the Fisherman's Blues Blog

Sign a petition against catch shares

2010-04-15T05:44:00.000-07:00

Government agencies are given the great responsibility of managing our oceans and everything in them for the benefit of all of us in the United States. Those agencies have tilted the balance to mostly favor big business interests. This can ultimately damage both the marine environment and long-term stability of coastal communities.

So what can you do about it? Tell policy makers and regulators that you want a new program for better fisheries management that is sustainable for our fish and marine environment and will provide the most benefits for everyone in the U.S.!

Sign the petition now

Locals say rules could dry up fishing business | SeacoastOnline.com

2010-04-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

From Maine to San Diego to Alaska. We soon will be saying goodbye to most small fishing organizations, courtesy of hacks (politicians) and junk science. Is this "change we can believe in"?

She said she fears new federal regulations, which take effect May 1, will have a crippling economic impact on fisheries and fisherman all across New England.

"Some guys are already leaving (the business)," Eastman said. "They don't have to wait until May 1. They already know they can't make a living."

Locals say rules could dry up fishing business | SeacoastOnline.com

Fleet Vision Pledge | NAMA: Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance

2010-04-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

Pledge support for the Fleet Vision project!

...for a diverse New England fishing fleet

...for an economically viable New England fishing fleet

...for an environmentally sustainable New England fishing fleet

...for a fishing fleet that is managed through a participatory governance structure.

Fleet Vision Pledge | NAMA: Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance

Officials hail NOAA fisheries cop's ouster | SouthCoastToday.com

2010-04-09T09:21:00.001-07:00

Finally a positive action taken at NOAA. It's still a secret as to what exactly happened to this jackass, so we can assume he has received a golden parachute and a "Good job Jonesey" on the way out. They really had to do something to appease we peasants (aka taxpayers) that support our hard working commercial fishing industry!

The chief of law enforcement for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was removed from his job Thursday after allegations of document shredding during an investigation by the Commerce Department's inspector general.

Officials hail NOAA fisheries cop's ouster | SouthCoastToday.com

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Editorial: Fed lawmakers must put legislative clamps on runaway NOAA push - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

2010-04-06T19:27:00.001-07:00

I thought we got some momentum going, but now it seems to be back to just one newspaper is covering this scandal. Oh well. Things are going to get intesting come May 1st with the new catch share scam. Almost time to raise the PIRATE FLAGS my friends!

On May 1, the start of the new fishing year, the regulatory system known as catch shares, designed to have fishermen work in cooperatives known as "sectors," will go into effect along with some ultra-conservative total allowable catch limits imposed by NOAA and its National Marine Fisheries Service.

The net effect is expected to reduce the revenue from the groundfishery by 32 percent, according to the government's own numbers.

Estimates of business failures in the industry, largely based in New Bedford and Gloucester, are 50 percent or higher.

Editorial: Fed lawmakers must put legislative clamps on runaway NOAA push - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

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TRUTH: Fishing Crisis or Government Mismanagement?

2010-03-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

The 2009 film takes up the struggle between the fishing industry and government regulation. Town Dock fishermen and others across the Northeast have said increasingly strict regulations designed to rebuild fish stocks have not only dramatically reduced the number of days they can fish and how much they can land but are putting boats out of business.

Among the fishermen featured in Truth is Sig Hansen, the Seattle-based captain of the fishing vessel Northwestern. Hansen has appeared frequently in the documentary television series Deadliest Catch.

TRUTH: Fishing Crisis or Government Mismanagement?

Meeting with NOAA chief leaves fishing representatives, politicians frustrated | SouthCoastToday.com

2010-03-23T06:54:00.001-07:00

The fear in the industry is that the changes will cause a huge wave of job losses and idle boats by midyear because the allocations are too small to be economically viable for small boats.

Lubchenco also took fire for not removing Dale Jones, the chief law enforcement attorney at NOAA who, according to sworn testimony, shredded documents during an investigation by the Commerce Department's inspector general.

Meeting with NOAA chief leaves fishing representatives, politicians frustrated | SouthCoastToday.com

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Vitter Delivers Bombshell Letter To Obama On NOAA/Fishing Issue

2010-03-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

Vitter Delivers Bombshell Letter To Obama On NOAA/Fishing Issue

If the intention of the Interim Framework is to create a new government superstructure headed by the National Ocean Council at the expense of the role of the states, which have primary jurisdiction for resident fish and wildlife, I can assure you that the states, in particular the Gulf states, will have zero tolerance for and much indignation over such a gross expansion of federal authority.

I urge the administration to back away from any efforts to supersede or diminish existing federal and state laws that govern our ocean fisheries for both commercial and recreational use. The Interim Framework brazenly calls for a top-down federal approach to every aspect of ocean management, and would impact every sector and every conceivable ocean activity without input from all stakeholders.

