National Fisherman articles from November 2005

National Fisherman archives from November 2005

Down but not out.(EDITOR'S LOG)(Hurricane Katrina aftermath)(Editorial)
November 1, 2005... How many times have you heard it said, after things have gone to hell in a handbasket, "Maybe some good will come out of this if... "? It's almost a cliche. But not quite. We say it because it is human nature not just to persevere,...

Fishing back when.
November 1, 2005... 50 YEARS AGO this month "Without any question this is the worst year in sardine history," says Carroll Peacock, owner of sardine plants in Portland, Rockland and Lubec, whose records go back to 1885. In Lubec, population 2,800, there are...

Reasonable doubts.
November 1, 2005... An Unreasonable Woman A True Story of Shrimpers, Politicos, Polluters and the Fight for Seadrift, Texas I suspect that even the most pure of heart among us share a certain ambivalence when it comes to environmentalists. We know,...

Pew's views mar documentary.(FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE)
November 1, 2005... PBS recently aired "Gutted," documenting the agony of a Scottish fishing family being forced to deliver their boat to a scrap yard in Denmark. It started out as an unvarnished look at a tragic upheaval in the life of the West family. But,...

Ocean fish as private property.(FORUM)
November 1, 2005... In recent decades we've come to realize that life in the oceans is neither inexhaustibly abundant nor endlessly resilient. Overfishing, habitat destruction and unintentional killing of marine animals are just a few of the problems that have...

Quiet killer.(CONSEQUENCES)(propane gas)
November 1, 2005... When it comes to safety, most fishermen focus on staying dry and afloat, navigating safely and preventing fire. Sometimes, however, danger can catch you sound asleep. On a June evening a few summers ago, a 50-foot steel shrimper was...

Open systems the main cause of antibiotic problem.(To the editor)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... The deliberate attack by the United States on Vietnam concerning the misuse of antibiotic in aquaculture was irresponsible and unfair. The wrongful use of antibiotics is a widespread international issue. Aside from the effect of antibiotics...

True ecosystem observation offers evidence for reader.(MAIL BUOY)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... For months we have been reading letters from both sides of the herring fishery debate. Each side is loaded with statistics to back their position. I commend National Fisherman for providing this forum but it's time to stop quoting numbers and...

UCFA forms registry to help gulf's displaced fishermen.(MAIL BUOY)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... The United Commercial Fisherman's Association has announced the formation of a registry for displaced commercial fishermen. It is not limited to UCFA members. The most important thing to do right now is to determine who survived and...

Assessing Katrina's damage.(A Letter From Bill Hogarth)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2005... I am writing this column two weeks after Hurricane Katrina passed through the central section of the Gulf of Mexico, devastating cities and towns from Grand Isle, La., to Pensacola, Fla., and parts of Southern Florida. Some are calling it the...

Cap'n Sane says ...(MAIL BUOY)
November 1, 2005... We knew that summer's end was near. The western wind, which in August drifted gently up the bay, now had a shifty bite n'as the Old Man and me sat on the weir pocket frame it was in wool sweaters n'oilskin pants. There was only darkness in...

Court orders more protection for rockfish population; rules errors hurt darkblotched stocks, but measures sufficient for other groundfish species.(PACIFIC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A federal appeals court ruling in August said protections for some Pacific groundfish species must increase, but also upheld a lower court's opinion that said protections were sufficient for others. Natural Resources Defense Council, one of...

Cold currents, pricey fuel bedevil albacore vessels; tuna too far offshore for small-boat fleet.(PACIFIC)
November 1, 2005... West Coast albacore tuna fishermen were mostly idle in July and August, thanks to high fuel costs and unexpected weather. Colder currents and weather patterns kept most of the tuna far offshore, out of the range of many smaller vessels that...

Whiting bill would give processors catch shares; 50-50 split proposed for shoreside sector.(PACIFIC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Some shoreside whiting fishermen and processors are hoping a new bill, introduced by U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) will bring some stability to the fishery, similar to the way the Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative has helped the...

Council mulls re-opening longline sword fishery; parallel regime sought for Pacific vessels.(PACIFIC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Against the protests of environmentalists who fear extinction of sea turtles, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council is considering the possibility of re-establishing a longline swordfish fishery off the West Coast. The council has...

