Monday, October 20, 2014
DISASTER ASSISTANCE PAYOUTS BEGIN
Friday marked the release of $7.5 million in federal disaster assistance for commercial fishermen affected by the 2012 failure of the Chinook salmon in the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and Cook Inlet.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Crab shares more affordable
Crabbers have devised a way to recruit young entrants into the Bering Sea fisheries. They want to get the word out, because the 'graying of the fleet' also applies to them.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Seafood Watch list debated
Despite Seafood Watch's longtime role as a leader in ocean sustainability, some Bay Area seafood purveyors don't agree with the new recommendations. The controversy around these fish demonstrates how complicated commercial fishing is — and why there's a need for such a list in the first place.
– SFGate
More:sfgate.com
Feds announce Arctic fisheries protection
The federal government announced a new Arctic fisheries management that will protect a large area of Canada's Beaufort Sea from large-scale commercial fishing and ensure a sustainable resource for local communities.
– Fish Information and Services
More:fis.com
Medical-related death at sea
An Unalaska-based fishing vessel lost a crew member this week after a medical emergency on the water.
– KUCB
More:kucb.org
Disabled Russian ship docks at B.C. port
A Russian cargo ship that was adrift off the British Columbia coast after a power outage has docked in Prince Rupert.
– Vancouver Sun
More:vancouversun.com
Winter crab season poised to start
This week marks the opening of Alaska's 2014-2015 winter king and snow crab season. Alaska's crab fishermen will take to Alaska's icy waters to bring delicious and succulent Alaska king and snow crab to markets around the world.
– Fish Information and Services
More:fis.com
B.C. fisherman supports fish farming
Port Hardy's James Walkus is not apologetic about his big new $9-million transporter boat being involved in the fish farming industry. "I believe it needs to be," said Walkus, 75, of fish farming. "Our wild fishery won't support the supply and demand.
– Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
GULF WARMING TRACKED
Scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks have been studying the waters in the Gulf of Alaska and found that the warmer than normal temperatures are averaging one to five degrees warmer than the September average of 55-57 degrees Fahrenheit.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Fatalities in B.C. vessel rollover
The sole survivor of a fishing accident early Saturday morning told his boss that he managed to climb over the boat's railing as it rolled over and he thinks his crewmates, who are presumed drowned, became trapped in the lower level of the boat.
– Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Russian vessel incident sparks debate
The vessel was carrying hundreds of tonnes of fuel when it lost power Thursday, sparking concerns it would create an environmental disaster if it ran aground, and prompting concern from New Democrats and Liberals over the prospect of a dramatic increase in supertankers plying the same waters.
– Vancouver Sun
More:vancouversun.com
Injured crewman medevaced
A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter yesterday hoisted an injured crewman off the fishing vessel Icy Mist about 150 miles southeast of Sand Point.
– Pacific Fishing Editor Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More:deckboss.blogspot.com
Alaska saw lower peak season salmon prices
Every four months Alaska processors provide price reports for how much they sold various salmon products at wholesale by region. For the peak of the season from May through August, most prices were lower than at the same time last year.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Low chum harvests affect market
The chum salmon market is puzzling buyers globally this season as harvests are lower than expected.
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
Herring biomass predicted to grow
The forecasted biomass for next year is 163.4-thousand tons. That's up from this year's forecasted biomass of 157.4-thousand tons. The total allowable harvest of the Togiak herring biomass is set at 20-percent, which equals out to 32.6-thousand tons.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Celebrating Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal
The terminal is the largest commercial moorage facility on the West Coast — and the only freshwater one. The boats you see heading there from the locks are all of the commercial fishing fleet of Washington, Oregon and even Alaska, dropping off their hauls, and using the incredibly complex array of facilities.
– Seattle Refined
More:komonews.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
CAPTAIN REMEMBERED AS A 'HERO'
The father of the captain of the fishing vessel that sank off Campbell River said his son died a hero, trying to save his crewmates.
– Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Fisheries reporter to leave Bristol Bay
Many will remember Mason as a fisheries reporter, carrying the torch of others gone before him.
– Bristol Bay Times
More:thebristolbaytimes.com
Ocean predators in steep decline
Consumers prefer predatory fish like grouper, tuna, swordfish and sharks to species lower on the food chain such as anchovies and sardines, providing strong incentives for fishermen to catch the bigger fish.
– Scientific American
More:scientificamerican.com
Coho comeback for urban creek
In the greenbelt behind the Providence Alaska Medical Center, where Chester Creek was left intact and undisturbed within its natural channel, coho salmon seemed to be everywhere.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Congressional candidate vows to protect MSA
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act governs harvests in federal waters. Some political observers say it could be altered, if the November election changes the balance of power in Congress.
