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Monday, December 29, 2008 Fishermen seek part of national stimulus packageEUREKA -- An organization representing hard-hit West Coast fishermen is asking for help in the pending federal economic stimulus package. Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations Executive Director Zeke Grader says Congress should include projects to put commercial fishermen back to work. – Seattle P-I
American Seafoods loses big CDQ contractPart of the growth strategy for American Seafoods, owner of the largest fleet of Bering Sea pollock factory fishing ships, has been to lease rights to catch Community Development Quota. The quota belongs to six Alaska companies that hold a 10 percent share of available Bering Sea pollock, as well as other kinds of fish and crab, for the benefit of Western Alaska villages. For years, the biggest of these CDQ companies, Anchorage-based Coastal Villages Region Fund, contracted with Seattle-based American Seafoods to catch and market its pollock in exchange for royalty payments. In 2007, Coastal collected $13.6 million in royalties, mostly from pollock catches. Next year, however, American won’t have Coastal’s pollock business – Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy writing as The Highliner for the Anchorage Daily News Read more: community.adn.com
Another run at limiting charters’ halibut catchSoutheast's charter fishing guides successfully fought off a one-fish daily bag limit for their clients this past summer with a lawsuit in a Washington, D.C., court. Now it's back. Read more: www.juneauempire.com
King crab season stretches longerThe Bristol Bay Red King Crab season is closing up later than usual this year. Fish & Game area management biologist Forrest Bowers said most boats usually finish up by November 15. This year, at least a quarter were still fishing through the beginning of December to catch the 20 million pound TAC. – KUDB, Unalaska
Opinion: Fishermen being hemmed inOne of the looming public-policy issues for Southern California in 2009 is the crafting of a plan to protect the state waters from Point Conception to the Mexican border, including the South Bay, Santa Catalina Island and the Channel Islands. A regional task force will study Southern California's offshore environment to fulfill the Marine Life Protection Act, which the state Legislature passed in 1999. The purpose of that law was to protect marine ecosystems and habitats offshore, primarily through the use of Marine Protected Areas, or MPAs, where fishing would be restricted. The idea is to preserve marine life with high economic values and rebuild populations that have become depleted over the years. … We're concerned, however, about the effect of this process on local fisheries. – Daily Breeze, Los Angeles
Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Depends on who you ask: Crab, Part IAn unusually weak Dungeness crab harvest on the West Coast of the United States is compounding the financial woes of fishermen who already were struggling with depressed consumer demand and the unprecedented collapse of the Pacific Chinook salmon fishery. Commercial fishermen in California, Oregon and Washington are struggling to stay afloat financially. They say the downturn could force fishermen who depend heavily on crab and salmon to leave the shrinking ranks of the region's fishing fleet. – International Herald Tribune
Depends on who you ask: Crab, Part IIDespite predictions that this year's crab season was going to be a bust, local processors say the crabs are still trickling in. The local harvest hasn't been enough to prevent the processing company from having to ship additional crab in from Oregon and Washington. – Crescent City Triplicate
Cook Inlet legislative report delayedRemember the Cook Inlet Salmon Task Force? It’s the 10-member panel of legislators formed last spring to look into ways to boost salmon returns to the Inlet’s northern reaches, and to settle the endless feuding between commercial, sport, subsistence and dipnet fishermen. The task force was supposed to have a report ready for the next legislative session beginning Jan. 20. But we might have to wait a while longer for the panel’s findings. – Pacific Fishing columnist Wesley Loy, writing for the Anchorage Daily News
Japanese try hybrid energy trawlerOTOSHIBE, Japan — The Shinei Maru No. 66 looks like the dozens of other fishing boats moored in this Japanese harbor. But its builders say it is the world’s first hybrid fishing trawler. By switching between oil and electric-powered propulsion, it uses up to a third less fuel than conventional boats. – New York Times Be sure to check out the January edition of Pacific Fishing magazine, which features floating hybrid technology.
New Year felicitationsFish Wrap will hibernate until next year. Until then, the folks who put together these little missives wish you a healthy, safe, prosperous and peaceful New Year. |