Saving Seafood

Kavanagh: Groundfish fishery needs ownership cap

April 14, 2016 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — In regards to state Rep. William Straus’ recent letter to the editor (“Your View: Impact of the federal fisheries arrests in New Bedford,” March 22), I appreciate his concern for the fishing industry. It doesn’t really matter how the fish are regulated — days at sea, catch shares, ITQ. Under any of these systems an ownership cap is necessary, as he pointed out.

The scallop industry has had an ownership cap for years, and it seems to be working out fairly well. The groundfish industry should follow a similar path. For some reason many members of the groundfish industry don’t seem to want a cap. They say they will have difficulty selling their permits if a cap is put into place.

Read the full letter at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Massachusetts State Legislators Write to NOAA on SMAST Funding

April 14, 2016 –Members of the Massachusetts state legislature have written to Dr. William Karp, the head of Science and Research at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), in response to a recent rejection of a scallop research set-aside proposal from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science & Technology (SMAST).

In their letter, the legislators asked Dr. Karp to renew the funding, which they contend has been critical in producing accurate, independent estimates of the scallop resource.  They state that past SMAST studies “have stood the test of time,” and have “positively helped the [New England Fishery Management] Council in its regulatory functions under Magnuson [Stevens Act].”

They conclude that “cutting out the independent approach provided by the University of Massachusetts is not only scientifically questionable, but undercuts the ability of the Federal government to make sound assessments, formulate plans and explain those actions in the very complicated areas of fisheries management.”

Read the letter here

Dr. William Karp: NOAA choices on scallop studies relies on science

April 14, 2016 — I am writing regarding your recent editorial and news coverage of the Atlantic Sea Scallop Research Set-Aside Program and the projects that have been selected for 2016-17. The Scallop RSA Program is one of the best examples of cooperative fisheries research with industry in the nation, serving an important role in supporting the management of this fishery, which is such a part of New Bedford’s economy. Your readers should know that the program is very competitive, that all proposals are evaluated using independent reviews, and that although all have worthy points, not all can be funded.

As director of NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center, it is my goal to build stronger strategic partnerships with regional research partners, including UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology, an institution with a strong record in educating students and in carrying out research that is directly relevant to managing living marine resources. NOAA funds a faculty member at SMAST and there are many examples of productive collaborations involving SMAST students and faculty, and NEFSC researchers. A number of these activities include Dr. Kevin Stokesbury, a member of the SMAST faculty who is recognized for his work on survey methodology and scallop assessment, and for his effective collaboration with industry.

When Dr. Stokesbury’s RSA proposals for further sea scallop surveys were not selected for funding in 2016, I was greatly concerned about how this would be received. I appreciate his concern over the result, well publicized in your paper, but I believe his criticism of the grants process is unfounded.

See the full letter at the New Bedford Standard-Times

Gloucester photojournalist launches coffee-table book about the life of a fisherman, the families, the community and much more

April 14, 2016 — GLOUCESTER, Mass. — When young photographer Nubar Alexanian first came to Gloucester, he witnessed a thriving fishing community, rooted deep in the city’s culture. Families worked together in the fishing business, with the next generation often groomed to take over the fishing vessel. Linked by their strong connections to fishing, the families toiled together, celebrated together and, at times, mourned together when fishermen were lost at sea.

All of this caught Alexanian’s attention nearly 40 years ago, and with a cloth-covered view camera, he began shooting the scenes that touched him profoundly. The more he learned, the more he wanted to delve deeper.

“I wanted to get to know the place so I picked up 35 mm cameras, he recalled. “I wanted to find one of the most successful fishing families and follow them. So from 1979 to 1981, I followed the Brancaleone family. I literally became part of the family.”

Alexanian braved 10-day trips at sea, with much sea sickness, and he still wanted to immerse himself more in their world on the frigid northern Atlantic.

See the full story at the Gloucester Times

Massachusetts: New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center Plans June Opening

The following was released by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center:

April 13, 2016 — NEW BEDORD, Mass. — The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is pleased to announce its plans to open to the public on Saturday, June 25th with a Grand Opening Celebration.  The Center has leased space at 38 Bethel Street in the heart of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The 3000 square foot, handicap accessible space will accommodate changing exhibits, public programs, school groups, archives, and community gatherings.

“The commercial fishing community deserves a place to preserve and present its stories and artifacts, share its skills and knowledge, and educate the public about its rich traditions, heritage, and contemporary existence. We are excited to provide that opportunity.” Executive Director, Laura Orleans.

