on an underwater camera. The owner, Alex Schulze, has trained his Labrador to dive down and pick up the lobster with his mouth and bring the catch back to the boat. Watch the video here 10:26
Buy-Low Foods removes all ‘red-listed’ seafood from shelves
Buy-Low Foods is no longer selling seafood classified as “red-listed” or unsustainable by SeaChoice, a national sustainable seafood program. That means types of farmed salmon, king crab, Atlantic cod, and other popular species are gone from the store. The grocery chain, which operates in B.C. and Alberta, is the first major grocer in North America to take this step, according to SeaChoice. Who is SeaChoice? Another ENGO. Read the article here 10:13
Prospects unclear in ‘crab country’; state committee to discuss delay’s impacts
Being the sole proprietor of his commercial fishing operation for the last three years, Eureka resident Bob Borck said one of the important skills of the job is being able to live with uncertainty. While he’s seen delays in the Dungeness crab season caused by price disputes or meat quantity requirements, Borck said the indefinite delay caused by the presence of a potent neurotoxin along the entire West Coast is making the prospects of this season unclear. “We’ve never been here before,” he said. “There is no real way to tell.” What Borck does know is that he still needs to pay the bills — not only for moorage and insurance for his fishing vessel,.. Read the article here 08:34
Coast Guard Alternate Safety Compliance Program- New regs likely will add to cost of fishing
Boat owners should be bracing for a new round of regulations for older boats more than 50 feet in length. The Alternate Safety Compliance Program, part of the U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2010, is due to take effect in 2020, which seemed far into the future when it was first proposed, but is now only a bit more than four years away. However, the rules have to be written by 2017 in order to give boat owners time to come into compliance. Boats built before July 15, 1995, an estimated 90 percent of the fleet, will have to be in compliance by 2020, but the problem is that the regulations have not even been written yet. Read the article here 08:13
Seattle’s aging fishing fleets provide hundred-million-dollar opportunity for shipbuilders
Some vessels in the Seattle-based North Pacific fishing fleet are more than 70 years old, and replacing them could bring hundreds of millions of dollars of work to regional shipyards. That, according to Port of Seattle Co-President Stephanie Bowma, is at the top of a list of maritime-industrial business possibilities for the region. “By some estimates, more than 2,000 boats need to built or remodeled, which is requiring hundreds of millions of dollars in capital investments, and hundreds of workers throughout our region to work on these vessels,” Read the article here 16:40
El Niño pushes California calamari landings down
After several years of bounty, California’s commercial landings of market squid — the species better known to hungry diners as calamari — are down by about two-thirds compared to this time last year. The squid are responding to this year’s El Niño conditions, scientists say, but whether their numbers are declining or they’re simply eluding fishermen is unknown, according to California Department of Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist Laura Ryley. Read the article here 15:03
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 56′ DMR Scalloper/Stern Trawler, Detroit 8-V-71 Diesel, Permit
Specifications, information and 14 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 12:36
Shetland fishing industry celebrates with yearbook
The full-colour A4 book is a comprehensive guide of the industry past and present and gives a confident outlook despite radical changes to fish landing regimes coming in next year. It discusses in some detail the whitefish, pelagic and shellfish sectors before listing all 180 commercial fishing boats operating in Shetland waters ranging from the larges pelagic trawler to the smallest inshore boat. The Shetland Fishermen Yearbook 2016 gives also details of fisheries related organisations, including the vital role of the NAFC Marine Centre. Read the article here 11:55:47
The Easy Lady restoration almost complete – Lowcountry treasure ready to return to her berth
The Easy Lady has belonged solely to Cpt. Kenneth Ezell for 10 years. But after a public appeal went out to help the captain restore this commercial crabbing boat and save her from sinking, she’s almost as a good as new from keel to chine. More importantly, Ezell, who is forever grateful, considers himself only as her caretaker now. “She now belongs to Mount Pleasant and her citizens,” he said. The Easy Lady is now part of the whole of Mount Pleasant, he explained. He considers her the crown jewel of his career, which is about to take another turn. Read the article here F/V Easy Lady on face book 11:12
Wired to go at V&R Traps in Yarmouth
Lobster fishing has evolved enormously over the decades, with changes in regulations, boats, markets and gear. After learning of the wire lobster traps invention in New England in the early 1970s, businessmen Louie Vacon, Edward Vacon, John Vacon and Bill Reeves tried introducing them to southwestern Nova Scotia lobster fishermen. Early attempts were met with skepticism, but after years of persistence from V&R Traps, local fishermen came aboard with the idea that “Wire was the future.” Video, Read the article here 10:51
The loss of Greenport’s fishing fleet is another sign of a changing village
Just a few decades ago, Greenport Village looked very different. Fishermen describe as many as 50 towering fishing vessels crammed into the deepwater port, making pit stops at Claudio’s dock before their offshore expeditions in the Atlantic. The docks were swarmed with fishing crews unloading their stock for sale at fish markets across the East Coast. But today, the dozens of captains whose boats once fed Greenport’s fishing industry have either fled for other ports or been scuppered altogether. Read the article here 09:17
Joint Task Force Atlantic release video of medevac rescue
A new video has been released by the Joint Task Force Atlantic that shows a medical evacuation from a fishing vessel off the coast of Newfoundland The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax dispatched a Comorant helicopter from 103 Search and Rescue Squadron in Gander and 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Greenwood, N.S., on Sunday. The aircraft responded to a vessel 235 nautical miles southwest of St. John’s. Watch the video here 08:43
Giving Back: Leviathan II survivor finds way to thank Ahousaht First Nation
A Calgary couple who survived the whale-watching boat capsize off Tofino, B.C., last month say they’ve found the perfect way to thank the people of nearby Ahousaht, who rushed to the scene and pulled them from the frigid waters. Dwayne Mazereeuw and his wife were among 21 people on board the Leviathan II who were rescued. Five British nationals and a man from Australia died in the accident. Fishermen from the Ahousaht First Nation are credited with spotting the only flare the crew of the boat was able to deploy. “How do you ever thank someone,,, Read the rest here 07:53
Members of Congress urge disaster relief for Dungeness crab fishermen
In a bit of good news for California’s beleaguered crab fishermen, four members of Congress announced Tuesday they would call for federal disaster relief in the unlikely event the state’s commercial fishing season for Dungeness crab is canceled altogether.In a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, the representatives urged the governor to “stand ready” to ask to provide compensation to fishermen and businesses if the crab season — postponed indefinitely Nov. 6 because of high levels of a biotoxin called domoic acid,,, Read the rest here 06:39
Lobsterman discovers sea squirts on his traps
It’s no secret that the waters of the Gulf of Maine are getting warmer. Although many fishermen say that this summer the water around Downeast Maine has been colder than in recent years, according to data compiled by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, from 2004 to 2013, water surface temperatures rose faster in the Gulf of Maine than in 99.9 percent of the global ocean. Cold or warm, this year strange critters have made themselves at home in local waters, some of them apparently settling in Downeast Maine for the first time. Read the article here 19:02
Pollution may have killed hundreds of fish in Cockburn Sound: Scientist
A leading WA scientist says pollution may have killed more than 700 fish in Cockburn Sound, south of Perth. Over a four-day period from November 19-22, officers from the Department of Fisheries plucked hundreds of different species of fish from in and around the sound after getting a tip-off from anglers. The sound is a popular fishing spot with more than 12,000 boaties using the water each year. It is also used for commercial fishing with close to 130 different species of fish in the sheltered water body. Read the article here 15:15
