Ahab's Journal

O'Neal's Sea Harvest finds new market for delicacy

"Everything from soft-shell crabs to swordfish, tuna, dolphin, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, sea mullet, flounder, blue crab and shrimp -- basically any kind of fish or seafood native to our waters - we've got it," said O'Neal.

That list now includes Oyster Toadfish.

The fish, which grows up to about a foot long, looks like a monkfish and is prized for its tail meat, which has been compared with lobster tail for flavor.

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Shrimpers say they didn't kill turtles

MONTEGUT — Local fishermen and their supporters say documents that emerged in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill support the contention that they are not to blame for a spike in sea turtle deaths and injuries in the months following the disaster.

Evidence they cite includes a flurry of e-mails and documents between officials at NOAA and other federal agencies regarding risk to turtles and some deaths allegedly resulting from Louisiana's attempts to build sand berms to ward oil away from the state's coast.

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EDF President rejects 'invite' to Senate hearing

The Environmental Defense Fund's president has declined an invitation by a Senate subcommittee to testify in Boston Monday about the catch share fishery management system that EDF has helped push to the level of national policy — with an angry backlash from the fishing industry and Congress.

EDF President Fred Krupp last week turned down the written invitation to testify at 10 a.m. Monday in Fanueil Hall before Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security.

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Nova Scotia brings plan to encourage people to buy fish operations from retirees

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia has introduced a financing program in an effort to encourage young people to buy a commercial fishing operation from someone who's retiring.

The Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture Loan Board will lend the deposit on a licence package and help arrange payments by a new fisherman to a retiring fisherman.

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Game fish bill dead this session

Rep. Danny McComas, R-New Hanover, said Sunday that lawmakers won’t consider the “game fish” bill filed earlier this session.

He said it is too controversial to be taken up in what is expected to be the final week of this year’s legislative session. McComas added that he believed the issue would be studied and that lawmakers would come back to it at a later date.

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The global food crisis: ABCD of food – how the multinationals dominate trade

By mid-morning snack you will certainly have encountered their products several times already wherever you are in the world, whether it is the corn in your flakes, the wheat in your bread, the orange in your juice, the sugar in your jam, the chocolate on your biscuit, the coffee in your cup. By the end of the day, if you've eaten beef, chicken or pork, consumed anything containing salt, gums, starches, gluten, sweeteners, or fats, or bought a ready meal or a takeaway, they will have shaped your consumption even further.

And yet, the four giant transnationals that dominate the raw materials of the global food system have largely stayed below the radar of European consumers. Known as the ABCD group for the alphabetic convenience of their initials, ADM, Bunge, Cargill and (Louis) Dreyfus, account for between 75% and 90% of the global grain trade, according to estimates. Figures cannot be given with confidence, however, because two of the companies are privately owned and do not give out market shares.

This extraordinary concentration of power and money in the global food trade has been identified by Oxfam in a new report this week as one of the structural flaws of the system. At each stage a handful of players dominate, not just in primary agriculture but in food manufacturing and retailing. The result, according to Oxfam, is that "they extract much of the value along the chain, while costs and risks cascade down on to the weakest participants, generally the farmers and labourers at the bottom".

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Commercial Fishing Industry and Offshore Wind Workshop

Some impressions from “The Commercial Fishing Industry and Offshore Wind Workshop” New Bedford, June 10, 2011 

 THE “GROUND RULES”

 Professional consultant "meeting facilitators" set the "Ground Rules" for this workshop, with magic markers on a flip pad at the start of the presentations. One of rules which lit up immediately and caused some confusion and consternation among the fishermen was that we were being directed to have a "what" and not a "where" discussion concerning the Wind Farms. 

 In June, the Loligo Squid are moving into Nantucket Shoals to spawn, much of  this Squid, Flounder, Cod, scallop, etc., spawning area lies within the proposed blocks of ocean bottom designated for lease to the wind developers.  And at this "Commercial Fishing and Offshore Wind Workshop" we're not supposed to talk about the "where"? This was not considered by the fishermen as a promising beginning for an “open exchange of ideas”.

Fishing is all about the "where" and the "when"....it’s central to whether you catch fish or don't catch fish.  The "where" in relationship to fishing should have been preliminary to any discussion regarding the idea of leasing our fishing grounds to the highest bidder.

