Monday, November 4, 2013
‘WASTING DISEASE’ RAVAGES STARFISH
Marine scientists are finding a large number of dead starfish along the West Coast stricken with a disease that causes the creatures to lose their arms and disintegrate.
– The Seattle Times
More: seattletimes.com
Vessel grounds off Unalaska
The vessel is still afloat as of Saturday afternoon, but damaged.
– KUCB
More: kucb.org
Dutch Harbor, Bristol Bay lead list of top ports
The seafood landed in Bristol Bay last year was valued at over $150-million dollars according to the annual “Fisheries of the United States” report. Last year Dutch Harbor was once again the leading port for seafood landings nationwide.
– KDLG
More: kdlg.org
B.C. hydro projects could hurt fish
Almost 100 per cent of private run-of-river power projects studied in B.C. are located on streams where they could affect fish, an interim study for the Pacific Salmon Foundation has found.
– Vancouver Sun
More: www.vancouversun.com
Survey scopes Sitka marine services
Sitka’s large-boat owners are being invited to help shape the direction of the marine services industry in town.
– KCAW
More: www.kcaw.org
Favorable forecast for CA crab season
Fishermen and officials are predicting a good Dungeness crab season based on previous years despite a slow start to the season for sport fishers Saturday.
– Santa Cruz Sentinel
More: www.santacruzsentinel.com
Bycatch probed at fisheries symposium
The Lowell Wakefield Fisheries Symposium in May will be exclusively dedicated to fisheries bycatch; the theme will be “Global Issues and Creative Solutions.”
- KMXT
More: www.kmxt.org
Boom or bust for Cook Inlet Chinook
The returns are cyclical in both the irresistible draw of fishing during times of abundance and the infighting among users when they don’t return to their natal streams in large enough numbers to satisfy area fishermen of all types.
– Juneau Empire
More: juneauempire.com
Agencies expand Columbia River coho data
With new information, they hope to present a proposal to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for slight increases in fishing rates for recreational and commercial fishermen.
– Daily Astorian
More: www.dailyastorian.com
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
RADIATION IN YOUR FISH?
John Kelley, a professor emeritus at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, says he's not sure contamination will reach dangerous levels for humans but says without better data, who will know?
– CBC News
More: cbc.ca
West Coast sardine harvest cut
Federal fisheries managers slashed upcoming West Coast sardine harvests by two-thirds while scientists try to get a better handle on indications the population is significantly dwindling.
– KATU
More: katu.com
'Average' year predicted for SE pinks
A new forecast calls for an "average" harvest of 22 million pink salmon in 2014 in Southeast Alaska.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
Coast Guard rescues fisherman
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Anacapa rescued a man from a disabled fishing vessel near Petersburg Monday.
– USCG
More: uscgnews.com
Fuel removed from F/V Arctic Hunter
Crews made it to the scene on Saturday and have since pumped out 9,000 gallons of fuel and hydraulic oil.
– KUCB
More: kucb.org
Alaska asks high court to review water rights
The case involves fundamental questions of control and authority over navigable waters in the state.
– Sitnews
More: sitnews.us
CA nuke accused of fish kills
California officials and the operator of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant are mulling whether the plant will spend up to $12 billion to redesign its cooling system, blamed for sucking in fish larvae and disrupting the marine ecosystem.
– Orange County Register
More: ocregister.com
No let up for driftnet permit costs
The value placed on Bristol Bay driftnet fishing permits by the State of Alaska continues to go up.
– KDLG
More: kdlg.org
Biologists: Canada Fisheries Act watered down
Two of Canada's most eminent fish biologists have described changes to the Fisheries Act by the Conservative government as a "politically motivated abrogation" with no basis in science or fact.
– The Tyee
More: thetyee.ca
Study: Major earthquake would cripple B.C. ports
Canada is unprepared for a major earthquake that would cause tens of billions of dollars in damage and have a crippling domino effect on the economy, says a new study released Tuesday.
– Times Colonist
More: timescolonist.com
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
FROM BRISTOL BAY TO BROOKLYN
A family that has been fishing Alaska's wild waters for three generations is now shipping sockeye salmon to the heart of brownstone Brooklyn. Can it help save Bristol Bay?
– Natural Resources Defense Council
More: onearth.org
AK gov makes salmon panel picks
Alaska's governor has nominated four sitting members and two new faces for positions on the Northern Panel of the Pacific Salmon Commission.
– KMXT
More: kmxt.org
Fuel removal nixed by bad weather
Salvage crews haven't been able to pump any fuel off the crab boat since Sunday because of bad weather, which is expected to continue through Thursday.
– KUCB
More: kucb.org
Like father, like son
Chuck Bundrant announced his son, Joe, is taking over as chief executive at Trident Seafoods, one of the largest processors operating in Alaska.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
Salmon comeback for B.C. creek
The surprising tale of how the salmon have returned is a testament to hard work and cooperation.
– Vancouver Sun
More: vancouversun.com
Marine debris season tapering
The Alaska Marine Stewardship Foundation (AMSF) announced today that the 2013 marine debris cleanup season is beginning to wind down. Director Dave Gaudet, said that he expects the final tally for the season to be 160,000 to 200,000 lbs of marine debris removed from AMSF sponsored projects around the state.
– Sitnews
More: sitnews.us
Bumble Bee Foods CEO: Manage for sustainability
It may be difficult to govern in Washington at anything less than a point of crisis, but we can't make the same mistake with our oceans.
