Monthly Archives: June 2020
Fresh fish market proposed for Oceanside harbor to sell Seafood direct to consumers!
A group of local commercial fishermen hopes to create a weekly market at the Oceanside harbor where they could sell their catch directly to consumers. The idea sprang up as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, which closed sit-down restaurants everywhere. That greatly reduced the fishermen’s sales and left them looking for new outlets. Some of them decided to cut out the middleman and try selling their products to people at the harbor.,, Among the issues to be decided is whether the market will be overseen by a board of directors, elected by the fishermen, that would establish rules and guidelines for the venture,,, >click to read< 10:41
Some P.E.I. fishermen caught flak for catching lobsters on Sundays in 1989
There was only so much lobster to go around, a fact fishermen in North Rustico, P.E.I. were well aware of. That’s part of what upset them when some of their peers started fishing for that lobster on Sundays, a habit other fishermen didn’t want to see take hold. “Over the last couple of years, more and more fishermen are ignoring traditions and are heading out on the Sabbath,” Clarence Gauthier, a local fisherman, said the change in behaviour had been gradual. >video, click to read< 08:57
Remembering Dad: Josh Harris on how he’ll honor the late Captain Phil Harris on Father’s Day
Father’s Day is making out to be special for “Deadliest Catch” star, Captain Josh Harris. The seafarer, 37, said he’ll be taking the day to remember his “old man” – the legendary late fishing boat captain Phil Harris, who died in 2010 at age 53 – in a special way. “I still have his favorite car that he ever owned. That [Corvette] Z06 – a red Z06,” Harris told Fox News on June 10. “I mean, he actually wanted to be buried in this thing. “For the first part of the day, I’ll go cruising,,, “And I’ll be blaring some old-school tunes – like some Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd or something he loved >click to read< with a bunch of links! Happy Fathers Day! 19:06
“The most generous guy you’d ever meet.” Friends mourn loss of Virginia Beach boat captain who died trying to save a sea turtle
Bill Jenkins was a man of great energy, passion and commitment, according to those who knew and worked with him. And the 53-year-old husband and father of two grown sons did a lot: Virginia Beach police officer, charter boat captain and owner of a seafood market and commissary kitchen were among the jobs he held. Jenkins died Thursday trying to help a sea turtle in distress. Police said he jumped off his 52-foot fishing boat a couple of miles off Virginia Beach’s shore after seeing the reptile entangled in some rope. >click to read< 17:01
Virginia’s Latest Pricey Boondoggle: Offshore Wind Power
As reported in an earlier article, Virginia’s green electric power plan calls for 5,000 MW of offshore wind generating capacity to be built in the next decade or so. This is a huge amount given that the worldwide total is just around 15,000 MW. We are talking about something like 800 giant windmills, embedded in the ocean floor and sticking hundreds of feet into the air above the water. They will be on the order of one and a half times taller than the Washington Monument, which is really tall. Two features make this offshore wind plan a folly — too little wind and too much wind. Let’s look at too little wind first. >click to read< 15:22
Bottom Fish Heritage: Pew said we should give up our permits, because we’re gonna be put of business anyway,,,
In this week’s spotlight video, Kauai fisherman Jonathan Hurd remembers how the fishing community assisted in research in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands but were phased out with the designation of the monument, “The government offered us a formula of how to buy us out, which was based on previous gross and previous fishing trips, which we didn’t make any money on anyways, so obviously they didn’t pay us enough money for giving up that right to be able to fish there.” 12:39
Government of Canada takes action to address threats to struggling Fraser River Chinook
Today, (June 19, 2020) Fisheries and Oceans Canada is releasing 2020 Fisheries management measures that will support the recovery of at-risk Fraser River Chinook populations, as well as protect the jobs and communities that depend on Chinook. The 2020 measures include additional restrictions to strengthen conservation as well as the flexibility needed where impacts to stocks of concern will be very low. These measures were developed following consultation with Indigenous communities, recreational and commercial fishing organizations, and environmental organizations. These measures are one component of a larger strategy intended to place at-risk Pacific salmon populations on a path towards sustainability. >click to read< 11:49
North Carolina Fisheries Association Weekly Update for June 19, 2020
Legislative updates, Bill updates, Calendar, >Click here to read the Weekly Update<, to read all the updates >click here<, for older updates listed as NCFA >click here< 10:35
Ex-Bumble Bee CEO gets prison term in Tuna Price fixing scheme. The real dirt is in this Press Release!
