Monthly Archives: October 2018
Study to help prevent whale entanglements off Oregon
COOS BAY, Ore. (AP) — Crab Commission is supporting a multi-year study to prevent whale entanglements off the Oregon Coast The Coos Bay World reports that the board of the industry-funded agency approved nearly $45,000 toward the three-year $300,000 project. The U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute plan to gather data on whale distributions and populations. .’>click to read<12:50
Seamounts and canyons: It seems fishermen can’t win
In general, sad to say, commercial fishermen are not well-regarded and struggle for respect. They don’t have powerful lobbyists or image makers and are so independent and competitive by nature that they don’t work well together. As such they are easily defeated politically when opposed by environmental groups with plenty of capital and connections. The headlong rush to deploy wind turbines offshore from here down to Delaware is now gathering momentum. From the deck of a fishing vessel that prospect is akin to a Plains Indian catching a first glimpse of smoke on the horizon, rising from an Iron Horse. <click to read>
Fish cops’ keep eyes on the water
When too much of a resource is taken from area bays and beaches — a common occurrence when it comes to clams and crabs — it can put the species at risk of declining or disappearing. Preventing that is an ongoing battle in the Puget Sound region and requires having eyes on the water. >Click to read<11:27
Nova Scotia scientist says “one-of-a-kind” PFD much needed option for fishermen
A former Department of Fisheries scientist has helped develop a one-of-a-kind Personal Flotation Device that he says could stem the tide of fishermen drownings in Nova Scotia. For starters, Paul Brodie says the inflatable, waterproof work suit is far superior to what he calls bulky, cumbersome PFDs and life jackets currently on the market that many fishermen in the province simply don’t wear. “Everyone likes to be free of restrictions when they work but that’s why we have all these mortalities,” said Brodie. “Something has to be done about this appalling loss of people that sometimes happens 100 metres from shore.” >click to read<17:20
Large fire guts fish plant in eastern Newfoundland
A fish plant in a small community in eastern Newfoundland has been gutted by a large fire, leaving the village without its core employer. The local volunteer fire department was dispatched to Hickey and Son’s Fisheries Ltd. in O’Donnell’s on St. Mary’s Bay at around 1:15 a.m. on Friday. By daylight, all that was left was a twisted heap of charred metal and smoldering ash, and fire Chief Tony Daley said the building was a “total write-off.” RCMP are investigating. >click to read<
Fire destroys St. Mary’s Bay fish plant – >click to read<16:31
Maine boat builder enjoys smooth sailing aboard ship
Tom Siske never has to worry about paying property tax bills. That’s one of the main benefits he enjoys during life aboard the Prophet, a replica cod fishing boat that drops anchor here after a busy summer sailing season.
A self-employed furniture maker, Siske built the vessel himself. “The design goes back to 1830,” he said. “This would have been a common cod fishing boat. It was designed by a man named Davis in Booth Bay Harbor. The original boat was built in 1832. >Click to read<16:02
NOAA scientists admit a gaffe on risk to whales of lobster trap lines
Late last month, the NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center released a “technical memorandum” suggesting that expensive efforts by Maine lobstermen aimed at reducing the risk that endangered North Atlantic right whales and other large whales would become entangled in vertical buoy lines had backfired. According to the memorandum, issued just before a weeklong meeting of NOAA’s Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team in Providence, R.I., to consider possible changes to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan, when the industry increased the number of traps trawled together and marked by a single buoy line, lobstermen began using stronger rope. That worsened the entanglement problem. >click to read <13:01
Scituate’s four remaining federal fishermen. Its time to revolt!
Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers (with Lyric) right click – Kevin Norton, Phil Lynch, Tom Bell and the Gustafson family operate five boats between them, down from 17 boats a decade ago and dozens 40 years ago. The decline, the fishermen say, is due to the massive influx of new fishing regulations over the years, coupled with recent changes in state and federal laws that make it nearly impossible for a new generation of fishermen to break into the industry. As a result, the five remaining boats could be the last to call Scituate home and the town’s once-rich maritime industry will be lost forever, they say. “If we don’t do something to change in the next year or so, we’re going to lose all the fishing boats in town,” Norton, who captains Miss Emily, said. “This harbor supports a lot of families, and that could go away really soon. >click to read<
Southern California diver captures Maine lobster – how is that possible?
