NOAA’s Fisheries Service Releases an Additional $70 Million in Disaster Aid to West Coast Salmon Fishing Industry
November 26, 2008
NOAA’s Fisheries Service announced it is making an additional $70 million in disaster-relief aid available to West Coast salmon fishermen, completing a financial-assistance package announced in September, when the agency released $100 million in disaster assistance.
The agency will provide the money to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. The commission is distributing the money to fishermen and related businesses affected by this year’s closure of the ocean salmon fishing season off California, Oregon, and Washington based on agreements with the three West Coast states.
To date, the commission has disbursed more than $73.6 million from the initial $100 million grant to eligible fishermen and businesses affected by the closure. That number is expected to rise to close to $100 million by the end of November.
The unprecedented collapse of Sacramento River Fall Chinook, combined with the exceptionally poor status of Coho salmon from Oregon and Washington, led officials to close all commercial and sport Chinook ocean fishing off California and most of Oregon last spring. Only a small hatchery-origin recreational Coho fishery off central and southern Oregon remained open, which also affected Washington fishermen.
The governors of all three West Coast states requested a federal disaster declaration as a result of the closures. The declaration, issued by the Secretary of Commerce, last May, paved the way for Congress to appropriate a $170 million disaster-relief package in July. The first funds were dispersed by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in early October.
The grant, developed by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in consultation with representatives of the West Coast governors, provides relief to affected commercial fishermen, wholesalers, processors, charter boat owners and recreational guides and businesses dependent on fishing.
So far, officials have sent aid to over 2,000 commercial fishermen with fishing permits. An additional 1,400 checks have been sent to businesses and others affected by the salmon closure. Businesses affected by the salmon closure can download application forms from the commission’s Web site at http://www.psmfc.org
. Applicants must be licensed state permit holders or have purchased a state business license or permit in 2007.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.
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NOAA Announces Up to $2 Million for Sockeye Salmon Disaster Affecting Puget Sound Fishermen
November 24, 2008
NOAA’s Fisheries Service today announced that several Northwest Indian tribes and the state of Washington will be eligible for up to a total of $2 million to assist tribal and non-tribal communities affected by the commercial fishery failure in Fraser River sockeye salmon.
“The assistance we are announcing will help tribal and non-tribal fishermen who have been hurt by drastic declines in sockeye salmon runs and harvests that are so important to these communities,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “We encourage the tribes and the state to use this aid to expand their work on salmon habitat restoration, stock enhancement, and retraining of fishermen.”
The tribes and the state of Washington will now submit plans to NOAA’s Fisheries Service outlining how the funds will be used.
Past sockeye landings will be taken into account in determining the amount each entity receives.
This is the second time that the Department of Commerce has found a fishery resource disaster in the Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery. A similar determination was made in 2002. This commercial fishery failure is separate from the Klamath and West Coast salmon disaster determinations made in 2006 and 2008 for ocean salmon fisheries.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov
On the Web:
NOAA’s Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
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California DFG Wardens Work with Commercial Lobster Fishermen to Catch Poachers
November 20, 2008
Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens arrested four suspected lobster poachers over the weekend on two all-night operations. The SCUBA-clad divers are suspected of stealing lobsters from commercial fishermen’s traps.
“Lobster trap poachers have always been a problem for commercial lobster fishermen,” stated Eric Kord, skipper to the patrol boat Thresher, whose crew spearheaded the operation. “For a poacher, traps can be tempting targets. Stealing from them can also earn a poacher a felony grand theft conviction.”
Arrested and booked were 37-year-old Oscar Pinon of Anaheim, 32-year-old Anton Vasilescu of Alisa Viejo, 31-year-old Robert Hartman of San Jacinto and 48-year-old Louie Maldonado of Apple Valley. All dive gear related to the commission of the crimes was seized.
During the operation, wardens also wrote citations for an undersized lobster, otherwise legally harvested, and use of illegal gear to harvest lobster.
While surveilling the shoreline for poaching activity, wardens ended up coordinating a rescue of a panicked diver who was in danger of drowning. Two wardens had to quickly don wetsuits to assist and while lifeguards rescued the diver, the wardens recovered his dive gear. Once the rescue was made and the scene was secured, the rescued diver’s partner was found to be in possession of illegally harvested scallops and was appropriately cited.
Making these kinds of cases requires extensive coordination between DFG wardens and commercial fishermen. Poaching losses can add up quickly for commercial fishermen and are taken very seriously in California state law. According to Section 487 (b)(2) of the California State Penal Code, grand theft occurs: “When fish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, kelp, algae or other aquacultural products are taken from a commercial or research operation which is producing that product, of a value exceeding one hundred dollars ($100).” The law is similar to a long-standing law making it a felony to steal more than $100 worth of agricultural products from a farmer. At the current commercial price of $10.50 per pound, a poacher who steals seven lobsters from a trap (the normal legal recreational limit) will have stolen in excess of the $100 threshold.
