Monday, November 3, 2014
CONGRESS TAKES AIM AT FISHING PIRACY
For decades, no fishery has been pinched harder than Bering Sea king crab, which last year alone went up against 100 million pounds of pirated crab from Russia. Now, an international Port State Measures Agreement would cut into cut into the illegal market deliveries.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Positive signs for CA crab season
While the rush isn't as large as the commercial crab opener, slated for Nov. 15, commercial fishermen use the sports opener as a gauge of how the overall season might look.
– Santa Cruz Sentinel
More:santacruzsentinel.com
OR port at risk of closure
The damage done by last Saturday's storm that hammered the Port of Port Orford could have far-reaching implications. Waves slammed into the cement dock at the Port of Port Orford last Saturday as local fishermen raced to keep a disaster from turning into a financial catastrophe.
– The Worldlink
More:theworldlink.com
Boat capsizing survivor describes ordeal
Phillip Sanchez said sheer determination got him through this ordeal, but the loss of his fishing buddies on Bodega Bay is almost too much to bear. Four of his friends were killed when their fishing boat capsized early Saturday morning.
– ABC 7
More:abc7news.com
EPA sued, Pebble Partnership claims bias
In October, the Pebble Limited Partnership filed its third lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, this time seeking documents Pebble alleges were not turned over through prior Freedom of Information Act requests.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Opinion: Ballot measure guards fisheries
Voting "Yes" on Ballot Measure 4 will do nothing more than require large-scale mines to meet the same standard that has applied to oil and gas exploration for 40 years - avoiding irreparable harm to vital Bristol Bay fisheries.
– Peninsula Clarion
More:peninsulaclarion.com
CA restoration project involves community
Last week, volunteers planted more than 100 native trees and shrubs at the estuary in an effort to restore riparian habitat on the flood plane.
– Times Standard
More:times-standard.com
Report: More sharks impacted by sport fishing than commercial
In 2013, more large (non-dogfish) sharks were landed by U.S. recreational shark anglers (~4.5 million pounds) than by U.S. commercial shark fishermen (~3 million pounds). This was not the case in 2012.
– Southern Fried Science
More:southernfriedscience.com
West Coast warming draws 'bizarre menagerie'
Rare changes in wind patterns this fall have caused the Pacific Ocean off California and the West Coast to warm to historic levels, drawing in a bizarre menagerie of warm-water species.
– Marinij.com
More:marinij.com
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
CHUM SHORTAGE IMPACTS PRICES
The chum salmon fishery is well underway but very low inventories is causing price volatility
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
Alaska fishing seasons update
Alaska's halibut fishery ends on Friday and it looks like most of the 16 million pound catch will be pulled aboard. It's a toss up to see which will be the top halibut port – Homer's lead is only about 150-thousand pounds more than Kodiak.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Halloween waterspout in Sitka
The National Weather Service issued a special marine warning this afternoon (10-31-14), after a local pilot reported a waterspout off Middle Island, near Sitka.
– KCAW
More:kcaw.org
Hydro power project re-emerges
The Homer Electric Association (HEA) will update residents on the current state of its Grant Lake hydroelectric project in a public meeting on Thursday at the Moose Pass Community Hall.
– Peninsula Clarion
More:peninsulaclarion.com
Four drown after boat capsizes
The four people killed when their fishing boat capsized Saturday in cold, choppy seas near Bodega Bay were part of an experienced crew that had long trolled the waters off the Sonoma coast.
– SFGate
More:sfgate.com
CA hatchery essential to salmon
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Feather River Fish Hatchery is the destination of tens of thousands of homeward-migrating chinook every fall.
– KQED
More:ww2.kqed.org
Sensors define dam impacts
In hopes of engineering more fish-friendly dams, scientists have created small aquatic sensors that record how fish would get spun, stunned, and barometrically burst in the hydroelectric gauntlet.
– Wired
More:wired.com
Opinion: Why seiners pick Parnell
Gov. Parnell's time in office has seen record Southeast region king salmon harvests by the troll and sport fleets, as well as record Southeast coho harvests by the troll, gillnet, and sport fleets. This was accomplished in conjunction with record escapement levels.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
'SUPER TYPHOON' TO HIT ALEUTIANS
By the end of the week, the storm will be absorbed by the jet stream in the Pacific and form Super Typhoon Nuri.
– KDLG
More:kdlg.org
Bristol Bay ballot measure approved
Alaska voters have decided to restrict mining operations in the Bristol Bay region.
– Peninsula Clarion
More:hosted2.ap.org
Alaska fishing jobs increase
A new report in the November edition of state Labor Department publication Alaska Economic Trends says monthly employment in Alaska's seafood harvesting sector in 2013 grew by 2.4 percent, a level not seen since 2000.
– The Cordova Times
More:thecordovatimes.com
New fisheries supervisor for AK region
There's a new man at the helm of fisheries management for Alaska's Westward region. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game recently named long time fisheries biologist Nick Sagalkin Regional Supervisor.
– Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
U.S. fish consumption rises
Experts say the bump in salmon may be a reflection of record runs of Alaska salmon in 2013 that contributed to canned and frozen supplies.
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com
Norway exports set monthly record
Norwegian seafood exports totalled NOK 7.6 billion (USD 1.1 billion) in October, an increase of NOK 393 million (USD 57.5 million), or 5 per cent, compared with October 2013. This is a monthly all time high for Norwegian seafood.
– Fish Information and Services
More:fis.com
Adrift vessel highlighted U.S., Canadian teamwork
With Alaskan waters bordering Canada in both the north and south, it's no surprise that the U.S. and Canadian coast guards work hand-in-hand, training together annually to respond to maritime emergencies.
– Sitnews
More:sitnews.us
Alaska to rework habitat management
A good deal of important conversation is happening about Alaska's fish and game habitats, with changes to plans and management of certain areas.
– Homer Tribune
More:homertribune.com
Thursday, November 6, 2014
SAFETY EMPHASIZED AFTER DROWNINGS
Four people drowned during a recreational crab outing off the coast of Bodega Bay this weekend, serving as a tragic reminder of the importance of boater safety for this winter's sport and commercial dungeness crab seasons.
– Del Norte Triplicate
More:triplicate.com
Wage hike affects AK seafood industry
Ballot measure three proposes a big change to state's minimum wage structure – increasing it by two dollars over the next two years, to $9.75 an hour.
– KUCB
More:kucb.org
WA landings, value grew in 2013
An update on U.S. fisheries released by NOAA last week shows small Southwest Washington ports racking up an impressive amount of economic activity: $77 million in Pacific County in 2013, more than double 2012's total of $38 million.
– Chinook Observer
More:chinookobserver.com
Incumbent senator counting on rural Alaska
A day after Republican Dan Sullivan sprung to the lead in Alaska's U.S. Senate race, his opponent, incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Begich, refused to concede, citing tens of thousands of outstanding votes – particularly those in rural parts of the state.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Supreme Court troubled by fisherman's prosecution
The conviction of commercial fisherman John Yates for destroying evidence seemed to trouble Scalia and several of his colleagues Wednesday as they questioned why the government brought charges under a law meant to tackle corporate fraud in the wake of the Enron accounting scandal.
– Herald-Tribune
More:heraldtribune.com
Report details CA estuary's degradation
"The historical Delta is gone," says a new report. That is the groundbreaking conclusion of "A Delta Transformed," a study by the San Francisco Estuary Institute.
– Recordnet.com
More:recordnet.com
Shuttered OR eatery revived
The Tide Point, which closed about two years ago, was a popular meeting place for locals, said Clark, including loggers, fishers and other local groups such as the Angora Hiking Club looking for a place to meet. The movers behind Young's Bay Restaurant hope to rekindle that aura.
– Daily Astorian
More:dailyastorian.com
Maine shrimp season shutdown
Federal regulators shut down the commercial fishing season for northern shrimp in the Gulf of Maine for a second straight year on Wednesday, citing concerns about the declining population and warmer ocean temperatures.
– SFGate
More:sfgate.com
Friday, November 7, 2014
SALMON RANKS HIGH IN U.S. CONSUMPTION
Shrimp remained America's favorite seafood last year – but Alaska is credited for pushing salmon to the second spot due to the huge production of pink salmon.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Laine Welch, reporting for Alaska Fish Radio
More:alaskafishradio.com
Storm approaches Aleutians
The Aleutian and Pribilof Islands are no stranger to strong winds and rough seas. And that's exactly what they can expect Friday night, when a high-powered storm hits the Bering Sea.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Lauren Rosenthal, reporting for Alaska Public Media
More:alaskapublic.org
B.C. mine disaster could draw punishment
The owner of the Canadian mine that suffered a disastrous dam breach in August might face sanctions as serious as criminal penalties, British Columbia government officials said on Wednesday.
– Alaska Dispatch News
More:adn.com
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, what Tuesday's election means for Alaska's seafood plants, there'll soon be a nice new place to park your boat when visiting Sitka, and how to make co-management work? All that and more, coming up on the Alaska Fisheries Report.
– KMXT
More:kmxt.org
Drowning victim sought fishing life
A fourth person who died Saturday after a wave capsized a fishing boat, tossing all on board into the ocean off Bodega Head, was identified Thursday as a newcomer to Bodega Bay who had been fulfilling a long-held goal of becoming a fisherman.
– The Press Democrat
More:pressdemocrat.com
Higher pay could reduce processing jobs
Some seafood processing plants of Alaska are considering scaling back their workforce given the proposals to change to state's minimum wage structure.
– Fish Information and Services
More:fis.com
CA study pushes for dam management
The motivation for the study began with the researchers' concern for the rapid decline in fish populations.
– The California Aggie
More:theaggie.org
Pacific Bluefin ban sought
With the species at four per cent of its historic population size, conservation efforts will now turn to a global push for a suspension of commercial bluefin fishing in the eastern Pacific to prevent the species' further downward slide.
– The Fish Site
More:thefishsite.com