News – Fishermens News

Humpback Whale Sightings Delay Calif. Dungeness Crab Season

22Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

Humpback Whale Sightings Delay Calif. Dungeness Crab Season

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced that due to increased concentrations of blue and humpback whales in fishing areas, a delay in commercial fishing for Dungeness crab in Fishing Zones 1 and 2 has been instituted. Also announced on Nov. 17 was that the season delay in Fishing Zones 3-6 remains in effect. Restrictions are also being continued for crab traps in the recreational crab fishery in several fishing zones. CDFW officials said the next scheduled risk assessment is expected on or about Dec. 7 or 8. In a separate statement also issued on Nov. 17, the international ocean conservation group Oceana said the delay in the Dungeness crab fishing season was aimed at protecting whales, but also due to poor crab meat quality in northern California’s Fishin...

22Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Further Review Re: Expanding Seafood Import Monitoring Program

NOAA Fisheries has withdrawn a proposed rule to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), saying that instead, the agency will review the program to explore ways to enhance and strengthen its overall impact and effectiveness. The decision to withdraw the proposed rule stems from extensive feedback received during the public comment period, said Alexa Cole, director of NOAA Fisheries’ Office of International Affairs, Trade and Commerce, who announced the withdrawal on Nov. 14. “While we do not have a set timeline, NOAA Fisheries will prioritize this important work and aim to complete this review and implement any needed changes as soon as possible,” NOAA Fisheries spokesperson Lauren Gaches said. Meanwhile, SIMP continues operating in its current form, with the list ...

EPA Invests in Improving Columbia River Basin Environment

22Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

EPA Invests in Improving Columbia River Basin Environment

Nearly $32 million in federal funds is being invested across seven Oregon projects and programs, with a goal of reducing toxics in fish and water and addressing climate change issues to help restore the health of the Columbia River Basin. The money comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $79 million total funding infusion into the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. The program is proving essential to the Pacific Northwest’s Tribes, communities and economy, all of which rely on the watershed, according to Oregon Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, who announced the new funds Nov. 16. “Our rivers and waterways are the lifeblood of our communities. If they are dirty and polluted, our homes, schools and businesses are dirty and polluted,” Merkley stated. “The federal inve...

22Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

Murkowski Pushes Anew for U.S. Senate to Ratify UNCLOS

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is renewing her effort to win U.S. Senate passage of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which has long since been ratified by 168 nations and the European Union. On Nov. 16, Murkowski, co-chair of the Arctic Caucus, introduced a resolution calling on the Senate to ratify UNCLOS. The document details the rights and responsibilities of countries regarding the oceans, including guidelines for businesses and the management of marine natural resources. It also provides a legal framework to protect those rights while avoiding conflict. The resolution was previously introduced by Murkowski and Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-HI, during the 116th and 117th Congresses. “The longer we sit out, the longer the rest of the world will continue ...

15Nov

By Mark Edward NeroNo Comments

Columns, Fishermen's News Online, From the Editor, News

From the Editor: PME ’23 Wrap Up

The 2023 edition of Pacific Marine Expo is now in the record books, so I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who dropped by booth 220 during the three-day event to say hello to staffers from Maritime Institute and Maritime Publishing. We enjoyed talking with you, hearing about your experiences, giving and receiving information, and just chatting in general. I’ve always said that the biggest asset of this magazine and website is it’s readers, and those of you whom we were lucky enough to meet with at the expo proved this to be the case yet again. It’s the feedback from you – ideas, suggestions and yes, even complaints – that help shape our coverage of the fishing industry and we’re grateful that you chose to share your thoughts with us. We’ll have a full wrap up of the eve...

NOAA Study: Snow Crab Likely Well Adapted to Projected Ocean pH Levels

15Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

NOAA Study: Snow Crab Likely Well Adapted to Projected Ocean pH Levels

Conclusions of a two-year federal study suggests that snow crabs are well adapted to projected increases in ocean acidification within the next two centuries, with no detectible effects on embryo development larval hatching or female calcification. Authors of the study, which was published Oct. 18 in the open access online journal Plos One, said that given the number of strongly negative effects they have documents over the years it is, in all honesty, a nice change to be able to report relatively good news in regard to how high the level of carbon dioxide will affect a commercial crab species. In both years of the study, starvation-survival, morphology, condition and calcium/magnesium content were assessed for larvae. The difference in response to high partial pressure of car...

House Members Launch Bipartisan American Seafood Caucus

15Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

House Members Launch Bipartisan American Seafood Caucus

An American Seafood Caucus has been created by three members of the U.S. House of Representatives to provide a forum that ensures domestic seafood doesn’t take a backseat to foreign projects not meeting U.S. quality and sustainability standards or are illegally subsidized by foreign governments. “For generations, from Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean, seafood has been more than a source of sustenance – it’s been a way of life for folks from our region,” said Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA, who announced formation of the caucus on Nov. 8, with Reps. Mary Peltola (D-AK), Garret Graves (R- LA), and Rob Wittman (R-VA). “Today, members of the bipartisan American Seafood Caucus stand united in our commitment to safeguarding this heritage,” Kilmer said. Peltola noted that American and Alask...

California Fishermen File Pollution Lawsuit Against Tire Manufacturers

15Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

California Fishermen File Pollution Lawsuit Against Tire Manufacturers

Two California-based fisheries entities are suing U.S. tire manufacturers over allegations that the use of the chemical 6PPD in rubber tires is largely responsible for “urban runoff mortality syndrome,” which kills up to 100% of coho salmon returning to spawn in many urban streams. The environmental law firm Earthjustice is representing the Institute for Fisheries Resources (IFR) and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against 13 tire manufacturers. Defendants named in the litigation include Bridgestone; Continental Tire; Giti Tire; Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.; Hankook Tire America Corp.; Kumho Tire USA; Michelin North America; Nokian Tyres; Pirelli Tire North America; Sumitomo R...

Working Waterfront Preservation Act Introduced in Senate

15Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

Working Waterfront Preservation Act Introduced in Senate

Federal legislation that would provide $20 million annually to boost and protect working waterfronts has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. It is backed by the Fishing Communities Coalition, a national association of community-based small-boat commercial fishing groups. The Working Waterfront Preservation Act, initiated with support from the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association, was introduced Nov. 1 by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine and Jack Reed, D-RI. “All across Alaska, fishing communities are facing infrastructure challenges and need upgrades to harbors and boatyards,” said Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association in Sitka, who helped to promote the legislation. “This bill would support that. It’s a great start.” If approved by Co...

Bristol Bay Entities Challenge State of Alaska Pebble Mine Lawsuit

15Nov

By Fishermen's NewsNo Comments

Fishermen's News Online, News

Bristol Bay Entities Challenge State of Alaska Pebble Mine Lawsuit

Two Bristol Bay region entities have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to counter Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act veto of the proposed Pebble mine in Southwest Alaska. “EPA finalized Clean Water Act protections in Bristol Bay with the strong support of the people of our region and across Alaska,” said Russell Nelson, board chair of the Bristol Bay Native Corp. (BBNC), which has offices in Dillingham and Anchorage. The EPA’s work in Bristol Bay, Nelson said, “is grounded in solid science and an important regulatory obligation to protect the invaluable salmon resource that has sustained our people since time immemorial.” He also said in a Nov. 9 statement issued by BBNC and United Tribes of Bristol...