Monthly Archives: March 2016
How In Trouble Are Bluefin Tuna, Really? Controversial Study Makes Waves with Enviro’s
A group of scientists is now making the case that Atlantic bluefin may be more resilient to fishing than commonly thought — and perhaps better able to rebound from the species’ depleted state. But the study is controversial. Several tuna researchers we spoke with warned that the results are preliminary, and it’s much too soon to use them to guide how fisheries are managed. In an email exchange with The Salt, Safina writes, “[T]heir main concern is not recovery, not conservation, but how their findings can allow additional exploitation and more stress to be inflicted on a very beleaguered creature.” Read the article here 08:10
President Obama just gave $500 million of Your Money to the UN Green Fund
Guest essay by Eric Worrall- Tyrants and dictators, shady international arms dealers, brutal leaders of broken, basket case nations like President for Life Robert Mugabe, will be celebrating today; President Obama just transferred $500 million of US Taxpayer’s money into the new UN Climate Fund. According to The Guardian; The first chunk of a $3bn commitment made at the Paris climate talks ‘shows the US stands squarely behind climate commitments’, the State Department said The Obama administration has made a first installment on its $3bn pledge to help poor countries fight climate change – defying Republican opposition to the president’s environmental plan. A Video of the “People of the Bureaucracy” , Read the rest here 21:17
The Goodness of People – Fish fry raises $16,000 for out-of-work crab fishermen
A fish fry for out of work crabbers struggling to get by netted more than $16,000 Saturday and donations are still pouring in. Three short weeks after deciding to host a benefit dinner, the Crescent City Commercial Fishermen’s Association served up more than 500 fish and chip baskets featuring red snapper fresh from the ocean. Much of the fish came from Pacific Choice Seafoods as well as from local fishermen, said association Vice President John Beardon. We were expecting 300 people we sold way more tickets than that,” Beardon said, adding that roughly 25 volunteers helped cook and serve the fish dinners. “We had so many volunteers show up, it’s been phenomenal. The support has been just amazing.” Read the rest here 17:23
Scotland’s fishermen look forward to EU referendum
When it comes to the EU referendum, one industry where you’ll find very strong views is fishing. Paul Moss went to the main Scottish fishing port of Peterhead to canvass opinion. Charles Buchan, a member of Aberdeenshire Council, explained to me why he supported Britain’s membership of the European Union, and why in particular he thought it was good for the local fishing industry here in Peterhead. “Fishermen are allowed to land their catches in Germany, in Denmark… we’ve got longstanding ties with Europe and it would be terrible to break them,” he says. Jimmy Buchan’s position is typical (he’s no relation of Charles Buchan). He achieved national fame as the star of a BBC TV series, Trawlerman. When we meet on the dockside in Peterhead, he greets me with a cheerful grin, and friendly, avuncular manner. Yet he makes no attempt to hide his contempt for the regulations that the European Union enforces. Read the rest here 17:03
FishNet USA/NOAA Enforcement, media bias, and what’s fact checking?
Much attention has been directed towards a recent IRS/NOAA investigation of alleged criminal activity of New Bedford (MA) fleet owner/seafood wholesaler and retailer Carlos Rafael. Particularly considering the fact that NOAA is trying to force New England fishermen to shoulder the onerous burden of paying for on-board observers to make sure that they aren’t “cheating” on federal fishing regulations, some industry observers have called into question the timing of the actions surrounding Mr. Rafael’s business dealings, and I’ll bet dollars to donuts that the anti-fishing activists are going to leap on this opportunity to clamor for even more – and even more expensive policing of fishermen (it’s been estimated that the costs of the existing level of observer coverage, if passed on to fishermen, will force on the order of 25% of New England’s groundfish fleet out of business).Read the rest of this intro, and, Who really “destroyed a decade of law enforcement?” FishNet USA/December 28, 2011 Nils E. Stolpe Click here16:12
Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting in Sacramento, California March 8-14, 2016 Listen Live
The Pacific Fishery Management Council and its advisory bodies will meet June 10-16, 2015 in Spokane, Washington, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Sacramento. Download the June 2015 Meeting Notice WITH Agenda (includes full logistics for public comment deadlines). Listen to the Live Audio Stream March 9-14. 12:51
Coldwater Lobster Association wants more members, says many issues facing Nova Scotia industry
Coldwater Lobster Association, covering Lobster Fishing Area 34 in southwestern Nova Scotia, says there are issues that could have dire outcomes on the lobster industry. The association has around 80 members but says it would have more clout at the table with DFO and other groups if it was speaking for a larger percentage of the industry. One issue is a pending decision on whether to list cusk under the Species at Risk Act. COSEWIC(Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) is collecting opinion online and through consultations until March 18. The committee says the mature portion of the cusk population has declined by 85 per cent over three generations. Read the rest here 11:29
Judge James Sullivan sworn in as Plymouth District Court’s first justice
He first came to Plymouth as a deck hand on a commercial fishing vessel out of Woods Hole. Today, he presides over one of the busiest and most progressive courts in the state. Judge James Michael Sullivan was formally sworn in last Friday as first justice of Plymouth District Court. He succeeds Judge Rosemary Minehan, who retired late last year. A former prosecutor, Sullivan served as acting first justice for both the Attleboro and Hingham district courts before his appointment in Plymouth in November. Read the rest here 10:06
Creepy deepwater fish surprises Nova Scotia fisherman
A fishing trawler off the coast of Newfoundland recently hauled up a creature from the depths of the ocean that made even experienced fishermen do a double take. Scott Tanner was on board when crews pulled up the fish — which looks somewhat like a bird, with a long, pointy snout, bright neon green eyes, and ribbed fins that resemble feathered wings. “All the production stopped and everything so everybody could check it out,” he said. “Even the older guys that are 50, 60 years old, they’ve seen maybe one in their lifetime so they thought it was pretty neat and I snapped a couple pictures.” Read the rest here 09:14
Five Years After Fukushima, Ocean Radiation Poses Little Risk to U.S.
