State and Local

June 17, 2014 — The following was released by the North Carolina Fisheries Association:

REMINDER:

Public Hearing on Spot & Croaker Draft Addendum is tonight, June 17, 2014 at DMF Central Office in Morehead City at 6PM

Click here for more info

 

June 14, 2014 — The following was released by the Maine Department of Marine Resources:

The Maine Department of Marine Resources Division of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat staff recently concluded annual assessments of Atlantic salmon smolt populations in the Narraguagus River, the East Machias River, the Piscataquis River, and the Sheepscot River. The work will help the Department and its partners at the state and federal level understand the status of Atlantic Salmon and the quality of habitat in Maine waters. 

The four rivers are chosen because their geographic range provides an indicator of Atlantic Salmon and habitat health along the coast. A smolt is the life stage of Atlantic salmon that transitions from freshwater river and stream habitats to saltwater coastal and open ocean areas.
 
Listed as an Endangered Species since 2000, the Atlantic salmon is one of Maine’s iconic fish species, long the favorite of recreational anglers. However factors including overexploitation, degradation of water quality, and damming of rivers have been associated with the decline in abundance. The populations of Atlantic salmon present in the Gulf of Maine represent the last wild populations of U.S. Atlantic salmon.
 
“Our efforts to preserve and protect the Atlantic salmon population in Maine include the spring trapping and evaluation of both wild and hatchery grown smolts to assess their abundance and related management actions, as well as adult returns,” said Oliver Cox, Director of DMR’s Division of Sea-run Fisheries and Habitat. “Our objective is to increase the population of smolts through management actions including stocking and habitat restoration. Data from these assessments, which will be reviewed over the next year, will help us determine future management actions.”
 
On their way to the sea, migrating smolts were captured for DMR assessments in rotary screw traps which were suspended from a cable and float on pontoons. A “cone” portion of the traps has vanes inside that prevent fish from swimming out. The fish were directed to the back of the trap where they end up in a container called a live car.
 
During May and June DMR scientists tended the traps on the four rivers daily, counting trapped fish, recording biological data such as length, weight, age, and origin before releasing the smolt to continue their migration.
 
The scientists estimated the total number of smolts passing by the traps since all the smolts leaving the river cannot be captured. “Use of smolt traps gives the best estimate of smolt production in salmon habitat located above trapping sites,” said Cox. Data obtained during the smolt trapping season is used by DMR scientists to estimate freshwater and marine survival when used in conjunction with the juvenile or adult abundance of the same year class.
 
Since 1996, Atlantic salmon smolts have been monitored on the Narraguagus River in Cherryfield. “This is the longest series of smolt data Maine currently has,” said Cox. “This project is part of a long term program of monitoring Atlantic salmon in the Narraguagus River. The data collected from the smolt trapping activities combined with juvenile assessments and adult trap data form a complete picture of salmon biology in the Narraguagus River and can be used to indicate the health of Atlantic salmon across Maine.”
 
For a second year, assessment on the East Machias River was done in partnership with the Downeast Salmon Federation as part of a larger project that uses juvenile salmon known as fingerling parr which are raised at the East Machias Aquatic Resource Center. The project, an effort to increase juvenile salmon production in the drainage, uses two rotary screw traps located downstream of the Route 191 bridge in Jacksonville.
 
The population in the East Machias River is comprised of 2 and 3 year old wild smolts resulting from natural reproduction, as well as hatchery smolts resulting from fall fingerling parr stocking.
 
Since 2008, Atlantic salmon smolt production has also been evaluated in the Upper Piscataquis River to understand how smolt produced from direct adult releases compared to previous fry stocking efforts.  In 2009, adult Atlantic salmon were trapped at the Veazie Dam and transported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery.  The fish were held at the hatchery until October when they were released in to the Upper Piscataquis to spawn on their own.  “Since 2012, smolts handled at this site have been the result of adults spawning in the wild.  Preliminary results indicate that this management action can successfully produce smolts at densities equal to what we would expect for a healthy Atlantic salmon run,” said Cox.
 
The Sheepscot River Atlantic salmon smolt trapping project has been operated annually since 2001 to document smolt migration timing and run size. “Since 2009, population estimates for smolts have been used to assess management changes,” said Cox. “In 2004, we started stocking parr in the fall instead of fry in the spring. The population estimates from parr releases indicated that smolt production double due to this change.”
 