– Business Insider
More: businessinsider.com
Grays Harbor salmon fishery
State fishery managers have proposed developing a new Grays Harbor salmon management policy to meet spawning goals for wild salmon returning to the basin and give sport and commercial fishers a clearer picture of what fishing opportunities they can expect each year.
– Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
More: wdfw.wa.gov
Report spots CG failures
Though it improved in some areas of performance during 2012, the Coast Guard largely failed to meet its mission targets last year, according to a report by the Department of Homeland Security.
– Meghann Myers, reporting for Navy Times
More: navytimes.com
Thursday, November 7, 2013
MSC OBJECTION DISMISSED BY AUDITOR
An Independent Adjudicator (IA) has dismissed an objection to the proposed certification of the Alaska salmon fishery to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard.
– Fish Information & Services
More: fis.com
Setnet ban proposed
A group called the Alaska Fisheries Conservation Alliance wants to let voters decide whether to ban commercial setnets near the state's main population centers.
– Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing in his blog: Deckboss
More: deckboss.blogspot.com
B.C. hydro projects could hurt fish
Almost 100 per cent of private run-of-river power projects studied in B.C. are located on streams where they could affect fish, an interim study for the Pacific Salmon Foundation has found.
– Vancouver Sun
More: vancouversun.com
Bristol Bay rain, coastal flooding forecast
The National Weather Service has issued a couple of weather advisories for the Bristol Bay area.
– KDLG
More: kdlg.org
Fisherman's abuse trial starts
The trial of a local fisherman accused of sexually abusing his young daughters began Wednesday in Unalaska.
– KUCB
More: kucb.org
Collaboration shaped CA squid season
This was the fourth straight year that the squid fishery closed early; the season typically extends all year, from April 1 to March 31. The difference this year – unlike the past – was that the department collaborated with the squid industry on day-to-day management, including the closure date.
– Monterey County Herald
More: montereyherald.com
Orca rescued by shrimpers
What started out as a normal work day for three shrimpers turned into a 'whale of a tale' adventure. It was September 30th, one day before the start of the shrimp fishery.
– Sitnews
More: sitnews.us
What's in a name?
Confusion over the names of seafood products can result in economic harm to consumers and seafood dealers resulting from the substitution of cheaper products for more expensive products, and can affect the competitiveness of domestic seafood producers with foreign imports.
– The Fish Site
More: thefishsite.com
Report: Canada ocean research lacks coordination
The lack of a single organization to manage Canada's ocean research is putting the country at risk of lagging behind other nations and preventing scientists from efficiently pooling resources, says a new report.
– Vancouver Sun
More: timescolonist.com
WA fish consumption to be revisited
When it comes to setting water quality standards to protect fish eaters, the state has been using outdated data.
– The Spokesman-Review
More: spokesman.com
Another one bites the dust?
Numbers of striped bass, often called stripers, have plummeted — possibly to all-time lows since the species naturalized on the West Coast more than 120 years ago.
– East Bay Express
More: eastbayexpress.com
Friday, November 8, 2013
ELECTRONIC MONITORING IN DOUBT
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility has released documents arguing that after years of planning, the transition to electronic monitoring systems to track fishing fleet compliance with marine regulations remains elusive.
– Cordova Times
More: thecordovatimes.com
Pacific Fishing sparks nuke debate
The West Coast fishing industry is starting to respond to the alarmist reports of radiation from Japan contaminating the Pacific Ocean. The October issue of Pacific Fishing magazine takes on the "unscrupulous activists" and "Web bloggeristas," quoting headlines that are "just plain wrong," including this killer-diller: "At the very least, your days of eating Pacific Ocean fish are over."
– Coast Reporter
More: coastreporter.net
Grounded vessel continues to deteriorate
The 93-foot crab boat has survived a series of storms this week without breaking apart. But salvagers haven't been able to work on the vessel since last weekend.
– KUCB
More: kucb.org
High honor for Sitka skipper
The US Coast Guard awarded one of its highest civilian honors to a Sitka fisherman whose quick thinking likely saved the life of a fellow mariner last summer.
– KCAW
More: kcaw.org
Alaska Fisheries Report
Coming up this week, the sports fishing guide industry on the Kenai wants to ban commercial setnet fishing in Cook Inlet; we have a couple of items about the Marine Stewardship Council, and a new face, but a familiar name at the helm of Trident Seafoods.
– KMXT
More: kmxt.org
Conflict over Cook Inlet salmon spending
The Assembly approved the receipt of the money Tuesday night. But members voted down an accompanying resolution that would have approved the scope of work.
– Anchorage Daily News
More: adn.com
Rare appearance of whales in B.C.
The "biggie" of the bunch is the endangered North Pacific right whale, spotted twice in B.C. waters for the first time in 60 years.
– Times Colonist
More: timescolonist.com
CA restoration hits snags
This January is the deadline for the once-mighty San Joaquin to be carrying enough water to allow spring and fall runs of Chinook salmon to help revive the state's fishing industry. But the highly ambitious river restoration has been plagued by unforeseen problems resulting in delays and increased costs.
– SFGate
More: sfgate.com
Multi-Million dollar fish bladder smuggling
The black market Totoaba trade is a lucrative one, with a single dried bladder fetching $5,000 to $10,000. And prosecutors say Xie cashed in.
– U-T San Diego
More: utsandiego.com
1,000 grads in fishermen's survival course
The course includes donning survival suits, learning how to right an inflatable lifeboat, visual distress signals, abandon ship procedures, flooding control and using Coast Guard dewatering pumps.
– The Worldlink.com
More: theworldlink.com