Sockeye closure hits B.C. salmon harvesters hard; protest fisheries threatened as anger over federal management of Pacific fisheries rises.(CANADA)
November 1, 2005... In 38 years of commercial fishing on the British Columbia coast Fraser Dunn has never seen as many sockeye as he did this summer. While he motored past walls of sockeye salmon, he heard that fishermen were planning illegal fisheries to protest...

DFO sets new catch limit for Scotia-Fundy herring; agency reduces TAC by 40% from 2004.(CANADA)(Department of Fisheries and Oceans)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Citing a need to "sustain the stock which assures a viable industry," the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has reduced the total allowable catch for Southwest Nova Scotia-Bay of Fundy herring. Early in August, DFO set the 2005 TAC at...

Harvesters remain wary of N.C. saltwater license; association leader is concerned how up to $19 million in fees collected will be utilized.(GULF/SOUTH ATLANTIC)(Sean McKeon)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... North Carolina legislators made no bones about the flaws in the saltwater recreational fishing bill signed into law last summer. Holding true to a promise to revisit the bill this year, the General Assembly changed several key details in...

Ninilchik, Alaska.(HOME PORT: Where we live)
November 1, 2005... THE TOWN Population: There are 467 residents year-round, but the number may double during summer when visitors and commercial fishing season begins. Fleet size: During first few weeks of salmon season (June and July) the harbor contains...

Lower grouper limits rile anglers and charter fleet; sport interests also oppose no-take zone.(GULF/SOUTH ATLANTIC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... NMFS has implemented new recreational harvest limits on red grouper in the Gulf of Mexico despite robust sportfishing opposition. Sport fishermen, led by the Coastal Conservation Association, a recreational fishing organization, also are...

Larger mesh nets sought at fishermen's protest; group presses Fla. officials for answers.(GULF/SOUTH ATLANTIC)
November 1, 2005... About 15 members of Fishing for Freedom traveled to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission headquarters for an Aug. 24 demonstration in Tallahassee, Fla. Gillnets that Florida officials require commercial mullet fishermen to...

Oil inventory raises fears of Georges Bank drilling; congressional order fuels concern about long-banned exploration on vital fishing grounds.(NORTHEAST)
November 1, 2005... A congressional order for an inventory of possible petroleum and natural gas sites off the East Coast has fishing and conservation groups warning that it's a first step toward ending a ban on drilling after 2012. Government officials say...

Jerry Allen: Richmond Hill, Ga.(SNAPSHOT: Who we are)
November 1, 2005... Jerry Allen is a member of a hard-core cadre of Georgia crabbers who are prospering on abundant harvests despite a much-publicized "collapse" in the blue crab fishery. The hundred or so crabbers who are left have been fighting a running...

Commission caps pogy harvest in Chesapeake; opts for 105,000 metric ton catch limit.(NORTHEAST)(Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission)(menhaden limits)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The Atlantic Menhaden Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in August voted to impose a stricter menhaden cap on Omega Protein of Reedville, Va., after the company refused to compromise on its volunteer cap. ...

Hook association eyeing community permits plan; aims to protect Cape Cod small-boat fleet.(NORTHEAST)(Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A Cape Cod fishermen's group is looking toward a new community-based allocation program to acquire fishing permits, with the aim of keeping those permits for use by southeast Massachusetts small-boat fleets. Still in its early stages, the...

Cook Inlet netters enjoy strong landings and prices; catch is likely to top 5.1 million sockeyes in fourth largest haul in the fishery's history.(NORTH PACIFIC)
November 1, 2005... More salmon and stronger ex-vessel prices was the news around Cook Inlet as the season wrapped up in August. Though the numbers will remain preliminary until sometime next year, this year's commercial harvest should top 5.1 million...

BBQ plank salmon: David Harsila, Seattle, Wash.(GALLEY WATCH: At-sea cuisine)
November 1, 2005... As the husband of a trained dietician, David Harsila has learned a lot about good and bad fats. "We've learned to cook more veggies and use recipes that are more interesting," he says, than the standard, bland diet fare. The good fats are fish...

Cameras could replace observers on trawlers; video project could cut fishermen's costs.(NORTH PACIFIC)
November 1, 2005... Video cameras will be taking the place of observers aboard some vessels in the Gulf of Alaska. Trawl boats over 60 feet long and fishing for pollock, cod and rockfish in the gulf are required to have 30 percent observer coverage. The...

