Tag Archives: Environmental Defense Fund
Putting lipstick on the ENGO Pig – Oregon fishermen and ENGOs in collaboration
During a recent lunch at Sharkbite’s Seafood Cafe in Coos Bay, area fishermen broke bread with an unlikely lunch mate — an attorney from the environmental advocacy group the Natural Resources Defense Council. The purpose of the meeting? For the group to open up communication and find common ground about how fish resource habitats are currently being managed. It’s a discussion that has taken place after years of fishermen and conservation organizations butting heads. Read the rest here 10:46
Diversion! EDF and “Partners” Pay For Full Page Add to Squash Fishing Communities in Louisiana
Andy Nyman, a wetland scientist at LSU, said scientists discussed the need to counter (what they call) misinformation being spread about future sediment diversions. When nonprofit coastal groups offered to pay for the advertising space, Nyman and Mike Carloss, a retired official with the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, started working on a draft. The advertisement was paid for by the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition which is made up of the Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. Read the rest here 08:46
Environmental Defense Fund — Fishery vote should protect more habitat
This Thursday, the New England Fishery Management Council will finally vote on the 
, the culmination of a multi-year process of creating, eliminating and modifying fishery closed areas in New England’s waters. As is often the case in New England fisheries, this decision has become highly contentious. Many fishermen oppose what they see as added restrictions on their ability to fish. For its part, the council seems intent on retaining the smallest amount of closed area it can get away with,,, Read the rest here 08:27
Voluntary plan to reduce fertilizers not enough to shrink Gulf’s ‘Dead Zone’, new study says
Major voluntary strategies used on Midwest farmland to curb fertilizers that feed the annual low oxygen “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico don’t remove enough nutrients to succeed, according to a new, peer reviewed scientific study. The study, conducted by a team of scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Defense Fund,,. Read the rest here 21:39
Matthew P. Mullin, Environmental Defense Fund – We need cameras monitoring every fishing vessel
THOMAS FARRAGHER is absolutely right: If politicians, ranging from the governor to the attorney general to our congressional delegation, really want to help the fishing industry and save the fish, they need to listen to fishermen like Frank Mirarchi (“An expert to reel in,” Metro, Jan. 17). Mirarchi and fishermen like him have seen the benefit of on commercial vessels in New England for years. We need to see what is happening at sea — what is being caught and where, and what is being thrown overboard. Read the rest here 08:55
Catch Shares: Investment Firms are taking over the Fishing Rights
What does it take to buy a share of the American ocean? Policymakers assured the nation that fishing rights would never migrate out of U.S. control through catch shares or end up as properties of investment firms. Environmental groups have similarly touted catch shares as a tool for communities and fishermen and overlooked the role investors can and do play. As the Snow’s deal now makes clear, those pacifications are baloney. Read the rest here 22:29
Recreational Fishing Alliance supports “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act.”
“Groups like Environmental Defense Fund, Pew Environment Group, Oceana and Ocean Conservancy hate this bill because it would allow America’s fishermen to continue fishing as stocks rebound, but that’s precisely what the Magnuson Stevens Act was originally designed to do,” Donofrio said. “Having healthy fish stocks without being allowed sustainable access does not make for a successful law.” Read more here 16:34
Fish and Ocean Grabbing: The Case of Commercial Fisheries
On April 8, 2009, a story in the New York Times quoted the administrator of NOAA (the federal agency in charge of managing OUR oceans) as saying that was “taking preliminary steps toward privatizing fisheries” (in New England). We submit that if the director of the Forest Service or the National Park Service, or the Bureau of Land Management was quoted as saying those agencies were taking preliminary steps towards privatizing public forests, national parks, or public rangelands, that there would be an immediate outcry from “the left.” And yet, there was no outcry whatsoever. Read more here 16:38:46
SAFMC halts MPA effort, includes catch shares in top ten list
The SAFMC has been pushed hard for over two years by radical environmental groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, and Pew to approve the proposed MPAs even though the SAFMC’s own scientific advisors have said there is no scientific justification. It is of great concern that at last week’s SAFMC meeting, when council members submitted their top three issues/solutions as part of the snapper-grouper fishery “visioning” process, catch shares made it into the top ten issues for consideration. Read more here 14:04
Fish and Ocean Grabbing: The Case of Commercial Fisheries – prepared by Seth Macinko and Brett Tolley
On April 8, 2009, a story in the New York Times quoted the administrator of NOAA (the federal agency in charge of managing OUR oceans) as saying that NOAA was “taking preliminary steps toward privatizing fisheries” (in New England). We submit that if the director of the Forest Service or the National Park Service or the Bureau of Land Management was quoted as saying those agencies were taking preliminary steps towards privatizing public forests, national parks, or public rangelands, that there would be an immediate outcry from “the left.” Read more here 17:04
Why are so many white men trying to save the planet without the rest of us?
