Fishing News 20230410-20230416
Fishing News 20230410-20230416: Here you can check out some international news that has something to do with fishing. Some items are very actual.
‘We see this happen over and over:’ Burning of a fishing boat on Commencement Bay raises concerns
Apr 10, 2023
(source: kiro7.com by Lauren Donovan, KIRO 7 News)
TACOMA, Washington — The fire of the Kodiak Enterprise has caused alarm around Tacoma’s Commencement Bay. Trident Seafoods owns a large fishing vessel. Another Trident Seafoods-owned ship, the Aleutian Falcon, caught fire while anchored in the same exact place in February 2021.
Melissa Mallot, Executive Director of Communities for a Healthy Bay, says the relationship should raise suspicions.
“Huge smoke, shelter-in-place, and a big air risk,” Mallot warned. “It was still an environmental catastrophe, and they got fined $25,000.”
Mallot claims that the fine was insufficient. She claims Trident generates $2.6 billion every year, therefore a $25,000 fine is insignificant.
“We see this all the time,” Mallot added. “This stuff doesn’t happen in Seattle, and it’s concerning that it keeps happening in Tacoma.”
Tarin Todd, who works in Foss Harbor Marina across the lake, has been keeping a close eye on the raging issue.
“The biggest concern is keeping it afloat,” Todd explained. “As soon as it starts sinking, that’s when you make your big impact.”
Todd describes the marina he manages as more like a neighborhood. There are approximately 125 individuals living aboard vessels there.
“A major spill, a major fire like that on the Foss Waterway here, would be like a major chemical plant going up in the middle of a cul-de-sac,” Todd explained.
The Pacific Producer, a 77-year-old seafood processor, is a short boat ride from his headquarters. Todd is most concerned about the Pacific Producer, of all the ships on the Foss Waterway.
“It’s like someone who is sick,” Todd explained. “On the outside, they appear unwell. They’re clearly sick on the inside.”
Both Mallot and Todd agree that if a boat like the Pacific Producer sinks or catches fire, the consequences might be disastrous.
Taiwan’s fishing villages are annoyed by the bold Chinese ships.
(Fishing News 20230410-20230416)
Apr 11, 2023
(source: uk.news.yahoo.com by Jack Moore and Yan Zhao)
Every day, Wang Chia-wen, a fisherman from Taiwan, faces Chinese incursions, although they are not typically military-related like the ones staged during Beijing’s recent war games.
The Matsu archipelago, a group of rocky islands near mainland China, is essential to the livelihoods of the locals because of its fish stocks.
However, these stocks are being depleted due to the encroachment of Chinese fishing crews. The island’s authorities are understaffed, and residents feel powerless to prevent this unwelcomed competition that disregards the median line, an unofficial border in the Taiwan Strait that China does not acknowledge.
Wang, who is 45 years old, said that everyone is frustrated with this common occurrence, as the boats come too close to the shore, causing harm to the fishing industry and marine ecosystem. Despite being able to see each other, the Chinese boats act as if they do not see them, leaving the locals with nothing much to do.
This search for fish, squid, and crabs is not only affecting the livelihoods of Taiwan’s fishing communities but also harming the seabeds. The bold Chinese vessels are causing a lot of frustration among the locals.
This weekend marks the start of the recreational pua fishing season in Kaikura.
Apr 12, 2023
(source: scoop.co.nz by Ministry of Primary Industries)
Fishermen in Kaikōura, New Zealand, are preparing for the recreational pāua fishing season opening this weekend.
The pāua fishery was closed in 2016 to recover from the damage caused by a severe earthquake that hit the coastline. Although the fishery has recovered well, the authorities are implementing new rules and daily catch limits to ensure there are enough pāua in the water for current and future generations.
The daily limit for the Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure on the south coast of Kaikoura has been reduced to two blackfoot pāua, and people can also take only two yellow foot pāua from this area. The daily limit can only be taken by fishers actively gathering pāua, and Fishery Officers will be strictly enforcing this rule.
