Daily Archives: September 14, 2016
Viewers react to Oregon-set ‘Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove’: ‘Two thumbs up and a raised beer’
The “Deadliest Catch” spinoff, “Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove” premiered Tuesday night on the Discovery Channel, with footage of Dungeness crab captains and crews sailing out of Newport, and gorgeous images of the Oregon Coast, the Yaquina Bay Bridge and the Newport area. What did viewers think of this Oregon-set show about crab fishermen? Reactions on Twitter last night ranged from enthusiastic to a bit skeptical. I’ve already shared my initial impressions of the first episode. On the plus side, it has the interesting real-life subject of Oregon Coast fishing life. But I’m a bit worried that the show will focus too much on hyped-up drama. But it’s early yet, so we’ll have more opportunities to see how “Dungeon Cove” develops. For now, here’s a look at what viewers were saying on Twitter last night about the first episode of “Deadliest Catch: Dungeon Cove”: Read the rest here, and view a bunch of images! 19:12
Eastern Canada’s Fishing Industry: An example of Perseverance and Prosperity
The commercial fishery has been part of the lifeblood of Eastern Canada for more than five centuries. Adjacency to the fishing grounds was the initial catalyst for the settling of the near countless harbors, coves and inlets throughout the five provinces that border the rich, pristine waters of the North Atlantic. And while the technology and vessels used to prosecute the fishery has changed over the generations, the industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Quebec is more valuable than it has ever been. Northern Cod Stocks
The biggest story coming out of the Eastern Canadian fishery as of late involves groundfish stocks – cod in particular. Shipbuilding Resurgence When any industry is doing well and its participants are prospering, that good fortune has a tendency to spill over to related spin-off and supply companies – and the Eastern Canadian fishing industry is no exception. Read the story here 17:09
Boston Light marks 300th anniversary
When the Boston Lighthouse was first lit 300 years ago today, sailors called on New England ports in wooden ships, pirates roamed the Atlantic Coast and the 13 colonies were under the British crown. The light, which still guides mariners around Boston Harbor’s shoals, was the first of thousands of American Aids to Navigation (ATON) that have saved lives, protected property and enabled prosperity for the last three centuries. Located on Little Brewster Island, Massachusetts, nine nautical miles from Boston, the lighthouse was first lit on Sept. 14, 1716, using tallow candles. Today, the Boston Light has two 2 million candlepower lights that can be seen from 27 nautical miles away. Read the rest here 16:45
Obama will leave his legacy at the expense of fishermen – Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah)
When President Obama quadrupled the size of a marine national monument off the coast of Hawaii last month, he made history. At 583,000-square-miles, the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is twice the size of Texas and the largest to date. But there’s a problem. This sweeping expansion was confirmed with virtually no public input, especially not from those who will feel the economic punch the most: fishermen. According to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, who openly opposed the expansion plans, the designation increased the “no fishing zone” around the Hawaiian Islands from approximately 24 percent to 77 percent. While radical environmentalists are clapping their hands, an entire local industry risks decimation. Two more marine monuments are expected soon, one on the West Coast, off the coast of Monterey, and another on the East Coast, off the coast of Cape Cod. Much like the expansion in Hawaii, these considerations have been met with staunch opposition from locals, the industry, and elected officials. Read the rest here 14:34
Whole Foods drops Honolulu fish auction until it proves fair boat labor
Whole Foods has suspended buying fish from the Hawaii fish auction amid concerns over the labor practices of some fishing vessels. It’s an issue Always Investigating first reported on back in 2013 and is now getting national attention. Fishermen describe horrid working conditions, rock bottom pay, and even allegations of international crew captivity aboard some of the boats that dock at Honolulu Harbor. Industry watchers say the Whole Foods move could be just the first of many, and the fish auction is already working on a system to weed out vessels with unfair labor practices. Telling Always Investigating they have “zero tolerance for human rights abuses,” Whole Foods said Tuesday: “We have suspended purchases of the small amount of fish we source from the Hawaiian seafood auction until we can ensure the working conditions on these boats align with our core values.” Read the story here 12:20
Read Foreign fishermen confined to boats catch Hawaiian seafood Click here
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 48ft. 6in. Wedgeport, 8 Cylinder CAT 3208
Specifications, information and 18 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 11:51
Unalaska joins emergency petition on tanner crab
