Monday, May 13, 2013
PRICE GOOD FOR NW TROLL KINGS
"I haven't heard of the price dropping," he said. "It's still around $8."
– Coos Bay World
More: theworldlink.com
Catching crawfish
A crab fisherman for 25 years, Furford is just starting to get his feet wet in the crawfish, or crawdad, game, making a business out of what is typically recognized as a child's hobby.
– Tacoma News Tribune
More: tdn.com
European bycatch
Crucial negotiations in Brussels in the next few days will decide one of the thorniest European environmental issues of the past four decades – the wasteful practice of throwing millions of healthy fish back into the sea each year after they have been caught, because of the way the EU's quotas are managed.
– The Guardian, U.K.
More: guardian.co.uk
Estuaries vital
The report states that more than 75 percent of the nation's commercial fish catch and 80 percent to 90 percent of the recreational fish catch depend on key estuary habitat at some point in their lifecycle.
– Outdoor Life
More: outdoorlife.com
Kenai setnetter strategizes
He'll fish 24 nets this season — Hollier plans to sell a permit and generate revenue to offset the cost of fuel and supplies this year — and of those, he plans to shorten 12 of them, by hand, by himself.
– Kenai Peninsula Clarion
More: peninsulaclarion.com
Good Norton Sound crab season
The 2012-13 Norton Sound winter king crab season ends at noon Wednesday, and boy has it been a good one.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, reporting on his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
Goodbye to hovercraft
It won't be long before the hovercraft is history in Akutan.
– Bristol Bay Times
More: thebristolbaytimes.com
Togiak herring began Saturday
Alaska's largest herring fishery is underway.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
Dumped rockfish
One hundred yelloweye rockfish were floating dead in the area of north Olga Strait.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, reporting on his blog: Deckboss
More: blogspot.com
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
NOAA CHARGES AMERICAN SEAFOODS
On May 8, 2013, American Seafoods Company and the owners and operators of the catcher/processors Ocean Rover and Northern Eagle were charged by NOAA's Office of General Counsel for tampering with the equipment used for weighing Alaska pollock.
– NOAA Fisheries
More: nmfs.noaa.gov
American Seafoods responds
We confirm that we've received two Notices of Violation and Assessments, or NOVAs, proposing civil penalties related to alleged inaccurate flow scale readings on two of our catcher/processor vessels. We are reviewing the NOVAs and related information to better understand the bases for the allegations. American Seafoods takes seriously its commitment to sustainable fishing practices and has cooperated fully with NOAA in investigating these matters. The company intends to respond to the allegations contained in the NOVAs after it has completed its review.
Togiak sac roe fleet
Commercial fishermen in the Togiak Sac Roe Herring Fishery are off to a good start with nearly 5000 tons of herring harvested during the first 2 days of fishing.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
B.C. fish farmer objects
Marine Harvest Canada has issued a statement refuting allegations by an environmental campaigner that the company had transferred diseased fish between sites in B.C.
– FishNewsEU
More: fishnewseu.com
Aleutian eruption
Alaska's most active volcano appears to be erupting.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More: kucb.org
Longer Columbia season?
Washington and Oregon officials are meeting to consider reopening sport and commercial fishing for spring Chinook salmon in the lower Columbia River.
– Vancouver Columbian
More: columbian.com
Protect Bristol Bay, Bering Sea
Sustainable fisheries and a healthy ecosystem have been economic engines for Southwest Alaska for more than 125 years and the foundation of traditional ways of life there for close to 10,000 years.
– Anchorage Daily News
More: adn.com
Canadian Indian in U.S. waters
His boat and catch — around $4,000 worth of Dungeness crab — were seized.
– Vancouver Sun
More: vancouversun.com
Alaska's big buyers
Between 60 and 70 percent of Alaska's seafood is exported to customers around the globe, and the strength of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar plays a big role in annual sales.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, writing in SitNews, Ketchikan
More: sitnews.us
Columbia gulls get a pass
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided that it is not going to continue killing gulls that have been preying on baby Caspian terns at a nesting colony at the mouth of the Columbia River.
– OPB
More: opb.org
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
TOGIAK SEINERS HIT HERRING
Fishermen participating in the annual Togiak sac roe herring fishery have hauled in nearly 8,000 tons of herring during the first three days of fishing.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
Haul out in Dillingham
One of the major fuel suppliers in the Bristol Bay region is looking at expanding to provide a place for large marine vessels to be stored in Dillingham.
– KDLG
More: kdlg.org
Dial back sea lion protection
The National Marine Fisheries Service announced it will consider dialing back commercial fishing restrictions in the western Aleutian Islands that were put in place to protect endangered Steller sea lions.
– The Oregonian
More: oregonlive.com
No dumping of fish
Fisheries minister Richard Benyon said the "reforms" would make discards "a thing of the past."
– BBC
More: bbc.co.uk
Alaska fishermen prepare
The summer harvest season for wild Alaska salmon officially opens tomorrow, May 16, with a projected harvest of 179 million fish.
– ASMI
More: prweb.com
Magnusson-Stevens rewrite
Research suggests that the free-market approach will not only help preserve America's commercial fishing industry but will make it stronger.
– Huffington Post
More: huffingtonpost.com
Two Alaska eruptions
Scientists at the Alaska Volcano Observatory were able to get clear views of two restless volcanoes yesterday.