Report sounds an alarm over North Pacific stocks; but industry confident there's fish a-plenty.(NORTH PACIFIC)
November 1, 2005... A recent report by the Marine Fish Conservation Network asserts that sea creatures in the North Pacific are in trouble. However, the industry's position is that the abundance of North Pacific stocks belies the "Code Blue" report. The...

Micro-canners marketing tuna with less mercury; three-year-old troll-caught albacore, canning process used to reduce levels by up to 25 percent.(NATIONAL)
November 1, 2005... For women of childbearing years and others concerned about the health risks of mercury, a new product is coming to your tuna sandwich: low-mercury canned tuna. McKinleyville, Calif.-based Carvalho Fisheries is now selling a "minimal...

NMFS sees improvement in health of U.S. stocks; agency report cites gains, work yet to do.(NATIONAL)
November 1, 2005... With the release of the latest report to Congress on the state of U.S. fisheries for 2004, NMFS director Bill Hogarth says progress is being made, but there's still work to be done. "This year's report shows progress for some stocks,"...

Viking Rose: combination dragger.(BOAT of the MONTH)
November 1, 2005... When New Jersey gillnet fisherman Kevin Wark looked for a new boat to diversify his business, he liked what he'd seen coming out of Wedgeport, Nova Scotia. "I'd seen a couple of their boats and I was really impressed with them," Wark says....

Katrina's wrath caps weighty toll hurricanes have taken on industry.(GULF/SOUTH ATLANTIC: OYSTERS)
November 1, 2005... Even before Hurricane Katrina left such mind-numbing destruction in its path, nature had already trumped any other market or environmental factors affecting the oyster industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina confirmed--in the grimmest way...

Stock gains, longer season soften blow of low prices, stiff competition.(NORTHEAST SHRIMP)
November 1, 2005... An extended 2005 season and improving prospects for the northern shrimp stock rebuilding should bode well for Gulf of Maine fishermen. But they continue to struggle with tight prices in the face of massive competition from Canada and a...

2004 season a tough act to follow, but buyers hoping boom continues.(PACIFIC DUNGENESS)
November 1, 2005... After a record-breaking season in which fishermen from Washington, Oregon and California landed more than 86 million pounds of Dungeness crab--14 million more than they landed the previous season--it's difficult to expect much better for this...

Slower pace could offer trawl fleet new markets, better dock prices.(NORTH PACIFIC GROUNDFISH)(rockfish harvest)
November 1, 2005... A new groundfish management plan promises to slow the pace of the rockfish harvest for trawlers in the central Gulf of Alaska. Though the plan is in its pilot stages it should crimp the flow of product across the docks. And that should...

Ill wind: in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, signs that the fishing industry may have bent, but isn't broken.(SPECIAL REPORT)
November 1, 2005... When Gulf coast fishermen began fighting for tariffs on overseas shrimp three years ago, they said cheap imports had a more savage effect on their industry than any storm ever could. That was until Katrina blustered its way to land, killing...

Bayou snapshot: in Leeville, La., the storm is over but the work is just beginning.
November 1, 2005... The communities that line Louisiana's Bayou Lafourche lie in a bowl surrounded by levees. Bayou Lafourche flows down through the middle of it. A pair of floodgates at the north and south ends are closed to keep the bayou from rising. ...

The pluck of the Irish: in Howth, a top Irish fishing village, fisherman fight the same battles their U.S. counterparts do, with a couple of extra twists to boot.(OVER THERE)
November 1, 2005... Well past its heyday in the eyes of some, the Irish fishing port of Howth, on a peninsula just north of Dublin, the capital, remains one of top producers on the country's East Coast. The fleet lining the massive stone West Pier does appear...

To fish another day: pogy fisherman and a shipyard in Va. team up to rebuild a seiner.(BOATS & GEAR)
November 1, 2005... After a long sabbatical, a relic of the menhaden fishing industry, the 135-foot Absecon, is back doing what she was built to do--harvesting pogies. Curtis and Jimmy Kellum, Chesapeake Bay menhaden fishermen as well as father and son, are...

Safety first! In all too many cases, however, training comes in second.(BOATS & GEAR: SURVIVAL DRILLS)
November 1, 2005... While most people involved with fishing vessel safety would say that the fishing industry has become much more safety-conscious since the Fishing Vessel Safety Act was implemented in 1988, they will also admit that there is much left to do. ...

More cool! Less fuel! Efficiency has become the name of the game in shipboard refrigeration systems.(BOATS & GEAR: HOLD TEMPERATURE)
November 1, 2005... "Use the same real estate you have, only try to get more out of it." That's Lars Matthieson talking, and he's not referring to putting a second floor on your summer cottage or adding nutrients to the soil to improve the corn crop. ...

