No more taking home of Atlantic bluefin tuna will be allowed until June. To prevent overharvest, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced on Wednesday, Feb. 20 that it is closing the categories for medium, large and giant bluefin, effective immediately. For details, see www.gpo.gov.
Fishing will reopen June for the June through August subperiod.
NMFS determined that the general category subquota has probably already been reached.
Catch and release as well as tag and release will still be allowed. But fishermen must comply with release rules to ensure the maximum chance the fish will survive, including not taking the fish out of the water. For details, see http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/.
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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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