Former Bumble Bee Foods Chief Executive Chris Lischewski was sentenced to more than three years in prison for his role in a price-fixing racket, a rare outcome in a U.S. antitrust crackdown. In December, Lischewski was found guilty by a San Francisco federal jury of conspiring with colleagues and other industry executives to manipulate canned tuna prices, capping a marathon U.S. investigation that shook the packaged seafood industry and ultimately forced Bumble Bee into bankruptcy. >click to read< 08:54
IWMC Press Release – The story behind this one-billion-dollar price fixing scandal, the biggest and most outrageous industrial subterfuge since Enron, is complex. It involves a web of opportunism and mixed agendas. And what still needs to be exposed is the role of NGOs in facilitating this mega crime. ISSF lives on even though three of its corporate founders, StarKist, Bumble Bee Sea Foods and Chicken of the Sea, have been found guilty of conspiring to cheat American consumers out of the benefits of competition. ,,The love-in between Bumble Bee and WWF came at a high price. In return for putting a halo around Bumble’s tuna tins in the United States, WWF charged 13 cents per can. From this reputation for cash swap, WWF expected to raise USD one million per year. >click to read<
Coast Guard assists vessel aground in Sukhoi Bay, Alaska
The Coast Guard assisted a vessel aground, taking on water in Sukhoi Bay, Alaska, Thursday. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak arrived on scene at 3:11 p.m. and lowered dewatering equipment and a rescue swimmer to 52-foot F/V Stormie B. The Stormie B crewmembers were able to utilize the dewatering equipment to control flooding. Good Samaritan F/V Buccaneer arrived on scene at approximately 3:35 p.m. and remains in the vicinity to maintain communication. >click to read< 19:35
Canadian lobster to China hits another roadblock, demand a signed declaration live lobster is Coronavirus free
Canadian businesses that export lobster to China have run into another border roadblock. On Friday, Chinese importers started demanding a signed declaration that Canadian live and processed lobster is free of COVID-19 before it can enter China. “It’s a bold thing to ask and we as Canadian exporters should push back,” says Stewart Lamont of Tangier Lobster in Nova Scotia. His company flies lobster to mainland China. Lamont has refused to sign the declaration, which makes Canadian companies liable in the Chinese court system if there is a problem. >click to read< 18:52
Copper River fishermen gain another harvest
Commercial harvesters keen on those Copper River salmon got a fifth shot at those prized Chinooks and reds on Thursday, June 18, in a 12-hour opener announced by Alaska Department of Fish and Game officials in Cordova. Waters within the expanded Chinook salmon inside closure area were closed for the period. It has been, in no uncertain terms a real slow start, with several of those openers already cancelled because of a very slow run. Through Tuesday, June 16, a total of 1,665 deliveries to processors from four 12-hour openers in the Copper River had brought in some 5,751 kings, 71,370 sockeyes and 1,056 chums, a total of 78,177 fish. >click to read< 16:01
Body of missing shrimper recovered from Lake Barre
Authorities identified the body as 36-year-old Thinh Quoc, of Houma. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol deputies worked with other agencies Thursday to find Quoc, who was a crewman of the shrimp boat “Miss Sue,” authorities said. Quoc was reported missing Wednesday night in the waters of Lake Barre. His body was spotted in Lake Barre at about 5:09 p.m. and recovered, then brought to shore by a Water Patrol boat, the Sheriff’s Office said. >click to read< 11:49
Nova Scotia Live Lobster Exports to China Hit a Snag
A recent coronavirus outbreak traced to a market in Beijing is disrupting Canadian live lobster exports to China. New testing measures imposed in at least three cities — Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou— have led to cancelled lobster shipments from Nova Scotia this week and delays for shipments that do arrive. “We’ve hit a significant snag,” said Geoff Irvine, executive director of the Lobster Council of Canada. “The latest news is that they will continue to do these random inspections, which has effectively caused many of the large shipments to stop.” >click to read< 10:22
Tasmanian lobster, abalone exports at risk as latest COVID-19 outbreak closes Beijing markets – “Australian seafood exports are not being blocked by China [but] authorities there have advised that they may conduct COVID-19 testing on live, fresh, chilled and frozen imports of Australian seafood upon arrival into China,” said chairman Nathan Maxwell McGinn. >click to read< 13:08
Congressmen urge NOAA to extend at-sea monitor waiver for Northeast commercial fishing vessels
In a letter to Neil Jacobs, an acting undersecretary at the Department of Commerce, U.S. Reps. Seth Moulton and Bill Keating said a continuation of the at-sea monitor waiver is “critical to both protect the health and welfare of fishermen who are working to sustain their operations and to maintain our region’s seafood supply during the continued COVID-19 pandemic.” On March 24, NOAA Fisheries implemented the at-sea monitor waiver and took the observers off the boats. It has extended the waiver at least twice. >click to read< 07:44
Four Fishermen Saved From Sinking Fishing Dragger Off The Coast Of New England
