National Fisherman articles from September 2004

National Fisherman archives from September 2004

Please--no more derbies.(Editor's Log)
September 1, 2004... It's tempting in any industry to blame government when the deck seems stacked against you. But it generally doesn't get you anywhere, and blaming bureaucracy can become a cop-out. Say, for instance, a fisherman ignores routine maintenance...

50 years ago this month.(Fishing Back When)
September 1, 2004... The tuna clipper Western Pride lands six tons of tuna after setting on an "enormous" bunch of 50-pound bluefin. The weather breezed up during the night, tearing the seine and allowing an estimated 90 tons of fish to swim free. The 86-footer has...

30 years ago this month.(Fishing Back When)
September 1, 2004... The fishing vessel Amity has come to tragic rest on the south jetty of the Columbia River, in Oregon, testifying to the sea's awesome power. The photo highlights a special section in this month's National Fisherman dedicated to promoting safety...

10 years ago this month.(Fishing Back When)
September 1, 2004... Peter Vindedal has his work cut out for him aboard the Bristol Bay salmon netter U8. As of July 12, fishermen had landed 23.9 million sockeyes in Alaska's most storied run. Though Egegik was well below projected landings, other districts were...

Not-so-perfect ocean.(Book Review)
September 1, 2004... If for nothing else, Daniel Pauly will be remembered for the phrase "fishing down the food web," the expression he uses to illustrate the "serial depletion" of the North Atlantic by fishermen. The food web consists of fish on various rungs...

Management by personal accountability.(Forum)
September 1, 2004... This summer there's been a lot of hype about the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy's recommendations for changing the way we manage marine resources. But when the attention fades (as is so often the case), I'm afraid that those of us who make a...

Stressed and strained.(Safety)
September 1, 2004... Three crew members aboard a factory trawler working near Kodiak Island, off Alaska, were at work in trawl alley, sorting the catch before loading it into the fish hold. It was a good set. The cod end of their four-section net normally held...

Atlantic herring commentary called 'fear mongering'.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... As many readers may have noticed, in recent months there have been several editorial guest columns in this publication that have addressed Atlantic herring, the status of the resource, and the utilization of midwater trawl gear in the fishery....

Managing fisheries globally.(A Letter From Bill Hogarth)(Column)
September 1, 2004... As I write this column, I've just returned from Brussels, Belgium, the site of the fourth of eight scheduled bilateral meetings with world fishing nations this year where fishing issues of mutual interest are discussed. We have already met...

July NF cover showing shad 'step backward' for industry.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... The cover of your July 2004 Issue of National Fisherman features a photo of an opens kiff with shad onboard. The fish are in open boxes with no ice, nor lids. The boxes are dirty with parts constructed of bare, unpainted wood. One of the...

Cap'n sane says ...(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... Well, the Marblehead Yacht Club accepted our bid last month f'their annual summer raft here at the Cove. As mentioned last month, the Marbles wanted a bid n'said we were in the runnin' with New York, Boston, Miami n'Las Vegas. We had a bid...

Commerce finds in favor of shrimp group's petition: says China, Vietnam dumped product on U.S. market; rulings on other nations to follow.(Gulf/South Atlantic)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Tariffs on shrimp imported from Vietnam and China appear almost a sure thing, following a U.S. Department of Commerce announcement that their investigations reveal dumping of shrimp from those nations into the U.S. market. Trade officials...

Florida seiners eyeing battle over legal net size: state developing measurement standards.(Gulf/South Atlantic)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Commercial seining in Florida is likely to become more difficult as fishery managers standardize rules governing legal net size and type. Under a 1994 constitutional amendment, gillnets are illegal in state waters, and other nets are...

N.C. mulls case-by-case tack in crab pot conflicts: state says amount of gear "not an issue".(Gulf/South Atlantic)(North Carolina)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Gear conflicts over the number of crab pots in North Carolina waters might soon be dealt with case-by-case. The idea came about after state marine fisheries officials backed off a proposal to establish statewide crab pot limits. "The...

Turtles mortalities giving Ga. shrimpers headache: large, out-of-state boats seen as culprits.(Gulf/South Atlantic)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... It was a bad season for turtles along the South Atlantic coast, especially in Georgia, where a near-record number--more than 80--washed up dead in May. Georgia shrimpers took a lot of heat for the turtle deaths, even though state waters...

Folkways festival highlights Mid-Atlantic tradition: Smithsonian's D.C. exhibition celebrates maritime culture from N.Y. to North Carolina.(Northeast)(New York)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... From the small maritime communities of New York's Long Island Sound to the, well, small maritime communities of North Carolina's Outer Banks, a common thread connects fishing traditions that spans generations throughout the Mid-Atlantic...

