Daily Archives: May 1, 2019

Cook Inlet setnet buyback program gains support

Cook Inlet fishermen are again pushing for a bill that would authorize a commercial set gillnet permit buyback, but with the budget battles ongoing, it may not advance this year. Senate Bill 90 is the latest version of the plan to set up a buyback program for setnet permits on Cook Inlet’s east side. About 440 permits exist on the east side, targeting primarily sockeye salmon with secondary catches of king salmon headed for the Kasilof and Kenai rivers. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna, aims to permanently remove up to 200 permits and their shore leases from the fishery. The fishermen have been debating a way to reduce the fleet for about four years,,, >click to read<21:23

Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership says wind farm lacks scientific support

The Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership claims that the 84-turbine offshore wind project soon to be developed by Vineyard Wind lacks scientific backing and will inevitably harm the local ecology and way of life for fishermen and boaters. The release states that the growing wind energy industry is developing at a “rapid pace without adequate science and risk management.”Executive director of the Massachusetts Fishermen’s Partnership Angela Sanfilippo told The Times the partnership’s comments are based in part on the response of NOAA to the draft environmental impact statement released by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).>click to read<20:38

“What We Heard” – DFO hosting inshore fishery outreach meetings in Labrador

Department of Fisheries and Oceans will host meetings in Port Hope Simpson and Cartwright on May 7. According to a press release from DFO, the meetings are for inshore harvesters and other interested stakeholders in Division 2J to discuss matters of concern in the inshore fisheries.,,, The meeting in port Hope Simpson will take place at 9 a.m. at Alexis Hotel and the Cartwright meeting is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the LFUSCo boardroom. >click to read< 16:12

‘What We Heard: A Discussion on the Newfoundland And Labrador Inshore Fishery’ >click to read<

Season opens May 3 for P.E.I. lobster fishermen

Friday, May 3 will be the first day of the 2019 spring lobster fishery in Lobster Fishing Areas 24, 26A and 26B. The season was initially scheduled to open on Monday, April 29, but forecasts of windy conditions on four successive conference calls have delayed the opening until Friday. Fishermen will be able to leave port at 6 a.m. Friday to start setting gear. There’s an exception for a section of LFA 26A, from Point Prim to Victoria which traditionally opens one week later than the rest of the district. >click to read<13:32

Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 55′ RI Marine Day Scalloper

Specifications, information and 37 photos >click here< To see all the boats in this series, >Click here<12:37

Maine is running out of lobster bait. Is salmon the answer?

Genevieve McDonald fishes out of Maine’s largest lobster port aboard the F/V Hello Darlings II. Last November, she became Maine’s first female commercial fisherman (“fisherman” and “lobsterman” are the strongly preferred terms for both women and men in the industry, she says) elected to the Maine House of Representatives, representing a district that includes Maine’s two biggest lobster ports. Not surprisingly, McDonald ran on a platform many in the fishing industry support. But above all else, one issue stood out. “Our biggest issue is the bait crisis,” she said in November,,, >click to read<11:51

NOAA/NMFS Proposes Squid and Butterfish Quotas for the 2019 Fishing Year

Based on updated information, we are proposing an 8-percent increase in the 2019 commercial Illex squid quota. The previously approved 2019 annual quotas for longfin squid and butterfish would be maintained and would not be changed by this action. The increased 2019 Illex quota is based on an evaluation that similar historic catch has not harmed the stock. As new information becomes available, we may revise the proposed quotas for future fishing years. >click to read<11:19

FISH-NL to proceed with second application for certification; internal polling puts support at up to 66 per cent

The Federation of Independent Sea Harvesters of Newfoundland and Labrador (FISH-NL) will proceed with a second application for certification — including a province-wide membership drive to begin Aug. 1st — to break inshore harvesters away from their current union. “We’re full steam ahead — shoulders to the wheel,” says Ryan Cleary, President of FISH-NL. “Inshore harvesters have told us they want change, and we’ll continue to do everything in our power to deliver on that change.” Peter Leonard, Vice-President of FISH-NL and an inshore harvester from Southern Harbour, quoted well-known Twillingate fisherman Richard Gillett in summing up his thoughts on the current union representation. “I’d rather fight on my feet than live on my knees,” said Leonard. “We’ll keep going until we can go no more.” >click to read<10:48

Seattle’s industrial waterfront remains a contamination challenge for orcas. What about Salmon?!

The Southern Resident orcas are often called some of the most contaminated marine mammals on earth. Their fat is filled with toxins like PCBs. When they don’t have enough to eat, they metabolize their fat and that poison ends up in their blood. Though outlawed decades ago, PCBs still remain in the sediment around Elliott Bay.,,,  A lot of the toxic contamination issues that we have with our salmon can really be traced to the fact that the state of Washington is not enforcing the Clean Water Act to the extent that they should,” >click to read< Meanwhile, New study finds river wildlife contain cocaine, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in UK->click to read<10:07

More details of Fraserburgh harbour masterplan unveiled

The masterplan for the north-east port was first mooted more than a year ago and following an extensive consultation proposals for the project have been drawn up.“This masterplan is the blueprint for what we all hope will be a thriving harbour at Fraserburgh for many years to come.” Fraserburgh Harbour is still home to a sizeable fishing fleet although it has diversified and is used by commercial cargo vessels and the offshore renewables. >click to read<08:44

June 1 delivery date set for fisheries disaster dollars

More than $29.6 million in federal assistance will be delivered on June 1 to communities affected by the delay in the 2015-16 Dungeness crab fishery and to the Yurok Tribe for the collapse of the Klamath River fall chinook salmon fishery in 2016.  Congressman Jared Huffman, who represents Del Norte County, and his colleague, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) announced Monday that $29.65 million in federal disaster assistance will be delivered to North Coast fishing communities. >click to read<08:05