Saving Seafood

Lobster fishery reduces floating rope in hopes of protecting North Atlantic right whales

April 4, 2018 — Lobster fishers on P.E.I. are taking new measures this season to help protect the endangered North Atlantic right whales from entanglement.

In January, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced changes to the snow crab fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to protect the right whales, including reducing the amount of rope floating on the surface and mandatory reporting of all lost gear.

Fishermen are also required to report any sightings of the endangered whales.

At least 18 North Atlantic right whales died in Canadian and U.S. waters last year.

Necropsies on seven of the carcasses determined four whales died of blunt force trauma from collisions with ships, while the other three likely died from entanglements in fishing gear.

There are only an estimated 450 to 500 of the whales left in the world.

‘Delicate balance’

This winter, the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association set up a special working group focused on helping to protect the right whale, with members representing all 13 species fished around Prince Edward Island.

“It’s a delicate balance between the fishery and the survival of these species,” said Melanie Giffin, a marine biologist and program planner with PEIFA.

“So our members will do everything they can in terms of reducing rope and to try to help reduce those entanglements for the whales.”

Giffin said most of the measures are being mandated by the federal department of fisheries.

“There’s a reduction in the amount of floating rope on the surface of the water and that’s being done in numerous species,” she said.

‘It’s not specific that it has to be lead rope but the rope needs to be sinking.”

In the snow crab fishery, there will also be colour coding of ropes, with different colours woven into the rope to identify where it’s from, including P.E.I.

“That’s to ensure that if there is a whale entangled, we have an idea of where that whale was entangled,” Giffin said.

“If they’re all entangled in the same area, then maybe management measures need to be looked more closely in that area, rather than the Gulf as a whole.”

There is no colour coding for lobster ropes yet, she added.

Read the full story at CBC News

 

Operators Gear Up to Present Innovative, Flavorful Fried Fish During Lent

SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh — January 13, 2016 — Foodservice operators will infuse more flavor into the traditional fried fish staples during this year’s Lenten season. Fish dishes are expected to feature more Mediterranean, Asian, Middle Eastern and Mexican concepts and flavors. “Fish is the perfect canvas for any flavor, ” says Arlene Spiegel, of Arlene Spiegel & Associates, a restaurant consulting company in New York. “And people love fried food. A fried fish sandwich or fish and chips can be stellar. And it shouldn’t be just for Lent. It can be promoted all year round. It can be something important.”

Ocean Choice International said they are pleased with the decision by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland that dismissed a challenge to the company from Landvis Canada, the minority partner owned by an Icelandic Fishing Firm. Landvis sought to oust Martin and Blaine Sullivan, the two brothers who control the company. “It was a clear and unambiguous decision and we are very pleased that Justice Orsborn completely accepted our position,” said Martin Sullivan, Chief Executive Officer with OCI.

In other news the PEI Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA) wants changes made to the temporary foreign workers program to allow seafood processing plants to hire more workers. “It gets back to being able to process all the product that’s coming in. We’ve got a short term strategy, let us adopt it and we’ll work towards a bigger longer-term solution,” said PEIFA Executive Director Ian MacPherson.

Meanwhile, Ecuador and Peru are reporting lower mahi catches since the season began in Mid-November. It appears El Nino may be impacting mahi landings since warmer waters have increased the supply of bait fish. “One of the effects of El Niño is a bountiful supply of natural prey which the mahi are inclined to eat. Because of this they are preferentially feeding on natural bait and are less inclined to feed on fishing bait, resulting in lower catches,” said Jeff Azari, at Pacific Coral.

Finally, Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski said she would stall the final vote approving Dr. Robert Califf as the next FDA Commissioner if she does not get assurances that mandatory labeling laws will be written for genetically modified salmon. “I want to make sure, be very, very certain, that when we are talking about these genetically engineered fish for human consumption, voluntary labeling is not adequate,” said Sen. Murkowski.

This story originally appeared on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It has been reprinted with permission.