This season, the unpredictable tanner crab population isn’t looking so good for Aleutian fishermen. That’s what the state’s trawl survey indicated this summer. But the City of Unalaska has joined an emergency petition urging the Alaska Board of Fisheries to take another look. At a City Council meeting last week, Frank Kelty explained the survey showed low numbers for female tanners. That’s led the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to consider serious conservation measures. “The whole fishery could be shut down,” Kelty said. But the problem isn’t affecting the whole fishery. Kelty said data indicates the eastern tanner stock is struggling with low female biomass, but not the western stock. Read the rest here 10:47
Feds Reach Deal To Protect Sea Turtles From Shrimpers
A D.C. federal judge on Friday stayed a lawsuit filed by a conservation group accusing the U.S. Department of Commerce of not doing enough to protect endangered sea turtles from shrimp fishing operations off the southeastern U.S. coast, after the government agreed to propose a rule to help fix the problem. Judge Paul L. Friedman signed an order staying the case after the U.S. Fisheries Service and conservation group Oceana Inc. agreed to a turtle excluder device, or TED, rule that requires expanded use of the devices that feature trap doors allowing most turtles caught in trawling nets to escape unharmed. The TED rule also places greater limits on the amount of time the shrimp boats can drag their nets. Under the terms of the agreement, if the stay is lifted and litigation recommences, Oceana will move for summary judgment within 45 days and the Fisheries Service will cross-move for summary judgment no later than 45 days after Oceana has filed its motion, Judge Friedman ruled. Read the rest here 10:14
Entangled Humpback rescued from fish farm ropes by fisheries officials
A juvenile humpback whale was thrashing in the water north of Klemtu, B.C. yesterday for 12 hours, struggling to breathe as ropes from an empty aquaculture site cut into its flesh and blubber. Marine Harvest workers discovered the entangled whale Monday morning and immediately called Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the company said in a statement. Paul Cottrell, DFO’s marine mammal coordinator, caught the first plane from Vancouver to conduct the complicated rescue, with help from local fisheries officers, the company and members of the Kitasoo First Nation. The team needed to cut at least four ropes to free the young whale, but that’s not as quick and easy as it sounds. Video, read the rest here 09:52
EU approves Sweden’s American lobster assessment
The Swedish risk assessment of American lobster is now approved by the EU, furthering the process that could lead to American lobster being added to the list of invasive species. ‘It is of course positive that our risk assessment meets the requirements of the EU regulation,’ said Sofia Brockmark of the Swedish Agency for Maritime and Water Management (HaV). The regulation aims to prevent, minimise and mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species of animals and nature, human health or the economy. It requires Member States, inter alia, to identify how the species spread and to ensure that the spread is stopped or limited. The species on the list are also subject to various restrictions, including the ban on the import, breeding or keeping alive. Now that the risk assessment has been approved by the EU’s scientific forum for invasive alien species, it can be put forward to the EU’s executive committee. Read the story here 09:03
Vigor Introduces Freezer Longliner designed specifically for North Pacific fishing
Based on an existing design by Marco Marine, the 142’ x 33.6’ x 14’ vessel has a fish hold capacity of 14,070 cu ft and a bait hold capacity of 1,900 cu ft. “A new class of longliners is a central need for the recapitalization of the North Pacific fishing fleet, but to get these vessels built fishermen need to know they can depend on the design—and it better be affordable,” explained Keith Whittemore, Vigor Executive VP of Business Development. “That’s why we began our design process by acquiring the exclusive license of a Marco design that has successfully fished the North Pacific for more than two decades. Then we collaborated with current longliner operators. Working with the original designer, we elevated that design to take advantage of advances in technology, efficiency and safety. Read the story here 08:40
Skipper of grounded vessel near Salmon Creek tried to flee, gave authorities two different names
The captain of a fishing boat that ran aground just this weekend south of Salmon Creek on the Sonoma Coast was jailed after his rescue because of a felony no-bail warrant for his arrest issued in Mendocino County, State Parks officials said. The boat, an uninsured 54-foot fishing vessel called the “Verna A II”, remained high and dry in the sand on South Salmon Creek State Beach while State Parks and other coastal authorities determine who might be responsible for retrieving it, State Parks Officer Tim Murphy said. The vessel was spotted by a surfer about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, marooned in about 5 to 8 feet of surf about 100 yards from the river’s mouth. After rescue swimmers brought him to shore, Roy Underwood, 57, gave authorities two different names and then gave them the slip, saying he was using a restroom but didn’t return, Murphy said. 4 images, Read the rest here 06:55