March 11 marks the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima Daichi nuclear power plant explosion in Japan. More than 80 percent of the radioactive material from the explosion leaked into the Pacific Ocean, released via groundwater. Dr. Ken Buesseler, an oceanographer, has spent the five years since Fukushima investigating the effects of the disaster on ocean radioactivity, through research funded by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He and his team have also sampled water near the West Coast to see if the effects of the disaster have been felt in the U.S. Read the rest here 07:51
3 fishermen rescued from sinking boat off Galveston South Jetty
A Coast Guard boat crew rescued three fisherman after their boat began sinking early Sunday morning near the jetty off Galveston. Crewmembers of the shrimp boat Jana Lynn called Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders via VHF-FM channel 16 at around 3 a.m., reporting their boat was taking on water. Watchstanders launched a Station Galveston 45-foot response boat crew, who quickly retrieved the men before the situation got worse. They reported that their dewatering pumps lost power and they maneuvered the boat on the jetty to keep it from sinking. Read the rest here 07:18
Potential Western Atlantic spawning area found for Atlantic bluefin tuna
Scientists from NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) and the University of Massachusetts Boston have found evidence of Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning activity off the northeastern United States in an area of open ocean south of New England and east of the Mid-Atlantic states called the Slope Sea. The findings, to be published March 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest that the current life-history model for western Atlantic bluefin, which assumes spawning occurs only in the Gulf of Mexico, overestimates age-at-maturity. For that reason, the authors conclude that western Atlantic bluefin may be less vulnerable to fishing and other stressors than previously thought. Read the rest here 20:18
Selling seafood: Team Gloucester packs them in at international expo
There was no shortage of foreign languages filtering around the cavernous exhibition hall at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center when the international Seafood Expo North America show opened Sunday. And Gloucester. Operating with a basic strategy of go-big or go-home, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken and her merry band of Gloucesterites certainly made their presence known at one of the largest seafood shows in the world. “Come to the city of Gloucester booth at 1671 and try some of our red fish soup, made with local Gloucester fish,” Romeo Theken announced over and over, and with authority, into the microphone as thousands of visitors and exhibitors milled past. “Gloucester fish is fresh fish. Check it out at www.gloucesterfresh.com.” Read the article here 18:57
F/V Commander – Overhaul by Platypus Marine Inc.
