Monday, August 25, 2014
NEW MINE SOUGHT IN ALASKA
A Canadian company is moving forward with plans for a new rare-earth metals mine at the end of Kendrick Bay on Prince of Wales Island, sending a team to drill and spending millions sampling rock and studying the area.
– Peninsula Clarion
More:peninsulaclarion.com
U.S. official pledges export help
Pritzker's Alaska trip comes as the state's seafood exporters are scrambling to find new markets to fill in the hole left when Russia banned all U.S. seafood imports – a consequence of U.S. economic sanctions on that country because of its involvement in the unrest in Ukraine.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Boom times for Kotzebue
In an industry full of booms and busts, the Kotzebue commercial chum salmon fishery is exploding.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Drilling standards up for review
The U.S. Department of the Interior issued a draft of the country's first minimum standards for oil and gas activity in the Arctic waters off Alaska's shores this week, but interagency review of the process may still take months, Washington reporters write.
– Bristol Bay Times
More:thebristolbaytimes.com
Ibuprofen a headache for fish
Research led by the University of York suggests that many rivers contain levels of ibuprofen that could be adversely affecting fish health.
– Fish Information Services
More:fis.com
Weighing in on B.C. mine spill
As the new reality of life near the Mount Polley Mine set in, The Province set out to talk to those most impacted by the spill — the ordinary people who call the area home.
– Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
'Stunning rebound' for B.C. river
The return, estimated so far at around 800,000, looks like an unofficial record, a stunning rebound for a river system struggling with habitat loss to hydroelectric dams, industrial development, and urban modifications to its riparian zones, the critical estuary and surrounding watersheds.
– Vancouver Sun
More:vancouversun.com
Coast Guard in Togiak area rescue
The Coast Guard responded to seven passengers experiencing rough seas aboard the 29-foot fishing vessel Analise off Rocky Point on the east side of Togiak Bay, Saturday.
– U.S. Coast Guard
More:d17.uscgnews.com
Opinion: Astoria tariff's a folly
No port at the mouth of the Columbia River or the largest ports on the Oregon Coast has a seafood tariff. Not Ilwaco, not Newport, not Coos Bay. Why then would the Port of Astoria Commission consider burdening its seafood processor tenants with a new fee? Why would the Port choose to make itself less competitive?
– Daily Astorian
More:dailyastorian.com
End of the season for Bristol Bay
The last buyer for pinks and silvers in the Nushagak District ceased operations on Friday, signaling the end of commercial fishing in the major districts of Bristol Bay's salmon fishery.
– Bristol Bay Times
More:thebristolbaytimes.com
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
ALASKA PROBES CHINOOK DECLINE
The ambitious effort marks the start of a state-backed five year, $30 million Chinook Salmon Research Initiative that includes 12 major river systems from Southeast Alaska to the Yukon.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, writing for The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
Feds OK Klamath water release
Just three days after hundreds of Native Americans and activists protested outside the Bureau of Reclamation's regional headquarters in Sacramento, the federal agency announced Friday that it will release extra water from the Trinity River reservoir to prevent a massive salmon-kill in the Lower Klamath River.
– Del Norte Triplicate
More:triplicate.com
Sea star comeback
With a wasting disease decimating populations of sea stars across the West Coast, local marine researchers are finding some solace in large numbers of returning juveniles making their way back to the coastline.
– Times-Standard
More:times-standard.com
Alaska wants say on B.C. mine
The state of Alaska is requesting to be involved with Canadian approval of a proposed copper and gold mine across the border in British Columbia.
– KFSK
More:kfsk.org
Post-divorce IFQ dispute
Here's an interesting opinion from the Alaska Supreme Court in a case involving a marital dispute over individual fishing quota.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More:deckboss.blogspot.com
Kobuk die-off's culprit: algae
Unusually warm weather could have led to the die-off of hundreds of chum salmon on the Kobuk River in Northwest Alaska, officials say.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Tongass timber sale challenged
A coalition of conservation groups filed suit Friday challenging the U.S. Forest Service decision to approve the Big Thorne timber sale on Prince of Wales Island.
