Monday, January 13, 2014
POT FARMS KILLING SALMON
Critics say the recent explosion of the marijuana industry along the state's North Coast — a region called the "emerald triangle" — could put a permanent buzz kill on struggling salmon populations.
– NPR
More: npr.org
No fish irritate bears
A recent study has uncovered that coastal grizzly bears are more prone to hostile behavior when salmon numbers are low.
– The Ubyssey (B.C.)
More: ubyssey.ca
Walmart in Alaska
Alaska's salmon industry opted out of the high priced certifying program that Walmart uses as its seafood purchasing standard (London-based Marine Stewardship Council).
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, writing for her blog: Fish Factor
More: thefishsite.com
Japanese explain nuke danger
That is why the foreign media, including some foreign embassy officials, got the guided tour of a research facility in Onjuku, Chiba Prefecture, to see how fisheries products are being monitored for radiation.
– Japan Daily Press
More: japandailypress.com
Permit stacking, trawling ban, Chinook
The Alaska Board of Fisheries wrapped up its Kodiak area meetings at the Harbor Convention Center.
–KMXT, Kodiak
More: kmxt.org
Russia pollock company shaky
Preobrazensky base of trawler fleet (PBTF), one of Russia's largest fishing companies, is on the verge of bankruptcy, due to the RUB 24 million ($900,000) fine imposed by the FAS, for its participation in the pollock cartel and the ongoing criminal investigations against the company.
– Undercurrent
More: undercurrentnews.com
Fish sacrificed to petroleum greed
He gutted the Fisheries Act, eliminated the world-class Marine Contaminants Lab at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Pat Bay, transferred fisheries input from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to the National Energy Board on pipeline applications and closed libraries at DFO research facilities.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More: timescolonist.com
Gas ports OK'd for B.C.
Both LNG terminals being considered for the Prince Rupert area cleared another hurdle as the National Energy Board approved export licences for both Pacific NorthWest LNG and the BG Group's proposed Prince Rupert LNG Exports Ltd.
– Northern View, Prince Rupert
More: thenorthernview.com
Appealing fish conviction
Former lawmaker Albert Kookesh says he and two other men charged with overfishing intend to again appeal the charges.
– Juneau Empire
More: search.juneauempire.com
B.C. Natives fight dam plan
First Nations in northeastern B.C. repeated a familiar story to the Site C Joint Review Panel on Tuesday, saying they are being backed into a corner, and warning that they are ready to set up blockades if the hydroelectric dam is approved.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More: timescolonist.com
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
COAL DERAILMENT BLACKENS STREAM
The banks of Burnaby's Silver Creek were coated in black Monday morning, after a weekend train derailment left unknown quantities of coal dust in the local waterway.
– Burnaby (B.C.) Now
More: burnabynow.com
Eco-sanders for fishermen
The sanders are attached to high-powered vacuums that capture up to 98 percent of the sanders' dust.
– San Luis Obispo Tribune
More: sanluisobispo.com
Halibut at stake
A coast-wide catch of just under 25 million pounds is being recommended – that's a 21 percent reduction from last year. Alaska's share of the catch would be 18.7 million pounds, down from about 22 million pounds in 2013. Halibut surveys show that the Pacific halibut stock has been declining continuously over much of the last decade due to decreasing size-at-age. Recruitment strengths also are much smaller than those observed through the 1980s and '90s.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, writing in her blog: Fish Radio
More: alaskafishradio.com
Drought harms salmon
The sensitive populations of fish that spawn in Northern California's creeks and rivers are starting to suffer from the brutal drought threatening the state's water supplies.
– San Jose Mercury News
More: mercurynews.com
Hatchery fish shunned
The new management plan proposed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife would designate several coastal rivers as "wild fish emphasis areas," while increasing the number of hatchery fish planted in other coastal rivers to expand fishing opportunities in those waters.
– Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland, Ore.