You tell em, Senator Vitter!

United We Stand, Divided We Fall
United we Fish, Divided we Fail

hattip to the Hayride dot com

I CAN’T STAND ON THE SIDELINES ANYMORE: from an honest and anonymous NOAA agent

2010-03-10T17:12:00.001-08:00

I CAN’T STAND ON THE SIDELINES ANYMORE: Speak up now or forever live with it NOAA OLE

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What you are witnessing here is a total destruction of a once professional and dedicated federal law enforcement agency. Prior to Chief Jones, the people who worked as agents and officers with NOAA Enforcement not only cared about working resource related violations (Civil and Criminal) but also understood how working with NOAA was like working for no other law enforcement agency.

reposted, from our brothers and sisters at Ahabs Journal:

Ahabs Journal

Fishing industry spews at agency | SouthCoastToday.com

2010-03-09T16:57:00.001-08:00

Fishing industry spews at agency | SouthCoastToday.com

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It was an outpouring of frustration at a federal agency many believe is trying to put them out of business when it isn't treating them like children or criminals.

Fishing fireworks to resume at summit | SouthCoastToday.com

2010-03-08T14:35:00.001-08:00

Fishing fireworks to resume at summit | SouthCoastToday.com

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NOAA has been rocked by the revelation that Dale Jones, its law enforcement director, shredded documents while under investigation by the Commerce Department's inspector general.

Federal fishery manager grilled by Frank, Kucinich at Gloucester hearing | SouthCoastToday.com

2010-03-07T14:49:00.001-08:00

Federal fishery manager grilled by Frank, Kucinich at Gloucester hearing | SouthCoastToday.com

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"indisputable evidence of excessive, unnecessary enforcement"

Save the Humans: United We Fish rally on DC 2010

2010-02-25T17:08:00.001-08:00

AP/Luis M. Alvarez. One sign at the rally of recreational and commercial fishermen summed up the feelings.

Fishermen protest law that closes many areas to fishing
By SANANDA SAHOO
McClatchy Newspapers

Fishermen, anglers, charter and party boat captains and marine business owners from coast to coast gathered here to demand changes in fisheries law that they say is putting them out of work.

This year and next, endangered coastal fishing grounds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are to be closed to allow depleted fish species to recover from overfishing. The closures could be as long as 10 years.

"A lot of coastal communities across the United States have had severe negative economic impacts from the excessive regulations," says Pam Anderson, the operations manager at the Capt. Anderson Marina in Panama City Beach in Florida. "Folks can't carry on."...

Read More: Fishermen protest law that closes many areas to fishing - KansasCity.com

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United We Fish. Fishing interests rally to to protest oppressive management of saltwater fisheries

By Robert Montgomery
ESPNOutdoors.com

During the rally, fear of that collapse "showed on the faces of grown men in tears, who are afraid that they won't be able to do a job that they love and support their families," Chaconas said. "And what I realized from attending this rally is that this is not just a saltwater fishing issue.

"If these guys can't fish, even people in Middle America are affected. They won't be able to buy and eat American-caught fish. They'll have to get it from someplace else. That's yet another threat to our economy."

But tears were outweighed by enthusiasm and applause on this rare day of moderate weather in the nation's capital. And it ended on a decidedly upbeat note, according to Hutchinson.

"Scott Brown, the new senator from Massachusetts, showed up and it was like having a rock star," he said. "He's going to sign onto the bill.

"And when the rally was over, he told his constituency to follow him back to his office."

Fishing interests rally to to protest oppressive management of saltwater fisheries

Is Obama climate change policy in violation of the First Amendment?

2010-02-23T16:52:00.000-08:00

The American Thinker makes a great point. And I'd like to be the 1st to connect the global warming scam (aka anthropological global warming), with what the NMFS and NOAA have been doing to the commercial fishing industry.

"There can be little doubt that man-made global warming activists exhibit all of the characteristics of those promoting a religion."

"with the notion of such "settled science" thoroughly discredited, President Obama and the high priests and priestesses of his Environmental Protection Agency continue the federal government's effort to establish climate change control based only on faith impervious to logic or reason."

Who is fact checking the scientists at NMFS? Each other? What a joke that is. How much taxpayer money are we flushing down a toilet on this bogus science?

Is Obama climate change policy in violation of the First Amendment?

