Monday, January 20, 2014
EVEN LESS HALIBUT
Commercial and charter halibut fishermen on the Kenai Peninsula will see a reduced catch in 2014 under limits announced Friday at the International Pacific Halibut Commission's annual meeting.
– Kenai Peninsula Clarion
More:peninsulaclarion.com
Drought hurts 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.
– ContraCosta Times
More:contracostatimes.com
Fishing disaster aid
Alaska's congressional delegation has been churning out press releases to trumpet Alaska-bound funds in the trillion-dollar spending bill President Obama was expected to sign Saturday.
– Alaska Public Media
More:alaskapublic.org
Traffic growth in Bering
No country owns the Bering Strait waters, and no international law manages vehicle movement through the passage.
– Alaska Public Media
More:alaskapublic.org
ASMI bullish on Walmart
In a statement following the meeting Walmart vice president for meat and seafood, David Baskin, said the company remains committed to buying Alaska seafood, and was excited that ASMI has agreed to work with Walmart to ensure the RFM standard meets the principles for credible sustainable fisheries programs.
– KMXT, Kodiak
More:kmxt.org
Arctic Hunter lift goes slowly
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
Pebble too wrong
U.S. Sen. Mark Begich says he's concluded the proposed Pebble mine cannot be developed without harming the Bristol Bay region's world-famous red salmon runs.
– Anchorage Daily News
More:adn.com
Tongass advisory panel
The U.S. Forest Service published its intent to establish a federal advisory committee to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Chief of the Forest Service on developing a sustainable forest management strategy for the Tongass National Forest, with an emphasis on supporting a transition to young growth management.
– Ketchikan SitNews
More:sitnews.us
Fisherman helps rescue
"The Coast Guard thanks the crew of the fishing vessel Beachcomber for promptly rendering assistance by maneuvering close enough to the jetty to throw a line to the pleasure craft in distress and tow it to safety."
– Daily Astorian
More:dailyastorian.com
Latest Columbia R. plan unchanged
The federal government's management plan for protecting salmon and steelhead populations imperiled by federal dams in the Columbia River basin differs little from its earlier version and continues to rely heavily on habitat improvement.
– Daily Astorian
More:dailyastorian.com
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
RESCUE NEAR BROOKINGS
The Coast Guard says it rescued four people aboard a commercial fishing vessel that crashed into a jetty near Brookings.
– Houston Chronicle
More:chron.com
Cal smolt face death
The Coleman national fish hatchery plans to release another 73,000 baby salmon next week to almost certain death in the drought-stricken Sacramento River.
– YubaNet.com
More:yubanet.com
Changes in Canada management rules
Effective Nov. 25, 2013, the long-awaited and controversial amendments to the fisheries protection provisions of the Fisheries Act (the "Act") are now in force.
– Borden Ladner Gervais
More:mondaq.com
Frankenfish in Canada
A collection of environmental groups want a court to decide if the federal government violated its own law by permitting the manufacture of genetically modified salmon in Canada.
– Vancouver Observer
More:vancouverobserver.com
Pollock A season begins
That's a slight increase over last year's quota.
– Lauren Rosenthall, KUCB, Unalaska
More:kucb.org
Squid prices still high
Although landings are recovering, prices are still high at around $600 per metric ton — around twice as much from last year.
– Undercurrent
More:undercurrentnews.com
Tuna supply tight
There may be more layoffs soon and. … The closure due to a sharp drop in tuna catches in the last few years.
– Undercurrent
More:undercurrentnews.com
B.C. Natives block development
Lillooet Mayor Dennis Bonstron said he doesn't believe the municipality had a regulatory obligation to consult with the band.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Win against hatchery
An Oregon-based environmental group is declaring a victory in a court case against state and federal fishery managers.
– Oregon Public Broadcasting
More:earthfix.opb.org
Alaska permit prices strong
Listings by four brokers show that Prince William Sound seine cards are over $200,000; they were in the $140,000 range a year ago. The Sound's driftnet permits also are selling at over 200K. Southeast Alaska seine permits are at $320,000, up from $250,000 last January. Kodiak seine values continued an upward creep to $50,000, up from $36,000. Chignik permits are in the $225,000 range. At Area M at the Alaska Peninsula drifts were at $90,000 and seine cards at $65,000. At Cook Inlet, drift permits are being offered at $85,000 or higher; that's $10,000 more than at this time last year. Cook Inlet seine's are listed in the $65,000 range and setnets at $16,000.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, quoted for TheFishSite.com
More:thefishsite.com
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
LAWSUIT OVER GM SALMON APPROVAL
Environmental groups are taking Ottawa to court over its approval of commercial production of AquaBounty's genetically-modified salmon.
– CBC News
More:cbc.ca
Increased catch for SE halibut
The combined commercial and charter catch for Southeast's Area 2C will be 4.16 million pounds. That includes a commercial catch limit of 3,318,720 pounds, that's an increase of about 11 percent from last year.
– KTOO
More:ktoo.org
Downbeat forecast for Kenai salmon
A catastrophic return of late-run king salmon to the Kenai River is being forecast for this summer by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
– Alaska Dispatch
More:alaskadispatch.com
Scientist: Don't worry over nuke
"There's definitely people that you're never going to convince… I don't know what to tell you. The science says it's OK."
