Daily Archives: December 28, 2016
President Obama Signs Water Bill With Big Ag ‘Poison Pill’ Rider
In a slap in the face to fishermen, Tribes, environmental justice advocates, conservationists and family farmers, President Obama on December 16 signed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act into law with its environmentally destructive Big Ag rider sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The controversial rider in the bill, opposed by retiring Senator Barbara Boxer, taints an otherwise good bill that sponsors water projects across the nation. The last minute rider, requested by corporate agribusiness interests, allows San Joaquin Valley growers and Southern California water agencies to pump more water out of the Delta, driving Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, Delta and longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish species closer and closer to extinction, according to Delta advocates. Read Dan Bachers article here 15:05
FFAW’s 5-cent-a-pound lobster ‘levy’ most shocking of all secrets uncovered in 2016
Of all the questions that have been raised about FFAW secrecy/conflict of interest in recent months, one of the most shocking discoveries was that the union had proposed a 5 cent a pound ‘levy’ on lobster. Fish harvesters didn’t know about the FFAW proposal (how unbelievable is that?) until FISH-NL brought it to light in early December, and it was the Seafood Producers of Newfoundland and Labrador who actually killed it (how’s that for the ultimate irony, processors standing up for harvesters — and not their union). Find details of the FFAW proposal here. The FFAW argued the 5 cent levy was to cover the union’s “management” of the fishery. To quote the union: “The bulk of the work once conducted by DFO is now being done by the FFAW, with no financial or in-kind support from the processing sector.” Read the rest of the post here, and open FFAW proposal.
Crab price spat delays season – Fishermen in District 7 not fishing until the buyer offers the original $3
Negotiations with Pacific Group failed to secure an acceptable price range for local crab fisherman in District 7, stretching from Humboldt Bay’s North Jetty to Point Arena in Mendocino. Crab prices have been set $3 a pound since the November opening of the season. Pacific Group, which owns Pacific Choice Seafood in Humboldt County, has proposed crab prices be reduced to $2.75 per pound. According to Ken Bates, vice president of the Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association, if fisherman decided to fish for less, local boats would lose between $7,000 to $10,000 for the average medium to small boat. “Fisherman representatives have been meeting all (Tuesday) afternoon in Newport, Oregon, and as of 4 p.m. there have not been any resolutions. We may continue (Wednesday) and there’s a possibility that the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will set a mediation, which is a compromised price on the crab,” Bates said. “The buyer wanted to drop the price and attempted to lower it by 25 cents.” Read the story here 13:53
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 42′ Sampson Lobster boat, Complete conch business with permit and traps, Cummins Diesel
Specifications, information and 35 photo’s click here To see all the boats in this series, Click here 13:08
Fishing in Gloucester 2016: The year didn’t go swimmingly for industry
The past year in the commercial fishing industry and along the city’s waterfront has been one of battles, as the city’s legendary fishing industry has fought to remain viable in the midst of regulatory, economic and environmental pressures. Groundfishermen spent much of the year dueling with NOAA Fisheries over who should pay for mandated at-sea monitoring. And fishing advocates, led by the Gloucester-based Northeast Seafood Coalition, continued their crusade questioning the quality of the science NOAA uses in its stock assessments. Lobstermen, NOAA scientists and elected representatives such as U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, took on Sweden over the Scandinavian country’s attempt to convince the European Union to list American lobsters as an invasive species and ban their importation. Here’s a look at some of 2016’s premier stories: Read the story here 10:59
News report in France claims to produce world’s best lobster
A news report on Le 20h, a French television show, claimed its country produces a better lobster than Canada’s East Coast. The segment shows a Parisian couple comparing a lobster from Breton and a Canadian Lobster. The couple enjoys a few bites, then deems the Canadian crustacean to be less firm, and more watery. They describe the French lobster to be, “beaucoup plus fin,” a finer choice. Local lobster lovers like Louis Leger disagree. Leger owns the Moncton Fish Market, and guesses that if someone is choosing Eurpoean lobster over Maritime fare, they’ve got the wrong person in the kitchen. Leger also argues that if East Coast lobster isn’t so hot, why do Europeans eat so much of it? Read the story here 10:13
Coast Guard, Oregon and Washington state wildlife officials monitor Dungeness crab fleet to ensure safety, enforce laws
The Coast Guard is teaming with Oregon and Washington state authorities to monitor the commercial crab fishing fleet across the Oregon and Washington coasts to ensure safety and enforce the laws and regulations associated with the opening of the Dungeness crab season. The Dungeness crab fishery officially opened Dec. 15 for pre-soak south of Cape Blanco and Oregon and Washington respectively set an opening at 9 a.m. Jan. 1 for commercial crabbing from Cape Blanco north to Klipsan Beach, Wash., and north of Klipsan Beach to Queets River, Wash., at 9 a.m. Jan. 7. Coast Guard aircraft have conducted numerous over-flights of Oregon crab fishing grounds to monitor the pre-soak and the opening in southern Oregon. The Coast Guard will expand patrols up the Oregon and Washington coasts as the season opens in all areas. These efforts assist Oregon and Washington state fish and wildlife officials monitor the state regulated fishery while enhancing Coast Guard search and rescue capabilities. Read the rest here 09:50
Catch Shares: NSW fishermen allege “share barons” used insider trading to aggregate licences
Donald Mowbray, a former bank manager who is chairman of the Clarence River Fishermen’s Cooperative, said in his submission to the inquiry that he had grave concerns about “share barons” who he described as “individuals who are part of the industry’s decision makers who hold considerable conflicts of interest.” He said the Government’s own share register showed a number of people with direct links to the reforms and to the department had accumulated huge numbers of shares. He claimed important commercial information was “withheld” from others outside the advisory groups. He said he raised his concerns with the minister and the department years ago, but said the trades were dismissed as “speculation” and not “insider trading”. Fishermen are worried about the emergence of big corporate players and fear it could result in the demise of their fourth and fifth generation family businesses and many of the cooperatives that rely on them. The Government, with some support from industry (the share barons), maintains that aggregation and corporatisation in the sector is an important step to economic viability and better environmental management. Read the story here, and listen to this audio report here 09:20
Shrimp net-making is still alive in Bayou La Batre
Steve Sprinkle still makes his shrimp nets in Bayou La Batre by hand, an art that has all but disappeared from the American scene. His small shop is full of character and age-old bits and pieces of what is needed for the ancient craft. Inside, you might spot Sprinkle seated and driving needles around green string over and over. Some things have to be made by hand if they are to stand the test of time and the test of the rough, deep Gulf. “It started in the early 1900s when rowboats would drop a net and catch shrimp; then they came out with combustion engines and started towing the net through the water to pick up the shrimp,” Sprinkle said. “My family was on Dauphin Island over 200 years ago. My great-grandfather would shrimp on his own feet wading in the water and pulling a net with his hands.” More images, video, read the rest here 08:50
Race to find fishermen in freezing temperatures as boat capsizes near Ramsgate
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) confirmed it was searching for the missing crew members after the vessel overturned off the Kent coast on Tuesday night, around 11pm. One crew member was rescued after they were found clinging to the hull, but the search for the other three continued into Wednesday morning. They were spotted by a passing boat around 7.30am this morning and were airlifted to Ashford hospital. RNLI press officer John Ray said: “The man who was rescued said that he saw at least one of his crewmates washed over the hull. “He was spotted this morning by a passing ship, found him clinging to the boat and they got him off the hull and raised the alarm with the coast guard. “He said he had seen one person washed into the sea and there is a possibility that the other man is trapped under the hull itself. “We think there were three people on board in total. Read the rest here 08:05