The Center’s initial exhibit From Boat to Table will include sections on Gearing Up, At Sea, Sustainability, and Landing the Catch, touching on all aspects of the industry from the time a keel is laid on a vessel to the time the catch is landed and brought to market.  The centerpiece of the exhibit will be a wheelhouse complete with demo/simulator navigational equipment.  More details including preliminary elevations are available on the Center’s website: www.fishingheritagecenter.org

In addition to providing information about the organization and its programs, the website includes several digital exhibits exploring various aspects of the fishing industry past and present as well as an industry timeline.  The website project was funded through grants from Mass Humanities, the Henry H. Crapo Foundation, and the New Bedford Cultural Council.  Several local teachers developed standards-based curriculum materials and various community historians contributed to the timeline and accompanying articles.

The June 25th Grand Opening is envisioned as a mini-festival with demonstrations of industry skills such as net mending, dredge making, shucking, and filleting, as well as safety demos, model boat making, fishermen-led walking tours, and hands on kids activities.  Fresh local seafood will be available for sale and Center exhibits will be open free of charge during the event.

During 2016 the Center will continue to present Dock-u-mentaries, its monthly film/speaker series and Something Fishy, its free summer camp program presented in collaboration with the National Park and Whaling History Alliance. Weekly cruise ship programs and fishermen-led walking tours will be offered during the summer months.  A variety of public programs including author readings, talks, occupational demonstrations, and performances will be presented.  The Center is also working in collaboration with MIT Sea Grant, UMass Dartmouth, UMass Boston, and the New Bedford Public Library on a year-long initiative to create a digital archive of fishing community history with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through archives, exhibits, and programs. The Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org.

MASSACHUSETTS: Video shows a horde of seals off Chatham

April 13, 2016 — A Norwell man has taken stunning video of the horde of seals that has taken up residence on Monomoy Island, the seal haven off Chatham at the outer elbow of Cape Cod.

Aaron Knight filmed his flight off the Massachusetts coast Sunday. He said he’s been watching the seals there in the past few years, and he’s never seen so many.

“They used to be in harems and small chunks dotted down the beach, but this year … it’s just astonishing,” he said. “It’s an infinite forever stretch of seals.”

The video has gotten nearly 200,000 views and more than 2,700 shares on Facebook, Knight said.

See the video and the rest of the story at the Boston Globe

SMAST scallop researcher rejected for NOAA funding for first time since 1999

April 13, 2016 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — For the first time since 1999, internationally known SMAST scientist Kevin Stokesbury has been denied federally administered funding for annual scallop surveys, as government officials questioned the cost and design of his latest proposal.

Many local fishermen credit Stokesbury’s work with reviving the scallop industry over more than a decade, and a prominent scalloper said Tuesday that it was hard to make sense of the funding denial this year.

“We as an industry are very upset about this — it’s very disturbing,” said Dan Eilertsen, who owns six scallopers based on Fish Island. “Our fishery has been managed based on the published work that (Stokesbury) does.”

The National Marine Fisheries Service, under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told Stokesbury on March 29 that his proposal for a $2.65 million scallop survey project had been denied for the 2016-17 grant cycle.

See the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times

BOB KEESE: Small-boat fishermen seek to protect fishery

April 9, 2016 — Ron Smolowitz accuses small-boat scallopers of “gaming the system” to access the Nantucket Lightship fishing area (“Working the system makes the system unworkable,” My View, April 2).

As Smolowitz knows, in December New England Fishery Management Council scientists sent a memo saying there weren’t any conservation concerns with limited fishing there. The proposed access was so small it wouldn’t make sense for Smolowitz’s big-boat fishermen, catching 17,000 pounds per trip, to fish there. But small-boat fishermen can catch only 600 pounds a day, so the proposed access gives us 500 trips — which makes a huge difference for our families and community.

Read the full opinion piece at Cape Cod Times

Regulations call for fewer, bigger black bass on hook

April 12, 2016 — While the Massachusetts regulations for recreational fluke and scup remain unchanged for the upcoming 2016 fishing season, recreational anglers will have to adhere to smaller bag limits and minimum possession guidelines for black sea bass.

Massachusetts, which is part of a multi-state management plan for black sea bass administered by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, must join Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey in the northern region in reducing its black sea bass harvest by 23 percent to adhere to the new management plan restrictions.

In Massachusetts, the 2016 black sea bass season will run May 21 to Aug. 31 and recreational fishermen will be limited to keeping five fish per day, with the minimum catch size set at 15 inches.

Those parameters are different from 2015, when the season ran May 23 to Aug. 27 and anglers were allowed to keep eight black sea bass per day as long as they met or exceeded the minimum possession size of 14 inches.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

Sale of sea scallops to fund research on loggerhead turtles

April 12, 2016 — PORTLAND, Maine — Organizations in five states will receive more than $15 million for marine science research projects funded by the sale of sea scallops.

One of the projects seeks to understand the impacts of sea scallop fishing on loggerhead sea turtles through the use of satellite tagging. Coonamessett Farm Foundation Inc. of Falmouth, Massachusetts, is the lead investigating organization on that effort.

Recipients of the grants are located in Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Virginia. They range from universities and educational organizations to commercial fishing businesses.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at The Virginian-Pilot