Daily Archives: November 6, 2016
Their strange route home led them to a rescue
A couple whose fishing vessel was in the right place at the right time helped rescue a pair of kayakers stranded near Squalicum Harbor on Friday night. Bob Gudmundson and Melinda Sweet, owners of Desire Fish Co. were headed back from Anacortes, where they sell fish a few days every week, Sweet said by phone Saturday afternoon. The pair set out in Desire, their 37-foot gill netter, about 5 p.m., and were hit with heavy winds as they drew closer to Squalicum Harbor. The weather forced the couple closer to shore, deviating from their more typical track in deeper water, Sweet said. Around 7:20 p.m., Gudmundson and Sweet suddenly noticed they were cruising close to an unlit day marker, used for guiding vessels, about 400 yards from shore near Squalicum Harbor. They veered away, but soon heard whistling and screaming from the direction of the marker. Sweet ran out the galley door. Read the story here 21:20
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission discusses salmon fishing reforms
Washington’s Fish and Wildlife Commission was briefed Saturday on the Columbia River salmon reforms, but took no action. Kyle Adicks of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife told the commission that studies have shown beach seines and purse seines have a higher mortality rate on released salmon than anticipated, complicating intentions to use them to replace gillnets.A new study of salmon and steelhead release mortality has been designed and the state is looking for money to pay for the research. “One of the issues if we do implement that study and mortality rates are lower than expected we still have the previous studies that TAC (Columbia River Technical Advisory Committee) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) might not just want to put aside,’’ Adicks said. “They’ll want to consider all the information.’’ Read the rest here 15:58
Oregon proposes ‘rebalance’ of Columbia River salmon reforms
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is proposing a “strategic rebalance” of the landmark 2012 Columbia River salmon management reforms, including continuation of gillnetting for fall chinook between Woodland and Beacon Rock. The department’s recommendations will be presented to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission in a one-topic, all-day meeting beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the Department of Fish and Wildlife headquarters, 4034 Fairview Industrial Drive, Salem. In late 2012 and early 2013, the Washington and Oregon commissions adopted the biggest overhaul of Columbia River salmon policies in seven decades. Jump-started by former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, the policies called for allocating more chinook salmon to sportsmen in the main Columbia and restricting gillnetting to off-channel sites like Youngs Bay near Astoria. Among recommendations for 2017 developed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are: Read the rest here 11:17
After months of outcry from fishermen, Cape Sharp Tidal prepares to deploy Bay of Fundy turbine
After months of outcry from fishermen, a tidal power company has started preparations to deploy an energy-generating turbine in the Minas Basin near Parrsborro, N.S. The company has a week long window to install the turbine. On Saturday, Cape Sharp Tidal Ventures started launching the first of two planned turbines, intended to generate power from water passing through the Bay of Fundy inlet. The first was moved from Saint John to Parrsborro Friday night. By Saturday afternoon, the turbine was on its subsea base, and was waiting to be moved into the basin Passage by a barge and tugboat, the company said by email. It’s unclear when the installation will be finished, but the crews can only work on it during twice-daily slack tides. The project has been met with opposition led by the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association. The group believes the five-storey turbines will cause irreparable harm to marine life and fisheries. “We’re extremely disappointed that the chance to get our accurate baseline science in the Minas Passage is forever lost in Nova Scotia,” association spokesman Colin Sproul said Saturday. Read the rest here 9:48
Omani fishermen stumble upon 80kg of ‘whale vomit’ worth $2.5 million
Three Omani fishermen have hit the jackpot after scooping 80 kg of floating rare “whale vomit” expected to net them a mind-boggling $2.5 million. Khalid Al Sinani, who is in his late 30s, found floating “whale vomit” on the shores of Qurayat province last week. ‘Whale vomit’ or Ambergris is a very costly wax that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale. It can be found floating in tropical seas and is used to manufacture perfume. After 20 years of hand-to-mouth life as a fisherman, Khalid’s childhood dream of winning the sea lottery came true on the morning of October 30 when he, along with two of his friends, saw a mass of ambergris floating on the sea, releasing a nasty smell. Read the story here 09:29
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