Monday, May 2, 2011
SARAH FOR FARMS, NOT FISH
Sarah Palin returned to Central California's agricultural region Sunday and lambasted the federal government for limiting the amount of water the state's farmers can get for their crops.
– Bend (Ore.) Bulletin
More:theworldlink.com
Cal salmon troll season begins
San Francisco welcomed its first real salmon season in three years on Sunday with glorious weather, eager fishermen, and hungry diners. The only thing missing was the fish.
– San Francisco Chronicle
More:www.sfgate.com
NMFS chief: System not broken
In Gloucester on a diplomatic mission, the lead administrator of federal fisheries has told hands-on commercial fishermen, port business leaders and government representatives that "the system is not broken."
– Gloucester (Mass.) Times
More:www.gloucestertimes.com
King bycatch limits Kodiak fisheries
The problem is this: In rivers around Kodiak and in other places in Alaska, king salmon returns have diminished, in some cases to such woefully low numbers that the fishing had to be shut down in an attempt to protect the few fish that reached the rivers to spawn.
– Kodiak Daily Mirror
More:www.kodiakdailymirror.com
Albacore packed in BPA-less can
Oregon's Choice canned last season's catch of lightly salted MSC certified Albacore (6 oz.) in BPA free cans, and the company says it will over the course of the next two years move all of its canned fish to BPA free.
– Pacific Fishing correspondent Cassandra Marie Profita reporting in Ecotrope, Oregon Public Broadcasting
More:ecotrope.opb.org
NOAA officially in Newport
After 22 months of intense activity and scrutiny, the NOAA homeport project reaches its zenith Friday, when Port of Newport officials "turn over the keys" for the facility to a delegation from NOAA.
– Newport News Times
More:www.newportnewstimes.com
Arctic blowout would be a mess
The federal agency overseeing offshore drilling in Alaska says a worst-case scenario for a blowout in the Chukchi Sea lease area could put more than 58 million gallons of oil into Arctic waters.
– Anchorage Daily News
More:www.adn.com
Pregnant? Eat fish
Research now suggests that the benefit to a baby's neurological health from omega-3s appears to far outweigh the potential for harm from small amounts of mercury in fish tissues.
– Huffington Post
More:www.huffingtonpost.com
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
SOME NE FISHERMEN LIKE QUOTAS
The first year of a new commercial fish quota system in New England came to an end this weekend, and some small boat fishermen say they are hooked on it.
– Public Service News
More:www.publicnewsservice.org
Charleston ice opens
The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay's Charleston Ice Dock re-opened, following a complete overhaul of ice-making equipment and upgrades to the dock.
– Coos Bay
More:theworldlink.com
Shell's Alaska drilling plan
Shell Oil will apply to drill 10 wells off Alaska's Arctic shore over the next two years under exploration plans headed to federal authorities.
– Anchorage Daily News
More:www.adn.com
Pebble to spend $91 million
Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. announced that the Pebble Limited Partnership Board of Directors has approved program expenditures of $91 million in 2011, with the objective of completing a pre-feasibility study for the Pebble Project and to initiate permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act.
– SitNews, Ketchikan
More:www.sitnews.us
Fishermen prepare for Copper River
While trollers in Southeast Alaska provide Chinook salmon to markets nearly year-round (their spring fishery got under way April 25), it is the runs of reds and kings to the famous Copper River that mark the official start of Alaska's salmon season.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, writing in the Kodiak Daily Mirror
More:Kodiak Daily Mirror - Two week countdown until salmon season
Marching against net pen farms
About 250 people gathered at the legislature after marching down the Saanich Peninsula to protest against fish farming, which they say is menace to wild fish populations.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More:www.timescolonist.com
Quinault recalls canned fish
Quinault Tribal Enterprise of Taholah is recalling all canned seafood products.
– FDA
More:www.fda.gov
Boat electrical workshop
Washington Sea Grant (WSG) and the Foss Waterway Seaport are cosponsoring an all-day Boat Marine Electrical Wiring Workshop in May for commercial fishermen and
recreational boaters.
– Sea Grant
More:www.wsg.washington.edu
Drill conductor classes
Commercial fishing vessel drill conductor training continues to be offered free to commercial fishing vessel owners, skippers and crewmen!
– AMSEA
More:www.amsea.org
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
NO THREAT FROM JAPAN NUKES
A trio of federal agencies issued this fact sheet concluding that seafood imports and U.S. fishing grounds are free of contamination from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More:http: deckboss.blogspot.com
California fishermen hope for kings
Conditions and cost of fuel deter commercial fishermen from going out and catching salmon, but a highly anticipated season promises to pick up.
– Half Moon Bay Patch
More:halfmoonbay.patch.com
Our columnists on the air
Wesley Loy and Alexandra Gutierrez, both columnists for Pacific Fishing, sat down with Unalaska industry expert Frank Kelty to discuss the problems and possibilities on Adak.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More:www.publicbroadcasting.net
B.C. fishermen not paying fines
Officials with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have revealed that more than $1 million in fines for illegal fishing and habitat destruction have gone unpaid in B.C.
– Globe and Mail, Toronto
More:www.theglobeandmail.com
Brit fleet dislikes bycatch ban plan
Proposals to end the wasteful practice of throwing away edible fish have met strong opposition from the European fishing industry.
– Guardian, U.K.
