Daily Archives: April 13, 2016
More New England Fishery Infrastructure In Jeopardy!
On Friday at 10am on April 15th, Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) and State Sen. Rob Simmons (R-CT) and Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) will be at the fish dock in Stonington, CT in support of Gambardella Wholesale Fish, Inc. during the making of a video chronicling the difficulties of maintaining an essential fishery support business in the current fisheries regulatory environment. Mike Gambardella of Gambardella Wholesale Fish, Inc., at the Town Dock in Stonington, CT has run for decades one of the last packing facilities and wholesale fish houses in Connecticut. It is where most of what’s left of the local fleet sell their fish. Stonington is an iconic fishing port going back hundreds of years, and Mike’s Family has been in the fish business for generations. Read the rest here 15:00
MFV LOUISA Crew family fund
Following the devastating tragedy of LOUISA going down on 4/9/16, and losing 2 crewmen, one still missing and one recovering, I’d really like to set up this fund for all of the families who are involved and suffering at this awful time. It has hit the Western Isles hard, as well as the rest of scotland and further afield. My thoughts are with the owners of Louisa also, who were not aboard at the time. Feel free to donate as much or as little as you’d like. The funds will go towards burials for the boys and help the families who are having to go through this very very sad time. RIP boys. Lorraina Matheson is the fund sponsor. In loving memory for Fishermen Paul Alliston, Chris Morrison, and Martin Johnstone. Click here 13:24
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 45′ Stanley Lobster boat, 325HP, 8 Cylinder Detroit
Specifications, information and 15 photo click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 12:29
The secretive and slippery world of glass eel fishing
The night before my scheduled interview with a fisherman, I get a text that reads: “sorry decided not to do article can’t help our suffering fishery please don’t use my info.” When I ask if his buyer will at least speak to me, I’m told he’s out too. Another man relays the message that even if I were his brother and writing this article, he wouldn’t be a part of it. No one else is willing to talk. There isn’t anything illegal going on here, but I may as well be talking about Watergate. My (now completely anonymous) source is an uncooperative version of Deep Throat. Or maybe he’s Deep Sea Throat, because the taboo subject that’s got these insiders so buttoned up is eels. Specifically, elver eels. Read the article here 11:09
Alaska’s Commercial salmon harvest expected to be leaner this summer
State biologists are forecasting a much leaner commercial salmon fishing season in Alaska this summer. Last year, fishermen caught 268 million salmon, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Biologists this year are expecting 161 million salmon to be harvested, a nearly 40 percent decline. The big drop is mostly due to fewer pink salmon expected to return. “Pinks typically have a strong year and then a weaker year. It’s an even-odd cycle. 2016 is an even year so we’ll have fewer pink salmon returning. That’s really what’s driving everything in that report,” said Richard Brenner, a fishery biologist who co-authored the report. Read the rest here 09:57
Gloucester: Proposed lobster ban would hurt local businesses
Vince Mortillaro, one of the owners of the Gloucester-based family lobster business that bears his name, is watching the evolving trade dispute with Sweden and potentially the rest of the European Union over American lobsters and he doesn’t particularly like what he’s seeing. “We’re talking about a big chunk of everybody’s business,” Mortillaro said Tuesday when asked about Sweden’s attempt to convince the entire European Union — which numbers 28 member states — to ban the import of American lobsters to Europe. “Between the U.S. and Canada selling lobsters and the European Union buying and reselling them, we’re probably talking about a $1 billion business.” Read the rest here 09:27
Independent scientists need not apply – NMFS denies SMAST Industry paid RSA Funding
For almost 20 years now, SMAST has worked diligently alongside our fishermen to improve fishery science. Kevin’s research has earned him their respect, earned them a ton of money and earned New Bedford its position as the nation’s top fishing port. The drop camera survey he pioneered to count sea scallops on Georges Bank in 1999 was a game changer that helped to rescue an ailing industry. Anyone on the waterfront can attest to that. He did it by providing independent evidence that what fishermen had been saying was correct. There were plenty of scallops out there waiting to be harvested in spite of what the government survey would have everyone believe. Barney Frank took those survey pictures to Bill Daley, who was Secretary of Commerce at the time. Daley listened and New Bedford’s ship came in. It may now be departing. Read the op-ed here 07:27
