Monthly Archives: August 2016
Anti Fishing Obama Expands Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
Obama on Friday will expand a marine national monument off the Northwest Hawaiian Islands to make it the world’s largest marine protected area, encompassing nearly 600,000 square miles and thousands of species of sea life, including endangered sea turtles, whales and black coral beds. The action will make it illegal to conduct any commercial fishing and any type of mineral extraction in the expanded Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the original 140,000 square miles of which was first protected by President George W. Bush in 2006 and designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2010. Obama will travel to Hawaii next week to commemorate the new monument with a trip to Midway Atoll, located within the newly protected area, to highlight “how the threat of climate change makes protecting our public lands and waters more important than ever,” the White House said. Read the rest here 03:54
Plaintiffs file for class certification in Refugio oil spill lawsuit
A class of plaintiffs who claim to be injured by the Refugio oil spill filed for class certification. After Plains All American Pipeline’s corroded Line 901 ruptured on May 19, 2015 and spilled an estimated 123,000 gallons of oil along the Gaviota Coast, 21,000 gallons of which seeped into the ocean, fisheries were closed, oil production was shut down, small businesses lost revenue and coastal properties were tarnished, according to the consolidated class-action civil lawsuit. Named plaintiffs include Keith and Tiffani Andrews, Baciu Family LLC, Robert Boydston, Captain Jack’s Santa Barbara Tours, Morgan Castagnola, Crab Cowboys, The Eagle Fleet, Zachary Frazier, Mike Gandall, Alexandra Geremia, Jim Guelker, Jacques Habra, iSurf, Mark and Mary Kirkhart, Jamie Klein, Richard Lilygren, Hwa Hong Muh, Ocean Angel IV, Pacific Rim Fisheries, Sarah Rathbone, Community Seafood, Southern Cal Seafood, Santa Barbara Uni, TracTide Marine Corp., Wei International Trading and Stephen Wilson. Read the story here 18:36
Nova Scotia fishermen were in court today to stop Bay of Fundy tidal test project
A group representing 175 Nova Scotia fishermen appeared in court Thursday in a bid stop a plan to test giant electric turbines in the Bay of Fundy. The Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association says the Cape Sharp Tidal project is based on “junk science” and should be put on hold until a year-long study can establish a scientific baseline for the state of the bay. In June, Nova Scotia’s environment minister granted approval for the installation of two, five-storey turbines on the bottom of the bay for tidal power research. The association has filed an application for a judicial review of that decision, saying the minister acted unreasonably and failed to adequately consider evidence that suggests the project requires more study. Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge Denise Boudreau said a two-day hearing on the merits of the application would begin on Feb. 1, 2017. As well, she said a hearing could be held on Oct. 20 if the association decides to file a motion seeking a stay of the minister’s decision. Link 17:02
Hawaii: War Of Words Escalates As Monument Decision Nears
Supporters of the fourfold expansion of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument have fired back against an advertisement claiming the proposal would result in people being unable to eat fresh local fish. A coalition called Expand Papahanaumokuakea has been circulating ads supporting the expansion of the monument, which currently covers 139,800 square miles around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The 30-second spot, primarily funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, features several people explaining why the expansion would be positive, citing the preservation of Native Hawaiian culture, fish stocks and new species yet to be discovered. Read the rest here 16:41
Ocearch says it’s found first-ever great white sharks birthing site off Montauk
Ocearch said its team of fishermen and scientists has found the first known birthing site for great white sharks on the North Atlantic Coast. After 26 expeditions, Ocearch said the birthing site in the famous waters off Montauk, Long Island is the most significant discovery they’ve ever made, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Glor. “It’s kind of like step two in the science,” said Chris Fischer, founder of Ocearch and the expedition’s leader. “When we started this work back in 2012, 2013… the real question was where are these sharks in the North Atlantic giving birth? Because that’s where they’re most vulnerable.” For researchers, finding the North Atlantic birthing site can lead to better protection policies and far more scientific knowledge. Read the story here 13:26
Corporate Menhaden Harvesting Off Coast Raises Concerns For Local Sport fishermen
Dead fish washing up on Ocean City beaches, a reduced inshore recreational fishery and a diminished stock of the most important species in the ecological food chain are just a few of the impacts likely caused by a large commercial menhaden processer off the coast of the resort in recent weeks, but, for now, it appears there is no immediate way to stop it. (When I read stuff like this, I can tell the direction the article is headed.) According to Captain Jeremy Blunt of the sportfishing boat Wrecker out of the Ocean City Fishing Center, the Omega Protein’s mega-purse-seining operation has been working off the coast for at least the last week. “We’ve seen them off and on over the last week or so as we head out and come in,” said Blunt. “They aren’t allowed to work in state waters in Maryland, so they are hanging just outside the three-mile line. They are working up and down just out the three-mile line well aware of the boundary for state waters.” (They are fishing in compliance of the regulations) Read the story here, and hold your nose! 13:13
