Daily Archives: July 16, 2017
Why Irish fishers are right to be worried about the UK taking back control of its waters
Many warning alarms have already been raised over Brexit, but Irish fishers may suffer the most substantial blow yet in the fallout from the UK leaving the EU. Earlier this year, the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation flagged that Ireland will be denied hundreds of thousands of tonnes of its annual haul post-Brexit. The group’s point was a simple one. When Britain leaves the EU, Irish fishers will be barred from entering British waters they previously enjoying lucrative rights to access. British secretary of state Michael Gove confirmed Irish fishers’ worst fears recently when he said: “We are taking back control. We can decide the terms of access.” One lawyer, Dermot Conway, who specialises in maritime regulations, was straightforward in his assessment of the situation – Irish fishers should be very worried. click here to read the story 21:17
12-year-old Mainer becomes local tuna fishing legend
Myles Wotton, 12, of Bristol has been watching his father, Donald, older brothers, Mitchell and Merritt, and other area fishermen bring in tuna since he was a toddler in his mother Rebecca’s arms. The Wotton dock in New Harbor buzzes with excitement when they receive word the boat is returning with a prized catch. Family members anxiously wait to catch a glimpse of newly landed tuna. Myles has listened to their tales of hauling in the big fish of their adventures and misadventures all his young life. When he was about to turn 12 in July of last year, he begged his father to take him tuna fishing for his birthday. click here to read the story 18:50
Coast Guard responds to sunken fishing vessel in Warrenton, Ore.
Coast Guard crews are responding to the Warrenton Marina where the commercial fishing vessel Western Skies has sunk and is leaking fuel Sunday. Coast Guard incident management division personnel, from Sector Columbia River, have opened the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for $40,000 and has hired Global Diving and Salvage to conduct cleanup and pollution recovery efforts. Coast Guard was notified at around 5:30 a.m. that the 43-foot vessel sank at its moorings and there was diesel fuel actively leaking from the partially submerged vessel. Personnel from the Warrenton Marina deployed containment boom around the vessel to minimize the potential impact of the leaking diesel fuel. The amount of diesel fuel and other oil products on board the vessel is unknown.
Global Diving and Salvage response crews are deploying to the seen and will conduct operations as safety allows. Coast Guard crews are attempting to contact the vessel owner, but have so far been unable to. There were no persons known to be aboard the vessel at the time of its sinking. -USCG- 15:00
Fishermen Object – Fukushima’s tritiated water to be dumped into sea
Despite the objections of local fishermen, the tritium-tainted water stored at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant will be dumped into the sea, a top official at Tokyo Electric says. “The decision has already been made,” Takashi Kawamura, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc., said in a recent interview with the media. Tritium typically poses little risk to human health unless ingested in high amounts, and ocean discharges of diluted volumes of tritium-tainted water are a routine part of nuclear power plant operations. This is because it is a byproduct of nuclear operations but cannot be filtered out of water.,,, But fishermen who make their livelihoods from sea life near the plant are opposed to the releases because of how the potential ramifications will affect their lives. “Releasing (tritium) into the sea will create a new wave of unfounded rumors, making our efforts all for naught,” said Kanji Tachiya, head of a local fishermen cooperative. click here to read the story 13:24
A WICKED WINTER NIGHT – By Capt. Jack
The Bering Harvester pounds through challenging waves. The gale blows sea spray across our decks that flash freezes, adding weight to the boat. Having delivered our last load of fish, we’re enduring the 200-mile return to our fishing area. Boats can roll in icing conditions, but if I continue at reduced speed in the inky black night, the spray should be manageable. Squinting at the chart, my eyes burn from being awake for 24 hours. I plot a course skirting the peninsula separating the North Pacific and Bering Sea, keeping the trawler five miles from land. The first watch arrives in the wheelhouse to relieve me: Johnny, our youngest crewman at 24. His dark eyes look brighter after a few hours’ sleep. “If the wind picks up or the temp drops, wake me,” I say and go below deck to catch a nap. click here to read the story! 10:52
Maine’s river herring making dramatic comeback
River herring – in the midst of a dramatic comeback in Maine’s rivers with the recent removal of dams that blocked their spawning runs for decades – had a banner spring run this year, with millions of fish traveling up the Kennebec and Penobscot and the best run in decades recorded on the St. Croix. This was despite heavy rains this spring that created extra challenges for the fish. The recovery of the small schooling fish is having dramatic secondary effects, as they represent a perfect food source for everything from bald eagles to Atlantic cod, and researchers anticipate future benefits as the herring’s numbers grow in the coming decade. click here to read the story 10:10
A “mystery” – Pink Salmon warning after species found in Irish rivers
A non-native species of salmon has been found in rivers along the west coast of Ireland, causing concern among Irish fishing authorities. Inland Fisheries Ireland said the pink salmon, which are of Pacific origin, were found in rivers in Counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal. The fishing board said it was concerned about the impact the fish may have on Ireland’s Atlantic species. The pink salmon was also found earlier this month in Scotland. Pink Salmon, also known as humpback salmon, originate from the west coasts of the United States, Canada and northern Asia. click here to read the story 09:32
North Coast seasonal crab haul above average
North Coast crabbers are set to end this year’s crab season Saturday on a high note after bringing in an above average haul of more than 11 million pounds of Dungeness crab worth $34 million between November and June, according to preliminary state data. “This is sort of an upswing in landings for that area,” Department of Fish and Wildlife environmental scientist Christy Juhasz said Friday. “Overall, it’s a good season.” The 10-year average haul for the North Coast is about 8.7 million pounds, according to the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Juhasz said the final landing data will likely increase by a few hundred thousand over the coming weeks as more data is collected. click here to read the story 08:30
