Daily Archives: April 9, 2016
Emmonak Fisheries Fire: Request for emergency funding to rebuild commercial fishery quickly
On Wednesday, Emmonak City Manager Martin Moore asked the state legislature for emergency funding after a fire destroyed five commercial fishing buildings last month and prompted the City of Emmonak to declare a disaster. If Emmonak is granted or loaned the requested three-quarters of a million dollars, Moore said the city will rebuild critical infrastructure before the upcoming fishing season. As commercial fishing is the primary source of income and employment in the Kusilvak Census District, Moore said Emmonak needs to rebuild soon — before people around the Yukon Delta miss out on their main economic opportunity. Read the article here 19:25
Commercial Fisherman sues Nat Geo and Katie’s Seafood after losing fingers on reality show
A local man is suing after he says he nearly lost his hands while filming a reality TV show in the Gulf of Mexico. He’s blaming the show for putting the “drama” ahead of his medical needs. From the basketball court where he bonded with his three kids, to the job on oil rigs and shrimping boats, Eddy McHenry has always counted on his hands. “If I had my hands, I can do anything and I never thought I would lose my hands.” he said. He lost his most valuable tool out in the Gulf of Mexico, filming the National Geographic reality TV show “Big Fish, Texas”. Video, Read the article here 18:43
Two bodies recovered, one missing, one airlifted, after fishing vessel sinks off the Western Isles of Scotland
Two bodies have been found after a fishing boat sank off the Western Isles of Scotland. One fisherman remains missing, while another was airlifted to hospital. The coastguard received a distress alert just before 3.45am on Saturday, and the vessel’s emergency positioning beacon was activated near Mingulay. Read the rest here The fishing vessel which sank off Mingulay this morning has been named locally as the ‘Louisa’, a 16-metre vivier crabber owned by Duncan and Murdo Kennedy, from Marvig, South Lochs. One crew member has been rescued and taken to hospital, but three remain missing. Read the rest here 12:36
Slow start to west coast coldwater shrimp fishing as price disputes erupt in Oregon, Quebec
The US west coast coldwater pink shrimp (pandalus jordani) season that should have started April 1 has been held up by price negotiations between fishermen and processors. Meanwhile, on the east of Canada in Quebec, shrimp fishing also is being held up due to price issues between harvesters and processors. In Oregon, price negotiations between the two have been traditionally overseen by the state, much as the Dungeness crab price talks have been, but this year the industry opted out of the state process. Now it’s up to shrimp associations to negotiate directly with processors. “Processors put out a price structure that does not reflect the market, in our opinion,” said pink shrimp fisherman Nick Edwards. “[The] Shrimp Producers Marketing Cooperative hopes to work collectively with the processors to get the fleet on the water.” Read the rest here 07:57
FFAW, fish processors come together to revitalize groundfishery
As shellfish stocks decline in Newfoundland and Labrador, members of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union and a number of fish processors are putting aside age-old differences to help rebuild the groundfishery. Harvesting and plant worker representatives from the FFAW and officials from various fish processing companies — including Beothic Fish Processors, Codroy Seafood, Atlantic Ocean Products and Allans Fisheries — announced the formation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Groundfish Industry Development Council on Friday in St. John’s. FFAW president Keith Sullivan said that working together is a necessity for the future. “As the fishery begins another transition period, stakeholders must work together to develop a strategic vision for the future of the groundfish industry,” he said. Read the rest here 07:37
Maine finalizes deal to preserve Tenants Harbor Working Waterfront
The Maine Department of Marine Resources obtained a working waterfront covenant March 11 on the wharf owned by the four Miller brothers — Hale, Ira, Dan and Peter — at 12 Commercial St. in Tenants Harbor. The covenant means that the pier must be used for commercial fishing. The wharf is used by more than 100 lobstermen, scallopers, urchin fishermen and seaweed harvesters. Over the years, landings have included shrimp and groundfish. In exchange for the working waterfront covenant, which ensures the wharf owners cannot develop or use the property for anything other than commercial working waterfront activities, the state will pay $250,000, an amount determined by a standardized working waterfront property appraisal, according to the news release. Read the article here 07:03