More: ijpr.org
Tagging cod to protect them
Over the next few weeks, local fishermen, working with scientists, will hook spawning cod, implant electronic tags and then release the fish back into the sea.
– World Fishing & Aquaculture
More: worldfishing.net
Cal fish stocks explode
California has witnessed a veritable explosion of sea life over the past six months, and whales aren't the only ones making waves.
– The Atlantic
More: theatlantic.com
Foreign fleet slaughters animals
Despite a 40-year-old federal law meant to protect them, every year more than 650,000 marine mammals, including dolphins, whales, and sea lions, are killed in foreign fisheries after being hooked, entangled or trapped in commercial fishing nets and other gear.
– AllGovernment
More: allgov.com
Pull plug on Pebble
The Pebble Mine project is hanging by a thread, and it's time to sever it once and for all.
– Huffington Post
More: huffingtonpost.com
Surimi heads higher
Low stocks in Japan and reduced tropical surimi production could contribute to a rise in surimi prices from this year's pollock A season, especially for lower grade products.
– Undercurrent News
More: undercurrentnews.com
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
UNALASKA PREPARES FOR OIL BOOM
This faraway spot in the middle of Alaska's windswept, rocky, Aleutian Island chain has long stood for seafood.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laura Rosenthal, reporting for Aljazeera America – Aljazeera, U.S.
More: america.aljazeera.com
Alaska moorage for polar ships
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to release in early March a draft feasibility report recommending a configuration of docks that garners the highest net benefits to the nation while serving ships traveling to and from the Arctic.
– Hauling Gear
More: blog.haulinggear.com
Oil safe on B.C. coast
Diluted bitumen, the molasses-like product that would be transported by the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, sinks in salt water when battered by waves and mixed with sediments, according to a new study by the federal government.
– Vancouver Sun
More: vancouversun.com
Trace B.C. tanker route
The 275-nautical-mile ferry trip takes more than 12 hours and passes through some of the deepest wilderness in the country, perhaps on the planet.
– CBC
More: cbc.cal
Gillnets help economy
The truth is, by state figures, angler trips are dropping on the Columbia River, even with record runs.
– Daily Astorian
More: dailyastorian.com
Selling Alaska mud
Padawer started her Alaska Glacial Mud Co., selling all-natural facial masks, soaps, and other skin care products, in 2007 with the help of an Alaska Federation of Natives Marketplace Grant.
– Alaska Dispatch
More: alaskadispatch.com
Propane shortage
But many are learning there is now a shortage of propane, and some are calling too late and running out of fuel.
– Door County Advocate
More: doorcountyadvocate.com
Fisherman medivacked
The Coast Guard medevacked a fisherman with an eye injury to St. Paul on Friday.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More: kucb.org
Forgiveness for fish-ins
Decades after American Indians were arrested for exercising treaty-protected fishing rights during a nationally watched confrontation with authorities, a proposal in the Legislature would give those who were jailed a chance to clear their convictions from the record.
– Anchorage Daily News
More: adn.com
Cost of cod
Executive from frozen retail processor and another from chain restaurant both express "cautious optimism" on the increased volumes and competitive pricing for cod.
– UndercurrentNews
More: undercurrentnews.com
Thursday, January 16, 2014
FISHERMEN TO OBAMA: STOP PEBBLE NOW!
In 2012, an unprecedented coalition of over 16,000 fishermen - hailing from Massachusetts, California, Washington, Alaska, and beyond - sent a letter to the Obama Administration stating that if science continues to demonstrate the harmful effects from large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed, for EPA to use its authority under Section 404(c) Clean Water Act to protect this vital fishery.
– PR Newswire
More: prnewswire.com
Reaction mixed to EPA decision
For the tribes, fishermen, and environmental groups who've lobbied the EPA to involve itself in the Pebble Mine debate, Wednesday's announcement came as a reaffirmation of long-held beliefs.
