Tag Archives: processors
Tanner crab fishermen receive OK to catch quota
It’s official. 
fishermen can catch their whole quota, and not leave 1.4 million pounds unharvested at the bottom of the Bering Sea because of a surprising provision in the federal rules governing the crab rationalization program that blindsided fishermen and processors late last year. That oversight nearly cost the industry some $5 million. That’s good news as the Tanner fishery moves along, with 72 percent of the eastern Tanners harvested as of Monday for 8.1 million pounds by eight boats catching an average of 37.4 crab per pot. Read the rest here 12:30
Tanner crabbing underway as consolidation adds complications
Fishing industry consolidation has complicated the lives of Tanner crab fishermen and processors, but it looks like they’ll still have access to the whole quota and won’t have to leave 10 percent in the water. Bering Sea commercial crab fisheries are underway, with fishermen catching Tanners at a faster pace than snow crab, according to Miranda Westphal, of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Unalaska. And Icicle Seafood’s withdrawal from the crab fishery shouldn’t leave any Tanners “stranded,” thanks to an emergency federal action. Read the post here 08:45
Bristol Bay’s big run may hurt prices in Cook Inlet
Bristol Bay is expecting a sockeye salmon harvest topping 40 million fish next year, including the southern Alaska Peninsula. That’s bound to challenge harvesters and processors in ensuring quality, and have a chilling effect on prices for Upper Cook Inlet sockeyes. Read the rest here 13:34
PEI Fishermen, processors still in talks – Lobster season starts again with no prices
P.E.I. lobster fishermen have begun another season without knowing how much they’ll be paid for their catch. Mike McGeoghegan, president of the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said last spring fishermen would never again haul traps without knowing the price, but the season started as scheduled last week without a published price. Read more here
Seals and Sealing Network on location to document the start of the sealing season
Members of the Seals and Sealing Network (SSN) will be on location to document the start of the North Atlantic sealing season, speaking with sealers, processors and members of the coastal communities whose livelihoods depend on the sustainable and responsibly managed industry. Read more here 09:54
Lobster industry claws out levy to promote Canadian crustaceans – $2.5-million annually
About 200 fishermen, processors, industry officials and politicians from the three Maritime provinces agreed at the two-day summit to introduce a two-cent levy – one cent from harvesters and one cent from processors – for each pound of lobster landed. The money – about $2.5-million annually – will go mostly towards marketing Canadian lobster as a premium product in North America, Europe and Asia. Read more here globeandmail 21:14
Fisheries minister Ron MacKinley wants fishermen, processors to negotiate lobster prices
Fisheries Minister Ron MacKinley says he is pushing for a pilot project that would see P.E.I. lobster prices negotiated by fishermen and processors before the spring fishing season.The issue was first raised in question period Thursday when Independent MLA Olive Crane questioned MacKinley on whether he would consider establishing a lobster price setting mechanism, as recommended by the Maritime Lobster Panel. MacKinley said he has asked the Fishermen’s Association and the Seafood Processors Association to get together and work out how this could be accomplished more@theguardian 17:18
Hit by low prices – Report by former P.E.I. auditor general finds fishermen, processors, buyers all suffering
An independent review into low lobster prices has concluded a series of issues have hurt what fishermen are being paid on the wharf, but that processors and buyers are also suffering. more@cbcnews 08:04
Bearing Sea Crab Fishermen and processors had their IFQ permits in hand by the close of business Thursday.
Several crab fisheries in the Bering Sea are open as federal regulators were successful in getting fishermen their IFQ permits so they can drop pots. The end of the federal government shutdown on Thursday proved very timely for crab fishermen who were unable during the shutdown to get their IFQ permits. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski issued a statement Friday thanking the National Marine Fisheries Service for processing and faxing out all the permits needed on Thursday. Murkowski confirms that all the fishermen and processors had their permits in hand by the close of business Thursday. more@kdlg 19:52
P.E.I. fishermen, processors still in disagreement about price of lobster
The Canadian Press – CHARLOTTETOWN — A meeting between Prince Edward Island fishermen and seafood processors ended in frustration Sunday as the contentious dispute over the price of lobster continued. Michael McGeoghegan, president P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, said his organization could not reach an agreement with the P.E.I. Seafood Processors Association after meeting in Charlottetown for about two and a half hours. continued
New Jersey’s Congressmen push for fishing industry disaster relief
“New Jersey’s fishing industry is one of the drivers of our regional economy and a staple in coastal communities,” the congressmen wrote. “The fishing industry impacts a wide swath of New Jersey’s economy and includes not only fishermen, but processors, boat builders, bait and tackle shops, marinas, distributors, and tourism thanks to New Jersey’s vast charter boat operations.” Read More
