Daily Archives: November 9, 2019
Tensions rise ahead of net fishing ban on the Gippsland Lakes
Last month, with a stroke of a legislative pen, Gary Leonard lost his livelihood. The Victorian Government enacted its election promise of banning commercial fishing of the Gippsland Lakes in eastern Victoria. Mr Leonard is one of 10 licensees who by law must pull up their nets by April 1, 2021.,, Fish scientist Ross Winstanley, is angry about the commercial fishing ban and accuses the State Government of double standards. “If you were concerned about fishing’s impact on the ability of a stock to recover, why would you shut down 10 operators who are taking 15 tonnes [per annum], while you know there is a recreational take of 200 tonnes?” he said. >click to read< 16:11
Scientists breathe easier as west coast ocean heat wave weakens
Nate Mantua of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the “good news” is that the area of exceptionally warm water is substantially smaller now than it was earlier this year. And while the area about 1,500 kilometres offshore between Hawaii and Alaska is still seeing high temperatures by historical standards, it is “simply not nearly as large as it was and it is no longer strong in areas near the west coast,” he said. Scientists have been watching a marine heat wave that developed around June this year,,, >click to read< 15:01
Scallop die-off in Peconic Bay takes toll on local economy. Experts Search For Answers
Just one week after the opening of the Peconic Bay scallop season, the harsh reality is setting in: Most of the adult scallops in Peconic Bay are dead. “The scallop season, it’s nonexistent,” commercial fisherman Bob Hamilton said. “I didn’t even bother putting the dredges on my boat.” Video, >click to read< 10:59
Experts Search For Answers To Peconic Bay Scallop Disaster – Facing the worst devastation to the Peconic Bay scallop season in more than a decade, experts are searching desperately for answers. >click to read<
Lobstermen Question State Whale Plan at Waldoboro Meeting
Lobstermen expressed a mix of frustration and acceptance upon hearing the state’s new plan to protect North American right whales during a meeting in Waldoboro on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher presented the state’s proposed gear rules and fielded questions in the Medomak Middle School gymnasium. Photo’s >click to read< 09:55
Town of Mount Pleasant accepting proposals for leasing of Wando Dock
The Town of Mount Pleasant opened a bidding process to accept proposals for the leasing of the town’s dock facilities on Shem Creek, also known as the Wando Dock. The intent of the bidding process, as stated in the town’s Request for Proposals (RFP), is for an experienced single end user to utilize the premises to provide shrimp/seafood processing operations at the docks, while keeping an appropriate fit in the neighborhood, and other requirements as specified within this solicitation. On Friday, Nov. 8 the town confirmed that no bids have to been submitted. >click to read< 09:17
‘Find some good solutions’: governments, experts, fishermen prepare for 2020 right whale regulations
An annual roundtable meeting held by officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has wrapped up after discussing how to deal with the declining North Atlantic right whale population. The subject has become controversial after at least nine confirmed deaths in 2019, with several preliminary findings indicating vessel strikes were the cause. Some of the deaths came despite the Canadian government cracking down tighter on fisheries closures and speed restrictions, but the impact on the fishing industry is part of what makes regulations such a controversial topic. >click to read< 08:43
Increase in observer fees has people in the fishing industry questioning how their dollars are being spent
In Kodiak’s Dog Bay harbor Jake Everich is puttering around the galley of his trawler, the Alaskan. He bought his boat in March to fish for rockfish and pollock around the Gulf of Alaska. It’s just under 75 feet — a relatively small operation. Everich is among the fishermen affected by a recent decision from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to increase observer fees from 1.25 to 1.65 percent of their catch value.,,, For Everich, the bigger issue is how that money is going to be used. He says the data observers collect, and sometimes observers themselves, can be unreliable. >click to read< 07:10
Second Maine lobstering group rejects state’s plan for protecting whales
The Maine Lobstermen’s Association staked out its position on the Maine Department of Marine Resources’ proposal with a board vote Thursday night. Director Patrice McCarron would not disclose the vote breakdown, calling that a private matter. The group did, however, release a statement about why it couldn’t support the plan. “It seeks reductions that exceed the documented risk posed by the Maine lobster fishery,” >click to read< 06:16