Boston Fish Pier getting $2.2m in fender repairs: Massport striving to attract fishing vessels.(Northeast)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... For years fishermen and processors at the Boston Fish Pier have wondered if Massport, the state agency that manages the pier, really wanted commercial fishermen around. Part of their concern was prompted by the agency's decision a few...

Salmon advocates pan BPA summer water spill plan: say levels are too low to aid migration; utility asserts flow will help fish and ratepayers.(Pacific)(Bonneville Power Administration)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The Bonneville Power Administration's revised plan to decrease summer water spills over four Columbia and Snake rivers dams to help fish migrate downriver and bypass turbines isn't enough, say salmon advocates and northwest Indian tribes. The...

Fernandina Beach, Fla.(Home port: where we live)
September 1, 2004... THE TOWN Population: 10,549, according to 2000 U.S. Census Fleet size: There are at least 15 resident boats, more counting transients during the high seasons. TOP SPEClES LANDED IN 2003 (To protect business privacy, NMFS does not...

One-pot monkfish and rice: Pete Fagan, Montauk, N.Y.(Galley watch: at-sea cuisine)(New York)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Pete Fagan, 53, who has been fishing for 30 years--currently on the Corey and Leah, a dragger that fishes out of Montauk--offers a simple rice and fish recipe that serves six to eight people in one sitting, or four for two sittings. "We've...

Pair of parasites killing Klamath River salmon: scientists unsure of impact on entire stock.(Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Researchers discovered two parasites were responsible for killing an unusually high number of salmon in the Klamath River in early summer. Scientists found in a survey that Ceratomyxa shasta and parvicapsula were responsible for the deaths...

Calif. suing tuna canners to get mercury warning: industry is gearing up to meet challenge.(Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... California is suing Chicken of the Sea, StarKist and Bumble Bee for failing to warn consumers of the health risks of mercury contained in canned albacore and light tuna. Since the 1990s, the state has known that mercury has been linked to...

Law to further squeeze California trawl grounds: ban would close currently exempted areas.(Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A bill that would ban trawling in California waters has cleared two legislative hurdles and is expected to become law. Senate Bill 1459, sponsored by State Sen. Dede Alpert (D-Coronado, San Diego County), was approved in a 9-6 vote by the...

William Perry Nelson: Sitka, Alaska.(Snapshot: who we are)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Living the life of a longliner presents ample challenge and compensation in a tidy neat package for William Perry Nelson. "It's not easy; it's demanding, and it's rewarding," says Nelson, who's fished on numerous vessels hailing from ports...

Miscalculations add up to vessel buyback hang-up: NMFS error inflates some boats' landings totals, stalls plan to trim Bering Sea crab fleet.(North Pacific)(National Marine Fisheries Service )(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Mathematical errors have stalled progress in the federal buyback program for Bering Sea crabbers. As of mid-June, 28 vessel owners had been notified of winning bids in the buyback plan, under which $100 million will be spent to thin the...

Trident buys NorQuest as processor ranks thin: acquisition merges major salmon players.(North Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Consolidation appears to be the key to survival for fish processors in Alaska. As the flow and availability of seafood products increase on a global basis, an increasing number of fish packers have been forced to consolidate or get out. In...

Unmanned eyes in sky watch over fishing fleet: Coast Guard tests planes for surveillance.(North Pacific)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... They're light; they're fearless. They don't need sleep--and they've got eyes to watch fisheries in the Bering Sea. Unmanned, remote-controlled airplanes have been gaining popularity for their duties in the Homeland Security program and for...

Lawmakers' bill targets fishermen's role on councils: legislation may be preview of wrangling to come with reauthorization of Magnuson Act.(National)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Political wrangling surrounding reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens fishery management act is heating up. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) in June introduced legislation confirming that recommendations offered...

Two harvesters denied second term on council: new industry representatives appointed.(National)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... To some observers, the recent spate of appointments to the nation's regional fishery management councils was more newsworthy for the members who did not get reappointed than for those who were chosen. Jim Lovgren, a New Jersey fisherman...

Sockeye restocking ends 80-year absence at lake: Okanagan Nation Alliance releases 350,000 fry in first step of 12-year salmon project.(Canada)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... For the first time in 80 years, sockeye salmon fry are swimming in Skaha Lake, near Penticton in south central British Columbia. The Okanagan Nation Alliance, a group representing several local First Nations bands, raised the fry from eggs...

