Daily Archives: January 21, 2016
Kasich understands plight of commercial fishermen – Stephen Joyce
I’d like to thank John Kasich for taking the time to meet with commercial and recreational small business owners at Yankee Coop in Seabrook , N.H. It was interesting listening to John ask questions in order to ascertain where the problems lie. There was a point where John readily understood the problem, it isn’t lack of fish, weather or climate change. It is Washington politics and the fact that no one at NOAA or the NMFS can be held accountable for the damages they have caused what is left of the N.H. fishing fleet. Read the rest here 19:47
Coast Guard responds to multiple fishing vessel incidents participating in Miss. Oyster Recovery Project
The Coast Guard and partner agencies have responded to an increase in incidents involving oyster fishermen in Bay St. Louis, Miss., over the past two days. One serious marine incident took place, which involved injury to a crewmember. The other incidents involved capsized fishing vessels. The incidents, due to unsafe work practices and overloading of oyster fishing vessels, coincide with the State of Mississippi initiating the , Jan. 18th, to relocate oyster beds from St. Joe Reef to Pass Christian and Biloxi Bay. Read the post here 16:54
Tri Marine International not surprised by US withdrawal from Tuna Treaty
Tri Marine International is not surprised by the US Government’s announcement its withdrawing from the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. In a statement issued this afternoon the owners of local cannery Samoa Tuna Processors say it remains focused on ensuring the long term stability of its operations in American Samoa. The cannery said the current Treaty is tied to a reality that no longer exists and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up to meet the needs of both the Pacific Island Parties and the U.S. boat owners as Asian interests continue to expand their reach into the region. Read the article here 15:00
In Court: ‘Wicked Tuna’ star pleads guilty to fraud
A man featured on the reality television show “Wicked Tuna” pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges in Vermont he received government disability benefits while he was fishing on the show. Paul Hebert, 50, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, entered the pleas in U.S. District Court in Burlington to charges of Social Security and Medicaid fraud. Hebert was charged last summer with accepting more than $44,000 in Social Security and Medicaid disability benefits between 2010 and 2013. As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Hebert agreed to pay more than $53,600 in restitution. Attorneys are recommending probation for four years. Sentencing is set for May. Video, Read the article here. 13:04
Nova Scotia to Cooke Aquaculture: Pay up on $18m loan
The provincial government is calling in Cooke Aquaculture’s $18-million loan. The money comes from a major loan announced by the former NDP government in 2012. The government was to make up to $25 million available for the company, $9 million of it forgivable, if Cooke could expand a feed mill in Truro, build a salmon hatchery in Digby County and a processing plant in Shelburne, and create up to 400 jobs across the province. “We fully expect Cooke Aquaculture to live up to their component of that agreement,”,,, Read the article here 10:37
North Carolina Fishermen meet to determine disbursement procedures
Work will begin today to establish procedures for authorizing the disbursement of money collected through a new state fund created to meet requirements for the protection of sea turtles while also supporting projects that enhance the state’s commercial fishing industry. The funding committee of the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund and a corresponding committee of the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will hold their first meeting today at 2 p.m. at the division headquarters, 3441 Arendell St. in Morehead City. of the North Carolina Fisheries Association said the meeting will be organizational as work begins to establish a Memorandum of Understanding. Read the article here 10:03
Cod was key to our survival – Earl Snelgrove, St. John’s
I was born in the small fishing community of Grates Cove, Trinity Bay near Baccalieu Island in the later part of the 1920s and used to go fishing with my father and some of my brothers. My father had three cod traps which he inherited from my grandfather. We set those traps by the shoreline not more than 20 fathoms (about 120 feet) off from the shore. About the time the caplin came to the beaches from the Grand Banks for spawning, anytime from mid-June or early July, we would set our traps, and the cod chasing the caplin would be led into the traps by means of a leader. Read the rest here 09:35
Family of Coos Bay fisherman: ‘He was a remarkable man’
The US Coast Guard has suspended their search for two fishermen presumed lost at sea, after their boat struck a jetty and capsized near Coos Bay. Family has identified a third crew member as Blaine Steinmetz. They tell FOX 12 his body was found hours after the wreckage. Blaine Steinmetz knew the risks of being out on the open seas, but did it anyway because he loved it, according to his stepdaughter Amy Sad. And she loved that about him. Read the article here 08:35
Fishermen in court to protest at-sea monitoring cost shift
A group of East Coast fishermen who are challenging the federal government about the cost of at-sea monitoring is due for a hearing in court. New England fishermen will have to start paying the cost of at-sea monitors soon under new rules. Fishermen challenging the rules are due in U.S. District Court in Concord on Thursday for a hearing on their motion for an injunction. At-sea monitors collect data to help determine future fishing quotas. The monitors can cost about $800 per trip. A group of fishermen contends that the cost shift is illegal. One of the fishermen involved in the lawsuit is Hampton, New Hampshire-based David Goethel. He says many fishermen won’t be able to afford the added cost. Link 07:59