More:www.guardian.co.uk
Final Sitka herring tally
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the final results of the 2011 Sitka Sound herring sac roe fishery. Seven processing companies and 48 permit holders participated in the fishery, harvesting 19,429 tons of herring, slightly below the guideline harvest level of 19,490 tons. The overall roe recovery for the fishery was 13.3 percent.
—ADFG
More:documents.cf1.adfg.state.ak.us
BP: Few fines, lots of profits
And that, math fans, is $2.15 in profits for every penny in environmental fines.
– Steve Duin, writing in The Oregonian
More:www.oregonlive.com
Stellars entanglement can be avoided
A new study by researchers at Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute suggests most entanglements of Steller sea lions in human-made marine debris along the Pacific coast could be prevented through education and changes to manufacturing and packaging processes when the entangling materials are produced.
– Newport News Times
More:www.newportnewstimes.com
Thursday, May 5, 2011
LOW PRICE FOR ALASKA HERRING
One fisherman reports that one processor is paying $175 a ton compared to $425 last year.
– KMXT, Kodak
More:www.kmxt.org
Japan debris to threaten W. Coast
A giant mass of floating debris swept out into the ocean by the Japanese tsunami is predicted to potentially reach the West Coast in three years.
– Rupert Daily, Prince Rupert
More:www.rupertdaily.ca
A step forward for Pebble Mine
A world-class gold-and-mine prospect near the headwaters of Bristol Bay is moving one step closer to the permitting phase.
– BusinessWeek
More:www.businessweek.com
Fraser probe panel said hiding evidence
A federal public inquiry into the decline of sockeye salmon in the Fraser River has been accused of suppressing information that an infectious virus has been detected in British Columbia waters.
– Globe and Mail, Toronto
More:www.theglobeandmail.com
Fish farmers say they won election
Despite anti-salmon farming campaigns, British Columbia elected to put most of its members for the federal government from the one party that has demonstrated support for the aquaculture industry.
– FishFarmingXpert
More:www.fishfarmingxpert.com
Making catch shares work for community
While members of Congress have spent the past several years trying to patch and repair our nation's struggling economy, a small and diverse group of experts from across North America joined forces to deliver a plan and set of recommendations that we think will return long-term prosperity to our coastal communities and put our boats back in the water.
– Bangor Daily News
More:new.bangordailynews.com
Can Columbia revert to fishing river?
Today's science doesn't do justice to the memory of the river and its fish. That memory – still lingering in the minds of fishermen and their descendants, documented in photos and even in song – also needs to be used as a guide as we look to the future, she said.
– Pacific Fishing correspondent Deeda Schroeder, writing in The Daily Astorian
More:www.dailyastorian.com
Siting wave energy off Oregon Coast
A wave of public meetings is unfolding on the Oregon Coast that will, we hope, involve our coastal residents in a discussion about where to site ocean wave energy generating facilities.
– Umpqau Post
More:www.theumpquapost.com
Friday, May 6, 2011
PSSST! WANNA GET RICH?
Ever thought about getting involved with the seafood business, but couldn't quite see yourself owning a boat, processing plant or aquaculture operation? Well, here's a way to do it and never touch a fish.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
Earthquakes rattle Sand Point, AK
Sand Point residents experienced a rude awakening this morning when a pair of moderate earthquakes struck about 30 miles from the community.
— Pacific Fishing columnist Alexandra Gutierrez, reporting for KUCB, Unalaska
More: www.publicbroadcasting.net
Lotsa sockeye expected on Vancouver Island
For the second year in a row, fishermen are expecting a large sockeye run of 600,000.
– Vancouver Sun
More: www.vancouversun.com
More on deadly sinking
Alaska Ranger, a fish processing ship that sank in the Bering Sea in 2008, killing five people, was poorly maintained and its crew was careless in ensuring watertight integrity, the U.S. Coast Guard has concluded.
– Professional Mariner
More: www.professionalmariner.com
Yukon runs predicted poor
Returns for the 2011 king salmon fishery on the Yukon River are projected to again be poor.
– Tundra Drums
More: www.thetundradrums.com
Fishermen battle harbor manager
The Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen's Association is seeking to remove Port San Luis Harbor Manager Steve McGrath.
– New Times
More: www.newtimesslo.com
Alaska should learn from BP disaster
Cook Inlet, which supports one of the state's premier commercial and sport fishing economies, is a clear example of what we have to lose if an uncontrollable well blowout occurs here.
– Alaska Dispatch
More: www.alaskadispatch.com
Halibut charters weighing appeal
More than 300 halibut charter captains disenfranchised by a new limited entry program have until this afternoon to appeal the U.S. District Court's denial of a preliminary injunction.
– Homer News
More: www.homernews.com
China punishes salmon provider
Norway used to be China's top fresh salmon supplier, sending steadily growing volumes to exclusive restaurants in Beijing and Shanghai. But since the Norwegian Nobel Committee gave the Nobel Peace Prize to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, Norwegian salmon exporters say their fish is being held up for days or even weeks by Chinese food safety inspectors — devastating its freshness.
– The Oregonian
More: www.oregonlive.com
Judge gives two years for smelt plan
The federal government will have to rewrite a plan to protect the endangered delta smelt, but it will have two years to submit it.
– San Francisco Chronicle
More: www.sfgate.com