My view: The three-pronged assault on the family fishing fleet - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

2010-02-21T07:42:00.001-08:00

My view: The three-pronged assault on the family fishing fleet - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

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Bypass plan: Special interest group could have big hand in closing fishing

2010-02-13T07:54:00.001-08:00

Bypass plan: Special interest group could have big hand in closing fishing

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Pew's Conquest Of The Ocean

2010-02-10T12:28:00.000-08:00

Pew's Conquest Of The Ocean

By David Lincoln

This is the story of how a handful of scientists set out from Oregon with an unshakable belief that they knew what was best for the rest of us. They ended up conquering the world (or at least the watery portions of it) and got rich along the way, while the fishermen and their families only worked harder and got poorer. When their scientific dogma connected with nearly unlimited resources, the earth quaked and the resulting tidal wave swept aside all the usual checks and balances. It carried along the media, the politicians, the government agencies and the non-governmental organizations with such force that seemingly no one could stand against the tide.

the full story is here:

Pew's Conquest Of The Ocean

Fishermen's Finest Inc. v. Locke

2010-02-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

You know you are in for a world of hurt when your future rests in the hands of a career hack backroom deal loving poltician...

In this case, Fishermen’s Finest, Inc., North Pacific Fishing, Inc., and U.S. Fishing, LLC, (Fishermen’s) appeal from the district court’s order granting summary judgment in favor of the Secretary of the United States Department of Commerce. Fishermen’s challenges the Secretary’s issuance of a final rule adopting Amendment 85 (A85) to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAIMA).

In its conclusion, the majority ruled, t]he Secretary is allowed, under [controlling precedent], to sacrifice the interest of some groups of fishermen for the benefit as the Secretary sees it of the fishery as a whole.'

Read the full ruling here

The silence of regulation

2010-02-08T13:23:00.000-08:00

Someday, someone will write the definitive book on the federal government's 30-year insane, stupid, runaway plan to hyperinflate the fleet under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, round up too many fish, then kill off the fleets as fast as they can — all the while blaming the fishermen in both directions....

The silence of regulation

Panel mulls NOAA hearing - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

2010-02-05T08:43:00.001-08:00

Panel mulls NOAA hearing - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

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The chairman of a congressional subcommittee has announced plans for an oversight hearing on federal fisheries law enforcement, which has been acknowledged by the head of the agency as needing multiple reforms.

Frank scolds NOAA chief on fishing issues | SouthCoastToday.com

2010-02-04T09:22:00.001-08:00

Frank scolds NOAA chief on fishing issues | SouthCoastToday.com

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Meet NOAA/ NMFS the "out-of-control bureaucracy"

2010-02-03T18:10:00.000-08:00

For too long now the Enviros and political hacks have been putting more and more restrictions on commercial fishing, costing more and more hard working fishermen and women their jobs and careers. On Feb 24th 2010 these fishermen need your help to send a strong message to the Politicians. This grass roots effort has much in common with the TEA (taxed enough already) Party protests that swept across America in 2009. They need and deserve our help in fighting the corrupt federal beaurocracies who have manipulated science and data over and over again over the years and used this bogus data to further restrict the fishermen and make it harder and harder every year to earn an honest living.

I'm hoping to be able to highlight some of the scandals that are happening now, and the controversies and scandals of the past years and decades.

The fishermen are taking a stand on Feb 24th and I'm going to do all that I can to help spread the word and educate people on this very worthy effort to right the wrongs.

Capt. Black Bart

Now read on ye scurvy dogs!

From Nils Stolpe a long-time consultant for and chronicler of the commercial fishing industry:

First off, as we all know far too well, an ever intensifying anti-fishing malaise has afflicted NOAA/NMFS for at least a decade. What’s its source? To a very large extent, it’s come from a very successful and very expensive campaign bankrolled by very large foundations to convince as many people as possible with an interest in the world’s oceans that fishing is one of the greatest scourges to ever afflict them. Through the skillful – did I mention expensive? – manipulation of science and scientists, and through the selective – did I mention expensive? – manipulation of the print and broadcast media, a large proportion of those people, and the officials who represent them, have bought into this fantasy.

Unfortunately, when the people and their legislators in Washington go in a particular direction, whether that direction is right or wrong, most federal agencies aren’t too far behind. Thus, it’s fairly easy to suggest that the NOAA/NMFS Office of Law Enforcement’s “treat ‘em like criminals” attitude towards fishermen and fishing businesses is an understandable outgrowth of the institutional attitude of the parent agency.

Read the full story about how the recently released first installment of the US Department of Commerce Inspector General’s report on the scandalously inadequate, unbalanced and inequitable job that NOAA/NMFS has been doing in enforcing fishing regulations, particularly in the Northeast here:

From the agency that brought us Trawlergate

United We Fish. United we Vote. Fishermen Rally in DC 02/24/2010

2010-02-02T18:42:00.000-08:00

FISHERMEN'S RALLY in WASHINGTON, D.C. 02/24/10

How Can you help? Contact your Senators, Contect your Congressperson, and tell them that you want them to stop NOAA & NMFS from putting our fishermen out of business with over-reaching restrictions and the scam called "catch shares".

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Tell em all that Captain Black Bart will not be happy if they don't help the fishermen!

"How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?"