Monday, June 28, 2010
Genetically altered salmon for dinner?
The Food and Drug Administration is seriously considering whether to approve the first genetically engineered animal that people would eat – salmon that can grow at twice the normal rate.
– New York Times
More:www.nytimes.com
$42.95 a pound retail
Commercial fishing opens tonight on Alaska's Yukon River, with a few highly coveted Chinook salmon expected at the docks along with the more abundant chums.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, on his Deckboss blog
Alaska governor signs two fish bills into law
One law is designed to help commercial fishermen who are hurt or fall ill while working. The other extends a tax break for the salmon industry.
– Deckboss
Cantwell continues fight to block move of NOAA ships
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., escalated the war of words over moving the NOAA Pacific research fleet to Newport by sharply criticizing Commerce Secretary Gary Locke during a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee last week.
– Newport, Ore., News-Times
More conflict erupts over Adak plant
The city of Adak is suing to recover nearly $429,000 in unpaid utility bills.
– Deckboss
Tribal fishermen risk lives on Columbia
Bobby Walachumwah and LeeLynn George are among roughly 200 Yakama tribal fishermen who are more than willing to take on rough waters and bad weather to practice their treaty fishing rights. Over the past decade, at least 11 Yakamas have died while fishing commercially on the Columbia River.
– Yakima Herald-Republic
Fishermen challenge California groundwater pumping
The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations has sued to stop depletion of the Scott River and help dwindling coho runs.
– The Record Searchlight of Redding, Calif.
More:www.redding.com
Debating Fraser River salmon sustainability
A Marine Stewardship Council executive rebuts an environmental group's "inaccuracies" on the process for potentially certifying Fraser sockeye as a sustainable fishery.
– The Huffington Post
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Transition to closed-containment salmon farms, MP says
New fish-farming legislation could save B.C.'s wild salmon stocks without devastating the province's aquaculture industry, New Democrat MP Fin Donnelly said yesterday. With a word from William Shatner.
– Metro Vancouver
More:www.metronews.ca
It's not all about salmon this summer in Alaska
Fishermen in Norton Sound are chasing red king crab, while Southeast crabbers are going after Dungeness.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing on his Deckboss blog
Oregon, California salmon get 'avoid' label
The Monterey Bay Aquarium's popular "Seafood Watch" guide is advising shoppers and commercial fish buyers to avoid wild-caught salmon from Oregon and California, saying the population of salmon that originates in the Sacramento River and migrates into Oregon waters is too depleted to eat.
– The Oregonian
More:www.oregonlive.com
Favored California fisherman hit with big fine
Bolinas fisherman Josh Churchman, named as a volunteer of the year in 2009 for his work with NOAA, now finds himself facing a $35,786 fine from the agency on an allegation of fishing where he wasn't supposed to.
– Marin Independent Journal
More:www.marinij.com
California targets abalone poachers
Commercial fishing for wild abalone has been banned since 1997, but the harvest continues.
– California Department of Fish and Game news release
More:www.dfg.ca.gov
Why fish came ashore
A new study in the journal Nature reports that a genetic defect in certain fish may have stunted fin growth and led to the development of limbs and the emergence of land dwelling creatures.
– The New York Times
More:www.nytimes.com
Cordova's cutter heads to oil spill zone
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Sycamore, a 225-foot sea-going buoy tender homeported in Cordova, Alaska, has been deployed to support cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico.
– U.S. Coast Guard press release
More:www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com
Mercury risk greater in saltwater fish
A new study suggests that humans need to be more wary of saltwater fish like tuna, mackerel and sharks than of freshwater fish when it comes to mercury.
– The New York Times
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Bristol Bay salmon have yet to hit
Only 361,000 sockeye – and 2,000 Chinook – have been taken in Bristol Bay so far, most in the Egegik District.
– ADF&G Blue Sheet
More:www.csfish.com
France shuns insecticide-tainted farmed salmon
TV coverage of the topic "Risks on a Plate" on last Monday night’s "Exhibits" programme on France 3 revealed that most fish meat on the French market does not meet toxicity safety standards.
– The Foreigner
More:www.theforeigner.no.com
B.C. now mum on salmon insecticide records
Despite losing a six-year battle earlier this year, B.C.'s Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has pulled an about-face and is once again attempting to block sea-lice infestation records from being made public, environmental groups said yesterday.
– Times Colonist, Victoria
More:www.timescolonist.com
No opener on Columbia sockeye
The higher-than-expected sockeye counts at the dam in recent days were not high enough, however, to allow the non-tribal commercial fleet a shot at the burgeoning run.
– Chinook, Wash., Observer
More:www.chinookobserver.com
Free lunch … for whales
Commercial fisherman Dave Boyes has pulled up his lines to find nothing but the shredded remains of a fish head often enough to know that whales are big fans of a free lunch.
– Canadian Press
More:www.westcoaster.ca
Yech! Salmon vodka
Since the dawn of time, anyone who wanted to drink vodka and eat smoked salmon in the same mouthful was forced to chew on a piece of fish, take a shot and sort of swish it around, all the while cursing the sky and screaming for the day when someone, somewhere, could end his misery.
– AOL News
More:www.aolnews.com
Greenpeace hits Costco over seafood
Greenpeace Canada campaigners demonstrated in front of a Costco wholesale supermarket in downtown Vancouver Tuesday morning to raise awareness of red list seafood.
– Vancouver Sun
More:www.vancouversun.com
Oregon salmon group disputes enviro stance
Oregon Salmon Commission executive director Nancy Fitzpatrick called the recommendation to avoid wild-caught Oregon salmon "irresponsible."