– KTOO, Juneau
More: ktoo.org
Buyers to Adak
Fish buyers are moving in to fill the void left by the processor.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More: kucb.org
Columbia kings opened
A commercial fishing season on the Columbia River will take place Wednesday, but opening the river to sport fishing will be delayed so fishing can continue into summer without a break.
– The Daily News
More: tdn.com
Fisherman leading ASMI
Alaska fisherman and commercial fisheries activist, Kevin Adams, was elected chairman at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors meeting. Adams was first appointed to fill a harvester seat by Gov. Frank Murkowski in 2004. With 38 years of fishing experience in Bristol Bay, Adams has long been an active member in the Alaska fishing industry. He has worked for both the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and the Bering Sea Fisherman's Association, and represents Alaska fishermen on numerous boards.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
COASTIES TO BRISTOL BAY
The U.S. Coast Guard is also getting ready for the season with safety inspectors scheduled to be in the region later this month and for much of June.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
Bristol Bay jet service to begin
Alaska Airlines' summer service to Dillingham and King Salmon is scheduled to start June 9th.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
Alaska jobs kill
Alaska accounts for about 26 percent of annual fishing-related fatalities, and more than 130 deaths occurred in the state's waters between 2000 and 2009, the most recent year for which NIOSH has released comprehensive data.
– Digital Journal
More: digitaljournal.com
Oregonians begin ocean planning
One month after the While House issued strategies that would coordinate management of the country's oceans, West Coast interests are preparing to interpret the National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan.
– Sustainable Business Oregon
More: sustainablebusinessoregon.com
Be ready for polar-izatin
Arctic nations should move quickly to adopt shipping rules, improve safeguards against oil spills, and create environmental and safety standards in polar waters, according to a new report released from the University of the Arctic's Institute for Applied Circumpolar Policy.
– University of Alaska
More: uafcornerstone.net
Southeast trolling: Good price
Winter king salmon trolling was slow in Southeast Alaska for much of this past year, very slow, but the commercial catch brought sustained, record-high prices.
– KFSK, Petersburg
More: kfsk.org
Fleeing warm water
Fish and other sea life have been heading toward the Earth's poles for more than three decades, a mass migration to cooler waters that provides more evidence of a rapidly warming planet and has repercussions for fish harvests around the globe.
– Anchorage Daily News
More: www.adn.com
Togiak herring
State fishery managers report herring harvesters at Togiak have taken 10,361 tons so far, or about a third of the monster preseason quota of 30,056 tons.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, reporting on his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
New life from downed dams
Two dams along the Elwha River are being removed, bringing a rush of sediment downstream and exposing hundreds of acres of once-submerged land.
– NPR
More: npr.org
Fishing affect birds
The birds' dramatic shift in diet has left scientists pondering the fate of petrels as well as wondering how many other species face similar challenges.
– Bird Watch, U.K.
More: birdwatch.co.uk
New exec for Icicle
Icicle Seafoods announced that Michael Cusack will join Icicle in the role of executive vice president, sales and marketing. Most recently, Cusack served as vice president, sales and marketing for Nissui USA FW Bryce Inc., where he oversaw commodity seafood sales for North America.
– Icicle
Friday, May 17, 2013
'GREATEST FISHERMAN' TO COURT
Dennis Sturgell, 60, whom the San Francisco Chronicle once dubbed the “world’s greatest fisherman” in a 2008 article, is facing charges of unlawful fishing in connection with an incident in San Francisco last fall in which he allegedly possessed more than 54,000 pounds of Dungeness crab.
– San Francisco Examiner
More: www.sfexaminer.com
Iliamna seals endangered?
NOAA Fisheries will conduct a status review to determine if the harbor seals in Iliamna Lake are a distinct population segment of the Pacific harbor seal, and if they are, whether these seals should be listed under the Endangered Species Act.
– NOAA
More: alaskafisheries.noaa.gov
Copper River fish flown out
The first planeload of Copper River salmon from Cordova, Alaska, landed at Sea-Tac Airport, and the Alaska Airlines pilots carried a 40-pound king to waiting chefs.
– KTOO, Juneau
More: ktoo.org
Hired hands in wheelhouse
When Alaska's halibut and sablefish fisheries went to individual fishing quotas in 1995, regulators envisioned predominantly owner-operated fisheries.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, reporting on his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, Copper River opens, Togiak opens, Kodiak is a little slow, and they’re done in Seymour Canal. Plus, why does the largest CDQ group want to get even bigger?
– KMXT, Kodiak
More: kmxt.org
Bristol Bay on Fish Board
A campaign is underway to drum up support for a local Bristol Bay fishermen to be appointed to the Alaska Board of Fisheries.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
Dining well in Seward
Chinooks Restaurant of Seward took first place at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute’s second annual Great Alaska Seafood Cook-off.
– Seward Phoenix Log
More: thesewardphoenixlog.com
NW trollers looking up
The northern coastal nontribal commercial Chinook troll fishery was just starting to see an increase and then a storm blew them off the ocean.
– Seattle Times
More: blogs.seattletimes.com
Good weather in Togiak
The massive Togiak Sac Roe Herring Fishery is rolling right along with nearly half of the total quota already harvested.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org