Buccaneer: squid purse seiner.(Boat of the Month)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... "The boats I had before were wooden and required a lot of maintenance," says the Buccaneer's owner, David Crabbe of Monterey, Calif. "The hatches were not watertight... If it got rough and I did not have fish on board, it was really light...

EU support of pact not in doubt, Canadian says: enforcement with Portuguese raises issue.(Canada)(European Union)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... A report that the European Union might dilute the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization's enforcement powers is being greeted with skepticism in Canada. Struan Stevenson, chair of the EU's fisheries committee, told the Canadian...

Weakfish: plenty of fish in the sea, but they're out of reach of Mid-Atlantic boats.(Northeast)
September 1, 2004... The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission started imposing harvest reductions on weakfish in the 1990s. Since then, the fishery has recovered remarkably, not only in absolute abundance, but also in the number of older fish. Recovery...

Squid: hot and heavy market predicted provided boats deliver prime size.(Pacific)
September 1, 2004... International demand for California market squid should keep ex-vessel and wholesale prices up--providing the supply of prime sizes remains plentiful during the test of the central California fishery and into the beginning of the southern...

Summer flounder: Carolina quota shift lets the fleet take advantage of Lenten demand.(Gulf/South Atlantic)
September 1, 2004... Score a victory for market-sensitive fishery management in the North Carolina summer flounder fishery. Reacting to broad industry consensus, Preston Pate, director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, used his executive...

Pollock: twice-frozen Chinese imports bump Alaska fillets aside in United States.(North Pacific)
September 1, 2004... The bad news for Alaska trawlers is that U.S. markets have been inundated with imported pollock fillets. Moreover, customers have expressed more interest in twice-frozen fillets (frozen at sea, then thawed for reprocessing) coming in from China...

Getting their licks in: for Capt. Robert Hollowell and the crew of the Ella K, there's nothing better than the beginning of crab dredging season on Chesapeake Bay.(At Sea)
September 1, 2004... There is a crackle of excitement aboard the Ella K on opening day of crab dredging season in Virginia. The wind has swung to the northwest and is blowing a stiff 25 knots, sending white caps skipping across the protected waters of Little...

Promised land, imported seafood: Dixie's Vietnamese shrimpers face many of the same challenges non-Vietnamese fishermen face--and a few of their own.(fishing)(Cover Story)
September 1, 2004... With one hand on a spoke of his trawler's big wooden steering wheel, 35-year-old Kiet Tran gives words of encouragement to another captain, whose boat--with another in tow--is bogged on a mud flat less than a mile from the Louisiana dock where...

Someone's blue vision: there's a place for commercial fishermen in the new world order that is being articulated by ocean activists. A very small place.(Essay)
September 1, 2004... Let me guess. You're not crazy about processor quotas, but with fewer boats fishing crabs, you'll probably survive. Or maybe you don't have enough days at sea, but you're going to borrow money and lease more. Or maybe you think a tariff on...

Royal lines: the Princess Laura, the fourth vessel Joe DiMaio has built, reflects the Gloucesterman's eye for looks and constant improvements.(Boats & Gear)
September 1, 2004... All fishing boats aren't pleasing to the eye, but one that surely fits the nice-to-behold category is the Princess Laura, a 99-foot dragger owned and operated by Joe DiMaio of Gloucester, Mass. It's probably no coincidence that the Princess...

Radio ways: new VHF units feature digital selective calling, remote microphones and are likely to be waterproof.(Talking Stuff)(Very High Frequency)
September 1, 2004... Marine communications has finally come out--exposed itself so to speak. Back in the late 1940s and early '50s commercial fishermen were just experimenting with the brand-new notion of calling other boats and even shore using...

A fix on eletronic navigation: we've come a long way since loran A, and the future looks even better.(GPS)
September 1, 2004... Just a few short years ago the most that could be expected for a position fix was an accuracy of 1,500 feet with loran C, and only if you were in certain locations. These days, however, GPS position fixes can be developed almost immediately...

Designs on the future: naval architects Susanne Altenburger and Phil Bolger propose a fishing vessel featuring a narrow, single-chine, composite hull.(A Different View)
September 1, 2004... Anyone who has attended meetings of the New England Fishery Management Council in Gloucester, Mass., during the past few years has probably been accosted by Susanne Altenburger, a naval architect with a German accent and a formidable, almost...