How a Country of Fishermen Lost Its Favorite Fish

Turkey's mackerel used to be Turkish—but now they're Norwegian. A case study in the rise of the global seafood economy.

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CCA: Gulf Catch Share Programs Continue to Draw Fire

Even Gulf commercial fishermen say catch share concept fails

 KEY WEST, FL – Recreational anglers apparently are not the only ones who object to the use of catch share programs in the Gulf of Mexico. During the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council meeting this week in Florida, commercial grouper fishermen pointed out serious flaws in the catch share concept that are forcing them to discard an estimated 700,000 to 1 million pounds of dead red snapper annually. Coastal Conservation Association is calling for an accelerated review of both the commercial red snapper and grouper catch share plans by the Gulf Council.

 “A lot of the grouper guys say the concept is not working and they are throwing half their fish away. They can’t get shares to keep the red snapper they catch while they are fishing for grouper, and so they are asking for the commercial red snapper program to sunset and just go away,” said Dr. Russell Nelson, CCA’s Gulf Fisheries consultant. “CCA pointed out that this kind of waste was a likely result when the Council was discussing the grouper catch share program in 2009, but those concerns were ignored.”

According to public comments to the Gulf Council by Bob Spaeth of the Southern Offshore Fisheries Association, a survey of commercial grouper fishermen revealed that a majority felt they were worse off after their Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program went into effect. Furthermore, it appears that the commercial grouper sector may have caught the majority of its shares for the entire year already, meaning that very few grouper will be landed in last quarter of the year. That prompted a request from the commercial sector that they be allowed to catch some of next year’s quota this year.

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'Ecosystem' is the new coastal fishing buzzword

The future for anyone wanting to venture offshore to fish might be an ocean run like a national wilderness area. Angling could become more like what deer hunting is today - a niche business or pastime governed by harvest tags as well as licenses, seasons and catch restrictions now in place. No one knows what the specific rules will be yet, and nobody expects any wholesale shifts in current rules anytime soon. But the change is happening, right in front of your eyes. It's called ecosystem-based management. The new rules would be applied to habitats, or the "sweet spots" for catching fish, rather than individual species. Sweet spots would be opened and closed according to season and fish crops, in a chart of shifting territories, something like inland wildlife management areas are now. The territories will be networks of "special management zones," "marine protected areas" and the like, managed to keep the habitats productive.

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CapLog Releases Overview of Commercial Fishing in the South Atlantic Snapper Grouper Fishery

In April 2011, CapLog (www.caploggroup.com) completed an overview of commercial fishing in the South Atlantic snapper grouper fishery. In the overview, CapLog looks at both the current state and trends in the fishery; such as who’s catching what type of fish where and how landings have changed over the years. The report uses data summaries generated by NMFS and Council staff to describe the participants and economics of the snapper grouper fishery. Find below some of the key findings:

Statement in Response to New Obama Administration Marine Aquaculture Policy

Reliance on nation’s fisheries law to regulate fish farms a significant concern for fishermen, conservationists

Matt Tinning, Executive Director of the Marine Fish Conservation Network, issued the following statement in response to the release of complementary marine aquaculture policies by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Department of Commerce on June 9th, 2011.

 “Fishermen and conservationists alike are gravely concerned that the policies released today could open the door to an unprecedented and premature expansion of open ocean aquaculture, which could impact the health of wild fisheries and the livelihoods of our fishermen. Furthermore, we disagree with the use of our nation’s fisheries law to authorize that expansion.

 “The marine aquaculture policies released today highlight a number of important goals relating to sustainability, advancement of scientific knowledge, and integrated planning. But they lack the force of law or regulation, and we fear they could pave the way for large-scale offshore commercial operations in US waters before adequate safeguards are in place.

Fishing and the offshore oil industry: A delicate imbalance

Fishermen in the Western Region of Ghana are nervous about the country's new offshore oil industry. They fear the potentially devastating impact an oil spill could have on their livelihoods and communities. In this video, Nana Kojo Kondua talks about the role of fishing in his village, Abuesi, and the urgent need for government action to protect fishing communities.

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McCAY: Help fisheries catch a break

Federal policies must support N.J. fishing communities

Although the effects of tradable catch shares on fishing communities are among the reasons for objection to the policy, little attention has been devoted to the question of how policy might be adapted to respond to community needs.

