Jes Hathaway is the editor in chief of National Fisherman magazine and NationalFisherman.com.
Thursday, 25 October 2012
The controversy in Canada this week is over a proposed seal cull in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Fishermen are eager to try anything that will give the cod a fighting chance of rebounding. But some scientists and animal welfare groups are opposed to the method, claiming there's no scientific evidence that a cull will work to reverse groundfish stock declines.
We've had no scientific proof that reducing fishing jobs will bring back the cod, either. Yet, we continue full-speed ahead with that plan. And so far, not so good.
If only fishermen were as adorable as gray seals. (You still have time to work on your Halloween costume!)
I'm not necessarily a proponent of this seal cull, because I believe attempts at environmental manipulation are inherently risky and fraught with unintended consequences. For that reason, I believe we ought to use protection measures conservatively, as well.
Southeast Alaska Dungeness crabbers saw their fishery disappear with an explosion of the sea otter population when they became a protected species. And now managers are working to reverse those effects, which many fishermen would say took far too long to get the attention of the right people.
We would like to think we understand our environment, or that protections are inherently humane and beneficial. But especially in marine ecosystems, I think we quickly get in over our heads.
We should focus on continued study of marine life and habitats and make efforts toward improving our understanding. But I can't support sweeping measures based on a handful of facts, generalizations or knee-jerk reactions to the especially adorable animals.
What we need is consistent leadership, cooperative research and common sense. It's a tall order for any governing body.
Callifornia crabbing: Here's a fun video shot on the decks of the Majestik while catching Dungeness crab off the coast of northern California.
Over 500 lots of seafood processing equipment formerly owned by Adak Seafood will be sold at auction on Tuesday, June 18, starting at 10 a.m. Hawaiian-Aleutian Daylight Time at the Hilton Garden Inn in Anchorage Alaska.
The equipment is located in a recently updated 250,000 square foot state-of-the-art processing facility in Adak, Alaska. Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Hilco Industrial, which conducts 75 machinery and equipment auctions in a wide range of industries annually, will conduct the auction.
Adak Seafood opened originally as Ada Fisheries in Anchorage in 1986. The facility, updated in 2005, is located on the island of Adak, the southernmost city in Alaska near the western end of the Aleutian Islands. The facility processed cod primarily, as well as halibut, blackcod, crab and pollock, Hilco says.
Alaska fisherman and commercial fisheries activist Kevin Adams was elected chairman at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute board of directors meeting on May 9 in Anchorage.
The governor-appointed board consists of seven members: five seafood processors and two industry representatives actively engaged in commercial fishing. Adams was appointed to fill a harvester seat by Gov. Frank Murkowski in 2004.
With 38 years of fishing experience in Bristol Bay, Adams has long been an active member in the Alaska fishing industry, ASMI says. He has worked for both the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation and the Bering Sea Fisherman's Association, and represents Alaska fishermen on numerous boards.
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