A diver hunting spiny lobsters last Saturday off Southern California was surprised by the sight of a much larger lobster with large claws. The reason for Jim McKeeman’s astonishment was that spiny lobsters do not have claws and that this was, in fact, a Maine lobster – 3,000 miles from home. >click to read<11:19
Arbroath-built fishing boat to make home port visit 61 years on
The proud new owner of an Arbroath-built fishing boat is hoping local figures can fill the blanks of the story surrounding his 61-year-old pride and joy. The vessel is due to make a historic ‘”homecoming” on her way from Kinlochbervie to a new berth near Edinburgh next week. Originally built in 1957 at the famed Gerrards yard in Arbroath, the Murella has enjoyed a fascinating and varied career which took her from the fishing grounds of the east coast to the bombing ranges of Cape Wrath.>click to read<11:06
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for 10/26/2018
>Click here to read the Weekly Update<, to read all the updates >click here<, for older updates listed as NCFA >click here<10:50
Dogfish population declines off East Coast, as will the harvest
A small species of shark that is fished for food off the East Coast has declined slightly in population, and fishermen will be allowed to catch slightly less of it in the coming year. Spiny dogfish are harvested off several Atlantic states, and they are especially popular in Europe. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission says a recent assessment of the shark’s population shows a decline in the number of spiny dogfish. >click to read<10:13
Fishermen, processor weigh in on 3Ps cod fishery after DFO technical briefing
Glen Hodge depends on cod caught in fishing zone 3Ps for his livelihood. Though he also catches crab and lobster, the species provides 60 per cent of his income, the St. Lawrence inshore fisherman said. This year was a little slower going than last year, he said, but generally he’s done well. “In 3Ps, within the last four years, I had no problem catching fish, no problem whatsoever,” he said. Concerns continue about the wellbeing of the stock in the zone, which covers most of the province’s south coast, however.>click to read<09:54
Columbia River commercial fishery could hinge on century-old method
A series of nets strung between pilings just off the Columbia River shore may offer a glimpse of the future of commercial fishing in the river, even though it harkens back to the fishing practices of a century ago. But some gillnetters say that the experimental fish trap, also known as a pound net, is just another unworkable idea for catching salmon that threatens their livelihoods. One morning last week, researchers from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Wild Fish Conservancy worked the fish trap set in the Columbia a few miles upstream of Cathlamet, near Nassa Point. >click to read<09:34
Turning an invasive problem into a bait solution
With concerns growing over a likely bait shortage in the lobster industry in Maine and Canada due to a drastic cut in the upcoming season’s herring quota, Nova Scotia resident Patrick Swim has a possible solution. Swim thinks he can solve the bait shortage by harvesting an invasive species. Silver carp is one of the four species of the invasive Asian carp (silver, bighead, grass, and black) that have placed the Great Lakes water system at risk. >click to read<19:45
‘Fighting for his life’: Fisherman recounts harrowing rescue from waters off Malpeque
Cold and exhausted after treading water for more than two hours in the rough ocean waters off Malpeque, P.E.I., without a life jacket, Mike Day says he was was relieved to look up and see a big yellow helicopter stop overhead and a rescuer descend toward him. “I was getting cold and my leg was on the verge of cramping up,” he said in an interview Thursday, two days after the harrowing ordeal. “Once the rescue swimmer came down, I just kind of relaxed a little bit and I was glad.” >click to read<19:12
Yantar Shipyard to build Russia’s largest freezer trawler. 396 feet long
Kaliningrad, Russia based Baltic Shipyard Yantar (member of United Shipbuilding Corporation) says it has come to a final agreement with Fishing Collective Farm named after V. Lenin on construction of a large fishing freezer trawler of new design. The construction contract will come into force upon completion of require procedures. The ship is to be laid down in July 2019 with the delivery scheduled for 2023. >click to read<15:30
Tri Marine Group sells plant to Silver Bay Seafoods
US tuna supplier Tri Marine Group has struck a deal to sell a plant in California. Tri Marine said the sale of the pelagic-processing factory to Alaska-based salmon-to-squid supplier Silver Bay Seafoods was subject to approval of the facility’s ground lease by the Port of Los Angeles. ,,, Silver Bay said the acquisition of the plant, located in San Pedro, meant it has unloading and processing facilities in the north and south of California. >click to read<14:28
Video shows B.C. ferry getting caught in fishing net, giving fishing boat a tow
Some commercial fishers near Nanaimo found themselves with a bigger catch than they could handle on Wednesday: a B.C. ferry. A ferry passenger captured cellphone video, which shows one vessel getting a brief tow from the ferry. “Cut the net, cut the net!” someone can be heard saying off-camera, as the fishing net begins to grow taut between the ferry and the fishing boat. >click to read<13:56
San Mateo County Harbor Commission approves a much-contested hoist on pier
After Three Captains owner Larry Fortado won nearly $300,000 in arbitration from the San Mateo County Harbor District, the harbor commission agreed to permit the fish buyer to construct a much-contested hoist on Johnson Pier in Princeton. Harbor commissioners were conflicted about whether to do so at their regularly scheduled meeting on Oct. 17, even though the arbiter ordered them to allow the hoist. >click to read<12:41