“More recently, smolt population estimates have been used to evaluate a watershed wide egg planting project,” said Cox. “Most of the juvenile habitat is now being supplemented by Atlantic salmon egg planting.  Starting in 2014 the majority of the naturally reared smolts, in the Sheepscot River, will have been a result of this egg planting effort.”
 
Funding and equipment for smolt assessments is provided by NOAA Fisheries through a Cooperative Agreement with Maine Department of Marine Resources.
 
Atlantic salmon return as adults during the spring and summer and spawn in the fall. Their eggs typically hatch in April and fry emerge in May. The juveniles then spend one to three years in the stream before smolting and leaving for the ocean. There they spend an additional one to three years gaining size before returning to their natal streams to spawn and start the life cycle over. Atlantic salmon can spawn repeatedly if they survive the migrations.
 
“Atlantic Salmon are the king of fish and the DMR is working hard on many fronts, from partnering with other agencies on dam removal efforts to stocking and trapping projects like these to protect this once abundant and still remarkable fish species,” said Cox.
 
The Maine Department of Marine Resources Division of Sea-run Fisheries works in partnership with other state and federal agencies to protect, conserve, restore, manage and enhance diadromous fish populations, including Atlantic salmon, and their habitat in all waters of the State. For more information on the Maine DMR Division of Sea-run Fisheries visit http://www.maine.gov/dmr/searunfish/index.shtml.

 

June 16, 2014 — Read the following story from The Maine Department of Marine Resources:

Working on the water can involve serious occupational hazards, not the least of which is the water itself. That’s why Maine Marine Patrol Officers recently spent two days in the pool working on skills designed to keep them safe and healthy should they go in the drink.
 
The Officer Water Survival (OWS) course is an intensive two-day training program developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) that involves a variety of skills tests designed to build comfort and confidence in the water.
 
“It is critical that Marine Patrol Officers take this course to supplement the training that we already have,” said Marine Patrol Lieutenant Marlowe Sonksen. “Every day our officers are working on or around the water so this training provides them another unique skill set to protect their own lives and the lives of others.”
 
The training was conducted over two days in the pool at the Alfond Center in Waterville. “This training allows officers who work on the water to train in a controlled environment for the variety of situations they might encounter,” said Lieutenant Sonksen. “If it happens in the Gulf of Maine, regardless of the time of year, the water is cold and panic can set in without the proper training.”
 
The Officer Water Survival Course, as part of NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program, was created to establish a national standard of training, qualification, and credentialing of marine law enforcement officers and emergency first responders. It is the purpose of this course to establish a basic understanding of officer survival on the water.
 
Wearing full uniforms, participants learned how to get quickly into a life jacket in the water, swam an obstacle course in gear that included a ballistic vest and simulated side arm, and learned to deal with a combatant while in the water. “This was both mentally and physically challenging, even for the strongest swimmers,” said Lieutenant Sonksen.
 
Participants were also required to demonstrate proficiency in the freestyle, breast stroke and side stroke as well as underwater swimming. In addition, officers swam 100 yards, treaded water for 10 minutes, and performed a head-first dive to retrieve an object on the floor of the pool.
 
“Successful completion of the proficiency test does not guarantee success in OWS training,” said Lieutenant Sonksen. “But it can be used to identify a person who requires basic training before progressing to the more skilled activities. Fortunately all of our officers demonstrated proficiency in the swim test as well as the more challenging skills tests.”
 
“This training can save lives,” said Lieutenant Sonksen. “And if we can keep our selves safe, we can keep others safe as well.”
 
The Marine Patrol is a Bureau of the Maine Department of Marine Resource that provides law enforcement, search and rescue, public health, maritime security, and public safety services on Maine’s coastal and tidal waters. More information about the Maine Marine Patrol can be found at http://www.maine.gov/dmr/bmp/homepage.html.

DURHAM, N.H. — June 15, 2014 — Skate wing tacos, redfish tempura, miso soup with kelp were among many unconventional menu items served to University of New Hampshire students and guests April 16 at the Holloway Commons Dining Hall, raising awareness about underutilized fish species found off the Seacoast.

Slow Fish of UNH, an offshoot of a worldwide movement, is thought to be one of the first programs of its kind in the country on a college campus.