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Commerce Secretary Determines Sockeye Salmon Disaster Affecting Puget Sound Fishermen
November 17, 2008
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez determined that there has been a commercial fishery failure due to a continued fisheries resource disaster in the sockeye salmon fisheries in Puget Sound and the northern Pacific coast of Washington.
“Several Northwest Indian tribes and non-tribal fishermen in the state of Washington have been hurt by drastic declines in sockeye salmon runs and harvests that are so important to these communities,” said Secretary Gutierrez. “Our fisheries scientists continue to study the possible causes of this decline in an effort to find solutions.”
This is the second time that the Department of Commerce has found a fishery resource disaster in the Fraser River sockeye salmon fishery. A similar determination was made in 2002. This commercial fishery failure is separate from the Klamath and West Coast salmon disaster determinations made in 2006 and 2008 for ocean salmon fisheries.
“NOAA’s Fisheries Service will continue to work with the tribes and the state of Washington to assess economic damage to the fishing communities and look for long-term solutions,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov
On the Web: NOAA’s Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
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Commerce Secretary Determines Red Tide Disaster in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire
November 17, 2008
U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez determined that the economic effects of closing some shellfish fisheries due to a harmful algal bloom, commonly referred to as a red tide, in ocean waters off Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine has caused a commercial fishery failure.
“This natural disaster, which forced the closing of shellfish beds to protect human health, has hurt commercial shellfishermen from Massachusetts to Maine,” Gutierrez said. “We recognize that this disaster is widespread and we have determined a commercial fishery failure in the waters off all three states.”
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick requested the Secretary determine a commercial fishery failure due to red tide on Sept. 4. Shellfish closures due to the single cell algae that carries toxins began in the waters off Massachusetts in May, and spread north into the waters off New Hampshire and Maine. Fishermen have been unable to harvest clams, mussels, oysters and other shellfish in areas closed after tests showed the presence of red tide. Although some closures have been lifted, many areas remain closed.
When a similar outbreak occurred in 2005, the Department of Commerce also determined a commercial fishery failure.
“Working with the states, NOAA’s Fisheries Service will continue efforts to assess damage to the shellfishing industry and seek ways to lessen the economic effects of harmful algal blooms on the industry,” said Jim Balsiger, acting NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.
On the Web: NOAA’s Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov
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Coastal Fisheries Bay Team Tournament Slated for Aransas Pass
November 11, 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has scheduled a Coastal Fisheries Bay Team tournament targeting flounder for 6 a.m. until noon Nov. 15 at Conn Brown Harbor in Aransas Pass.
The program, launched in 2005, is designed to recruit experienced anglers to assist TPWD with collecting brood stock for hatchery programs. The anglers receive t-shirts and fishing lures — and the chance to win hand-held GPS units, rods and reels and BOGA-Grip handheld scales — all while promoting conservation.
An earlier event slated for Texas City was cancelled due to Huricane Ike.
“This all ties in to genetic diversity-the more fish we have for hatchery broodstock, the better it will be for the millions of fish we stock in Texas public waters to improve fishing each year,” said Robert Adami, TPWD coastal fisheries biologist in Corpus Christi.
A long-term decline in southern flounder numbers in Texas bays has led to a series of public scoping meetings to consider regulation changes for the 2009-2010 season. At the same time, efforts are underway at both TPWD and the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas to consistently and successfully spawn flounder in captivity.
“Avoiding inbreeding is an essential component of any hatchery breeding program. You don’t want the same fish siblings year after year after year,” Adami said. “You want at least 25 percent of your brood stock to be new fish each year, and this program is helping us do that.”
Each Coastal Fisheries Bay Team tournament is open to 30 two-person teams, 60 people total, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Registration takes place on-site the day of each tournament. There is no entry fee, but all entrants must be 21 years old or older. Participants may turn in three fish per tournament.
Everyone who brings in at least one flounder is eligible for a drawing to win a Garmin eTrex GPS, a BOGA-Grip handheld scale or a Shimano Calcutta 200B baitcasting reel mounted on a Texas Tackle Factory rod.
The prizes, equipment, and program are made possible through support from Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Since 1991, Anheuser-Busch, in partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, has contributed millions of dollars in funding to support conservation causes and fishing, hunting, and outdoor recreation programs in Texas.
Anglers interested in participating should call Robert Adami at (361) 215-7340 or e-mail him at robert [dot] adami [at] tpwd [dot] state [dot] tx [dot] us.