Just the other day, the National Wildlife Federation announced its new president – a white male “whiz kid”. Last month, the Climate Reality Project, founded by Al Gore, replaced its female chief executive with a white man. Last November, the National Parks and Conservation Association replaced its veteran leader with another white male. The Union of Concerned Scientists is due to announce its new leader as early as next week. Spoiler alert: it’s not going to be a woman. Read more here 10:53
LETTER: Snapper Plentiful – Bob Zales
As the world knows by now, thanks to the Environmental Defense Fund and 20 commercial fishermen (that includes at least 5 charter boat owners who own red snapper IFQs) the current projected recreational red snapper season will be a maximum 11 days. newsherald.com Read more here 15:11
Red Snapper Season in Jeopardy
Local fisherman are worried there may not be a snapper season this year or next. The concerns come after a federal court ruled the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has the authorities to close off federal waters. Read more here 11:48
California fishers say quota system is all wet – criticizing the “catch shares” system
Jiri Nozicka says a federal quota system enacted to protect both fish and the commercial fishing industry has problems that he can’t navigate. From the start, the government acknowledged catch shares would thin the fleet, but hoped there would be no “lost ports” or areas such as Monterey that have just a few trawlers left. Thin the fleet?!!! Read [email protected] 17:32
The EDF road to catch shares for charter and headboats
The road to “catch shares” for charter and headboat operators is being paved with an Environmental Defense Fund-backed pilot program approved by NOAA Fisheries this year for the Gulf of Mexico. [email protected] 10:30
Walton Family Foundation Dumped $91.4 Million Into Greenwashing in 2012: Walmarting the Rivers and Oceans
Walmart has been in the headlines in recent weeks after the retailer announced plans to keep its stores open this Thanksgiving, forcing Walmart employees to cancel many of their holiday plans. Walmart, the country’s largest retailer and employer, makes more than $17 billion in profits annually, so it has a lot of money to dump into “environmental” groups that serve its agenda of privatization of the public trust. The wealth of the Walton family totals over $144.7 billion – equal to that of 42% of Americans. must read [email protected] 17:22
Four Fort Bragg drag net fishermen, along with the Environmental Defense Fund, hope to create a “fair trade” fish!
Four Fort Bragg drag net fishermen, along with the Environmental Defense Fund, hope to create a “fair trade” fish, which would inform consumers about where, when, how and even who caught their fish. “In recent years the government has been ramping up spending of taxpayer dollars on “catch share’ programs. These programs divide up our nation’s fishery resources for exclusive use by the biggest and fastest fishing operations and then allow corporations and banks to buy and sell these “shares’ for profit,” said Zach Corrigan of Food & Water Watch, as part of extensive public criticism when the program went into effect two years ago. [email protected] 10:57
Environmental Defense Fund Launches Toolkit to Help Fishermen and Managers
On the 17th October, in San Francisco, CA the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today launched the world’s most comprehensive toolkit for designing and implementing management systems that can restore the resiliency, sustainability and profitability of fisheries around the world. more@fishupdate 09:31
Of course, they’re lapping it up in Old Blighty – Smart fishery management will help fisherman earn a living – Laying the foundation for sound fisheries may be an unsexy task but it’s vital to tackle overfishing and pollution, writes Britt Groosman
I missed this one – Maine Voices: Closed areas a boon as fish fight warming
As fishermen around New England are the first to point out, this summer, much like the last, is in many ways abnormal. Ocean waters are warmer than ever. Fish are also less abundant, found in new and unexpected places and behaving in unusual ways. (yeah! like Canada?) more@portlandpress 15:01
Red snapper fishing ‘haves’ are suing the ‘have-nots’
Several highline commercial red snapper IFQ fishermen (they own maximum shares) filed suit against the National Marine Fisheries Service on June 28. Many of these commercial fishermen either are now or have been in the past working for and been sponsored by the Environmental Defense Fund. Indeed, the plaintiffs’ attorneys have connections to EDF. continued@thenewsherald
Fishing interests begin to map strategy with joint meeting of the Mayor’s Ocean and Fisheries Council / Federal Fishing Advisory Board.
NEW BEDFORD — When fisheries regulation gets a makeover in the next year or two, the New England fishery intends to get into the debate early to impress on regulators how badly served the region has been under existing rules.
That was the theme struck by Mayor Jon Mitchell Monday as he co-chaired a joint meeting of the Mayor’s Ocean and Fisheries Council with Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., representing the Federal Fishing Advisory Board. continued
Gov. gets deaf ear from White House on fisheries as Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to President Obama Dummies Up!
