Daily Archives: January 14, 2016
Area Boat Prepping For ‘Wicked Tuna’ Television Spotlight
While most of the Ocean City fishing fleet is settling in for the siege with the arrival of frigid temperatures and rough seas, at least one popular resort-based charter fishing boat is quietly preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime. Captain Dale Lisi of the “Foolish Pleasures” based at the Ocean City Fishing Center in West Ocean City has been chosen as one of a handful to participate in and appear on the latest season of “Wicked Tuna.” Read the article here 20:32
Sale of shell-on lobster claws bound for Mass Senate floor
Massachusetts lobstermen could get a leg-up if a Senate bill set for consideration next Thursday becomes law. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican who sponsored the bill (S 469), said it would allow for shell-on lobster claws to be processed and sold in Massachusetts. Tarr said the bill would expand on a recent law allowing for the processing and sale of shell-on lobster tail in Massachusetts. The prohibition on the sale of shell-on lobster parts stemmed from concern that lobsters that don’t meet state specifications could be split apart into tails and claws onboard a vessel to “avoid detection,” Read the article here 18:10
Brawl erupts at fisheries meeting
A brawl erupted at a discussion held under the patronage of Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera today. The discussion was held in Chilaw, Sri Lanka regarding the issues faced by the fishermen. A debate which broke out between two fishermen regarding matters concerning fishing equipment escalated to a brawl. However, the Minister had left the meeting amidst security while the clash was going on. Link 16:48
Update on the F/V Golden Nugget
We received an update from the skipper of a vessel outbound to the fishing grounds, and he sent this update. Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2016 12:48 PM – Passed Golden Nugget 25 miles from beach she is still flooded they are going to pump out inside the harbor CG escorting him. We will bring you the latest news when we get it. They’re getting close. God Speed! Standing by. 16:10 Great news! We have received word that they’re in! 17:04
Former Alaska Fish Board appointee Roland Maw charged with PFD fraud
Gov. Bill Walker’s controversial one-time appointee to the Alaska Board of Fisheries was charged Wednesday with 17 counts of theft and unsworn falsification over his applications for six years of Permanent Fund dividends and for commercial fishing permits. Roland Maw is accused of illegally collecting $7,422 in dividends between 2009 and 2014. The charging documents show he did not disclose that he left Alaska for more than 90 days during each of the qualifying calendar years, a requirement. Read the article here 15:16
Counting Fish – The full documentary can be seen here!
New England groundfishermen are in trouble. The annual catch limits are now set so low that many boats remain tied to the dock. But controversy abounds. The fishing industry has expressed no confidence in the NOAA trawl survey that provides the raw data for the stock assessment. But counting fish in the ocean is no easy task. While everyone agrees that more and better data is needed NOAA Fisheries says its resources are already overtaxed. UMass Dartmouth marine scientist Kevin Stokesbury believes he may have found a solution- using cameras to record fish passing through a net that is intentionally left open, allowing them to escape unharmed. For an unvarnished look into the world of commercial fishing and cutting-edge marine research, join the crew of the F/V Justice of New Bedford for this May 2015 research trip to the famed fishing ground of Georges Bank. Watch the full documentary here. 12:51
Battle between stone crab and shark fisherman close to breaking point
Tensions are high between stone crab fisherman and residents shark fishing along the same beaches. After a recent assault charge, the city is stepping in before emotions boil over. “My message is simple: leave my traps, leave my property alone,” says Anthony Manali, Jr., a 46-year stone crab fisherman in Anna Maria . Manali has trapped stone crabs along Anna Maria’s shores for nearly 50 years. Earlier this month, Anthony’s wife Joann was charged with battery in a confrontation with three shark fisherman. Video, read the article here 11:18
Lobster, crabs, shrimp and more are served up in this weekend’s Key West Seafood Festival
Florida Keys commercial fishermen and fans of fresh fish and seafood gather Jan. 16 and 17 to celebrate the island chain’s bountiful ocean harvest during the 11th annual Florida Keys Seafood Festival.Presented by the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association, the family-friendly feast is set for 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. the first day and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the second at Key West’s Bayview Park at Truman Avenue and Jose Marti Drive. The menu features fresh grilled Florida spiny lobster, pick-and-peel Key West pink shrimp, stone crab claws, fried local fish,,, Read the rest here 10:55
Video: Has America lost control of its seafood?
Despite having some of the longest coastlines of any country in the world, the United States imports 90% of the fish and seafood it eats. Watch the video here 10:36
Local Crabbers React to Possible SBA Loan Help
The federal Small Business Administration is trying to find out if California crab fishermen have suffered significant financial losses by a delay in the start of the annual Dungeness and rock crab fishing season. If the losses are substantial enough a could be declared and low-interest loans would be available to crab fishermen who need them. “We’d rather go fishing we don’t want SBA loans, I can’t make that more clear”, Lori French says, “we’d rather go fishing, we’ve been self-supporting for a lot of years and we want to keep it that way, we’ve never asked for a handout and we don’t want a handout now.” Read the article here 09:04
Our view: Finding common ground on monitors
It takes a lot to bring Democrats and Republicans together on any issue in these days of heightened, highly partisan politics. It seems, however, that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has done the trick. Sixth District U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton and 16 of his fellow New England congressmen — 12 Democrats, four Republicans and an independent — united last week to call on the agency to delay or call off its plans to force fishing vessel permit holders to pay to have someone looking over their shoulder as they work. Read the op-ed here 08:00
Regulations bar three boats from unloading catch in New Bedford
Three New Bedford-based fishing boats were barred from unloading their catch in the city Wednesday because the fish were caught on North Carolina quota that cannot be transferred to New Bedford. Two boats owned by Carlos Rafael and one owned by Mark Bergeron of Bergie’s Seafood Inc. of New Bedford idled at the dock while they tried to budge state environmental police, who are following the regulations that say only a vessel breakdown or crew injury qualify a boat to go to an alternative harbor and unload. Read the article here 07:34