Amazing rescue from yesterday. Sector SENE received a MAYDAY call from the Fishing Vessel F/V Rebecca Mary, a 75-foot boat taking on water 40 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. The helicopter was able to safely hoist all four persons from the sinking vessel. >photo’s, click to read< 23:26
Lower prices, reduced markets ‘doesn’t make for good math’ – P.E.I. fishermen ask for four day season extension
The P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) has asked for a four-day extension to the spring lobster season. The PEIFA made the request to the federal fisheries minister and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) on June 16 to help offset the delayed start to the season. The season started two weeks late because of coronavirus and concerns over the safety of crews on boats, and questions over the demand and markets for lobster. According to the P.E.I. Lobster Marketing Board, about 200 fishermen have been dealing with quotas for most of the season, and prices are down substantially this year — most fishermen have been getting between $3.50 and $4.50 a pound for their catch. >click to read< 21:57
Coast Guard medevacs Fisherman from vessel 322 miles northwest of St. Paul Island
Coast Guard aircrews medevaced a man from a fishing vessel 322 nautical miles northwest of St. Paul Island, Alaska, Wednesday. The 45-year-old man was safely hoisted at 12:12 p.m. and taken to St. Paul for a wing-to-wing transfer with a commercial medevac company for further transport to Anchorage. At 11:48 p.m., Tuesday, District 17 Command Center watchstanders received a medevac request for a fisherman reportedly experiencing gastrointestinal bleeding aboard the 170-foot fishing vessel Baranof. Watchstanders conferred with a duty flight surgeon and launched three Kodiak-based aircrews to respond. >click to read< The image is of the medevac of an injured 31-year-old fisherman aboard the fishing vessel Baranof, June 3, 2020 >Video, click to read< 18:15
New Russian Crab Fleet Takes Shape
Following the delivery of Rus, Pella is making progress on two more crabbers to the same design, ordered for Sakhalin-based company Ostrovnoy-Krab. In the Far East, the Nakhodka Ship Repair Yard has contracted to build eight crabbers to a design developed by Damen – six for Antey and two for the Pacific Fishing Company (TRK). The first three of this series of crabbers designed to land fresh catches are scheduled to be in the water before the end of this year, with the series as a whole to be completed between 2021 and 2024. >photo’s, click to read< 16:27
New Zealand: Safety training needed after man killed on trawler
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission has recommended fishing company Sanford Limited introduce more safety training and has warned against the use of performance-impairing substances after an investigation into the death of a trawler freezerman. Steffan Antony Stewart, 26, of New Plymouth, who died after becoming trapped in a piece of machinery aboard the New Zealand-registered deep-sea factory trawler San Granit, had a level of methamphetamine in his system which meant it was likely consumed at sea, the review found. “Due to the varying effects this substance has on an individual, it was not possible to determine whether it contributed to the accident,” it says. >click to read< 14:15
Masterchef judge John Torode visits Abbie Lou Fresh Local Fish on This Morning
Business is booming for a Leigh fisherman after a surge in demand since he started offering deliveries to customers during lockdown and he’s won the attention of celebrity chef John Torode. Sean West, who owns Abbie Lou Fresh Local Fish, has even managed to open his own shop in Old Leigh, which launches today. He also filmed a segment on ITV’s This Morning earlier this week out on his fishing boat with Masterchef star, John Torode. Sean connected with a national campaign – Fish Local – which launched following the coronavirus pandemic, to keep the Essex and Kent fishing industry afloat. >click to read< 12:54
UPDATED: Coast Guard searches for man who jumped from commercial fishing vessel in Lake Barre, Louisiana
The Coast Guard is searching for a person in the water in Lake Barre, Louisiana, Thursday. Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report at approximately 9 p.m. Wednesday evening of a 36-year-old male who had jumped off the commercial fishing vessel Miss Sue. -USCG- 11:45
Updated report: Coast Guard, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff searching for missing shrimper in Lake Barre – According to the sheriff, the shrimper went missing around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. When deputies arrived water patrol deputies made contact with the captain of the vessel, “Miss Sue,” who confirmed that the individual was gone from the boat, and a search had begun which lasted through the night and continued in to Thursday morning. >click to read< 13:20
Making the Case for Diesel Outboards
When it comes to outboards, there’s been a lot of buzz around diesel, which offers a number of its own advantages. “Probably the simplest is the safety of the fuel,” says Luke San Antonio, Commercial Product Specialist, Mack Boring & Parts Co., the U.S. Northeast distributor for Sweden-based diesel outboard engine manufacturer OXE Marine. Compared to gasoline, diesel is a less flammable fuel and therefore much safer to work with in all working environments. In addition, with diesel engines the combustion of fuel takes place due to the heat generated by the compression of fuel and air inside the cylinder. Compression ignition is safer than petroleum being ignited by a spark plug, or any other spark. Another benefit associated with diesel is efficiency. >click to read< 11:12
