Monday, May 19, 2014
COPPER RIVER SLOW
Thursday's 12-hour season opener at the Copper River produced an estimated catch of 27,700 sockeye salmon and 1,000 Chinook, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game reports.
– Pacific Fishing columnist
Wesley Loy, writing in his blog, Deckboss
More:deckboss.blogspot.com
Good news for fish exporters
The dollar fell to its lowest in more than three months against the yen on Monday, pressured by a drop in U.S. Treasury yields that may be due to persistent uncertainty about U.S. economic growth prospects.
– Reuters
More:reuters.com
Inlet arguments later in May
Oral argument in the lawsuit over 2013 Cook Inlet commercial fisheries management was scheduled for later in May at a trial setting conference in Anchorage on Friday.
– Kenai Peninsula Clarion
More:peninsulaclarion.com
Raising shrimp in Alberta
In an area known for ranching, Pincher Creek residents might able to add fresh, locally raised surf to their menu.
– Picher Creek (Alberta) Echo
More:pinchercreekecho.com
Bumble Bee to move
Bumble Bee CEO Chris Lischewski talked with me about the company's new headquarters in the old Showley Bros. Candy Factory building.
– Voice of San Diego
More:voiceofsandiego.org
B.C. transborder mines
A mining boom in northwest British Columbia is a matter of growing concern for commercial fish harvesters in Southeast Alaska and the Western Mining Action Network, who worry about adverse affects to clean water and healthy fisheries.
– Cordova Times
More:thecordovatimes.com
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, reports from NOAA bring good news about America's fisheries, attention in Bristol Bay turns from herring to salmon. All that, and yes, another reality show set in Alaska, coming up on the Alaska Fisheries Report.
– KMXT, Kodiak
Morekmxt.org
Dillingham oil spill spreads
The diesel fuel spill in the Nushagak River on Wednesday is starting to impact Dillingham area beaches and a clean-up plan is in the works.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More:kdlg.org
MSC merry-go-round
A notice posted May 6 on the MSC website said PSVOA "has withdrawn as the MSC client for this fishery."
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog, Deckboss
More:deckboss.blogspot.com
Studying value of fishing
The debate over which sector — commercial or recreational fishing — provides the bigger economic punch can finally be put to rest.
— Homer Tribune
More:homertribune.com
Letter to the Editor
Which sector converts wild fish into greater regional economic impacts? There has much consternation about the new NOAA economics report which shows that the U.S. commercial fishing industry economic contributions are larger than the U.S. recreational industry economic contributions.
More:Pacific Fishing Useful Links (scroll down to the bottom right column)
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
ILLEGAL CRABBING ARRESTS
The charges against Aron Steinback, 34 from Bay City, and Thomas White, 30 of Nehalem, follows an investigation by Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division and the seizure of more than 150 illegal crab pots earlier this month.
– The Oregonian
More:oregonlive.com
Eating (fish) locally
In a world where most commodities travel the span of the globe before making it the locations where they're intended to be sold, more and more people are becoming aware about where the things they buy are coming from and making the deliberate choice to shop – and eat – locally.
– Grays Harbor Talk
More:graysharbortalk.com
Everett port history dedicated
The Port of Everett plans to dedicate its historical interpretative displays that line the waterfront's four miles of trails at a ceremony at the port's Waterfront Center at 1205 Craftsman Way.
– Everett Herald
More:heraldnet.com
Icelandic cod to China
One of the world's key seafood processing and marketing firms is getting ready to launch products for Chinese consumers.
– Seafood Source
More:seafoodsource.com
Ocean Beauty invests for future
"We are investing in Cordova at a level that is worthy of the long-term and that is a vote of confidence for the region."
– Seafood Source
More:seafoodsource.com
Another hit on trawling
Deep-sea trawling may have "devastating consequences" for marine life, suggests a study of a Mediterranean sea canyon.
– National Geographic
More:nationalgeographic.com
Fish farming caviar
At BLK-Fish's farm in Lake Imandra on the Kola Peninsula, harvesting of sturgeon roe for production of black caviar is well underway.