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FWC Seeks Proposals for Red Tide Control and Mitigation Program Grants
November 10, 2008
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute is seeking proposals for the Red Tide Control and Mitigation Program. The deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. Dec. 15. As a partner in the program, Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) will organize a nine-member panel to evaluate and rank applications. From the panel’s rankings, the FWC will develop a list to determine final grant awards.
The FWC plans to distribute up to $300,000 in fiscal year 2009-10 through the program for exploration of environmentally acceptable techniques or technologies for potential control or mitigation of Florida red tide blooms.
The program focuses on blooms of “Karenia brevis,” the Florida red tide organism. For the purpose of the program, “control and mitigation” represent efforts to minimize the size, intensity or duration of Florida red tide blooms or reduce the environmental, economic, social or public health impacts of future blooms.
Grants awarded by the program will not provide compensation for economic losses sustained as a result of red tides.
To view the call for proposals or to learn more about the program, visit http://research.MyFWC.com/features/view_article.asp?id=27877 and http://www.start1.com.
For more information on the FWC’s red tide research programs, visit http://research.MyFWC.com.
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Dungeness Crab Sport Fishing Season Opens Statewide in California Nov. 1
October 31, 2008
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) announced today the annual Dungeness crab sport fishery opens statewide on Nov. 1. The California Fish and Game Commission approved a regulation change on Sept. 4, opening the season from the Oregon state line through Mendocino County on the first Saturday in November, the same day as the rest of the state.
Under the previous regulation, far northern California Dungeness crab fishermen would have had to wait until Nov. 29 for the season to open. That would have increased the likelihood of sport crab fishermen encountering commercial gear already on the fishing grounds in anticipation of the traditional Dec. 1 commercial Dungeness crab opener. The Fish and Game Commission decided to increase fishing opportunities for sport crab fishermen by setting the opening day earlier and making the date uniform, up and down the coast.
Every November, recreational crab fishermen in northern California set out hoop nets and crab traps from boats and piers to try and catch the crustaceans, and some divers take the crab by hand. The daily bag limit is 10 Dungeness crab per person, except when fishing from a commercial passenger fishing vessel (or “party boat”) south of Mendocino County; in that case, the limit is six. Dungeness crab may not be taken from San Francisco or San Pablo bays, which are important crab nursery areas.
For more information regarding recreational Dungeness crab fishing and regulations, please visit the DFG Marine Region Web site at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/dungeness.asp.
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Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico – Current Regulations Provide Protection for Striped Bass and Red Drum
October 30, 2008
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, to assist in ensuring faithful execution of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, and the Atlantic Striped Bass Conservation Act (chapters 38, 71, and 71A of title 16, United States Code), and to conserve striped bass and red drum fish, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy.
It shall be the policy of the United States to conserve triped bass and red drum for the recreational, economic, and environmental benefit of the present and future generations of Americans, based on sound science and in cooperation with State, territorial, local, and tribal governments, the private sector, and others, as appropriate.
Sec. 2. Implementation.
(a) To carry out the policy set forth in section 1, the Secretary of Commerce shall:
(i) encourage, as appropriate, management under Federal, State, territorial, tribal, and local laws that supports the policy of conserving striped bass and red drum, including State designation as gamefish where the State determines appropriate under applicable law;
(ii) revise current regulations, as appropriate, to include prohibiting the sale of striped bass and red drum caught within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States off the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico;
(iii) periodically review the status of the striped bass and red drum populations within waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and:
(A) take such actions within the authority of the Secretary of Commerce as may be appropriate to carry out the policy set forth in section 1 of this order; and
(B) recommend to the President such actions as the Secretary may deem appropriate to advance the policy set forth in section 1 that are not within the authority of the Secretary.
(b) Nothing in this order shall preclude or restrict the production, possession, or sale of striped bass or red drum fish that have been produced by aquaculture.
(c) The Secretary of Commerce shall implement subsections 2(a)(i) and (iii), insofar as they relate to Atlantic striped bass, jointly with the Secretary of the Interior, as appropriate.
Sec. 3. Definitions. As used in this order:
(a) ‘‘Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States’’ means the marine area of the United States as defined in Presidential Proclamation 5030 of March 10, 1983, with, for purposes of this order, the inner boundary of that zone being a line coterminous with the seaward boundary of each of the coastal States;
(b) ‘‘red drum’’ means the species Sciaenops ocellatus; and
(c) ‘‘striped bass’’ means the species Morone saxatilis.
Sec. 4. General Provisions.
(a) This order shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law (including but not limited to interstate compacts to which the United States has consented by law, treaties and other international agreements to which the United States is a party, treaties to which the United States and an Indian tribe are parties, and laws of the United States conferring rights on Indian tribes) and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, and legislative proposals.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities, entities, officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE
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Public Input Meetings Set on Flounder Regulations Throughout Texas
October 28, 2008