Judge James Boasberg’s court ruling puts future of Maine lobster industry at risk
United States District Judge James Boasberg’s order found that the National Marine and Fishery Services violated the Endangered Species Act by licensing the lobster fishery. In the second phase of the case, the judge will decide what action is necessary to rectify the situation. The Maine Lobstermen’s Association, an intervenor, and other industry stakeholders around the Gulf of Maine, will submit information for the judge to consider in his ruling.,, Activist Richard Strahan filed a motion in federal court in Bangor to stop fishing in Maine May 15, citing violations of the Endangered Species Act, Maine Public reported. The Maine Department of Marine Resources has no intention of curtailing lobster permits, said spokesperson Jeff Nichols. >click to read< 09:45
“Things could’ve been way worse”: Spring lobster season nears end amid coronavirus, “Things are stabilizing”
The Maritime Fishermen’s Union predicted a gloomy forecast for the spring season with the pandemic’s safety concerns, crushed markets and reduced processing capacity. But fishermen are taking it “day-by-day,” says the union’s executive director. “Things could’ve been way worse,” says Martin Mallet. “At least our fishermen have had a chance to go out and catch part of their catch.” Restaurants reopening is also helping market demand increase. >click to read< 08:49
Crew of American Seafoods vessel tests negative for Coronavirus in Unalaska
The crew of the F/V Ocean Rover, an American Seafoods vessel that arrived in Unalaska late Sunday afternoon for summer pollock season, have tested negative for COVID-19. The arrival of the 255-foot boat had generated concern among Alaskans after more than 100 asymptomatic crew members aboard three of the company’s other factory trawlers tested positive for the virus in recent weeks. “Sixteen crew members were found to have possible symptoms of COVID-19 and were quarantined pending test results. Three of its six-vessel fleet have now had positive cases of COVID-19, including 92 people on the American Dynasty, four on the American Triumph, and 21 on the Northern Jaeger. >click to read< 19:40
Salmon set to return, Poor Kenai king returns will restrict start of Cook Inlet, Copper River counts keep commercial fishing closed
The start of the massive Bristol Bay commercial sockeye fishery is fast approaching but this year is bringing with it a level of uncertainly rivaled by few others even in the volatile fishing industry. Fishery participants and observers generally expect a softer market and lower prices for Bristol Bay sockeye 
due to several factors, >click to read<. Poor Kenai king returns will restrict start of Cook Inlet fishery – That means the fishing time for East Side Cook Inlet setnetters will be no more than 36 hours per week, as long as the sport gear and harvest restrictions remain in place, per the Board of Fisheries paired restrictions plan for the sport and commercial fisheries that are often in conflict. >click to read<. Copper River counts keep commercial fishing closed – There seems to be a decent chance commercial fishing in 
the Copper River District could resume soon despite a dismal start to the famed early season salmon fishery. >click to read< 16:26
Here’s how to get a piece of $62.5 million in fish processors’ Coronavirus aid
It’s been two months since the federal government rolled out a $62.5-million aid package to support seafood processors affected by Coronavirus, and a $469 million program to aid fish harvesters. So far no one has seen a cent of funding from either package. Today, June 16, seafood processing companies are a little closer. Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, announced details of how the $62.5 million from the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund (CSSF) will be divvied up across Canada, and how to apply. Of the $62.5 million, Atlantic Canada gets the lions’ share — $38.1 million. Seafood processors in Quebec and Western Canada will also get a share of CSSF. >click to read< 14:48
Athearn Marine Agency Boat of the Week: 36′ Fiberglass Wayne Beal Tuna/Charter boat, 485HP Scania Diesel, Entec-West 4 kw Generator
To review specifications, information and 41 photos, >click here< Vessel is in good condition. To see all the boats in this series, >click here<12:43
Lawsuit Challenges Trump OK of Commercial Fishing in Atlantic Marine Monument
The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C. by the Conservation Law Foundation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Biological Diversity and Zack Klyver, lead naturalist with the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company in Maine. “Trump’s order was illegal because he can’t just declare commercial fishing is allowed in a protected marine monument,” said Kristen Monsell, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The Seamounts monument was created to permanently safeguard this amazing ecosystem and vulnerable species like the endangered sperm whale. Presidents can’t be allowed to gut protections by decree as a favor to commercial fishermen.” >click to read< 11:40