Race season comes to Maine; shop completing lobster boat.(North)
September 1, 2004... On July 2, the First Team, a Northern Bay 36 hull that was finished off by Travis Otis and his father, Keith, of Otis Enterprises Marine Corp. in Searsport, Maine, left its mooring in Searsport Harbor. Its destination: Jonesport and Beals...

New deck cranes installed; boatyard has first 30-footer.(West)
September 1, 2004... In June, the 120-foot trawler Ocean Leader was hauled at the Dakota Creek Industries boatyard in Anacortes, Wash., for deck and shaft work. A boom that had been in use since the boat was a crabber was removed in Seattle, and then the crew at...

Yard builds "fine" clammer; busy Va. railway has options.(South)
September 1, 2004... Mid-Atlantic commercial fishermen are having some mighty fine boats built down South and Patti Shipyard of Pensacola, Fla., offers a good example. The yard has just about completed a 134' x 34' x 12' clammer for Barney Truex, Jimmy Meyers and...

Bulletin board.(Calendar)
September 1, 2004... SEPT. 30-OCT. 2 Fish Expo WorkBoat Atlantic Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, R.I. www.fishexpoatlantic.com * www.workboatatlantic.com This biennial event serves the entire Eastern Seaboard, and is the largest East...

A wider range of choices: the JMA 5300 radar series from JRC gives buyers more options.(Product Roundup)
September 1, 2004... JRC, no stranger to the radar scene, has just introduced its JMA 5300 radar series, its most powerful entry with up to 60 kilowatts of transmitting power. The series also signals an attitude change that should make the radar more competitive...

New England Fishery Management Council.(On the move)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The New England Fishery Management Council announced the following appointments for 2004: COLIN M. "RIP" CUNNINGHAM JR. of Dover, Mass. and PHILIP R. RUHLE SR. of North Ringstown, R.I. to at-large seats, and DAVID GOETHEL of Hampton, N.H., to...

Northwest Fisheries Association.(On the move)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The board of Northwest Fisheries Association has appointed BARRY LESTER executive director. Lester started his career in the seafood industry in 1978. He was president of Seafood Producers Co-op for 15 years, during which time the group became...

GS-Hydro.(On the move)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... GARY SAUDER has been named president of GS-HYDRO, North America. GS-Hydro is a supplier of industrial hydraulic piping headquartered in Hameenlinna, Finland. Sauder has been with Hagglunds for over 20 years. He moved to the North American...

Simrad.(On the move)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... SIMRAD, centered in Lynnwood, Wash., has announced the following new hires and internal appointments: to the technical service department, SHANE MACKENZIE, CHRISTIAN EAGLEHEAD and MATTHEW WILLIAMS have been added; TOM THORSVIG now heads the...

Detroit Diesel Corp.(On the move)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... BERNARD (BARNEY) BENTGEN has been appointed rice president of marine sales for DETROIT DIESEL CORP., replacing Rob Miltz. Bentgen has extensive experience in the marine industry and a strong technical background, having held positions with...

Gulf and Southern Atlantic Fisheries Foundation.(On the move)(GULF AND SOUTHERN ATLANTIC FISHERIES FOUNDATION)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... DAVID A. MEDICI has been named program director for the GULF AND SOUTHERN ATLANTIC FISHERIES FOUNDATION, headquartered in Tampa, Fla. He will be responsible for the technical aspects of foundation projects, coordinating performance activities...

Davidson Publishing has announced that the Atlantic States Marine Directory will be distributed free of charge in early 2005.(Company News)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... DAVIDSON PUBLISHING has announced that the ATLANTIC STATES MARINE DIRECTORY will be distributed free of charge in early 2005. The annual publication will serve as a buyers guide for vessel owners, commercial fishermen, captains, boat builders,...

Trim your waste: Ultra-Sep separators make bilge water come clean.
September 1, 2004... It used to be that no one paid any attention to what was pumped overboard: lubricating oil, hydraulic fluid, fish grease and waste. If the pump could handle it, it went into the sea. Those days are gone, although some still try to get away...

Apex Engineering Products Corp. has introduced Rydlyme Marine, a sale, non-toxic, non-corrosive, biodegradable marine descaler developed to dissolve mineral deposits that hinder the performance of vital water systems.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... APEX ENGINEERING PRODUCTS CORP. has introduced RYDLYME MARINE, a sale, non-toxic, non-corrosive, biodegradable marine descaler developed to dissolve mineral deposits that hinder the performance of vital water systems. RYDLYME may be used in...