Last fall, students from Slow Food UNH coordinated a pilot program at UNH. This included a “Slow Fish Workshop” where 20 students learned how to filet and cook with seven different “under-loved” species of fish. The workshop was featured on NH Chronicle and served as the driving force behind the adoption of the program this spring at UNH.

Katy Allen is a sophomore from Lyme and the UNH Slow Food president. “The pilot program allows us to raise the awareness of students to ‘odd’ fish and hopefully the dishes will gain in popularity, which will mean the program has worked,” said Allen.

Students dined with David Goethel, a local fisherman with more than 40 years at sea. He is captain of the “Ellen Diane,”a fishing vessel out of Hampton Harbor.

Goethel that evening reminisced about the famous late chef Julia Child: “She was one of the pioneers of creating a need for underutilized species when she prepared dishes using monk fish. Now, monk fish is a popular dish.”

Goethel is eager to see the Slow Fish program succeed because it means more opportunity for him to sell more of the fish caught with his day-boat dragger. Typically, skate and red fish would be a nuisance and thrown back.

Read the full story from the Foster's Daily Democrat

June 14, 2014 (SitNews) — You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again: The seafood industry is Alaska’s largest private employer, putting more people to work than mining, oil/gas, timber and tourism combined. The annual revenue the seafood sector contributes to State coffers is second only to Big Oil. So where does the seafood industry rank among the major candidates running for Alaska Governor and the US Senate?
Here’s what a thorough look at each of their campaign websites reveals, starting with the race for Governor (all in alphabetical order) —

Byron Mallott (Democratic candidate) only mentions fishing commercially in Southeast in the “About Byron” section. www.byronmallott.com/

Gov. Sean Parnell (Republican, incumbent) only mentions fishing in the “Issues/Standing Against Federal Overreach” section, saying he “fought off the federal government’s attempt to implement “ocean zoning”—known as marine spatial planning,” and “To protect the livelihoods of our fishing fleet in Southeast, the State of Alaska petitioned to de-list the Eastern stock of Steller sea lions that had been protected by the Endangered Species Act.” An article about “Wal-Mart to keep buying Alaska salmon” appears in the Blog section. www.parnell2014.com/

Bill Walker (Independent candidate) has a complete section listed under “Issues/Fish Management” saying: “Having spent 30 years in Prince William Sound, I am familiar with the importance fisheries play in all aspects of the economy…. Furthermore, I will protect, maintain and improve the fish, game and aquatic plant resources of the State, and manage their use and development for the well-being of the people of the State, consistent with high-sustained yield principles.” www.walkerforalaska.com/

Candidates running for US Senate need to be aware that nearly 85% of Alaska’s seafood harvests fall under federal jurisdiction –

Senator Mark Begich (Democrat, incumbent) lists fishing resources under the “Priorities/Economy and Jobs” section saying: “In Alaska, fishing isn’t a hobby or a sporting event. More than 76,000 jobs in our state are directly or indirectly linked to the fishing industry. Our fisheries bring in $5 billion to our state’s economy. For us, fishing is a way of life.” Begich also mentions his ongoing fight against genetically modified salmon called Frankenfish. www.markbegich.com/

Read the full story from Sit News

June 12, 2014 — Summer weather has finally returned, and it's time to head to the ocean to celebrate our city by the sea with "Portraits of a Port," at AHA! Head downtown June 12 to celebrate Whaling City's historic port — complete with live music, new art, good food, great shopping — and yes, a giant whale puppet.

HA! (Arts, History and Architecture!) is held rain or shine the second Thursday of each month from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown New Bedford. All events are free and public.

Sponsored by the Charles W. Morgan Homecoming and the National Park Service, this month's AHA! is a pre-celebration for the Morgan Homecoming.

Here are just a few of the evening's events. For a full list of the night's events, visit www.ahanewbedford.org.

Take a dock walk with the Working Waterfront Festival. Walk steps off at 5:30 p.m. from the National Park Visitor Center (33 William St.)

Create your own "Portraits of a Port" with BCC photography instructor Denise Donatelli. Meet in front of BCC (800 Purchase St.) at 6 p.m.

The Schooner Ernestina offers hands-on activities for kids from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the 54th Regiment Plaza.