This gap was filled recently by the Panel on the Community Dimensions of Fisheries Catch Share Programs, a group of commercial fishermen, academics, economists and policy experts. In all, the panel created 16 recommendations for NOAA to create jobs and ensure long-term prosperity for our nation’s fishing towns within the framework of catch shares. Full copies of the report can be found at www.Ecotrust.org/catchshares/.

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New federal aquaculture policy paves way for Gulf of Mexico fish farms

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's national aquaculture policy released Thursday paves the way for the Gulf of Mexico to be the first region in the country to develop open-ocean aquaculture in federal waters, potentially reaping another 64 million pounds of seafood from the ocean.

Within a year, businesses could begin applying for permits to establish red snapper, grouper and other finfish-farms in Gulf federal waters, which in Louisiana extend from three to 200 miles offshore.

In 2009, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council, a regional advisory body that sets fishing regulations in the Gulf for NOAA's Fisheries Service, established its Gulf fish-farming plan. But the plan has sat, officially in place but unusable, awaiting formal NOAA regulations.

The Gulf council's plan calls for 10-year offshore fish-farm permits with a total cap on farmed fish production at 64 million pounds. The council initially expected about five to 20 such operations to emerge within the first 10 years, but with start-up costs estimated in the $5 million to $10 million range, the level of interest largely is unknown.

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McDonald’s to Serve Sustainable Fish in Europe

PARIS — McDonald’s, the world’s biggest fast-food company, said Wednesday that it had reached a deal under which a nonprofit organization would certify as sustainable the catch used for each of the 100 million fish sandwiches the chain sells in Europe every year.

Beginning in October, the blue eco-label of the Marine Stewardship Council will appear on the wrappers of McDonald’s Europe’s Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, which are made from fried white fish, tartar sauce and a slice of cheese served on a steamed bun.

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Vertical Line Meetings in Morehead and Virginia Beach in July

NMFS is holding 15 public scoping meetings during July and August (see schedule below).  The scoping meetings are an opportunity for public to get involved in the development of conservation measures intended to reduce the risk of serious injury and mortality of large whales due to entanglements in vertical lines from commercial fishing gear.  NMFS is committed to publishing a final rule to address vertical line entanglement by 2014. 

Commerce and NOAA release national aquaculture policies to increase domestic seafood production, create sustainable jobs, and restore marine habitats

The Department of Commerce and NOAA today released national sustainable marine aquaculture policies to meet the growing demand for healthy seafood, to create jobs in coastal communities, and restore vital ecosystems. Foreign aquaculture accounts for about half of the 84 percent of seafood imported by the U.S., contributing to the $9 billion trade deficit in seafood.

“Our current trade deficit in seafood is approximately $9 billion,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “Encouraging and developing the U.S. aquaculture industry will result in  economic growth and create jobs at home, support exports to global markets, and spur new innovations in technology to support the industry.”

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BOEMRE, NOAA and USGS Launch Maritime Science Expedition Off Mid-Atlantic Coast Aboard the Research Ship Nancy Foster

WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Ocean Energy, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) today announced that a multi-agency team of ocean scientists has launched an expedition using sonar to map deepwater canyons, and to identify sensitive biological habitats, coral communities and archeological sites such as shipwrecks and other historically significant sites. This cooperative effort to gather information for science-based decision making is consistent with the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Oceans, Our Coasts and Great Lakes, adopted by President Obama in July 2010.   

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Lubchenco won't show for key Boston hearing

NOAA chief administrator Jane Lubchenco, here last month to announce reparations and apologize for excesses and misuse of police authority in enforcing the Magnuson-Stevens Act, has declined a U.S. Senate subcommittee invitation to testify about law enforcement and the hotly disputed privatization regimen for which she has crusaded.

Instead, she will send a subordinate — Eric Schwaab — whom she appointed administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

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Hatteras Island Asset Map Available Online

Hatteras Island, North Carolina (June 8, 2011) – The Hatteras Island Asset Map now contains more than  60 cultural, natural, and business assets identified by island residents.

Assets identified in the first phase of the mapping project include everything from museums and surf shops and restaurants to night skies and sunset views.

 “The assets reflect an eclectic approach to identifying what is special about the island, but all share roots in our unique cultural and natural environment,” Susan West, a Buxton resident involved in the project, said.

 The map can be viewed at http://www.opengreenmap.org/greenmap/hatteras-island .   Hatteras Island residents and visitors are invited to add comments and photographs, and to suggest new sites for the map.

