Tag Archives: “American Fisheries Act”
Senators Demand Federal Scrutiny of Private Equity’s Incursion Into Fishing
Three U.S. senators, including two members of a Senate subcommittee that oversees the fishing industry, are calling for greater federal scrutiny of private equity’s incursion into East Coast commercial fishing. The ProPublica/New Bedford Light investigation found that a federal regulatory system known as “catch shares,” which was adopted in 2010 to reduce overfishing, has fostered private equity’s consolidation of the industry at the expense of independent fishermen. The single largest permit holder in the New England groundfish industry is Blue Harvest Fisheries, which has rights to catch 12% of groundfish, approaching the antitrust cap of 15.5%. The current antitrust cap “fails to prevent excessive consolidation in the fishery,” said Geoff Smith, one of 18 members of the New England Fishery Management Council, which advises NOAA. >click to read< 10:23
Unalaska business owner denounces city position on trawler
The mothershippers are fighting back with the help of a local proxy in a politicized commercial fishing tussle reaching all the way to Washington, D.C. The latest round of the inshore-offshore battle between Fisherman’s Finest’s cod factory trawlers, onshore seafood processors, and a local government, is taking on the familiar feel of the vintage pollock war. An Unalaska business owner is denouncing a city position calling for restrictions on the beleaguered vessel America’s Finest, a brand new vessel stranded in an Courtesan, Wash., shipyard since it ran afoul of the federal Jones Act by exceeding the legal limits of foreign steel in its hull. >click to read< 13:38
Foreign bids on Icicle higher than US suitors expected, players up against American Fisheries Act
First round bids for the purchase of Icicle Seafoods — up for sale by private equity owner Paine & Partners — are far, far higher than expected, sources involved in the sale process told Undercurrent News. Major foreign players have — so far— made “insane” offers, well beyond what US-based companies are willing to pay. If foreign players ultimately do outbid their US competitors, they will have to fenagle their way around the American Fisheries Act, which limits foreign ownership of fishing vessels. Read the rest here 16:42
Fishy Money Fuels Super PACs In Alaska Senate Race
Outside super PACs have played a major role supporting Sen. Mark Begich (D) ,,, The majority of this outside spending binge has come through the super PAC Put Alaska First.,,, While evidence suggests Fishermen’s Finest is the largest donor with an actual interest in Alaskan affairs,, In a conversation with The Huffington Post, Fishermen’s Finest president and general counsel Dennis Moran avoided questions about the ownership of the LLCs. Read the rest here 12:48
North Pacific Council talks economic data collection – vessel replacement for American Fisheries Act boats in the Gulf of Alaska
PORTLAND, Ore. — The North Pacific Fishery Management Council discussed how it will evaluate central Gulf of Alaska rationalization today. Read more here 
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council took action this morning to continue working on vessel replacement for American Fisheries Act boats in the Gulf of Alaska. Read more here