The 19th-century Morgan sailors come to life as Ruth and Abby, the National Park's 1850s Ladies, tell tales of adventure. 6 to 8 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park (33 William St.)

It's a bird, it's a plane … it's the new Superhero Academy! It's happening this summer at the Andrea McCoy Rec Center, but learn about it at Wing's Court. Plus hands-on kids' activities.

Buzzards Bay Coalition (114 Front St.) presents "Make Your Own Portrait of a Port" from recycled materials.

The Charles W. Morgan Special Event Series from 5 to 8 p.m. at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (18 Johnny Cake Hill.) Preview the 40-foot sperm whale skeletal sculpture puppet on display in the Whaling Museum Plaza. Includes free admission to select galleries.

Read the full story from The New Bedford Standard-Times

June 12, 2014 — The conditions at the dock at the T Wharf early Wednesday morning were calm and pleasant, but the waves picked up in the quickening tide as Bill Lee motored the 44-foot Ocean Reporter out through Rockport Harbor and off toward Ipswich Bay.

“This is a little sloppier than we’d like, but we’ve been in worse,” said Mark R. Fregeau, a professor of marine biology at Salem State University. “You should have seen it in February.”

Lee is piloting the Ocean Reporter toward Hodgkins Cove, to a patch of open water and a tiny stretch of aquaculture that might hold the key to growing domestic mussels in open U.S. waters.

The project, started in 2006, first centered on determining the best type of gear and the optimum setups for cultivating mussels on an enormous scale, as well as learning about the shellfish’s spawning cycle and how to seed the lines.

In 2012, with the help of a $65,000 grant from NOAA, it began looking at the intricacies of developing a federal permitting process for mussel culture, and engaging local fishermen in the project.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

June 12, 2014 — The N.C. House and N.C. Senate have big differences in their respective budget bills, and in the realm of saltwater fisheries, a big one is a fund created to help the commercial fishing industry that takes money collected from the public and allows a group of private citizens to determine how it is spent. The Senate wants it; the House doesn’t.

In the Senate’s budget bill that passed on May 31, the North Carolina Commercial Fishing Resource Fund was created by earmarking a percentage of the sale of every commercial fishing license and every recreational commercial gear license to the fund.

The establishment of the fund was no big surprise was needed to cover the cost of observers required by Incidental Take Permits for endangered sea turtles. The legislature funded the observers last year but told the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries it needed to find other funding in the future. The surprise was who the Senate thought should administrate this fund. 

The bill establishes a board of directors for the NCCFRF that would be comprised of one member each from the North Carolina Fisheries Association, North Carolina Watermen United, Ocracoke Working Waterman’s Association, Albemarle Fisherman’s Association, Carteret County Fisherman’s Association and Brunswick County Fisherman’s Association.

Read the full story from North Carolina Sportsman

June 11, 2014 — If you’re a landlubber wondering what it’s like to cast a line from the ocean or North Carolina’s sounds and rivers, head to the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

The museum’s newest exhibit, Recreational Fishing in North Carolina, takes a look at the types of fish anglers are catching and gives visitors an opportunity to make a catch of their own. The exhibit includes a game that lets visitors battle and reel in a fish from the “fighting chair.”

The exhibit also has a display of vintage rods, reels and fishing lures and a model of a Jarrett Bay 43-foot Express Hull crafted by Newport resident Jim Brode, a member of the Carolina Maritime Model Society.

The exhibit was funded, in part, through a grant from the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries through its Coastal Recreational Fishing License fund.

Read the full story at the Jacksonville Daily News

June 11, 2014 — Two popular fish species – spot and Atlantic croaker – will be the topics of much discussion in coming days and weeks.

North Carolina is one of four states gathering public comment at meetings today through Wednesday on draft addenda to fishery management plans being prepared by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries hearing is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Central District Office, 5285 U.S. 70 W., Morehead City. For information, contact Michelle Duvall at 252-808-8011.

A hearing will be held Thursday in Annapolis, Md. Other hearings are Monday in Newport News, Va., and Wednesday in Brunswick, Ga.

The draft addenda are available at www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input. Comment by 5 p.m. July 2 via fax to 703-842-0741 or via email to krootes-murdy@asmfc.org (subject line: croaker/spot draft addendum).

Read the full story at the Raleigh News and Observer