Daily Archives: February 23, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FFAW Calls for Immediate Halt to Northern Shrimp Fishery in Area 6
St. John’s – The Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW-Unifor) is calling for an immediate halt to all northern shrimp fishing activity in Shrimp Fishing Area 6 (SFA6), which is located adjacent to the northeast coast of Newfoundland and the southeast coast of Labrador. The call for a halt is in response to reports that the fishable biomass for SFA6 has declined sharply over the past year. “If the reports we have received are accurate, then we are facing a very difficult situation in the northern shrimp fishery that will have significant consequences for harvesters, processing workers, and the communities and regions that depend upon the shrimp fishery,” said Keith Sullivan, President of the FFAW. Read the rest here 17:20
Gloucester gets $151,000 seaport grant to exhibit its seafood locally, regionally and nationally
The Baker-Polito Administration’s Seaport Economic Council has announced $5.15 million in grant awards,,, Gloucester’s grant of $151,000 is focused on sustaining and improving the 40 percent of the city’s economy that relies on fishing, processing, shore-side services, and related businesses. It will allow the city to exhibit its seafood locally, regionally and nationally, and will support a branding campaign for “Gloucester Fresh Seafood.” Funding will also help the Fishermen’s Wives Association to procure additional contracts for Gloucester’s seafood with restaurants and institutions. Read the rest here 16:16
Video: Octopus tentacles shoot out of rock pool as fishermen use controversial fork method to catch creature
Fishermen have been accused of ‘brutal’ behaviour after a gruesome video showed them using FORKS to catch an octopus. However, some viewers claim the fishermen’s method is “natural”. The footage, shot in East Java, Indonesia, has had 23,000 hits but viewers are undecided on whether the alternative fishing method is “inhumane”. In the film, fishermen are seen digging up in a shallow rock pool, using a fork to work out where the water is deeper. They then insert food, believed to be chicken, on a line. As soon as a tentacle reaches up, they grab the animal and tug it up. Watch the video here 14:43
Radiation from Fukushima nuclear disaster not found in B.C. salmon
Five years after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan, radioactive contaminants continue to circulate across the Pacific to Canada’s West Coast, but not at dangerous levels. A B.C. scientist monitoring fish for tell-tale traces of cesium-134 said the radionuclide, which is the fingerprint of the Fukushima disaster, has been found in seawater but not in recent samples taken from 156 salmon. Steelhead, Chinook, sockeye and pink salmon were collected by First Nations from locations spread along the B.C. coast last year as part of an ongoing monitoring program. In releasing the latest test results, Jay Cullen, with the ,,, Read the rest here 13:37
San Mateo County Harbor District board waives slip fees for crab fisherman – With a Hook!
With the closure of all commercial Dungeness crab fisheries statewide, the San Mateo County Harbor District board waived slip fees for its 39 permitted commercial crab fishermen who operate out of Pillar Point Harbor on the coast. The fishermen, however, would have to repay the waived fees if federal disaster relief becomes available. Commissioner Sabrina Brennan wanted to extend the fee waivers to recreational fisherman (Everyone gets a trophy?) as well and to extend it to three months rather than one. Read the article here 11:25
Let’s hope Alaska revenue solution isn’t too hard on ‘the other guy’
I keep hoping that the motto of the famous Anchorage bar Chilkoot Charlie’s, “We cheat the other guy and pass the savings on to you,” can work out for me, but in these trying economic and political times, I’m a little concerned. It seems obvious that Alaska’s fiscal crisis will actually require a bit of sacrifice from all of us as well as action from the — so far pathetically unproductive and seemingly delusional — legislative majority. The governor, to his credit, has submitted legislation for a combination of budget cuts and revenue enhancements to bring us something that might resemble sustainable government. As an Alaskan, I’m hoping the can find the gumption to act soon and wisely enough to stave off economic collapse. As a commercial fisherman, I’m hoping to escape targeting as “the other guy.” Read the rest here 11:05
Good Video – Distressed N.L. fishing vessel expected in Greenland this afternoon
A YouTube video has been released, showing operations Monday to assist a fishing vessel in distress in the Davis Strait, about 270 miles northeast of Iqaluit. The Newfoundland fishing vessel, with about 30 people on board, hit ice and made a distress call Sunday night to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Halifax. On Monday afternoon, Major Rhonda Stevens of the Joint Task Force Atlantic said JRCC Halifax was working closely with Greenland authorities to have a Danish warship dispatched to provide further assistance to the crew. Watch the video, Read the rest here 10:02
Fisherman on P.E.I. fined for having too much halibut
A Kings County fisherman who said he failed to make the correct conversion in fish weight was fined over $1,400 in a rare case of exceeding an allowable limit of halibut. The charge was laid July 24 when was landing his boat Sandra’s Choice in Graham’s Pond harbor. A fisheries officer found a gutted halibut covered on board and checked the fishermen’s take of halibut from days earlier with a dockside monitor. It was discovered that Creed was in possession of more halibut than allowed as his limit. Read the rest here 08:41
Wear that PFD! Lifejackets key for rescued fishermen
TWO fishermen saved after hours floating in waters off Ulverstone on Monday afternoon survived due to “everything going in their favour”, says a key lifesaving official. State lifesaving officer Chris Jacobson said that onshore currents, life jackets, easterly winds and the location of training crew members in an inflatable rubber boat (IRB) were among the factors that ensured the men survived the ordeal.”Realistically if they hadn’t had those jackets on their chance of survival wouldn’t have been good for that period of time,” Mr Jacobson said. Read the story here 08:05
