Daily Archives: January 9, 2016
‘Wicked Tuna’ Star To Plead Guilty To Fraud Charges
Law360, New York (January 8, 2016, 3:19 PM ET) — A fisherman accused of falsely collecting over $44,000 in Social Security and Medicaid benefits by claiming he was unemployed while actually starring in the National Geographic Channel reality TV series “Wicked Tuna” will plead guilty to the charges after reaching a plea agreement on Thursday. Paul Hebert, a fisherman who has appeared on four seasons of “Wicked Tuna,” will change his plea on January 20 and has reached a plea agreement with the government on charges he fraudulently applied for Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid benefits… This will be updated, link 18:13
Investment company Brimstone adds offshore fishing deal to its food basket
EMPOWERMENT investment company Brimstone
, which has in recent years shown a growing appetite for food investments, has landed an offshore fishing deal. On Thursday, Brimstone’s 58% controlled hake-fishing specialist, Sea Harvest, confirmed netting a 19.9% stake in Perth-based Mareterram, which was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange last week. Newly formed Mareterram comprises Western Australian-based Norwest Seafoods, which harvests and processes wild-caught king and tiger prawns, as well as scallops. Read the rest here 13:51
Federal and state fishery managers busy with half a dozen hearings, meetings in the Keys in February
A frenetic February features several fishery forums in the . The status of mutton snapper, barracuda, hogfish, mackerel and sea anemones will be reviewed for public comment at a slate of six Keys sessions hosted by state and federal fish-management agencies. A recommended reduction in mutton snapper harvests will be a prime topic at two sessions, held jointly by the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Rule changes may affect both state and federal waters. Read the article here 13:06
Lobster license bill hearing is scheduled with the legislature’s Marine Resources Committee Feb. 3
A bill that would tweak the state’s commercial lobster license system is scheduled for a public hearing with the legislature’s Marine Resources Committee Feb. 3. LD 1503, “An Act to Create a Class II Limited Lobster and Crab Fishing License and Improve the Limited-entry System,” was sponsored by and drafted in consultation with Department of Marine Resources staff. The bill makes some changes to entry into the lobster fishery and other changes to address latent effort (traps and licenses not being actively fished). Read the article here 11:14
Protection of marine areas to be based on science, Hunter Tootoo says
Federal Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo says science will determine not only which areas of Canada’s oceans the government will designate for protection, but also what development, if any, will be permitted in those areas. “In the meetings I’ve had with the environmental groups, the only way we’re going to be able to accomplish this is all of us working together. Basically all hands on deck,” Tootoo added. Read the article here 09:54
Fishermen never wanted a big brother – John Gillett, inshore fisherman, Twillingate
Our fishing and sealing industries mean a lot to us. We never looked to government or wanted the Canadian government to be a big brother to us. Mother Nature was our enforcer until the Department of Fisheries came along with its heavy hand that sent our culture in a downward spin. They gave permits to offshore draggers foreign and domestic to reap the spawning grounds in winter while the majority of fish harvesters were onshore in the winter mending gear and repairing or building boats to catch the returning fish coming from the offshore in the spring and summer. They put in place licence conditions that only a Philadelphia lawyer could understand. Read the letter here 08:46
On the Stump: Kasich vows to help fishermen
It’s been tough going for fishermen in recent years, but yesterday the local fishermen’s co-op managed to reel in a big catch — a candidate for president swung by to listen to their concerns and offer help. Ohio Gov. John Kasich spent about an hour talking with members of the Yankee Fishermans Co-op. For fishermen, the predominant issue is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA for short. The agency regulates the fishing industry, and fishermen have long complained that it uses bad science and a heavy hand to enforce regulations that are putting many of them out of business. Read the article here 08:19