‘Perfect Storm’ Captain Linda Greenlaw to speak at Fisherman’s Memorial Service
Twenty years ago, then-Mayor Bruce Toby went to Lucia Amero and asked her to research the annual Fisherman’s Memorial Service that pays homage to the city’s fishermen lost at sea. Two decades later, the Fisherman’s Memorial Service remains a vibrant celebration of the sacrifices made by fishermen and the families that comprise the fishing community here in America’s Oldest Seaport and on Saturday evening will feature Capt. Linda Greenlaw as guest speaker. “We just thought, with this being the 20th year of our doing the Fisherman’s Memorial Service and it also being the 25th anniversary of the Perfect Storm, that it was a perfect opportunity to include Linda in the program because she’s someone who has been a fisherman and knows about the dangers and the losses that go with that,” said Amero, a member of the Fisherman’s Memorial Service committee. The service is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m., when the procession — including a cadre of drummers, the American flag (carried by Ed Parks), committee members and the general public carrying oars inscribed with the name of boats lost at sea — leaves American Legion Square. Read the rest here 11:26
New York’s black market for stolen seafood is booming!
The three men arrested in the theft of more than $1 million worth of barbecued frozen eels aren’t the only ones allegedly selling stolen seafood to restaurants around the city. “Somebody will show up to the back door of a restaurant with a box of frozen shrimp and say, ‘Here, give me 50 bucks for this,’ and they’ll buy it, especially frozen shrimp and frozen crab,” said Dan Scofield, a buyer for Brooklyn seafood purveyor Pierless Fish Corp. We Da Li, 39, Fa Deng, 36, and Sheauloon Yat, 51, were caught in Brooklyn Monday after allegedly used fraudulent paperwork to steal thousands of boxes of prepared eels on June 1 from a shipping terminal in Elizabeth, NJ. The owner spotted his labeled boxes being sold on street corners for $520 per box. Read the rest here 10:10
On the Columbia River Commercial fishermen are endangered
It seems a bit odd that some of our neighbors should have to reintroduce themselves. But many new residents in our community don’t seem to know who they are. They are your fishermen. The vast majority of citizens are not recreational or commercial fishermen. We live on one of the world’s great rivers — once known as the world’s greatest salmon stream. Astoria also was once known as the salmon-canning capital of the world. But development of the Columbia River basin, and the era of hydroelectric dam building, eliminated all but around 40 percent of the Columbia’s existing salmon habitat. Our once great abundance of salmon is no longer what it was. But it’s not gone. Not by a long shot. Last year, the largest run of Chinook salmon since 1938 returned to the Columbia. This is still the greatest producer of Chinook salmon, also known as king salmon, in the world. And if you like to eat salmon (I know I do), someone has to catch it for you. For most of us, that means we depend on commercial fishermen. Read the story here 09:49
A Moray Aviation group fundraising event will reunite Skipper with Rescuers of daring 1988 mission
A Moray aviation group will stage a reunion between a north-east skipper and the rescue heroes who saved him from stormy seas. Volunteers from the Morayvia Science and Technology Centre at Kinloss are arranging a massive fundraising evening at a historic venue near Elgin next month. During the bash at Innes House, they will celebrate the region’s rich search and rescue past by laying bare the details of an especially daring mission which took place in 1988. The seven crewmen aboard the Peterhead fishing boat, Budding Rose, made a frantic mayday call when the vessel began taking on water in gale-force conditions 100 miles east of Aberdeen. A Sea King helicopter was scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth, and all the fishermen were winched to safety during a painstaking three-hour operation. The drama was filmed by a TV documentary crew, and the footage will be screened during the event on Saturday, September 17. Budding Rose skipper, Peter Bruce, will attend the gathering and will offer some personal reflection on his harrowing experience. Read the story here 08:46
Canadian government to receive $3.1 million after U.S. fishing vessel plowed into the frigate
The incident happened in April 2013 in Esquimalt Harbour. The American Dynasty, owned by American Seafoods Co., was heading towards the graving dock for repairs when it accelerated and crashed into HMCS Winnipeg tied to a jetty. The Canadian government launched legal action against American Seafoods. The $3.1 million payment is an out of court settlement. The Royal Canadian Navy has not said how much repairs to HMCS Winnipeg cost taxpayers. Read the rest, five more images here 07:29
GARFO says, Meet our Enforcement Compliance Liaison!