– Barents Observer, Norway
More:barentsobserver.com
U.S. unfocused on Arctic council
A report released Monday from the Government Accountability Office suggests U.S. participation in the Arctic Council lacks coordination and follow-through.
– Alaska Public Media
More:alaskapublic.org
Heat waste restricted
The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled new standards aimed at reducing the billions of fish, crabs and shrimp killed by cooling water systems at power plants and factories each year.
– The (Coos Bay) World
More:theworldlink.com
Opposition to Senate salmon bill
The Drought bill, S. 2198 is expected to be taken up on the Senate floor as early as today (Tuesday).
– Zeke Grader
More:Pacific Fishing Useful Links
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
MORE FUKUSHIMA DUMPING
Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), the beleaguered operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, said that they have already started dumping groundwater into the Pacific Ocean after it met the safety criteria set.
– Japan Daily Press
More:japandailypress.com
Tribes on Columbia fish
Leaders from the Umatilla, Yakama, Warm Springs, and Nez Perce tribes announced the opening of a two-night commercial gillnet fishery that will bring ample amounts of fresh spring Chinook to the salmon-loving public just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
– Salem Statesman Journal
More:statesmanjournal.com
Copper River over-hyped?
Jon Rowley remembers well the days when the Copper River king ended up frozen for export to Japan or canned, fetching mere pennies — certainly nowhere near the $65 the celebrated fish hooked Friday evening at Ray's Boathouse.
– Seattle Weekly
More:seattleweekly.com
Call for more farms
A compelling case can be made for growing more seafood in the U.S.
– Seafood Source
More:seafoodsource.com
Testing drones for ocean observation
NOAA will conduct a test project May 20, 2014 of the PUMA Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for use in ocean monitoring and environmental research.
– Saving Seafood
More:savingseafood.org
Sweet Arctic deal for China
President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have signed a joint statement on a new stage of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
— Barents Observer, Norway
More:barentsobserver.com
Re-floating Arctic Hunter
It's been more than six months since the F/V Arctic Hunter went aground outside Unalaska.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More:kucb.org
Kenai fire still alive
A 7,000 acre wildfire continues to burn on the central Kenai Peninsula.
– KUCB, Unalaska
More:alaskapublic.org
Candidate pounds chest on fisheries
Catch Mead Treadwell's column here.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog, Deckboss
More:deckboss.blogspot.com
B.C. glaciers dying
The mountains of British Columbia cradle glaciers that have scored the landscape over millenia, shaping the rugged West Coast since long before it was the West Coast.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Yakamas oppose coal port
Yakama Nation tribal members took to the Columbia River Tuesday to protest a proposed coal export facility in eastern Oregon.
– Daily Astorian
More:dailyastorian.com
Thursday, May 22, 2014
PROBATION FOR WEED GROWER
A suspected Lake County marijuana grower has been sentenced to three years of probation for building a road through a stream in a rural subdivision near Clearlake Oaks.
– Press Democrat, Santa Rosa
More: pressdemocrat.com
Fish need trees
As a resident of Sitka, in southeast Alaska, I've worked in the local commercial fishing industry on and off for the past 17 years.
– New York Times
More: www.nytimes.com
Guides on halibut negotiating team
Southeast Alaska's sport fishing guides have taken a more active role in the management of their industry, easing tensions with the commercial fishing sector.
– KCAW, Sitka
More: kcaw.org
Natives have no say on pipeline
An administrative law judge has rejected claims that 19th century treaties give American Indians a say in choosing a route for a new crude oil pipeline across northern Minnesota.
– Star Tribne, Minnesota
More: startribune.com
Kake hatchery to close
Kake's Gunnuk Creek Hatchery will be closing in a little more than a month, something Kake residents and leaders say is a calamity for the town's economy and access to fish.
– Capitol City Weekly, Alaska
More: capitalcityweekly.com
Alaska drought
"To date we have had 0.31 inches of precipitation this month."
– KMXT, Kodiak
More: kmxt.org
Safety on Bristol Bay
Commercial fishermen in Bristol Bay are eligible to take some free safety training in the region later this month and in early June.