OB Catch Meets Monday, June 13

The Outer Banks Catch executive committee will meet at 6 pm, Monday, June 13, at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo.

Go Fish

  It’s a relatively rare event to see a bill fail on the floor of the House or Senate. That’s because legislative leader typically count the votes on anything approaching controversial.

S 571: Repeal Subsistence License Waivers (link) is the exception to that rule.

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A mean season for Carolinas shrimpers

An unusually cold winter that decimated native shrimp has robbed the Carolinas of a spring delicacy. Below-normal water temperatures killed virtually all the white shrimp that overwinter in South Carolina's estuaries, and N.C. officials also report dead crustaceans. The cold heaped more trouble on Carolina shrimpers, whose numbers are also dwindling. Shrimpers are already being undercut by cheaper, farm-raised imports and, more recently, rising fuel costs.

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In Honor of World Oceans Day, West Marine Awards $30,000 in Marine Conservation Grants to Non-Profit Organizations Across the Country

In honor of World Oceans Day, West Marine (Nasdaq: WMAR), the largest specialty retailer of boating supplies and accessories, today announced the recipients of their annual Marine Conservation Grants program. Grants for a total amount of $30,000 are being awarded to non-profit organizations throughout the U.S. who are working to "improve and protect marine habitat," which is part of West Marine's mission. This year's grant recipients are located in Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland and California.

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Keeping Working Waterfronts at Work

 Waterfronts along our coasts are experiencing increasing pressure from competing demands such as population growth, development and shifting land ownership patterns. As a result, fishermen and water-dependent businesses are being displaced, and coastal communities across the country are at risk of losing their working waterfronts. Without assistance, commercial fishermen may have to relocate or leave their businesses, communities lose seasonal vibrancy as year-round waterfront activities are replaced by private, non-industrial development, and public uses compete for shrinking shoreline access. In the future, these challenges will only intensify as these trends continue.

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Study finds Alaska salmon evolved to counter fishing nets

Evolution induced by commercial fishing may explain why the bodies of Alaska's sockeye salmon have shrunk by 5 percent since the 1940s. A study by the University of Washington in Seattle sorted through data from canneries, focusing on the size and age at maturation of the sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) from five fisheries in Bristol Bay, Alaska, since 1943. The fish have become, on average, 14 millimeters shorter and were 16 percent more likely to spend two instead of three years in the ocean before returning to fresh water to spawn.

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B.C. fishing industry can't hook young

Young people are shunning the commercial fishing industry, seeing it as a high-cost, dead-end career full of perplexing and vexing rules.

Industry veterans are worried that no one is stepping in to take over.

So, with help from the provincial government, the industry is commissioning a study on how to fix things.

A request for proposals for the project says the goal is to "help the B.C. commercial fisheries industry quantify, understand and work towards solutions to the labour market challenges in the fish harvesting industry."

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/fishing+industry+hook+young/4909164/story.html#ixzz1OmOZ3dmN

Our View: Fishermen could benefit from putting NOAA in Interior Department

A proposal to combine two federal departments could bring significant changes to the policies that control commercial fishing.

A bill filed in Washington two weeks ago by North Carolina Republican Sen. Richard Burr would combine the departments of Commerce and Labor into a new Department of Commerce and the Workforce.

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Fishing for Energy Collects One Million Pounds of Old Fishing Gear and Marine Debris

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fishing for Energy, the unique partnership providing fishermen with a cost-free solution for recycling and recovering energy from old fishing gear, is commemorating World Ocean's Day this year with the achievement of a significant milestone - collecting one million pounds of old fishing gear and marine debris since the program's inception in 2008.

A partnership among Covanta Energy Corporation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, and Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. set out to provide a solution to the mounting problem of disposal of used fishing gear and the mass accumulation of marine debris. Working together with local port partners, the organizations have established collections points at more than 20 commercial fishing ports across the United States, significantly reducing the financial burden placed on commercial fishermen as they routinely dispose of retired fishing gear and providing a place to discard retrieved marine debris.

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Dangerous toxin discovered in critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal

Researchers from NOAA have discovered a potent and highly-debilitating toxin in the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, a first-of-its-kind chemical finding that is now prompting investigations of other marine mammals in the state.