About five years ago, NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) in the Northeast Region strengthened its compliance assistance and outreach efforts by creating a new Compliance Liaison position. This position supports OLE’s goal of ensuring that those who obey the rules reap the benefits of fair competition and an even playing field in the market. (thank you Jihad Jane!) With 23 years of experience as a commercial fisherman for scallops and groundfish, and 10 years with our Sustainable Fisheries Division, Don Frei is a perfect fit for this job. Not only is he familiar with the needs of the fishing industry, but he knows a lot about fisheries management and regulations. As Compliance Liaison, it’s Don’s job to work with the fishing industry to increase both understanding of and compliance with regional fisheries regulations. To do this, Don spends a lot of time on the road talking to people. And he also: Read the rest here 17:46
New South Wales: King Prawn prices drop as fishermen haul in record catches off Coffs Coast
Fishermen off the Coffs Coast in northern New South Wales are reporting record catches of the iconic eastern king prawn. The Coffs Harbour Fishermen’s Co-operative’s seafood operations manager Shane Geary said he had never seen anything like it. “The last week or two, it’s probably been the biggest I’ve seen it in the 26 years I’ve been at the fish co-op,” he said. “Leading up to the full moon, we had some big catches; some of the boats there, not last night but the night before, had up to two tonne in the one night. “That’s some pretty big catches.”He said stocks were plentiful and the weather had been ideal. “We’re really pumping out a lot of prawns at the moment, both regionally and into Sydney,” Mr Geary said. “The prices have been fantastic. We’ve been retailing for around about $18 which we haven’t done for quite a long time. Read the rest here 17:18
Fisherman scoops up $100 million pearl — but keeps it under the bed for 10 years
A fisherman in the Philippines is happy as a clam after discovering that a mammoth pearl he stashed away for 10 years under his bed is worth a cool $100 million. The lucky angler, who has not been identified, discovered the 75-pound pearl — believed to be the biggest ever — in the sea off Palawan Island, the Mirror of the U.K. reported. Unaware of the giant pearl’s value, he kept it as a good-luck piece under his bed until a fire in his home forced him to move. The superstitious fishermen then decided to hand it over to the tourism office in remote Puerto Princesa, city officials said. “The fisherman threw the anchor down and it got stuck on a rock during a storm,” tourism officer Aileen Cynthia Amurao explained. “He noticed that it was lodged on a shell and swam down to pull up the anchor, and also brought the shell with him. Read the story here, 14:16
Downeast Boat builder Richard Stanley tinkers with a ‘hybrid’
It goes without saying that Richard Stanley has wooden boats in his blood. But at Richard Stanley Custom Boats, he is working on a new design that combines both wood and fiberglass fabrication with the goal of keeping wooden boats economically accessible to local fishermen. As a compromise between the expense of wood and the relative ease of fiberglass, Stanley recently designed a 38-foot powerboat with a wooden hull and a fiberglass top. It’s an idea he has kicked around for years, but it wasn’t until recently that he found the perfect customer for which to execute his design. The boat, commissioned by Doug Mayo of Portland, will be used as a charter fishing vessel and a recreational boat for family and friends. Using fiberglass for the boat’s top will save time and money. Read the story here 14:03
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: TYPE: 48′ Steel Trawler, Detroit 12-V-71N, Federal Permits
Specifications, information and 10 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 13:09
Fishermen are fighting windfarm company Dong Energy for their future
Fleetwood’s last remaining fishermen have staged a stirring flotilla protest as they desperately fight to save their livelihoods. Eight of the town’s remaining ten fishing boats were adorned with giant banners yesterday afternoon as they sought to highlight their struggle with windfarm company Dong Energy. One banner proclaimed “Wind farms taking over fishing grounds. Fleetwood fisherman Will Bamber says the protest is over plans to extend an already large windfarm in the Irish Sea. He says DONG Energy’s plans could force boats out of their fishing grounds for an entire year – the whole of 2017 – and kill off their livelihoods. Mr Bamber, 33, spokesman for the Fleetwood Commercial Fishermen’s Group, said: “I might be wrong, but I think this could be the first official protest at sea by Fleetwood fishermen. Read the story here 08:34
East and West Coast mayors join to oppose Obama administration’s ‘marine monuments’ plan