– Oregon Public Broadcasting
More:earthfix.opb.org
Alaska flatfish deemed sustainable by ASMI
The sustainability program sponsored by the seafood marketing arm of the State of Alaska has certified Alaska's flatfish fishery.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Vessel hits Newport jetty
The crew of the fishing vessel Eclipse contacted the Coast Guard via VHF-FM, reporting that they had lost propulsion and had struck the jetty and began taking on water.
– Coast Guard
More:uscgnews.com
USDA buys $20 million of pink salmon
After the record breaking salmon catch in 2013, with pink salmon comprising nearly the 80 per cent, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) agreed to purchase USD 20 million in canned Alaska pink salmon for nationwide distribution among people in need.
– Fish Information and Services
More:fis.com
Fishermen injured in Unalaska
The Department of Public Safety was called to help two injured crew members aboard fishing vessels in Unalaska on Sunday.
– KUCB
More:kucb.org
Homer longliner joins halibut commission
As the first 2014 meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission opened in Seattle last week, Homer resident Donald Lane took his new seat at the table.
– Homer Tribune
More:homertribune.com
Thursday, January 23, 2014
OIL TANKERS IN THE ARCTIC
All vessels passing through or proceeding to and from ports and anchorages within the Barents area have to report in to the vessel traffic management information system.
– Barents Observer
More:barentsobserver.com
Oil spill dispersants
If such a spill were to occur in Alaska, the use of dispersants is pre-authorized in certain areas. Should it be?
– AlaskaPublic.org
More:alaskapublic.org
Alaska oil leases faulty
The ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals applies to a Chukchi Sea lease sale from 2008. But it's cast a pall on the future of Arctic oil exploration.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More:kucb.org
Disaster aid coming
These funds will be distributed to fishing communities deemed to have suffered industry disasters, such as the salmon fisheries in Alaska, New York, and New Jersey fisheries.
– Wicked Local, Massachusetts
More:wickedlocal.com
Money spread too thin
Representatives of commercial and recreational fisheries and other iconic Jersey Shore activities hobbled by Sandy expressed concern Wednesday that the pot of money they hoped would help them recover will be spread too thin.
– Philly.com
More:philly.com
Device limits salmon bycatch
It's what's called an "excluder," and has been in development for more than 10 years.
– Alaska Public Media
More:alaskapublic.org
Radiation testing of fish
The Department of Environmental Conservation isn't actively testing fish for radiation.
– Juneau Empire
More:juneauempire.com
Setnet ban supporters to court
The sponsors of a proposed initiative to ban setnetting in urban areas of Alaska are appealing the lieutenant governor's decision to not allow the voters decide the issue.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More:kdlg.org
Anti-Pebble message to TV
The proposed Pebble Mine is drawing more and more opposition nearly every day.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More:kdlg.org
Premier says pipeline must be safe
"There is no amount of money that they can provide that could make up for an unsafe pipeline. None."
– CBC, Vancouver
More:cbc.ca
Friday, January 24, 2014
DEAR OBAMA: KILL PEBBLE
They are asking Obama to use the government's authority, under the Clean Water Act, to block a project that would impact a fishery worth half-a-billion dollars each year that directly supports 14,000 jobs.
– Seattle P-I
More:blog.seattlepi.com
Dear Obama: Stop fish fraud
Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., is calling on President Barack Obama to step up to the plate and coordinate fish inspections to combat mislabeling and consumer fraud, which hurts both fishermen and their customers.
– South Coast (Mass.) Today
More:southcoasttoday.com
Obama OK's Alaska aid
President Barack Obama declared a federal Disaster for Alaska, making federal dollars available for victims of storms that occurred back in November.
– Alaska Public Media
More:alaskapublic.org
Mr. Speaker: More irrigation
House Speaker John Boehner visited a dusty California field, joining Central Valley Republicans to announce an emergency drought-relief bill to help farmers through what is certain to be a devastating year.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Fish oil without the fish
A designer crop genetically modified to produce fish oils could be grown in our fields this spring.
– Daily News, U.K.
More:dailymail.co.uk
Rush to stop B.C. pipeline
The rush to the courtroom has begun as four groups are looking to block the federal government from approving the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.
– The Northern View, Prince Rupert
More:thenorthernview.com
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, sports fishing interests in Soldotna are not giving up on their efforts to force a vote to ban setnets in Cook Inlet, there's more quota for Southeast halibut fishermen but less elsewhere, and a breakthrough in excluders for trawl nets might save more salmon. All that, and, when is a pollock a cod? Kinda... now – we'll explain that, all coming up on the Alaska Fisheries Report.
– KMXT, Kodiak
More:kmxt.org
No nuke threat
"Most of it's been just solid waste -- it hasn't been anything that's what we would deem as hazardous waste."
– KUCB, Unalaska
More:kucb.org
Bristol Bay vessel upgrades
Commercial fishermen from the Bristol Bay region are eligible for money and assistance to upgrade their vessels.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More:kdlg.org
Stop salmon fishing
If action isn't taken now, the future of king salmon fishing is in a dire situation.
– Tundra Drums
More:thetundradrums.com