The toxin, ciguatoxin, is produced by marine algae common on coral reefs, and accumulates in fish species that are consumed by humans. Ciguatera, the human disease caused by ciguatoxin, affects thousands of people every year worldwide and comes in the form of acute gastrointestinal and neurological illness with symptoms resembling chronic fatigue syndrome.

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HB 595: Consolidation & Reorganization of Legislative Oversight Committees

HB 595 would do away with Jt. Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture, transferring responsibilities to something called the Jt. Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations.

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Despite rise in seafood harvests, those in the business feel squeezed

The state's commercial fish harvest was up by 4 percent in 2010, but the fishermen didn't necessarily notice a difference.

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State Seeks Applicants for Saltwater Fishing License Projects

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for proposals for the 2012 funding cycle from the N.C. Marine Resources Fund.

 The fund, which receives proceeds from the sale of Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses, provides grants for projects that help manage, protect, restore, develop, cultivate and enhance the state’s marine resources.

 Only universities, North Carolina local government entities, the state Division of Marine Fisheries and Wildlife Resources Commission are eligible to apply. Others must partner with one of these eligible entities.

Watermen learning how to add 'tourist trap' to their fishing gear

On a stormy day in April, the bright, tidy room in the back of the Neavitt United Methodist Church was filled with watermen who, temporarily, weren't on the water.

They clustered instead around tables and note pads, discussing how they might catch an occasional group of tourists along with their more traditional harvest of oysters and crabs.

These watermen, along with some family members, were participating in a new program called Watermen's Heritage Tourism Training. The training was organized by the Chesapeake Conservancy in partnership with the Maryland Watermen's Association, Coastal Heritage Alliance and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

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Strategic Action Plans

The National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great Lakes prioritizes nine objectives to address some of the most pressing challenges facing these precious resources. The National Ocean Council is overseeing development of strategic action plans for each of the nine objectives.  As a first step the National Ocean Council has released nine strategic action plan outlines for public review during National Oceans Month.

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Share Your Ideas with the National Ocean Council at a Listening Session Near You

Experts from the National Ocean Council’s 27 Federal agencies and offices have been busy drafting strategic action plans to achieve nine national priority objectives that address some of the most pressing challenges facing our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes.  Having already received your initial comments before we got started, we’d now like to hear from you again—this time with your thoughts on the strategic action plan outlines we’ve developed. That’s why we’re hosting a dozen Regional Listening Sessions at this still-early stage of the drafting process.  The strategic action plan outlines will be released in early June for a 30-day public comment period during which you will have the chance to chime in at one of the 12 Regional Listening Sessions or via the Web through a public comment portal.

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What's in season? Just ask

As a food writer, I've learned a lot about eating what's in season. Last week, I learned how little I know about seasonal seafood. Two weeks ago, I wrote about a decision my husband and I had made to join a community-supported-fishery, or CSF, and buy a weekly share of seafood from the coast.

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June 21 Meeting on Spot, Spotted Seatrout, and Spanish Mackerel Amendment

Arlington, VA – Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina have scheduled their hearings  to gather public comment on the Draft Omnibus Amendment for Spot, Spotted  Seatrout  and Spanish Mackerel. The dates, times, and locations of the  scheduled meetings follow. (Note: South Carolina conducted its hearing on June 3 as part of its Marine Advisory Committee meeting.)

Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney lash out at Obama's pick for commerce secretary

With Gloucester in Tierney’s district and New Bedford in Frank’s, the fishing industry is a key constituency for both lawmakers. So they weren’t pleased to see that Bryson, who has longstanding ties to the National Resources Defense Council, was Obama’s top choice. The two lawmakers said they were particularly troubled that the top non-business credential (he is a former CEO of California energy firm Edison International, among other titles) on Bryson’s resume is his membership in the NRDC – a group he co-founded that’s known for its hostility to the commercial fishing industry.

Read more: Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney lash out at Obama’s pick for commerce secretary | Mass. Market http://blogs.wickedlocal.com/massmarkets/2011/06/01/congressmen-barney-frank-and-john-tierney-lash-out-at-obamas-pick-for-commerce-secretary/#ixzz1OaVACpsF

Fish council seat goes to Cape Cod executive

A leader of a controversial Cape Cod commercial fishing organization has been named to a seat on the New England Fisheries Management Council — taking over for the same group's CEO, who has served as chairman despite questions from fishermen and industry supporters over alleged conflicts of interest.