– KDLG, Dillingham
More: kdlg.org
Vancouver Island glaciers disappearing
All Vancouver Island glaciers, including the iconic Comox glacier, will be gone within 25 years due to climate change.
– Victoria Times Colonist
More: timescolonist.com
Klamath bill introduced
Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say they've introduced promised legislation based on an agreement last month over water in the Upper Klamath Basin.
– Oregon Public Radio
More: opb.org
Commercial fishing movie
A short documentary film "In the Same Boat" will be playing at this year's Seattle International Film Festival. It was created by Alaska fisherman Elijah Lawson. The film will be opening for a local film starring salmon advocate and actor Tom Skerritt and restauranteur Tom Douglas. The film plays on June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Uptown Theatre and June 7 at 1 p.m. at Pacific Place. On the evening of June 4, after the film, there will be a celebration at Havana's, 1010 E Pike St., Seattle. When looking for tickets, look for "The Breach" as the title. "Boat" will be opening for this film.
More: Email Elijah Lawson at elijah@prophet-productions.com
Friday, May 23, 2014
KENAI KINGS LATE
Warmer-than-usual water temperatures lured the salmon of Alaska back a little early this year.
– Anchorage Daily News
More:www.adn.com
Act needs halibut changes
This year the Magnuson Stevens Act will be reauthorized by Congress. The MSA is the law by which the National Marine Fisheries Service and the North Pacific Fisheries Council manage the federal fisheries off of Alaska.
– Anchorage Daily News
More:www.alaskadispatch.com
Fighting higher sea levels
The more greenhouse gases we emit, the bigger the rise, but we've already locked in at least some sea-level increase, no matter what.
– Vox
More:www.vox.com
Pebble guys fight EPA
Today, the mining company behind the giant Pebble Mine – a colossal gold and copper mine proposed at the headwaters of Bristol Bay’s famous salmon runs – challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fundamental authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act after EPA announced last February that it would take the first step in the regulatory process to protect Bristol Bay from large-scale mining in the region.
– Switchboard, Natural Resource Defense Council
More:switchboard.nrdc.org
Word from Pebble foes
Today’s lawsuit from the Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) comes as no surprise. This is more of the same from a company with no mining experience and a bad project. Instead of working with the EPA or submitting its long-awaited official permit applications, Pebble has chosen to file a Hail Mary lawsuit in hopes of further delaying EPA's public process.
– Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association
More:thehill.com
Bill against frankenfish
"We’re not talking about genetically engineered corn or something else that is grown; we are talking about a species that moves, that migrates, that breeds."
– Food Safety News
More:www.foodsafetynews.com
Arctic melt to leave mess
A new study has found plastic debris in a surprising location: trapped in Arctic sea ice. As the ice melts, it could release a flood of floating plastic onto the world.
–Barents Observer, Norway
More:barentsobserver.com
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, Copper River is off to a lukewarm start, there’s a new client organization for MSC certification for Alaska salmon, and Petersburg has a shiny new harbor. All that and more, coming up on the Alaska Fisheries Report.
– KMXT, Kodiak
More:www.kmxt.org
Tracking fish back to you
Some diners in St. John's will soon be able to trace their fish dish back to where it was caught with the use of a mobile website that tracks who caught the fish and where.
—CBC, Vancouver
More:www.cbc.ca
NW crabbers untangle whale
Karl Peek, skipper of the commercial crabbing vessel Pacific Girl, was heading out of Grays Harbor with his crew in the morning to check gear May 6 when they saw a young humpback, nearly 40 feet long, resting on the surface of the water.
– Daily Astorian
More:www.dailyastorian.com
Protecting whales
The National Marine Fisheries Service issued a new rule regarding the drift gillnet fishery for swordfish off the West Coast. This new rule extends through Aug. 5 temporary regulations that expired at the end of January. Those regulations require 100 percent observer coverage in waters deeper than 1,100 fathoms (2,012 meters). The emergency rule also establishes an enforceable cap that would shut down the fishery for the remainder of the season if a sperm whale is killed or seriously injured in a drift gillnet.
– Pew Trust
More:www.gpo.gov