– KCAW
More:kcaw.org
U.S. customs pressured to step up seafood
In light of shrimp shipments which were recently rejected by the European Union for containing excessive antibiotics, US Senator Mary L. Landrieu, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, called on US Customs and Border Protection to increase inspections of foreign seafood coming into the US.
– Fish Information and Services
More:fis.com
Drill conductor course in OR
The U.S. Coast Guard will offer an AMSEA two day Drill Conductor Course for commercial fishermen.
– The Worldlink
More:theworldlink.com
Agencies team up for 'biodiversity observation'
The projects, to be funded at approximately $17 million over the next five years, subject to the availability of funds, will demonstrate how a national operational marine biodiversity observation network could be developed. Such a network would serve as a marine resource management tool to conserve existing biodiversity and enhance U.S. biosecurity against threats such as invasive species and infectious agents.
– NOAA
More:noaanews.noaa.gov
Thursday, October 23, 2014
AMERICAN SEAFOODS' POLLOCK PRICE SLUMP
American Seafoods Group's CEO cites the slow rebound in prices for the highly leveraged company's core products as the reason for the closure of its corporate flight department.
– Undercurrent News
More:undercurrentnews.com
Norton Sound hits peak season
Norton Sound Seafood Products paid out more than $4 million to 212 fishermen so far for the 2014 fishing season. This new payout is double the rate seven years ago when $2 million was paid to 120 fishermen.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Controversial B.C. mine gets first permits
"I think people are feeling not just a sense of urgency, and being threatened, but anger, too," said Heather Hardcastle, commercial fishing outreach coordinator for Trout Unlimited.
– Juneau Empire
More:juneauempire.com
CG operations base opens in Cold Bay
The Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak crews opened a seasonal forward operating location in Cold Bay on Sunday. The Coast Guard aircrews transferred equipment to Cold Bay to reduce response time to Bristol Bay, the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Emergency actions reopen West Coast whiting fishery
After an emergency meeting on Friday, via webinar and teleconference, the fishery has reopened, with the implementation of the Ocean Salmon Conservation Zone and reapportionment of dark blotched rockfish between the catcher/processor and mothership sectors, according to the NMFS.
– Undercurrent News
More:undercurrentnews.com
Bigger, older females essential to fish stocks
A new compilation of research from around the world now shows that big, old, fat, fertile, female fish – known as BOFFFFs to scientists – are essential for ensuring that fishery stocks remain sustainable.
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
Fishing pay's below median level
Logging workers, fishers, and sales and truck drivers earn less than the median wage but face a fatality rate between 6.5 and 37.5 times higher than the risk for all jobs.
– Time
More:time.com
CA's lowest dam flows revealed
Scientists have identified 181 California dams that may need to increase water flows to protect native fish downstream.
– Phys.org
More:phys.org
Friday, October 24, 2014
'SEAFOOD AMBASSADORS' WANTED
A call is out for fishermen who want to be unofficial ambassadors for Alaska seafood.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Forums on pit mine projects
The public forums, organized for Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Wrangell, and Petersburg, will provide opportunities for residents to learn about the planned open-pit mines in northwest British Columbia and their potential impacts on Southeast Alaska's commercial, sport, and traditional and customary fisheries.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Columbia River's final seasons set
Washington and Oregon on Thursday adopted the final commercial salmon fishing periods of 2014 for the lower Columbia River.
– The Columbian
More:columbian.com
Fishing Families Photo Contest
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute is hosting its annual Alaska Fishing Families Photo Contest this fall. ASMI is inviting all photographers to enter photos that share the uniqueness of Alaska's fisheries.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Barge adrift in Beaufort Sea
The U.S. Coast Guard and Canadian agencies were monitoring an unmanned barge Thursday evening that floated in the Beaufort Sea with about 950 gallons of diesel fuel on board, according to the Coast Guard.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Missing fishermen's bodies recovered
The bodies of two Campbell River men missing since their boat capsized on the weekend have been recovered by RCMP divers.
– Times Colonist
More:timescolonist.com
Policymaking begins for Willipa Bay fishing
Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to adopt in February a policy setting conservation and economic objectives for sport and commercial salmon fishing in Willapa Bay.
– The Columbian
More:columbian.com
Repellant reduces shark bycatch
A nasty-smelling shark repellent so effective it tends to leave humans gasping for breath has been given accolades in a report to Congress by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
– Keysnews.com
More:keysnews.com
Small-scale fishing's cumulative impacts
As targeted fish species shrink, both industrial and small-scale fishers move on to other species, depleting them, too, until finally they are catching anything that might provide food or generate cash.
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
