Daily Archives: April 6, 2016
Enviro’s spar with Obama administration over fish catches!
A proposed federal rule that would give regional councils more say in setting catch limits on fish has sparked rare friction between the Obama administration and environmental groups. The proposal, years in the making, could take effect this summer. It would provide the eight councils “additional clarity and potential flexibility” to comply with the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. Groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and Earth Justice say the change could roll back nearly a decade of progress in rescuing once-overfished populations. Read the rest here 20:58
Watermen pack legislative hearing as Oyster study debate heats up in Maryland
Oyster season may be done for now, but the debate rages on in Maryland over the future management of the Chesapeake Bay’s iconic shellfish. Watermen and seafood industry representatives packed a legislative hearing room in Annapolis on Tuesday seeking to head off legislation that would require a study to determine sustainable harvest rates for oysters. Accusations of political chicanery, bias and deception flew during a four-hour hearing before the House Environment and Transportation Committee, leaving some lawmakers baffled. Read the rest here 18:21
‘Deadliest Catch’ Captain Admits He’s Afraid Of The Ocean And Can’t Swim
The Hyena’s at TMZ mock the Skipper – Would you believe one of the “Deadliest Catch” stars is actually “afraid” of the ocean and is unable to swim? Captain Sig Hansen of the F/V Northwestern admitted to TMZ on camera that he’s the “last guy” who wants to go into the ocean. “I’m afraid of the ocean,” Sig said. “The last guy that wants to go in there is ME. I can’t swim.” That’s one for the ages. An ocean boat captain who can’t swim? You’d think there might be some kind of test for that you have to pass in order to be a certified captain. Apparently when you’re a fisherman it’s not a requirement. Video, read the rest here 17:29
Northeast Seafood Coalition skeptical of proposed new rules
The Northeast Seafood Coalition has submitted public comments for the proposed rules for the Northeast Fishery Management Plan that reiterate its lack of confidence in NOAA’s current system of scientific assessments for groundfish. The comments from the Gloucester-based NSC, submitted to NOAA Fisheries before Tuesday’s deadline, question the reported status of the witch flounder stock and sets the fishing advocacy group in opposition to the proposed allowable biological catch limit of 460 metric tons or the 2016 fishing season. “NSC expressed concern with the reported status of witch flounder during the public process,” the coalition said in its comments, which also reference the group’s “expressed concern that catch rates within the fishery are completely inconsistent with the reported stock status from the assessment.” Read the rest here 15:20
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 42′ Provincial High Sheer Lobster, 500HP, 6 Cylinder John Deere
Specifications, information and 1 photo click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 13:32
Ventura County Fishermen find a body at sea believed to be missing Commercial Fisherman
Fisherman Moody Brickett thought the object caught in a boat’s net late Monday afternoon was a decomposed seal. It was a human body. Brickett and his friends are convinced they know who it is, though Ventura County authorities have not confirmed the identification. On the last Friday of February, Vietnamese commercial fisherman Tra Nguyen searched for ridgeback prawns at sea between the Ventura and Santa Barbara harbors. He and his deckhand, Dinh Nguyen, pulled up the last catch of the day. The boat was listing because of an empty starboard fuel tank. It began to tip after being struck by a wave, according to Dinh Nguyen, who survived. Read the rest here 13:04
1943: Grizzled New England fishermen unload their catch in lower Manhattan
Opened in 1822, the Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan was for decades one of the largest markets in the United States, a nexus of commerce both for large seafood wholesalers and people looking to pick up something for dinner. Here, Office of War Information photographer Gordon Parks documents the path of a fresh catch from the boats of New England fishermen to the vendors’ stands. View the photo’s here 10:13
Another Broken MLPA Initiative Promise – Commission to Vote on Postponing Marine Protected Area Reviews
The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative, one of the most controversial environmental processes in California history, is known for its many broken promises and “inconvenient truths.” On April 13, the California Fish and Game Commission at its meeting in Santa Rosa will consider a plan that postpones scientific assessments that would evaluate whether “marine protected areas” (MPAs) have effectively restored fish populations. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDF) plan proposes to postpone regional scientific reviews of the effectiveness of “marine protected areas” from once every five years, as originally promised, to once every 10 years. Read the rest here 09:16
Two South Florida men sentenced for illegally poaching spiny lobsters
On Tuesday, 54-year-old Donny Caridad Gonzalez and 77-year-old Nemesio Garcia Gonzalez appeared in court to be sentenced for the crime that occurred on May 9, 2015. According to officials, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers observed a suspicious lobster shell inside a crab trap, even though the boat owner claimed no lobsters were on the boat. As officials investigated the boat, an officer found a total of 87 wrung lobster tails, 66 of which were undersized. The lobsters were illegally collected outside of regular lobster season, which is Aug. 6 through March 31. Read the rest here 08:50
New state sales tax law takes Louisiana commercial fishermen by surprise
The new schedule of items exempted from Louisiana sales taxes – and those which are not – includes loss of protection for people who buy antique airplanes and have other esoteric interests. But it also suspends, for now, the exemption on paying sales tax for commercial fishermen, on items like nets and other equipment essential to their trade. “Oh my God,” was the reaction offered by Trudy Luke of Houma, whose family buys crabs and seafood, and harvests the products as well. The same law that imposes the sales tax on commercial fishermen exempts racehorses and a slew of farm equipment and supplies, including fertilizer and seeds. Crawfish and catfish farms also retain their sales tax exemption on feed and supplies. Read the rest here 08:14