– Sitnews
More:sitnews.us
Canned tuna warning contradicts FDA
A new analysis from Consumer Reports states pregnant women should avoid all canned tuna, considering the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "underestimates the actual amount of mercury in each can." Despite this concern, the FDA stands by their recommendation.
– Fish Information Services
More:fis.com
Value of OR fisheries touted
The state's wildlife chief says fisheries are one of the top economic drivers on the Oregon Coast.
– The Worldlink
More:theworldlink.com
Avoiding seafood toxins a challenge
As the recent Chilean sea bass and other studies show, though, it's near impossible for consumers to know what species they're actually eating — and, therefore, to avoid high-mercury fish.
– Quartz
More:qz.com
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
SEAFOOD COLD WAR
Alaska's congressional delegation is pressing for a quick resolution to the country's seafood standoff with Russia.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Lauren Rosenthal, reporting for KUCB
More:kucb.org
Blows to B.C. mining
Signs continue to mount that the modest rebound that Canada's mining sector had been experiencing has been knocked off the rails by the blowout of the tailings dam at Imperial Metal's Mount Polley Mine and the Supreme Court of Canada's Tsilhqot'in decision on land title.
– Vancouver Sun
More:vancouversun.com
Culture versus conservation
When a group of rural Alaska fishermen along the Kuskokwim River violated a chinook salmon fishery closure in 2012, they argued that their right to fish stemmed, in part, from deeply held spiritual and cultural beliefs. But did practicing those beliefs trump conservation of the fish, which were coming back in increasingly small numbers along the river?
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Columbia's seine season starts
Seines are on the mainstem of the Columbia River, catching salmon, selling salmon and, in nearly all ways, acting like a normal commercial fishery.
– Chinook Observer
More:chinookobserver.com
Fisherman injured in winch
Kodiak Fire Department rescue personnel were called to Pier 2 Monday afternoon in response to an injury to a fisherman aboard the FV Provider.
– KMXT
More:kmxt.org
Homer poised for major dock work
Homer's Port and Harbor begins renovations in the coming weeks to replace icy tide-torn floats accessed by A float from E to K, a project that displaces dozens of boats for a short space of time.
– Homer Tribune
More:homertribune.com
Lawsuit targets Klamath water releases
Agricultural water providers in the Central Valley of California asked a federal judge to stop releases of extra water intended to help salmon in the Klamath Basin survive the drought.
– Times-Standard
More:times-standard.com
Fatality on NZ trawler
A Nelson man has died after being struck by a wire on a commercial fishing vessel on the Pacific Ocean.
– New Zealand Herald
More:nzherald.co.nz
Fishing in the sewer
You've heard of deep sea fishing? Well how about deep sewer fishing?
Kyle Naegeli catches fish in his neighborhood's sewer system.
– KVUE
More:kvue.com
Weird sea creature of the month:
the 'red blob'
With its bright red colouring, no limbs, eyes or a mouth, the frilly beach blob has left locals baffled.
– The Mirror
More:mirror.co.uk
Thursday, August 28, 2014
ARCTIC BALANCING ACT
The Alaska Arctic Commission is trying to balance far-reaching goals — from development and energy to international cooperation — to more immediate needs like ports, plumbing, and building strong rural economics and infrastructure for rural communities.
– KCAW
More:alaskapublic.org
Import ban snubs Pacific hake
More than 1000 metric tons of Pacific Hake is unable to be shipped to Russia due to the country's import ban and other countries are bidding low for the inventories.
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
B.C. spill sediment clouds water
A plume of sediment deposited in Quesnel Lake by the collapse of Imperial Metals' Mount Polley mine tailings dam is changing water quality as it shifts, according to the Interior Health Authority.