White Co. introduces a new hitch guide, the Magnetic Hitch Locator, a set of reflector globes attached to masts that extend up to 60 inches.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... WHITE CO. introduces a new hitch guide, the MAGNETIC HITCH LOCATOR, a set of reflector globes attached to masts that extend up to 60 inches. The masts attach to the bumper and, hitch via strong magnets, and the globes extend above or outside...

Carmanah Technologies has unveiled models 701-GPS and 702-GPS Marine Lights, what the company says are the world's first self-contained, GPS-synchronized solar LED marine lights.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... CARMANAH TECHNOLOGIES has unveiled models 701-GPS and 702-GPS MARINE LIGHTS, what the company says are the world's first self-contained, GPS-synchronized solar LED marine lights. Each unit is a three-nautical-mile navigation light that...

Stidd Systems has released the 500N-V5 shock-mitigating seat that adjusts damping rate to the impact in real time, originally developed for military seat/bolsters.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... STIDD SYSTEMS has released the 500N-V5 SHOCK-MITIGATING SEAT that adjusts damping rate to the impact in real time, originally developed for military seat/bolsters. A 6 5/8-inch diameter pedestal interfaces with the deck on a 12-inch diameter...

Nikon has announced a new series of binoculars designed for reliable optical performance under even the most extreme conditions.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... NIKON has announced a new series of binoculars designed for reliable optical performance under even the most extreme conditions. The ACTION EX ALL TERRAIN BINOCULARS feature six different models, including a 7 x 50 marine version, 7 x 35, 8 x...

Bombardier recreational products will offer 200-, 225- and 250-hp Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines in the 2005 model year.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... BOMBARDIER RECREATIONAL PRODUCTS will offer 200-, 225- and 250-hp EVINRUDE E-TEC OUTBOARD ENGINES in the 2005 model year. The company says that this new family of Evinrude E-TEC outboards features both freshwater and saltwater configurations...

The Shummer Corp. has released a chum dispenser that allows the user to regulate the amount of chum released at any depth.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... THE SHUMMER CORP. has released a CHUM DISPENSER that allows the user to regulate the amount of chum released at any depth. Simply remove the screw cap, load with your favorite chum product, secure the cap, attach a rope, and lower into the...

Prospec Electronics introduces the 6" x 9" JBL MS920 coaxial speaker.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... PROSPEC ELECTRONICS introduces the 6" x 9" JBL MS920 COAXIAL SPEAKER. The M8920 can handle up to 300 watts and has a frequency response of 50Hz to 21kHz, which the company says allows loud, clear sound to be produced across a broad range of...

Comnav's new heavy-duty Series 520 rotary drive can be used on boats up to approximately 80 feet.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... COMNAV's new heavy-duty Series 520 ROTARY DRIVE can be used on boats up to approximately 80 feet. The rotary drive contains only steel and bronze gears--no plastic cogs--and can be mounted at angles up to 30 degrees from the horizontal. An...

EchoPilot Marine Electronics.(At A Glance)
September 1, 2004... ECHOPILOT MARINE ELECTRONICS has introduced its Collision Avoidance Sonar System, a real-time sonar system to help avoid collisions with objects up to 4,000 feet ahead. C.A.S.S. transmits a bat-like "swept chirp" every one and one-half seconds...

Roth IRAs are a powerful retirement fund tool.(Finance)(Individual Retirement Arrangement)
September 1, 2004... The Roth IRA is a great gift that Congress has given us. The Roth provides retirement funding that will grow and be free of income tax forever. Here's the rub: Contributions to a Roth aren't tax deductible and conversions from a traditional...

Committee requesting info to update Seattle monument.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... The Seattle Fishermen's Memorial is planning to install a kiosk in the area of the monument in front of Chinooks Restaurant in Seattle. We are planning a type of a much screen monitor that will display picture and information on loved ones,...

Phrases in June book review manage to bewilder reader.(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2004... I've always assumed your publication was pointed toward those of us making a living on the water... and then I read your review of "From Abundance to Scarcity" (NF June '04, p. 7). You use words and phrases such as "philistine impulses,"...

Caraquet fishermen seek moratorium on lobsters: want snow crab quota as compensation.(Canada)(Association of Lobster Fishermen)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... In early June lobstermen from the Caraquet area of Northern New Brunswick came into port with a load of snow crab, which they proceeded to give away--a gesture both generous and illegal. The fishermen, now organized into the Association of...

Last set.
September 1, 2004... THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S FATHER, Charlie Etzel (right) and Skip Rudolph scoop live cod destined to be sold in New York City's Chinese market on this February day. The cod were caught while longlining on Etzel's 31-footer the Keeper. The duo fish from...