– Alaska Public Media
More: alaskapublic.org
B.C. seeks mining investments
Proponent Taseko Mines has filed a court action to protest the results of the federal environmental review, which the company says did not recognize the new mine design's use of a lined tailings pond located away from Fish Lake.
– Northern Views, Prince Rupert
More: thenorthernview.com
Mine not all that bad
Although significant levels of copper and zinc were found downstream from the Tulsequah Chief mine, the mine's drainage poses a low risk to fish in the Tulsequah River.
– Juneau Empire
More: juneauempire.com
No dock at Gustavus
Without a float for anybody to come and put their boat in or for any goods to come in and go out, we're just kind of stuck.
– KTOO, Juneau
More: ktoo.org
Halibut plan would hurt Homer
The approximate 100 boats making up the drift fleet based in Homer would have to drive their boats north to the Kenai area to fish, or physically relocate there.
– Homer News
More: homernews.com
New NOAH exec
Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, acting NOAA administrator, appointed Eileen Sobeck as assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries.
– BYM Marine and Maritime News
More: bymnews.com
Kenai River king forecast
If the 2014 outlook for early and late run Kenai River king salmon is accurate, fewer than 2,500 early run king salmon will make it into the river to spawn.
– Peninsula Clarion
More: peninsulaclarion.com
Copper River forecast
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is projecting a commercial catch of 1.6 million sockeye and 22,000 Chinook this year at the ballyhooed Copper River.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog, Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
Wrong! B.C. oil will float
The behavior of diluted bitumen in water was one of the key issues in the Northern Gateway pipeline hearings, which led to a recommendation in December that the twin pipeline from northern Alberta to oil tanker port facilities should be allowed to proceed.
– Northern View, Prince Rupert
More: thenorthernview.com
Friday, January 17, 2014
KENAI DIPNETS: CROWD CONTROL
While the city of Kenai continues to make improvements in managing the dipnet fishery, the fishery itself continues to grow in popularity.
– Peninsula Clarion
More: peninsulaclarion.com
Canada ups salmon farm permits
The Harper government has quietly opened the door to a major expansion of B.C.'s controversial fish farm sector despite warnings by the 2012 Cohen Commission about the effects of net-based farms on wild salmon.
– Vancouver Sun
More: vancouversun.com
ID theft … for fishing license
A crew member aboard a factory processor has been arrested in Unalaska and accused of stealing another man's identity to get his commercial fishing license.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More: kucb.org
New CG safety rules
Oregon Sea Grant is hosting a series of informational meetings to discuss the significant changes to commercial fishing industry safety requirements set to take effect soon.
– Lincoln City (Ore.) News Guard
More: thenewsguard.com
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, the Board of Fish breezes through its Kodiak area meeting, Walmart gets charmed by the state, and take your best shot. No, really, I mean it – with your camera. All that, and we wish we could think of something witty to say about buying crab at nail salons.
– KMXT, Kodiak
More: kmxt.org
Raising the Arctic Hunter
Work is progressing slowly on the grounded crab boat Arctic Hunter as salvagers plan how to pull it off the rocks.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More: kucb.org
Wrangell boat sinks
A steel-hulled boat carrying thousands of gallons of diesel fuel sank off the coast near Wrangell on Tuesday, casting a rainbow sheen several miles across the water.
– Anchorage Daily News
More: adn.com
Surplus salmon to grow
The bank now expects global salmon supply to grow by 5% in 2014, driven by a 7% growth in Europe, but only 2% in the Americas.
– Undercurrents
More: undercurrentnews.com
Gas port near Rupert
On Jan. 16, the Ministry of Natural Gas Development signed a sole proponent agreement with Australian company Woodside for 693.6 hectares of land and 243.9 hectares of foreshore on the southern part of Grassy Point.
– Northern View, Prince Rupert
More: thenorthernview.com
Remembering '64 quake, tsunami
A full-scale evacuation drill is only one of the events planned for the days leading up to the 50th anniversary of the tsunami that devastated Crescent City in 1964.
– Crescent City Triplicate
More: triplicate.com