– Vancouver Sun
More:vancouversun.com
Judge affirms Klamath water releases
A federal judge on Wednesday denied a request by irrigation suppliers in California's Central Valley to stop emergency water releases ordered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that are intended to prevent another fish kill on the Klamath River.
– Times-Standard
More:times-standard.com
Seeking innovation in Seattle
A Northumbrian salmon netsman and a UK seabird expert are being sent to Seattle to witness innovative bird conservation measures in Washington State's salmon fishing grounds.
– Fish News EU
More:fishnewseu.com
Crabbers lobby for Russian import ban
An Alaska crab fishing group is calling for President Obama to ban imports of seafood from Russia.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Nushagak pink, silver seasons end
The commercial fishery for pink and silver salmon in the Nushagak District is done for the season. KDLG's Mike Mason checked in with Fish and Game for the final numbers.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Fisheries debate in Kodiak
As one of the largest fishing ports in the nation, it only makes sense that Kodiak would host a gubernatorial debate focused solely on the seafood industry.
– KMXT
More:kmxt.org
Opinion: Agency's failing on bycatch
Mr. Olson says: "In 2012, the council acted to reduce the amount of halibut that could be taken as bycatch in the Gulf of Alaska trawl and longline fisheries to provide additional halibut for directed fisheries and for conservation purposes." What he does not say is that the council, which he chaired, also reduced observer coverage on trawlers from 30 percent to 15 percent.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Morro Bay docks opened for fish sales
The Morro Bay City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to allow fishermen to congregate to sell their fish from tie-ups at the harbor's public-use docks.
– The Tribune
More:sanluisobispo.com
Friday, August 29, 2014
SHELL OIL SEEKS ARCTIC PROBE
Shell Oil took its first step toward returning to the Arctic on Thursday morning. The company filed a new plan to explore the Chukchi Sea with federal regulators in Anchorage.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Lauren Rosenthal, reporting for KUCB
More:kucb.org
Alaska salmon catch exceeds forecast
Alaska's commercial salmon catch continues to climb, with an estimated 143.9 million caught statewide through Aug. 26 according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. That surpasses the department's preseason commercial harvest forecast of 132 million salmon.
– Alaska Journal of Commerce
More:alaskajournal.com
Learn vessel electronics online
To help operators better understand the multitude of electrical systems aboard today's marine vessels and to deliver training statewide, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program has teamed with UA Southeast Sitka Campus to offer an online boat electrical course.
– Sitnews
More:sitnews.us
Bristol Bay's got halibut
Bristol Bay is famous for its massive salmon and herring fisheries. However, the region can boast another commercial fishery that's much smaller in size and scale.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, Alaskan fishermen respond to Russia's seafood ban; Alaska's part of the Yukon River king salmon is over, but what is Canada's management plan? All that, and where people go when they're stranded in a fishing town.
– KMXT
More:kmxt.org
Fishing tradition waning in NE
Many fear the rich tradition of "inter-generational fishing" — the once-common trend of fishermen spawning fishermen from their offspring — is nearing the point of extinction.
– Southcoast Business Bulletin
More:southcoasttoday.com
CA water tunnels delayed
Plans for two huge water diversion tunnels in the Delta are being delayed, state officials announced Wednesday, because the plans need more work.
– Sacramento Bee
More:sacbee.com
Kenai lobbies for BOF meeting
Municipalities across the Kenai Peninsula are slated to consider asking the Alaska Board of Fisheries hold the 2017 Upper Cook Inlet Finfish meetings on the Kenai Peninsula.
– Peninsula Clarion
More:peninsulaclarion.com
Expansion of MPAs recommended
A new study reports that an expansion of marine protected areas is needed to protect fish species that perform key ecological functions.
– Phys.org
More:phys.org
'Fish listeners' track by ear
Mr. Muhammad is one of Malaysia's last 'fish listeners,' and he and his apprentice son Zuraini are believed to be the only active practitioners of this mysterious and dying local art.
– Mail Online
More:dailymail.co.uk