Commander, 58′ Delta, Was hauled out at Pacific Northwest Shipyard Platypus Marine Inc. during her Dry dock period. Work included but was not limited to, deck resurfacing, removal and new installation of name graphics, installation of anchor protection plate for the hull, wheelhouse windows replacement, sanded and re-gel-coated the fish hold, stanchions were replaced and 2 coats of Sharkskin Anti-fouling paint were applied to the hull. Commander is now back on the water and functioning better than ever since they choose Platypus Marine as their partner for an exceptional project. Information, View the photo gallery here 16:52
Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance – Fisheries policy is breeding an industry beset by corruption
As an organization led by commercial fishermen, we have long been concerned that the drive to consolidate the industry would lead to the kind of collusion and corruption alleged in the case of a local fishing mogul Fisheries policy makers have claimed that programs such as catch shares would lead to fewer, more easily regulated fishing operations. Not surprisingly, fewer players, such as New Bedford-based , who was arrested in an IRS-led sting operation, now own and control more of the fishing industry, including permits, quotas, and shoreside facilities. Read the rest here 15:15
VIDEO: U.S. Coast Guard rescues two fishermen after boat sinks 52 miles northwest of Boca Grande
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two men after their boat sank , Florida, early Monday, according to a news release. The captain of the 37-foot commercial fishing boat, Ruby-D, made multiple mayday calls shortly before 3:30 a.m. stating his boat was sinking, and, along with his crewmember, he was abandoning ship. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater crews arrived at the scene at approximately 4:25 a.m., spotted a strobe light and located both fishermen in a life raft nearby, said the release. Video, Read the rest here 14:18
PUTNAM: Regulations hurt more than help
Several presidential candidates have spent a significant amount of time highlighting that none of the those “responsible” for the 2008 financial crisis went to jail. Without passing judgement on the argument that someone should be punished for the mismanagement that may have contributed to the economic downturn, it does raise an interesting question. In a heavily regulated industry, what culpability do the regulators have when things go horribly wrong? The regulators, of course, exist to protect the public, consumers and often the environment. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marines Fisheries Service, which has been rebranded as “NOAA Fisheries” after getting a well-deserved reputation of destroying fishing communities, is responsible for the management and regulation of New England’s ground fish fisheries. Taking a look at the history of how the fisheries have been managed, the results have been poor. Read the rest here 13:51
What’s eating at Dr. Ray Hilborn today?!! Dr. Geoff Shester from Oceana
Last week Dr. Geoff Shester, California campaign director for the nonprofit advocacy group Oceana criticized the Pacific Fishery Management Council for the persistence of low numbers of California Sardines. The lack of a population recovery may cause the commercial moratorium to last until 2017. The author explained this sardine population decline as being 93 percent less than it was in 2007. Dr. Shester does not believe this is because of environmental causes like climate change, El Nino, or natural fluctuations in forage fish species however – instead he blames the management body. “They warned of a population collapse and the fishery management body basically turned a blind eye and continued moving forward with business as usual.” Response Comment by Ray Hilborn, University of Washington, Read the rest here 11:49
Exit of Fisheries chief Louis Daniel III remains unexplained and unannounced
The sudden resignation of 
as director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries last week caught supporters, critics, employees and members of the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission by surprise. Among the reasons that have been speculated on include mounting pressure of the job Daniel had held since 2005, potential fallout from a state audit of the commission’s activities, as well as political pressure from members of the General Assembly. More puzzling is the lack of even an official statement from the state that Daniel had stepped aside. Read the rest here 10:45
Tangier Island Is Sinking. Its Population Is Shrinking. And These Guys Want to Make It the Oyster Capital of the East Coast
The water is 54 degrees, cold enough that Craig Suro lets out a yelp when he dives in. Stinging sea nettles the size of Ping-Pong balls dot the surface around him. To make matters worse, Suro needs to go to the bathroom. “Can you piss in a wetsuit?” he asks. We’re floating a few hundred yards off Tangier Island, a speck of land in the Chesapeake Bay. Beneath us is some of the bay’s finest oyster-growing territory. Its waters are salty but not too salty, a moderate 17 parts per thousand. Enough algae is borne on the currents for millions of oysters to gorge themselves happily. Suro and his partners have bet half a million dollars on being able to turn this patch of bay into an oyster-farming empire. Read the rest here 10:28
Keith Sullivan – Leave scarce shrimp to the inshore fishery
The inshore owner-operator northern shrimp fishery, which is confined to the waters adjacent to the northeast coast of Newfoundland and south coast of Labrador, is being threatened with destruction as a result of poor management and a sharp decline in the stock. In 2015, the directly contributed approximately $250 million to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy. Much of this value originates in rural communities, paying wages to thousands of harvesters, processing workers and truck drivers, and providing profits to processing companies. Indirectly, the economy of the shrimp fishery keeps schools, businesses and municipalities sustainable. Read the rest here 09:41