– KGW, Portland
More:www.kgw.com
Alaska seafood processor fined
Highland Light Seafoods LLC, an Alaskan seafood processor headquartered in Seattle, has agreed to pay a $135,000 penalty to settle federal Clean Water Act violations, according to an EPA order.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More:deckboss.blogspot.com
Washington seafood processor fined
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with Pacific Seafood Group for its alleged failure to report the release of ammonia from the company's warehouse and distribution center in Mukilteo, Wash., in a timely manner.
– Juneau Empire
More:www.juneauempire.com
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Genetically altered salmon for dinner?
The Food and Drug Administration is seriously considering whether to approve the first genetically engineered animal that people would eat – salmon that can grow at twice the normal rate.
– New York Times
More:www.nytimes.com
Editorial hits Monterey Aquarium's fish advice
And it's pretty lame for Seafood Watch researchers to blame their failure to distinguish Oregon salmon runs on the small size of their pocket guide.
– The Oregonian
More:www.oregonlive.com
Pebble Mine study takes another step
Lobbying will shift from the statehouse to the legislative council after Gov. Sean Parnell approved a third-party study of the Pebble mine project.
– Peninsula Clarion
More:www.peninsulaclarion.com
Yukon chum arriving in stength
Kwik'pak Fisheries, the major buyer of salmon on the Lower Yukon River, says all signs point to one of the strongest keta (chum) runs in years, says Kwik'pak's General Manager, Jack Schultheis.
– Kwik'pak press release
More:www.kwikpakfisheries.com
Oops!
In haste or simple stupidity, your editor used an old version of the ADF&G's Blue Sheet yesterday, one announcing that only 3 million sockeye had been caught in Bristol Bay. Trouble was, the sheet we used was nearly a week old. Our reserve Fish Wrapper Wesley Loy pointed out our mistake, but we'd already done our damage.
For a timely, and more encouraging, look at the Bristol Bay fishery, click: www.csfish.adfg.state.ak.us.
Port Moller updates now available
The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association is posting all Port Moller test fishery results on the association's website.
Click:www.bbrsda.com
Suit filed over deadly California collision
A covey of fishing vessels trolling for salmon in the fog. Afternoon, July 13, 2007, M/V Eva Danielsen departs San Francisco loaded with cargo destined for Portland. The Eva Danielsen is 291 feet in length and has a dead weight of 4,286 tons.
– Leagle.com
More:www.leagle.com
Cordova considers new Travelift
Members of City Council discussed an ambitious vision for expansion of Cordova's new boat haulout to create a shipyard area comprised of industrial and commercial businesses.
– Cordova Times
More:www.thecordovatimes.com
Fishermen honored for saving lives
The captain, crew and vessel owner of the Patricia Lee were recognized for their heroic efforts assisting the Coast Guard in the rescue of the crew from the fishing vessel Katmai that sank Oct. 22, 2008, near Amchitka Island.
– Dutch Harbor Fisherman
More:www.thedutchharborfisherman.com
Charleston ice dock may hold
The Charleston Marina ice dock may be in better condition than previously thought, an expert told port officials Tuesday.
– Coos Bay World
More:www.theworldlink.com
Friday, July 2, 2010
Report highlights NOAA financial abuses
Tens of millions in fines levied against U.S. commercial fishermen held in an unrecorded account were used by the fisheries law enforcement division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to fuel extravagant purchases and foreign travel, according to a forensic audit for a U.S. inspector general made public Thursday.
– Gloucester (Mass.) Times
Whole Foods Market to promote NW tuna
Whole Foods Market partnered with the Western Fishboat Owners Association (WFOA) to promote Northwest albacore throughout August.
– WFOA press release
More:www.naturalproductsmarketplace.com
SE trollers in first summer opening
Southeast salmon trollers headed out Thursday for the first major king opener of the summer. The fleet is expected to target just over 78,000 kings in roughly one week of fishing.
– KCAW, Sitka
More:www.kcaw.org
Magazine notes Alaska salmon management
"When it comes to salmon, Alaska is a little like a wise old man sitting on a far northern perch overlooking the destruction that humanity has wrought farther south."
–The Atlantic magazine
More:www.theatlantic.com
Columbia River fishing dangerous for Indians
From their 16-foot fiberglass boat, Bobby Walachumwah and LeeLynn George reached into the Columbia River and began pulling in a 150-foot-long gill net.
– Indian Country Today
More:www.indiancountrytoday.com
Sea mammals hurt by El Nino
With sea mammals crowding the North Coast Marine Mammal Center's pens, the El Niño climate pattern continues to disrupt sea life on Crescent City's coast.
– Crescent City Triplicate
More:www.triplicate.com
Cal Indians object at protected area hearing
Members of the Marine Life Protection Act science advisory team opened a public comment session at its meeting in Eureka after a group of Native American tribal members protested the MLPA process.
– Eureka Times-Standard
More:www.times-standard.com
Pondering a fisherman's epitaph
In the wake of the death of Captain Phil Harris, I was asked the other day about how my epitaph will read.
– Fisherman and author Linda Greenlaw, writing in the Wall Street Journal
More:www.blogs.wsj.com
Some canned tuna recalled
Tri-Union Seafoods of San Diego is issuing a precautionary, voluntary recall of a limited amount of Chicken of the Sea brand 12-ounce solid white tuna in water.
– FDA press release
More:www.fda.gov
True independence
Fish Wrap will not appear on Monday. Our crack team of editors will take the day off to observe the day after Independence Day. See you on Tuesday.