The minimum size for blackfoot pāua is 125mm, and for yellowfoot pāua, it is 80mm. Fishermen are reminded to follow the rules to protect the resource and ensure its sustainability into the future.
This season, the area from Marfells Beach to Conway River will be open for people to gather up to a daily limit of three ordinary blackfoot pāua and three yellowfoot pāua per gatherer per day.
‘A bright soul.’ Friends say nice things about Gus Gustafson, a fishing guide on Lake Norman.
(Fishing News 20230410-20230416)
Apr 12, 2023
(source: news.yahoo.com by Evan Moore)
William “Gus” Frank Gustafson, an 80-year-old retiree, had a wonderful time fishing with his friend Rick Rodriguez in the Florida Bay during his month-long trip in the winter. Rodriguez, who runs Sea Horse Private Charters in Islamorada, had taken Gustafson fishing numerous times. Despite not fishing for some time, Gustafson had as much fun as he could by eating good food and telling lots of great stories.
They spent time reminiscing about past fishing trips at Biscayne Bay while looking at a photo album from the late 70s. Rodriguez filmed Gustafson proudly displaying a snook he caught and driving his boat back to shore, saying, “It’s almost the first of many.” Despite being friends for decades, they had only seen each other a few times since Gustafson moved to Lake Norman 20 years ago.
Sadly, Gustafson passed away on April 2.
Two Pontarddulais men were punished for violating fishing regulations.
Apr 12, 2023
(source: swanseabaynews.com by Editor)
Nicholas Bonham and Marc Davies from Pontarddulais recently appeared before Swansea Magistrates’ Court and received significant fines for their offenses, which included fishing without the correct rod license, using barbed hooks, and fishing illegal bait.
The prosecutions by Natural Resources Wales also included two Aberystwyth men, Paul Hughes of Llanbadarn, and Mark Williams, of Capel Bangor, who were also fined for the same offenses.
They were fined a total of £1,879, including investigation costs and victim surcharges.
Each year, Natural Resources Wales checks fishing licenses and makes sure that anglers are complying with the fishing regulations. The money raised from rod license sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks, fisheries, and angling in Wales.
NRW relies on people to report illegal fishing activities, and anyone who suspects illegal fishing can report it to the incident hotline on 0300 065 3000. All reports are confidential, and the information provided can help NRW to protect the local environment and wildlife.
Anglers are being warned after receiving illegal fishing fines on the Rheidol River.
Apr 13, 2023
(source: cambrian-news.co.uk by Cambrian News reporter)
Anglers have been warned by Natural Resources Wales not to break the law, following the prosecution of two men who were caught illegally fishing on the River Rheidol. The organization has said that the fines imposed on the two men from the Aberystwyth area should serve as a warning to other anglers not to flout the law.
On 5 October 2022, Paul Hughes of Lluest Newydd, Llanbadarn Fawr, was observed by an NRW enforcement officer deliberately fishing for migratory salmon and sewin with barbed hooks and using an illegal bait, specifically “bunched worms” when only single worms are permitted. Hughes pleaded guilty to the charges at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court.
Off the coast of Ireland, scientists haul in a fishing net – and uncover new creatures.
(Fishing News 20230410-20230416)
Apr 14, 2023
(source: miamiherald.com by ASPEN PFLUGHOEFT)
During a routine fish survey off the coast of Ireland, a group of scientists accidentally discovered a new species of deep-sea creature. After throwing their net overboard and towing it behind their boat, the researchers found a small, gray-black fish caught in the net.
Upon closer examination, the team realized it was a new species of deepwater cardinalfish, which live in the water column instead of congregating around coral reefs or underwater structures like other fish.
Due to their small size and habitat, deepwater cardinalfish are rarely studied and few species have been identified. The great deepwater cardinalfish, or Microichthys grandis, was accidentally caught by scientists during their survey of Porcupine Bank, a cold-water canyon off the coast of Ireland.
The researchers named the new species the great deepwater cardinalfish due to its larger size compared to its relatives, despite only measuring about 2.2 inches. The discovery is significant because very few specimens of deepwater cardinalfish have been found, and the new species was identified by accident.