The Obama administration is running afoul of transparency and openness as it prepares to create offshore marine monuments off California and New England, two mayors including Jon Mitchell are telling the administration. Mitchell was joined by Monterey, California Mayor Clyde Roberson in sending the Obama White House letters expressing “serious concerns” about the potential economic harm to their ports from the use of executive action by the administration to create new federal marine monuments off the coasts. A chorus of opposition has been rising from fishermen and fishing communities across the country opposing the creation of marine monuments outside of the existing ocean management processes. Read the story here 08:00
New Bedford: John Linehan, synonymous with the fishing industry, dies at 94
If any one person would be the face of the fishing industry during the last half century or more, it could well be John F. Linehan, who died Aug. 14 at the age of 94. Not a fisherman himself, the Lewiston, Maine native arrived in New Bedford in 1951 after serving in the military and graduating from Bates College, class of 1953. Linehan wore many hats in his long career, first as general manager of the New Bedford Seafood Producers Association, a fisheries adviser in Korea, and the first director of the Harbor Development Commission. He was later operations manager at Frionor Corp., vice president and general manager of Maritime Terminal, Inc., and 12 years as the industry liaison officer for the National Marine Fisheries Service. His friends, who visited him regularly until the end of his life, say they admired Linehan for being not only intelligent but funny, always ready with a wisecrack. Read the story here 22:05
Virginia Marine Resources Commission hits fisherman with new maximum punishment
Last year, state lawmakers answered a plea from Virginia’s commercial fishing industry to toughen the penalties for watermen who repeatedly break the law. On Tuesday, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission brought down that bigger hammer for the first time – yanking the licenses of a Hampton fisherman for five years and slapping him with a $10,000 civil penalty. It took the commission’s law enforcement staff 50 pages to document David A. Turner’s history of fisheries violations – nearly two dozen in state courts since 2001, including 10 this year. Among the latest were convictions for harvesting oysters from creeks that had been condemned because of pollution. An undercover sting by Virginia Marine Police led to those charges. “I haven’t seen anything this bad,” Marine Resources Commission chief John Bull told fellow commissioners after listening to a police officer’s rundown. It was a “laundry list … of some of the most serious oyster violations that I can imagine.” Read the story here 21:35
Letter: Atlantic Marine Monument Area Vital To Fishermen – Jon Williams, Westport Island, Maine
I was disappointed with The Courant’s Aug. 18 editorial “Atlantic Marine Preserve Would Be Victory For Environment” endorsing a plan for President Obama to designate a marine national monument off the New England coast. Contrary to what the editorial stated, a monument would profoundly impact commercial fishermen. The editorial cited the Natural Resources Defense Council’s claim that the “vast majority of red crab landings” along the Eastern Seaboard are outside the proposed protection area. But take it from a crab fisherman: That area is vital to our livelihoods. Read the letter here 17:01
National Fisherman Magazine and Support for Marine Monuments
Fishing Vessel ILA goes aground off Westport
The commercial fishing vessel ILA, a long liner, was discovered aground, listing on a sand bar at the high tide line about a half mile north of W. Ocean Avenue at approximately 3 a.m. Saturday morning. Coast Guard vessel registration records show that the hailing port for the vessel is Ketchikan, Alaska, but local fishermen say the boat has been moored at the Westport Marina for several years. Responders from U.S. Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor boarded the vessel and made contact with the sole occupant, boat owner/skipper Ken Earnst, who was still asleep below decks. He was safely escorted off the vessel and spent the remainder of night in Westport. Earnst, a Sedro Woolley resident, said that he was about seven miles offshore and preparing to set his lines when he opted instead to go below and sleep. 2 more images, Read the story here 14:19
Tropical Storm Gaston expected to become hurricane by Wednesday
Tropical Storm Gaston is expected to become a hurricane by Wednesday, forecasters said in a Tuesday morning (Aug. 23) update. The storm currently is in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean and poses no threat to land. In addition to Gaston, the National Hurricane Center is tracking Tropical Depression Fiona in the Atlantic and another system that could pose a threat to the Caribbean. According to the National Hurricane Center, Gaston is about 545 miles west of the Cabo Verde Islands and is moving west-northwest at 20 mph. It’s expected to slow down slightly in the next couple days, but still maintain its path. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast, and Gaston is expected to reach hurricane status by Wednesday. Read the rest here 14:04
Wicked Tuna Outer Banks: Tyler says screw you as tension mount!