Super steel: higher grades of stainless are stronger and more resistant to corrosion.(BOATS & GEAR: METAL RATINGS)
November 1, 2005... It would be hard to find a metal or metal alloy today that is more widely used in the marine industry than stainless steel. Most stainless steel is so-called 18-8, primarily type 304. Two other stainless steel grades used on a lot of boats are...

Battling 'asset bloat'.(FINANCE)
November 1, 2005... If you own mutual funds, do you own any that have gained in popularity over the past few years? Do you own any that have a "star" mutual fund manager? Have you often see your funds profiled periodically in personal finance publications? It may...

Two tuna boats being built; lobster boat adds deck space.(NORTH)
November 1, 2005... Atlantic Boat in Brooklin, Maine, is building a pair of tuna boats for commercial rod-and-reel fishermen. Each boat is built on a Duffy 42 hull. The first one will be delivered this December, and the second one will go into the water in May...

54-footer has growth spurt; piping systems are replaced.(WEST)
November 1, 2005... There's a lot to say for sponsoning and lengthening a boat. You get a boat that can pack more fish, carry more gear on deck and is safer to operate. If not a new boat, you certainly get a different boat than you had in one-third to one-half...

'Bama boatyards evaluate damage done by Katrina.(SOUTH)
November 1, 2005... Boatbuilders in Bayou La Batre, Ala., battened down hatches in preparation for Hurricane Katrina and most were able to weather one of the worst hurricanes in memory, but there are a lot of pieces left to pick up. Just before Katrina made...

Bulletin board.(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... NOV. 17-19 Pacific Marine Expo Qwest Field and Events Center, Seattle, Wash. www.pacificmarineexpo.com Pacific Marine Expo brings you the largest gathering of commercial marine professionals on the West Coast. The show, featuring a...

Steel security: Nautitool offers steel boat owners a large, heavy-duty ratchet tie-down.(PRODUCT ROUNDUP)
November 1, 2005... It used to be that the only thing standing between the iron on a fisherman's boat and rust was scraping, priming and painting and then scraping, priming and painting some more. The battle with rust was non-stop once the boat returned to port....

NMFS.(On the Move)
November 1, 2005... NMFS has announced the following personnel changes: REBECCA LENT is the head of the new Office of International Affairs, and JIM BALSIGER is Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs. Following MICHAEL SISSENWINE's recent...

Fisheries and Marine Institute.(On the Move)
November 1, 2005... GLENN BLACKWOOD has been appointed executive director of the FISHERIES AND MARINE INSTITUTE. In the new position, Blackwood will report directly to the vice-president and work collaboratively with other members of the senior administration of...

National Marine Representatives Association.(appointments)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The following new NATIONAL MARINE REPRESENTATIVES ASSOCIATION officers have officially taken their seats: JIM HANNAN of Midwest Outdoor Marketing, Milwaukee, Wis., is the new president; JAY SANDERS of West Coast Sales, Vista, Calif. serves as...

Navionics.(wins National Marine Manufacturers Association innovation award)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... NAVIONICS has announced that Platinum, its flagship cartography, took the NATIONAL MARINE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION INNOVATION AWARD for the 2005 Electronics Category at the 2005 MAATS Convention in Las Vegas. The award recognized the Navionics...

The Third International Fishers Forum presented its inaugural Jade Sea Turtle Award to the Hawaii Longline Association.(COMPANY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL FISHERS FORUM presented its inaugural Jade Sea Turtle Award to the HAWAII LONGLINE ASSOCIATION. The award is given annually to a fisherman or group of fishermen who have set an example for reducing sea turtle...

West Marine has opened a West Marine Largo Call Center located within the Paradyne Corporate Center at 8625 126th Ave. N., Suite 200, in Largo, Fla.(COMPANY NEWS)
November 1, 2005... WEST MARINE has opened a WEST MARINE LARGO CALL CENTER located within the Paradyne Corporate Center at 8625 126th Ave. N., Suite 200, in Largo, Fla. This 10,000-square-foot facility replaces a smaller call center previously located on East Bay...

Fleet Visioning Project.(workshops)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... The FLEET VISIONING PROJECT has announced the following workshops to help collaboratively forge a future vision of the Northeast groundfish fleet: Nov. 11 in Long Island, N.Y., and Nov. 14 in Portland, Maine. All interested members of the...

