Monthly Archives: January 2016
Most Feared Salmon Virus Has Arrived in BC Waters
The European variant of infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) was said to have arrived in British Columbia almost five years ago, but then the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it was not so after testing two suspect salmon. That was in 2011. But if British Columbia was ISAV-free then, it almost certainly is not now, according to a study of more than 1,000 farmed and wild fish published Jan. 6 under the title Discovery of variant infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) of European genotype in British Columbia, Canada. Read the article here 12:06
Banner lobster season underway in sou’west Nova
Strong lobster landings, good fishing weather and a solid shore price continue to hold one month into the commercial lobster fishery in southwestern Nova Scotia. “The catches have been phenomenal,” says Lockeport lobster dealer Mike Cotter of Cotter’s Ocean Products Inc. “It’s just been amazing, right from day one. The catches have been good for everybody and the price has been good. You’re not going to get any better season than this for sure.” Fine weather prevailed for the first two weeks of the season, which opened on Nov. 30 in Lobster Fishing Areas (LFA) 33 and 34, enabling fishers to check their traps every day. Read the article here 09:41
Tri Marine says South Pacific Tuna Treaty is obsolete
The owners of American Samoa’s second cannery, Samoa Tuna Processors, say the Treaty which allows US fishing boats to fish in waters of Pacific island countries is obsolete and needs to be revised. Tri Marine International says in a statement that the tuna treaty in its current form fails to retain the most value for the resource owners because the Vessel Day Scheme places value on fishing days alone, rather than the tuna itself. According to Tri Marine, calculating value based on fishing days is a shortsighted economic equation that doesn’t necessarily represent the long-term best interests of island communities. Read the article here 09:02
Crab season delay ‘scary’ for North Coast fishermen
On Jan. 4, the California Department of Public Health released the summary of domoic acid levels in crabs caught along the California coast. As of Dec. 31, the health advisory for crabs caught between the Santa Barbara/Ventura County Line and Latitude 35 (40 minutes north of the Piedras Blancas Light Station in San Luis Obispo County) was lifted. But dangerous levels of the toxin were found in crabs caught as recently as Dec. 27 in the northern part of the state. That’s bad news for Don and Teresa Akin, of The Fish Peddler, and Scott Hockett, of Noyo Fish Company. Read the article here 08:22
‘We’re not dying yet. But …’ Fisherman fears new rules smothering herring industry
Gerry O’Neill looks at the water world spinning around him, a world of regulation and re-regulation and over-regulation — in other words, the modern world of commercial fishing — and thinks that he’s seen this movie before. “At the end of the day, the groundfishermen are struggling and everybody knows that and it’s because of over-regulation as well,” O’Neill said. “We’re not dying yet. But if they keep doing what they’re doing, we’re going to go the same way as the groundfishermen.” Given the state of the groundfish fleet, that is a chilling phrase, Read the article here 07:39
AJOC EDITORIAL: Time for Penney to drop vendetta against setnetters
Bob Penney is now 0 for 2 at the Alaska Supreme Court in his efforts to reallocate Cook Inlet salmon stocks at the ballot box, but he’s not giving up the fight against commercial fishermen. It’s past time that he did after some three decades of dividing the community with his nonstop efforts to drive his neighbors out of business and turn the Kenai River into his personal playpen. After the court emphatically rejected his ballot initiative that would ban setnetting from Cook Inlet beaches on Dec. 31, Penney released a statement that, “Maybe it’s time the federal government looked into this issue.” Read the editorial here 19:52
On the hunt for local oysters in Annapolis area restaurants
If you love oysters, the best are yet to come. Bill Scerbo, president of the Anne Arundel Watermen’s Association says warm waters early in the season kept oysters from reaching the peak of size and flavor. But Scerbo pronounced the emerging crop “well worth the eating” — high marks from a 35-year veteran of harvesting oysters and crabs on the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Oystermen’s Association President President Jim Mullin reports that watermen are “catching their limit and they’re good-sized oysters.” And that means supply is keeping up with demand,,, Read the article here 17:32
NOAA claims visitors to Northern California marine sanctuaries pump $1.2 billion into economy
Visitors drawn to 
along the protected waters off Northern California’s coast pumped more than $1.2 billion into the region, according to a new federal study. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration looked at low-impact recreational visitors to the Greater Farallones and the northern portion of the Monterey Bay marine sanctuary in 2011 and their economic impact on coastal counties including Sonoma, Mendocino and Marin. Conservationists say the data, published last week, highlights the benefits,,, Read the article here. 15:59
Fishermen’s Trust Looks to the Future
