Daily Archives: May 22, 2016
Commercial fishermen: Net ban would destroy N.C. seafood industry
A state House bill first introduced 16 years ago has been resurrected that would ban the use of large trawling nets in state waters, a move that the commercial fishing industry says could destroy the livelihood for most North Carolina fishermen. New Bern native Billy Richardson, D-Cumberland, filed a bill that would let voters decide whether to outlaw gill and certain other nets in all state coastal waters. If the N.C. General Assembly supports House Bill 1122, the binding referendum would be on the November election ballot. “It would be the end of North Carolina’s (commercial) fishery,” said Wayne Dunbar, a waterman for nearly 40 years, located in Pamlico County’s Paradise Shores on Lower Broad Creek, leading into the Pamlico Sound. “People that don’t fish wouldn’t get North Carolina seafood.” Read the story here 18:44
Community Supported Fisheries processing plant planned for False Creek
Shaun and Sonia Strobel founded Skipper Otto’s Community Supported Fishery in 2008 as a way for Otto Strobel — Shaun’s father — to keep fishing independently at a time when it was becoming increasingly more difficult for fishermen like him to make a living in B.C. Now, another 39 boats have joined their collective and more than 1700 customers pay up front — on average $300 per year — to have the chance to order and pick-up fresh fish, shellfish and other food direct from B.C.’s waters. “The lack of secure processing is the biggest hurdle we have to overcome,” said Shaun Strobel, who added that up to 75 per cent of what he and other fishermen in the collective catch has to be processed. Some of that is done on the boats and in the limited space that the Strobels and others have at the False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf, but most often they must turn to fish processors who are already busy with contracts from much larger companies. Read the rest here 15:36
Leo “The Hypocrite” DiCaprio flies 8,000 miles in private jet to accept ‘green award’
Oscar-winner Leonardo DiCaprio flew an additional 8,000 miles from France to New York and back to accept an award on climate change. The actor suffered a massive blow on his carbon footprint when he took one jet from the Cannes Film Festival to New York City to attend the green awards ceremony, before hopping on board a second jet for a fund-raising event back in Cannes the following evening. The New York awards ceremony was the Riverkeeper Fishermen’s Ball at Chelsea Piers, where he was honoured by the clean-water advocacy group and fellow actor Robert De Niro for his efforts to raise awareness on climate change. Read the story here 13:49
Predator-prey relationship of Lingcod and Rockfish – Catching one improves chances for the other
The UW scientists examined this predator-prey relationship between lingcod and rockfish to see if allowing lingcod fishing in rockfish conservation areas could take some of the pressure off of rockfish and let small juveniles grow bigger and stronger to rival lingcod. Their models showed that modestly fishing for lingcod in these areas using different, more selective gear could avoid harming rockfish. It would also benefit fishermen and could bring more tasty fish to the market. “This is about the ability to actually use a resource that’s out there — lingcod, which is now a really reproductive and healthy stock,” said senior author Tim Essington, UW professor and associate director of the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. Read the rest here 12:50
Will they finally be sunk? Sea Shepherd takes fight to Chinese fleets fishing illegally
It took two days and nights for the exhausted crew of the MY Steve Irwin to recover the drift net that had been abandoned by the fleeing Chinese fishing vessel. Most of the 321 marine animals the 5km of illegal netting had entangled, including sharks, dolphins, bluefin tuna and seals, were already dead. “It was the worst thing we could see but we knew it was the last time this net would kill and we could at least save a few of the animals – that was important,” says Bernd Mutz, a former social worker from Dortmund, Germany, who took part in the operation. “The days of smoke flares are over,” says Gary Stokes, director of Sea Shepherd Southeast Asia. Based in Hong Kong, Stokes is one of eight global directors who run the organisation, and its eight vessels, under the watchful eye of controversial Canadian founder Paul Watson (more on him later). Read the rest here 11:23
State legislators get taste of N.C. commercial fishing bounty at N.C. Fish Fry and Seafood Sampler
Close to a dozen organizations representing the commercial fishing industry were on hand to introduce North Carolina’s government leaders to the state’s seafood bounty. This gathering has become one of the most important forums for members of the industry to explain the important economic contributions made by the commercial seafood industry, all while battling federal and state regulators, environmental interests, and a well-funded recreational fishing industry which often seeks to reduce commercial catch quotas and restrict harvesting methods. Sen. Bill Cook (R-Beaufort) and Sen. Norman Sanderson (R-Pamlico) enlightened their colleagues about the economic importance, cultural heritage and threats to the long-term survival of commercial fishermen, and appealed for their support. Read the rest here 10:04
This Irish documentary about fishing and oil is making people angry
The Atlantic Ocean can be wild, dangerous, beautiful and mystical. It provides a stunning view, a home to shoals of fish and marine life. But it also provides a livelihood for fishermen and those who trawl the sea for fish, and companies who drill for oil and gas. Director Risteard Ó Domhnaill is the man behind the acclaimed documentary The Pipe, about the Shell pipeline controversy in Rossport, Co Mayo. It was an intimate story, but one which taught him about the bigger picture of politics and industry around natural resources, says the director. Atlantic was meant to be a half-hour documentary about the oil and gas resources that Ireland has, but like many projects, it blossomed. The resulting film looks at how these resources as well as the fishing industry are treated in Ireland – but also in Newfoundland and in Norway. Read the story here 08:57
