Daily Archives: January 5, 2020
Fall 2019 Pacific Islands Fishery Newsletter
Aloha! Enjoy our latest newsletter. Includes a Message from the Council’s Executive Director, The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council embraces its duty, and that of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), to not only conserve and manage fish stocks, protected species and habitat but also ensure the viability of our region’s fisheries and fishing communities. Addressing the US seafood trade deficit and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing are goals of this Administration,,, >click to read< and continue at the newsletter. 18:02
Bycatch – From problem to opportunity. Nils E. Stolpe/FishNet USA
For as long as I have been involved in the commercial fishing industry, and that’s going back for what is approaching forty years, there has been a widespread feeling that “things would be better if this industry were administratively housed in the Department of Agriculture (DOA).” Whether at the state level, in state waters within three miles of the coastline, or the federal level beyond three miles, there’s always been a sort of wistful “wouldn’t it be great if we were over there” view of the DOA, and the reasons for this aren’t awfully difficult to fathom. The Department of Agriculture, no matter whether state or federal, is mostly focused on promotion, and fisheries agencies, no matter the level, are regulatory in nature, in organization and in attitude. This is glaringly obvious with the National Marine Fisheries Service, the federal fisheries agency, which in recent years has become almost totally focused to the virtual exclusion of anything else on limiting – rather than enhancing – the commercial production of fish and shellfish. >click to read< 15:06
Old Farmer’s Almanac Vs. NOAA’s Winter Forecasts
Weather.com reported this week that massive winter storms of snow, ice, and freezing weather have wreaked havoc across the Midwest and Northeast. In addition, Weather.com reported that over 400 daily cold records were set since the cold flowed into the continental US in mid-November. NOAA’S Winter Climate Forecast The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast in the Autumn, that warmer-than-average temperatures were in store for the country.,, The Old Farmer’s Almanac bases its winter forecasts on astronomical space science of the 1800s and extreme skill and experience of their forecasters. And importantly on honesty, because they have to get it right. No choice. If they don’t, farmers suffer and they themselves go bankrupt. >click to read< 11:57
UPDATED: Father-of-four who died in trawler tragedy named, Search for trawler has been stood down
The man who died after being winched from the sea off Hook Head following a fishing tragedy has been named locally as Joe Sinnott, from Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford. Mr Sinnott (65), a well-respected fisherman and a father-of-four, was picked up by rescue crews after an automatic distress signal was sent from the stricken Alize fishing boat, which was positioned off Hook Head at around 10.30pm last night. A sea and coastal search continues today for a second man, aged in his 40s, who was also on the Alize. >click to read< 10:41
Search for trawler has been stood down; One fisherman dies, another missing – A multi-agency search operation near Hook Head is winding down due to worsening weather conditions and visibility as darkness approaches. It is expected to resume again on Monday morning at approximately 8am. >click to read< 16:55
Man accused of killing Franky the pug arrested after domestic violence call
A Hancock man accused of killing a lobsterman’s pug who had not been seen since violating his bail conditions nearly six months ago was arrested over the weekend in Gouldsboro. Nathan A. Burke, 38, was arrested without incident,,, Burke and 24-year-old Justin Chipman of Steuben were charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, aggravated criminal mischief, burglary and theft in connection with the August 2018 killing of a pug named Franky owned by Winter Harbor fisherman Phil Torrey. >click to read< 10:02
Life at sea: Battling the elements for a good living
The last time they went out on a four-day fishing trip they made £30,000, and estimate they will lost out on roughly £5,000 because of the weather. “If you were to go out of the harbour just now and your engine were to conk out – you wouldn’t see next week,” skipper John Clark said. “Only two boats were in the fish market today and demand was very good. Boxes were going for £300 – that’s why we want to get back out again. “But with our job, the weather dictates our fishing time.” Video, photos, >click to read< 09:01
In Alaska, commercial fishing remains dangerous despite increased safety measures
Commercial fishing was once the most dangerous job in the country, (Scott Wilwert said, and during the 1970s and 1980s an increase in accidents and deaths ultimately led to the passage of the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Act of 1988. The regulations required boats to have survival suits and life rafts and to carry out onboard safety drills, among other safety measures.,, “There was a time in the ’70s and ’80s where, I think, even the fishermen would tell you that there was a mentality, that ‘you have to go out but you don’t have to come back’ kind of thing,” Wilwert said. “That just doesn’t exist, nobody thinks that way anymore.” >click to read< 07:29