After a strong year, the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust is pressing ahead with its mission to support commercial fishermen on the Island. On Tuesday, eight of the nine board members attended a meeting of the Chilmark selectmen to seek further support.“We have accomplished as much as we possibly can do in a volunteer setting,” board member and commercial fisherman Wes Brighton said, emphasizing the need for funding and other support to help attract young fishermen and sustain the industry. The Island fleet has struggled in the face of increasing costs and regulations in recent years. Read the article here 15:38
Coast Guard crews tow disabled fishing boat near Buzzards Bay
Coast Guard crews from Stations Woods Hole and Menemsha towed the 65-foot fishing vessel Leonardo, with six people aboard, Wednesday when it became disabled after running aground in Woods Hole Pass. At approximately 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received notification via VHF-16 radio from the captain aboard Leonardo reporting they ran aground and damaged their rudder. Read the report here 12:14
Sustainable Fishburger Based On Chef Eric Ripert’s Recipe Coming To Hamptons School
Bonnie Brady, Executive Director of the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, is pleased that the project will support the local fishing community. “In the U.S. marketplace over ninety percent of seafood is imported and more than half of it is farmed seafood, mostly from Asia,” said Brady. “It is imperative to allow our remaining commercial fishermen here to return to their historical and critically important role as providers of locally landed seafood to New York State residents.” The Montauk Fishburger Project is a win-win for both the students who get to enjoy the tasty fare and the food purveyors who provide the ingredients. Read the article here 10:52
Regulations finalized for collection of P.E.I. marketing levy
The regulations governing how the lobster marketing levy will be implemented are now finalized. An amendment to the Fisheries Act allowing for the imposition of the cent per pound levy were passed through the provincial legislation in the summer of 2015. However, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Alan McIsaac says it took some time before the mechanics of the system could be worked out. Craig Avery, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, says,,, Read the post here 10:32
No life like it for Main-a-Dieu fisherman
Cory Lahey spends nine months of the year fishing Mira Bay for either rock crab, snow crab, lobster or scallops, so the 38-year-old can be forgiven for having a love-hate relationship with his profession. “There are days when it’s rough and it’s not that enjoyable, but when it’s a good weather day, it’s hard to beat the ocean,” said the Main-a-Dieu native. “It’s the most miserable place to be if it’s rough, but it can be the most peaceful place to be, too. “But I’m happiest when I’m out on those days, that’s for sure.” Read the article here 08:45
Seattle doctors use unique treatment to save Alaskan fisherman
What started as a minor nuisance turned into a life threatening condition for an Alaskan fisherman. He wound up in Seattle with just a 20 percent chance at survival. Henry Webb leads a life most of us can only talk about. He climbed Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. He rode his bike from Alaska to southern California. And professionally, he does the most dangerous job we know — fishing and crabbing in the Bering Sea. So it’s a little hard to comprehend that an ingrown hair nearly killed him. Henry was on a fishing boat, 14 hours from land,,, Read the article here 07:25
‘Huge’ Atlantic lobster washed up in Vancouver likely set free by animal-lovers
It’s certainly not a typical sight on Vancouver beaches — or anywhere on the West Coast, in fact. The carcass of a large lobster, native to the Atlantic ocean, with claws almost as big as a man’s size 11 shoe. “I saw it from far away, and thought wow, that’s a lobster,” said Damon Gudaitis, who spotted a dog walker pick it from the surf while walking in New Brighton Park in East Vancouver last week. Gudaitis snapped a picture and sent it to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, curious what the alien crustacean was doing there. He didn’t hear back, but local biologists have offered a likely explanation. Read the article here 21:57
Off the Arctic Coast of Alaska: Remains of Lost 1800s Whaling Fleet Found
NOAA archaeologists have discovered the battered hulls of two 1800s whaling ships nearly 144 years after they and 31 others sank off the Arctic coast of Alaska in one of the planet’s most unexplored ocean regions. The shipwrecks, and parts of other ships, that were found are most likely the remains of 33 ships trapped by pack ice close to the Alaskan Arctic shore in September 1871. The whaling captains had counted on a wind shift from the east to drive the ice out to sea as it had always done in years past. Read the article here 17:30Gulf Fishermen Sue Feds Over Red Snapper Quota Rule
In anticipation of clawing back red snapper quotas from Gulf Coast commercial fishers, feds have “frozen” red snapper fishing altogether, a group of fishermen claim in court. Following the proposal of a Republican-supported bill last fall with strong support from recreational fishermen that would have wrested control of red snapper regulations from the feds and placed it in the hands of individual states, the federal agencies in charge of regulation moved instead to grant recreational fishermen higher quotas for fish they are allowed to catch. Read the article here 15:40
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for January 4, 2016
Click here to read the Weekly Update, to read all the updates, Click here 14:59
A full range of emotions regarding sea lions was on display Tuesday at the Port of Astoria!