A broader view: Nobeltec unveils InSight, its first-ever sounder unit.
November 1, 2005... At the beginning of summer 2004, Nobeltec introduced its newest version of a PC radar, the InSight Radar 2. Now, Nobeltec has brought out its version of a PC fishfinder, the InSight Sounder. This is the first sounder to come out bearing the...

ComNav Marine's new TS-203 Full Follow Up Lever Remote Control allows full tiller control and control of all autopilot course functions from various locations on the boat.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... COMNAV MARINE's new TS-203 Full Follow Up Lever REMOTE CONTROL allows full tiller control and control of all autopilot course functions from various locations on the boat. Designed to work with both the Admiral and Commander ComPilot models,...

Ascend Marine has released the BlueNet SDT Triducer Multi-Sensor System, which measures a boat's speed over water, water depth and surface temperature utilizing a single through-hull sensor.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... ASCEND MARINE has released the BlueNet SDT TRIDUCER MULTI-SENSOR SYSTEM, which measures a boat's speed over water, water depth and surface temperature utilizing a single through-hull sensor. The system also eliminates complicated rigging by...

AMSOIL introduces Formula 4-Stroke Marine Synthetic Motor Oils engineered for the harsh operating conditions of marine environments.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... AMSOIL introduces Formula 4-Stroke MARINE SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS engineered for the harsh operating conditions of marine environments. Designed to withstand the intense mechanical activity of continuous, high-rpm operation, Formula 4-Stroke motor...

J.W. Speaker has unveiled the Led Work Lamp Model 700 for construction, material-handling and marine applications.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... J.W. SPEAKER has unveiled the LED WORK LAMP Model 700 for construction, material-handling and marine applications. Now with LED technology, J.W. Speaker says the Model 700 brings brighter lighting without a bulb, and low-energy consumption to...

ABI/Precision Lighting says its ceiling-mounted Track Lighting will brighten up the gloomiest interior, while its lightweight construction allows for easy installation at an economical price.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... ABI/PRECISION LIGHTING says its ceiling-mounted TRACK LIGHTING will brighten up the gloomiest interior, while its lightweight construction allows for easy installation at an economical price. The 12-volt light fixtures come in a choice of...

Royal Purple's new Maxfilm offers extra-strength lubrication to protect cables from rust.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... ROYAL PHRPLE's new MAXFILM offers extra-strength lubrication to protect cables from rust. The company says that Maxfilm penetrates, cleans and loosens rusted parts. Once applied, its solvent carrier evaporates and leaves a tenacious,...

FCI Watermakers has released the Aquamiser Plus, a compact watermaker available in framed or modular configurations.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... FCI WATERMAKERS has released the AQUAMISER PLUS, a compact watermaker available in framed or modular configurations. The unit provides a fully automatic fresh-water flush for unattended maintenance, and alerts the user of low- or high-pressure...

Japan Radio Co.'s new JCY-1700S Simplified Voyage Data Recorder is a "simplified" version of the JCY-1700.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... JAPAN RADIO CO.'s new JCY-1700S Simplified VOYAGE DATA RECORDER is a "simplified" version of the JCY-1700. The 3CY-1700S is a compact two-unit system using a distributed Ethernet solution. The S-VDR enables incident investigators to review...

Nikon says its ProStaff Waterproof Compact All Terrain Binocular features multicoated Nikon optics with long eye relief, turn-and-slide rubber eyecups and a click-stop diopter adjustment.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... NIKON says its ProStaff Waterproof Compact All Terrain BINOCULAR features multicoated Nikon optics with long eye relief, turn-and-slide rubber eyecups and a click-stop diopter adjustment. The ProStaff comes in a rubber-armored body, with...

Gainco has introduced a line of DuraWeigh Heavy-Duty Bench Scales for harsh seafood processing environments.(AT A GLANCE)
November 1, 2005... GAINCO has introduced a line of DuraWeigh Heavy-Duty BENCH SCALES for harsh seafood processing environments. Gainco says that DuraWeigh's scale design improves calibration accuracy, operating performance and equipment durability while reducing...

Last set.
November 1, 2005... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DURING SALMON SEASON in Alaska, you grab some well-deserved shut-eye whenever yon can. Two-year-old Carinna Zinzer enjoys a nice nap during a commercial salmon fishing closure in July 2004. She spent the summer at...