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Maine Fishermen go Back to School--to the 'Cod Academy'

A handful of Down East Maine fishermen will soon become graduates of the nation's first ever, so-called "Cod Academy." That's the name of a program run by the Maine Aquaculture Association set up last year with the help of more than $180,000 in federal funding. The plan is to train fishermen to be fish-farmers and it's specifically designed to help commercial fishermen, or ex-fishermen, find a new way to make a living on the water.

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Volunteers try to save whales, but others wonder if it's worth it

KEY LARGO—

One month after 23 pilot whales were found stranded in the Florida Keys, volunteers are still working around the clock to hold up three of the sickly mammals in waist-deep waters in a holding pen.

Most of the pod died within days of coming ashore, and for the trio of survivors the future is uncertain.

But as the drama of the Marine Mammal Conservancy's efforts to save the whales continues, debate over the value and safety of the rescue operation has surfaced.

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Spawning female Atlantic sturgeon found in James River

A routine fishing trip produced the catch of a lifetime April 20 when it netted the first spawning female Atlantic sturgeon documented on the James River.

The 6-foot, 200-pound fish was netted by watermen George Trice and Jimmy Moore while participating in a study aimed at finding ways to reduce mortality of sturgeon caught in fishing nets.

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Striped Bass Meeting Set for June 30 in Manteo

MOREHEAD CITY – The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has scheduled five meetings to receive public input on allowing the commercial use of hook-and-line for the ocean striped bass fishery.

 N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries staff will present a variety of potential management options for allowing this fishery. The commission is seeking any other ideas from the public.

 The commission has not yet decided if it wants to allow the commercial use of hook-and-line for ocean-caught striped bass, but will consider public comments at its August meeting in deciding whether to move forward with a proposal.

Sturgeon's death highlights threat to ancient fish

Sturgeon have thrived in the Danube for 200 million years, migrating from feeding grounds in the Black Sea to Germany 2,000 kms (1,200 miles) upstream. Archaeologists have found wooden sturgeon traps in the ruins of Roman fortresses behind the willow trees on the Danube's banks, along with sturgeon bones dated to the 3rd century.

In the 1970s and '80s Romania built giant dams across the Iron Gates gorge, cutting off half the sturgeons' spawning grounds.

Fishermen, unrestrained after the collapse of order in eastern Europe in 1989, caught them in huge numbers as they began their migration, trapping them before they could reproduce. Pollution from agricultural run-off and expanding cities put them under further pressure, although the construction of water treatment plants in the last decade has lessened the flow of filth.

Now environmentalists are trying to head off the latest threat: a European Union plan to deepen shipping channels in the Danube that they fear could eliminate the last shallows where the sturgeon deposit their eggs, which would doom the fish to vanish in its last stronghold in Europe.

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BOEMRE and NOAA to Increase Coordination, Collaboration on Offshore Energy Development and Environmental Stewardship

As the International Oil Spill Conference kicks off in Portland, Ore. today, co-sponsors the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that they have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to increase their coordination and collaboration to ensure the environmentally sound offshore energy development.

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At work with Barry L. Marple

I've been doing this for 27 years, putting fresh seafood into restaurants. I got started in Norfolk. I was in the restaurant business for about 10 years. I worked in a place in Norfolk called Courtney's. There was a seafood place around the corner. I had to get out of the restaurant business because we had a child, and I wanted to be home at night. This little seafood place offered me a job. Part of what they did was sell fish to restaurants.

That was in the mid-'80s. Then, I worked with a half-dozen seafood companies in the area and in (North) Carolina. Some of them don't exist anymore.

Sam Daniels hired me to do the same thing for Wanchese Fish Co., which they hadn't done before that - cutting fish specifically for restaurants. What I do is just a small part of what happens at Wanchese, but it's a big part of our food-service division. Wanchese is worldwide, actually. We have offices on three continents.

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Marine Fisheries Columbia Office to Close

MOREHEAD CITY – The Columbia Field Office of the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries will close June 27, and it is not scheduled to reopen.

 The office is slated for closure in all versions of the proposed state budget, and the division does not anticipate this line item will change once a final budget is approved.

Turning Fish waste into Gardening Gold

JOHNS ISLAND, South Carolina -- Fish waste may be messy and smelly, but Dale Snyder and his business partner, George Taylor, have a hunch that it would make great organic compost. And they have just received a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) Producer Grant to test their theory.

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