Valerie Jarrett, a senior advisor to President Obama, has declined to explain why the White House turned a deaf ear to the pleas of Gov. Deval Patrick for relief from what Patrick told her were “impending drastic cuts” in landings allowed the groundfishing fleet concentrated in his state. continued
Why Aren’t Environmental Groups Divesting from Fossil Fuels? Some of big green’s most powerful players still invest in energy companies.
THEY ARE STEALING OUR OCEAN. FOR PROFIT!!! SOME BUYING FISH QUOTA!!Why do some of the largest environmental organizations still invest in fossil fuels? As outlined in my new piece, Time for Big Green to go Fossil Free, organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society aren’t taking the simple step of divesting their large endowments and publicly traded investments from energy corporations. Below is a cheat sheet (not comprehensive) for how much money big green groups are investing and for who is—and who isn’t—getting their financial house in order. continued
Can the small family-owned boats survive or will the remaining fishermen wind up as sharecroppers for someone else’s fleet?
continued
The DeArruda Tapes: Environmental Defense Fund speaks about local sustainable fish species, catch shares
Editorial Page Editor Jim DeArruda holds an informal discussion with members of the ocean team at the Environmental Defense Fund. Discussed were efforts to bring local, sustainable fish into local institutions, ocean health, cod populations and catch shares. In attendance were Johanna Thomas and Timothy Fitzgerald of EDF, Jeremy Crockford, a media consultant for EDF, and DeArruda. The audio tapes
The EDF ocean team affirms they are absolutely clueless.
Who Owns Fish Under Briberization?
Susanne Rust’s “Who owns the fish?” is a well written and insightful piece. But, like all Catch Share authors, including myself, we are still learning how to really describe what is going on – having been overly influenced by the language of the wordsmiths brainwashing Congress and the public about quotas. With all good intention, here’s an expanded Opinion Piece to go with the March 12 article.,,,,,,,,,,.Catch shares are really about asymmetric market power —especially by cartelized processors with plenary power over price-setting— being brought about under government sponsorship due to accompanying asymmetric political power. Nothing makes that clearer that the rigged witness list at today’s US House Natural Resources meeting (see Richard Gaines’ Gloucester Daily Times Editorial-Witness-list-shows-Magnuson-talks-a-sham-from-start ). John Pappalardo is a minor part of the national problem, as he was schooled by the real culprits of Alaska Ratz, some of whom are also on the rigged hearing witness list. continued
Who owns the fish?
“We’ve been frozen out,” said Collins, who docks near the Golden Gate Bridge. “This system has given it all to the big guys.” More and more wild-caught fish species and fishing territories in the United States are managed under catch shares, which work by providing harvesting or access rights to fishermen. These rights – worth tens of billions of dollars in the United States alone – are translated into a percentage, or share, that can then be divided, traded, sold, bought or leveraged for financing, just like any asset. Catch shares have been backed by an alliance of conservative, free-market advocates and environmental groups, some of which have financed scientific studies promoting the merits of the system, the Center for Investigative Reporting has found. continued
Feds see early signs of Pacific fishery recovery
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. (AP) – After one of the West Coast’s most valuable commercial fisheries was declared an economic disaster in 2000, California and other Pacific states saw more boats being sold and more fishermen looking for work. Read more here
NOAA administrator to step down; some actions sparked controversy. hee hee yeah!
![environmental-watchdog[1]](https://fisherynation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/environmental-watchdog1.jpg)
“Under her leadership, NOAA has focused on restoring fisheries to sustainability and profitability, restoring oceans and coasts to a healthy state, ensuring continuity of the nation’s weather and other environmental satellites, developing a weather-ready nation, promoting climate science and delivering quality climate products, strengthening science and ensuring scientific integrity at NOAA and delivering the highest quality science, services and stewardship possible,” the administration said. “Healthy oceans and coasts and a nation prepared for sever weather, disasters and climate change are keys to economic recovery and prosperity.” Wow, just, wow. Read more!
From Nils Stolpe – Remember the fishing-induced “plague of jellyfish” that was threatening the oceans…? Remembering the “Worm” hook! Refuted
Brought to us, of course, by the Walton Foundation, EDF and Dr. Lubchenco as a reason to shift fisheries to catch share management immediately? A National Academy of Sciences study – Recurrent jellyfish blooms are a consequence of global oscillations – refutes that (now there’s a surprise!) contention. The article is available here. National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Happy New Year – and sleep soundly, knowing that we aren’t being threatened by hoards of slimy, nematocyst-brandishing cnidaria,
Nils
Boris Worm outed himself with an email that oceans full of jellyfish were the future by 2048, and he used it as a “hook’ in “Oceans of Abundance” the EDF, Walmart bought and paid for doctrine that hooked Lubchenco to the Obama administration. Seem’s though there’s more to it, and the “Smart from the Start” program of ocean industrialization along the East Coast of windmills and drill rig’s is the administrations answer to jellyfish aquaculture!