Nunavut officials press for Arctic search and rescue base – “Within the last six months we’ve had two near disasters”
Nunavut’s fishing industry is renewing its call for a search and rescue base in the North after two recent major incidents where fishing vessels were in distress in Arctic waters for hours before help arrived. “Within the last six months we’ve had two near disasters,” said Jerry Ward, chair of the Nunavut Offshore Allocation Holders Association. Last September, the Atlantic Charger fishing vessel took on water near the mouth of Frobisher Bay. The nine-person crew was rescued by a Danish ship. Then last month, the F/V Saputi ran into ice and took on water. Hercules aircraft from Nova Scotia dropped pumps as the Danish Navy escorted the damaged ship and crew of 30 to Nuuk, Greenland. Read the rest here 08:04
Late night welding is the suspected cause of New Jersey boat fire
POINT PLEASANT BEACH – A fire that damaged a commercial fishing vessel on Sunday off of Baltimore Avenue and Channel Drive may be the result of welding work, authorities said. The fire broke out on the fishing boat about 3:30 a.m. Sunday at Laurelton Welding Services on Channel Drive, State Police Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams said. “Welding work had been completed earlier in the morning, right after midnight,” Williams said. Read the rest here 22:24
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting , March 7-11, 2016, Jekyll Island, GA
The public is invited to attend the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to be held in Jekyll Island, GA, at the Westin Jekyll Island. Read the Meeting Agenda Click here, Briefing Book – September 2015 Council Meeting Click here Webinar Registration: Listen Live, Click here 19:44
£26k (28,600 US) fine for ‘under cover of darkness’ scallop fishermen
TWO French fishermen who regularly illegally dredged for scallops in Jersey waters after sneaking in ‘under the cover of darkness’ have been fined a total of £26,000. Arnaud Delalonde (46) and Tony Mesnage (43), from Cherbourg, pulled up almost ten tonnes of the highly prized shellfish inside the three-mile limit from Jersey’s shores which is reserved for local fishermen. But their secret evening and night-time raids on Island fish stocks came to an end in November 2014 when Delalonde’s vessel, Pescadore, was boarded by fisheries protection officers during a stealth operation after being monitored using state-of-the-art tracking technology. Read the rest here 18:36
Massachusetts Fishermen need Attorney General Maura Healey’s help
When touring the North Shore a year and a half ago, then-candidate for attorney general Maura Healey made it a point to mention her family ties to Gloucester, Newburyport and the region’s fishing industry. The implication was that, if she were elected, fishermen would have a powerful ally on Beacon Hill, or at the very least someone who understood the unique difficulties facing the industry. Now, Healey is well into her second year as attorney general, and it is time to make good on her promise to protect the industry from federal overreach. We are talking specifically about the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s at-sea monitoring program,,, Read the rest here 18:00
‘Codfather’ arrest exposes empire’s potential impact on fisheries
An affidavit filed by IRS agents in support of the federal criminal case against New Bedford fishing fleet owner Carlos Rafael offered “a rare, candid look” inside the operation of the top groundfish fisherman in the region and the single largest fleet owner in the United States, according to Peter Shelley, senior counsel for the Conservation Law Foundation. But the 24-page narrative filed in U.S. District Court last Friday also exposed the shortcomings of fisheries enforcement, which seemed tantamount to an honor system, with gaps in oversight so big Rafael was allegedly able to navigate safely through them for 30 years, which, if true, may have had a profound effect on fish stocks and how their health is assessed. All the ENGO “big’s” are quoted! Peter Shelley fought for this. Read the rest here 12:39
Saving the World’s Fisheries – One investment firm thinks sustainable fisheries and Wall Street profits can go hand in hand.
A new plan to save the ocean is coming from somewhere surprising: Wall Street. An investment firm thinks they can nurture sustainable fisheries in developing countries and make a buck at the same time. Some are calling it a big deal. Others think they’re naïve. The reality is, fish are in bad shape. The United Nations says about 30 percent of world fish stocks are being harvested at an unsustainable pace. Some researchers think that figure is as high as 45 percent. Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic organization and the Rockefeller Foundation tapped Encourage to develop an investment strategy as part of Vibrant Oceans initiative. Same old catch share crap, same old names. Read the rest here 11:12
Overnight commercial fishing boat fire in Point Beach
A fire broke out overnight in a Point Pleasant Beach commercial fishing boat that recently drifted into a railroad bridge, authorities say. Police, fire, and emergency medical services were dispatched to the fishing docks near the intersection of Baltimore Avenue and Channel Drive shortly after 3:30 a.m. today, according to Jerry Meaney, a local first responder who posted a video of the scene on his Barnegat Bay Island, NJ Facebook page. Responding units discovered heavy smoke with flames showing from the fishing vessel “Ocean One,” Meaney said. Link 10:25
Tofino whale watching tragedy rescuers honoured by Lifesaving Society
Ten people who helped rescue victims after a whale watching boat capsized off the coast of Tofino in October, 2015 have been awarded medals for their bravery by the Lifesaving Society – BC and Yukon. Included in the group were Etienne Herold and Trinity Jezierski, both guides, working for Jamie’s Whaling Station aboard the Leviathan II when it sunk. “You can’t even fathom it,” said Herold “It’s like an action movie.” After getting knocked into the water they were able to deploy a life raft and pull other victims into it. Read the rest here 09:25