F/V A.M.G – Beached Shrimp boat at Ormond turns around as crew works to move it
The shrimp boat beached for more than a week has spun away from shore as crew members Thursday morning were running the engines and appeared to be trying to drive the vessel away. After 7 a.m., the 77-foot boat beached near Cardinal Drive, was facing east instead of the position it has been stalled in since Oct. 15. It also moved south. Coast Guard officials reached Thursday morning said they did not know of the efforts to move the boat. Video >click to read<11:46
DFO gives Grand Manan fishermen flexibility in whale encounters
Fishermen on Grand Manan have reached an agreement with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans that could head off a complete shutdown of the lobster fishing in some areas where North Atlantic right whales are sighted. The deal will see the Grand Manan Fishermen’s Association introduce a series of measures to reduce the amount of rope in the water. >click to read<10:03
Greiss embraces Islanders past by putting fisherman on new mask
Thomas Greiss’ new mask takes New York Islanders fans for a trip down memory lane. The Islanders goalie’s new helmet features the Islanders fisherman logo and teal, orange and navy color scheme they wore for two seasons between 1995-97. The fisherman specifically was a big hit with Greiss’ wife Brittney, but not because of the team’s history. She Tweeted: For me I love the fisherman!! It represents hard working, determination, & dedication to provide for his family. The fisherman has early morning, long night, and sometimes tough days at sea. Go Islanders! >click to read<09:43
Coast guard ship breakdown ends 48-year science survey streak
For the first time in 48 years, Canadian fisheries scientists failed to complete an annual summer survey off Nova Scotia because of a mechanical breakdown on their coast guard research ship. The unfortunate milestone is the latest example of the unreliability of Canada’s research vessel fleet. >click to read<06:39
Ashored Innovations creates ropeless trap to help with marine animal entanglement
According to The United Nations Environment Programme, an estimated 640,000 tons of ghost gear is lost each year. It’s a problem that in 2017, caused the death of 12 North Atlantic right whales, an endangered species that live primarily off the Eastern coast of Canada. Ghost gear—various nets, traps, and rope that are lost from fishing vessels—make up for a large chunk of marine animal entanglement. Add in the amount of plastic that animals choke on and that number skyrockets. It’s here, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, that Ashored Innovations is quietly working away on a solution. Some cute action video’s! >click to read<21:31
Kitzhaber re-emerges to back gillnet ban on the Columbia River
Former Gov. John Kitzhaber has re-emerged to champion a divisive plan he implemented to ban gillnets on the Columbia River — even as state fishery managers say the plan is not living up to expectations.,, Commercial fishermen argue gillnet gear is selective and does not unduly impact salmon runs, while sport fishing and conservation groups disagree. So far, neither state has come up with a replacement gear for gillnets, though Washington has continued to experiment with seine nets. >click to read<19:12
Disappointing early catches for area stone crabbers
The fishermen started putting their traps into the water on Oct. 5, and on Oct. 15, they began to legally harvest the first of the season’s claws and offer them for sale. With disappointing early catches from the first few days of pulling the traps, the crabbers will leave the traps in the Gulf longer to give the crabs time to fill them, said Pat Kirk of Kirk Fish Company in Goodland. Her husband, Damas Kirk, is a fifth-generation local fisherman, whose great aunt was Tommie Barfield, an icon in Marco Island history. Damas Kirk said the local crabbers are in serious need of finding and harvesting a bountiful catch. “These guys are needing a paycheck pretty bad right now,” he said >click to read<18:11
Plan To Revive San Diego Fishing Industry Agreed Upon By Fishermen, Developer
After years of negotiations, San Diego’s fishermen and a local developer have signed an agreement to recapture a lost piece of the city’s history – a thriving commercial fishing trade that once employed thousands of people while netting hundreds of millions of dollars. Much of the agreement focuses on five acres called Tuna Harbor, and the role it will play within Seaport San Diego, the billion-dollar waterfront development expected to break ground in 2022. The marina is expected to provide a true “working waterfront” – a unique attraction for the Seaport project, an economic boon for the region and an opportunity for the fishermen to revive their struggling industry. >click to read< 16:11
FISH-NL plans second certification application for 2019, but only if harvesters step up to the plate
The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) announced plans today to move forward with a second application for certification in 2019, but only if inshore harvesters agree to pay dues. “FISH-NL can’t do this for harvesters, we can only do it with harvesters,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “The membership dues will be the deciding factor in the future of FISH-NL.” >click to read<13:39
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 48.3′ Duffy Lobster/Shrimper,700HP Lugger
Specifications, information and 9 photos >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >click here<The boat is built very rugged for lobstering and shrimping. The boat has 3 floodable tanks under the deck that holds 20 crates. The boat also has a rope locker that goes across the boat under the deck that holds 60 crates of crab loose. This tank could also be plumbed to be floodable. In all, the boat could hold 120 crates of lobster or crab loose under the deck. The boat cruises at 10 knots and 14 knots WOT.11:16