Port of Astoria Commissioner Bill Hunsinger marshaled his fellow commercial fishermen Tuesday to talk about what the agency can do to stop sea lions from ruining fishing on the Columbia River. Hunsinger added the Sea Lion Committee to he Port Commission agenda for the meeting Tuesday, which was packed to the gills with commercial and guide fishermen who largely feel the river’s endangered salmon runs, and by extension their livelihoods, are threatened by pinnipeds. In the front row was a small contingent from the Sea Lion Defense Brigade,,, Read the article here 13:47
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 40′ Steel Stern Trawler, 6 Cylinder Cummins 855 Diesel
Specifications, information and 6 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 13:07
Nova Scotia young lobster population shows no sign of decline
Federal fisheries scientists say their most recent sampling of juvenile lobster in southwest Nova Scotia indicate a decade-long trend of abundant populations is holding steady. “It’s closer to the long-term average. Not the extreme high or low. Somewhere along the middle of what we’ve seen,” said Adam Cook, a federal research scientist. Canada’s Fisheries and Oceans department has three sites in southwest Nova Scotia where it captures juvenile lobsters after they settle to the ocean floor. Read the article here 10:54
Marine Resources Committee schedules hearing on elver legislation
The Legislature’s Marine Resources Committee has scheduled a public hearing on a bill introduced by Rep. Walter Kumiega (D-Deer Isle) that would give the Department of Marine Resources more flexibility in managing the elver fishery. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Room 206 of the Cross Building in Augusta. Kumiega has also offered a bill that, he said, would improve the state’s lobster licensing procedures and reduce the waiting time for fishermen trying to enter the fishery. Read the article here 09:55
Early morning boat fire in Harbour Grace
Harbour Grace Ocean Enterprises general manager Paul Lannon was startled to receive a phone call that a boat at the wharf was engulfed in flames. The Abigail Grace, an almost 26-metre fishing vessel owned by Quinlan Brothers, had caught on fire earlier in the morning and crews from the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Department were on scene. Read the article here Abigail Grace will fish again, says Robin Quinlan Read the article here 09:33
U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter to Secretary of State John Kerry: Help save US tuna jobs
U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter wants the U.S. State Department to step in to assist American tuna boats — many with ties to San Diego — that are shut out of a large area of the Pacific Ocean for the first time in nearly 30 years. In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, Hunter writes that the U.S. government must act fast to help the tuna fleet. Last week, administrators of the South Pacific Tuna Treaty — a 27-year-old accord among 17 nations governing waters in the western Pacific — refused to issue 2016 licenses on Jan. 1. It said American boats must pay millions of dollars in fees, they agreed to in August, to fish international waters. Read the article here 08:42
State of Alaska fishery spending analyzed
Most of the benefit from the commercial fishing industry goes to local government, while the state overspends itself, according to a new analysis. A study conducted by Bob Loeffler and Steve Colt of the University of Alaska Anchorage’s Institute of Social and Economic Research found that the state spends about $27.2 million more on commercial fishing than it receives in revenue from the industry. This includes regulation, operations and capital projects. Read the article here 08:04
Fishing violation nets Wrangell father, son $100K fine
An Alaskan federal judge on Monday fined a Wrangell father and son $100,000 for lying about where they were fishing for halibut in the Gulf of Alaska, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess imposed the sentence for Charles “Chuck” J. Petticrew Sr., 70, and Charles “Jeff” J. Petticrew Jr., 42, in Juneau federal court. Both defendants had entered into a plea agreement and agreed to pay the fine when they pled guilty to violating the Lacey Act in October. ,,, Read the article here 21:13
Oregon and Washington – Crab quality, quantity, prices all good
It’s only a few days into this year’s commercial Dungeness crab season and fishermen already believe they are looking at a better run than last year. Dan Ayres, coastal shellfish manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, won’t have initial landing numbers for another week or so but, he said, “The word we’re getting from the fleet is that it looks better than last year.” After getting the all-clear from state health departments, commercial Dungeness crab fishermen finally hit the water Jan. 4 after being delayed for weeks due to elevated levels of the marine toxin domoic acid. Read the article here 19:04
Republican presidential candidate John Kasich to meet with N.H. fishermen
The Ohio governor will meet privately with commercial and recreational fishermen and industry members from 3 to 4 p.m. at Yankee Fisherman’s Cooperative after he holds a noon town hall event at the Lane Memorial Library in Hampton. Kasich became aware of the fishermen’s concern about regulations via a Wall Street Journal op-ed written by David Goethel. The op-ed ran Dec. 27 and detailed Goethel’s current federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Read the article here 16:18
New Study: Injuries among Dungeness crab fishermen examined
Commercial Dungeness crab fishing on the West Coast is one of the highest risk occupations in the United States, based on fatality rates. But non-fatal injuries in the fishery appear to go largely unreported, a new study from Oregon State University shows. While the fatality rates in the Dungeness crab fleet have been reported in the past, the incidence of non-fatal injuries have not been previously studied, said Laurel Kincl, an assistant professor of environmental and occupational health and safety in the . Read the article here 15:39
Coast Guard medevacs fisherman near Eastport, Maine
A Coast Guard 45-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Eastport medevaced a man from the 35-foot fishing vessel 
Monday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Northern New England’s command center received a call via VHF-16 radio at 4:20 p.m. from the captain of the Latta II reporting one of his crewmembers had sustained injuries to his left hand while operating a winch. A 45-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Eastport launched and arrived on scene at 4:49 p.m. and took the man aboard. Read the report here 13:14
