A bill that will provide funding for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy and that also includes $150 million for fisheries disaster relief will now be voted on in two parts, leaving the fate of funds for local fishing grounds up in the air until Jan. 15, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.
House leadership decided not to allow a vote on the bill, which had already passed in the Senate Wednesday, reversing a previously announced schedule, according to a news release from Saving Seafood, a fishing industry advocacy group.
"Over the course of our history, there have been natural disasters across our country and, without question, Congress has passed legislation to provide aid to those affected each time," said Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass., in a statement Wednesday night. "Now, it is families on the East Coast suffering after Hurricane Sandy and our fishermen who have been dealing with their own economic disaster who need relief. Yet the House Republican leadership has failed to bring the aid package to the floor. ... Shame on the House leadership for not doing their job."
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times>>
Callifornia crabbing: Here's a fun video shot on the decks of the Majestik while catching Dungeness crab off the coast of northern California.
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.
The Northeast Regional Planning Body, a group of state, tribal and federal representatives from New England who are working to implement the National Ocean Policy and address critical New England ocean issues, is holding a series of public meetings in May and June.
The meetings are being held to discuss draft regional ocean planning goals and associated potential actions. The planning body seeks input on these goals and actions. Additional information on the group's progress can be found here.
The meetings will also provide an opportunity to review draft maps and products from initial efforts to gather information on the natural resources and diverse uses of the ocean, including fishing, transportation, energy and infrastructure, aquaculture, and recreation.
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