As the Doghouse’s First Mate Caine Livesay says: “Any time you catch a fish it gives you a boost to confidence. This fish really means a lot to us, you know it’s gonna put us in the right direction.” Meantime, Reels of Fortune and Pin Wheel get into some less than friendly rivalry. Pinwheel catch a mako shark and lose the hook and bait as they let it go, but they don’t call in the bite right away. Reels of Fortune Captain Charlie “Griff” Griffin is not happy that Pin Wheel is not reporting when they get a bite. Pin Wheels’ skipper Tyler is not impressed. Mocking Griff, he says: “You didn’t radio in your bite. Oh that’s not how we operate here in the Outer Banks. Read the rest here, and watch 2 videos. 12:38
Fishermen slap down Sturgeon over EU crusade and say she’s ignoring Brexit’s GRAND PRIZE
Ms Sturgeon and her SNP party have consistently warned leaving the EU would be devastating for Scotland’s fishing industry, with “thousands” of jobs at risk. However, the industry experts themselves have dismissed this and accused the First Minister of ignoring the huge benefit of Brexit – reclaiming Scottish fishing waters. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation said the result of this summer’s EU referendum would end the Common Fisheries Policy, which imposes quotas and allows fishermen from other member states to access Scottish fishing water – which they described as the “best fishing grounds in the world”. Read the rest here 12:07
North American-wide lobby fighting to save live lobster exports to Europe
Groups lobbying to protect North America’s live lobster shipments to Europe have been having weekly phone calls and strategy sessions, says the Lobster Council of Canada. “We have been advocating with governments. We’ve been encouraging Canadian exporters to advocate with their national governments,” said executive director Geoff Irvine. The groups include federal and provincial officials and key lobster industry players from the United States and Canada. Five months ago, Sweden called for a ban on all live lobster imports from North America after 32 American lobsters were captured in Swedish waters between 2008 and 2015. Irvine said there are several theories as to how they got there. The argues the American lobsters pose a risk as an invasive species, so as a precautionary measure it’s calling for the ban, but Irvine said science doesn’t back that up. Read the story here 09:48
Summer 2016 edition – WPFMC Pacific Islands Fishery News! Marine Monument Edition
Welcome to the Summer 2016 edition of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council’s Pacific Islands Fishery News! Click here to download the complete PDF and be sure to allow a few extra seconds for the file to upload. Featured are various Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument posts. Elected officials on every coast, being lobbied by every environmental non government organization, are pushing for the final Obama Administration assault on fishing, utilizing the Antiquities Act via Executive Order. This is also happening on the East Coast, the West Coast, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of info. Click here to review! 09:00
Two injured in lobster boat collision near Owls Head
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Two people were injured when lobster boats collided Monday morning off the Muscle Ridge Islands near Owls Head and South Thomaston. The two were taken Pen Bay Medical Center with injuries not considered life-threatening after the Thrasher struck the Centerfold about 8:30 a.m., according to U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Meghan Canoon. The two 42-foot vessels were hauling traps in the fog, she said. One person on each boat was hurt. The Coast Guard has not released the names of the injured, but Centerfold owner Cyrus Sleeper said he was taken to the hospital to be checked. He said he suffered some bruises. He added that two other crew members on his vessel were not injured. Read the rest here 19:46
Yurok Tribe finds deadly disease in Klamath River salmon
Dan Bacher: The Klamath River salmon fishery, an integral part of the culture, religion and livelihoods of the Yurok, Hoopa Valley and Karuk Tribes of Northern California, is going through some tough times this year. Because of the record-low run of fall-run Chinook salmon projected by federal fishery managers earlier this year, the Yurok Tribe, the largest Indian Tribe in California, held its Klamath Salmon Festival this August without serving traditionally-cooked salmon to the public as it has done for 54 years. Then on August 19, the Tribe announced that Yurok Fisheries crews conducting routine fish disease monitoring have found that salmon in the Klamath River on the Yurok Reservation are infected with a potentially deadly disease. Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, commonly known as ich (pronounced “ick”), is capable of causing large fish kill events, according to the Tribe. Ich was the primary pathogen that caused the 2002 fish kill in the Klamath River and killed more than 35,000 adult Chinook salmon and steelhead after the disease spread in low, warm conditions spurred by Bush administration water policies that favored irrigators over fish and downstream water users. Read the story here 19:22
