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#03-03-2014 - ComFish News Roundup

3/3/2014
Far too soon
Whoa, big fella.
Whether an Alaskan supports or opposes Pebble mine, following the rules is paramount. If the rules aren't followed in this case, then nothing prevents them from not being adhered to in other cases. The Environmental Protection Agency has signaled its intent to preempt the permitting process and block the mine. Mine developers haven't even submitted mining plans; EPA should at least look at plans before it..... http://www.ketchikandailynews.com/free/Local-edit-3-3

State Agency Petitions Removal of Species from Endangered List
Shannon Riddle, Weekend Digital Producer
POSTED: 04:42 PM AKST Mar 02, 2014
ANCHORAGE - A petition from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game may remove a subgroup of humpback whales from the list of endangered species. The humpback whale was one of the first species placed on the endangered species list in 1970 under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969, following the devastation to the population due to modern whaling techniques and equipment. “We are petitioning for delisting given that this sub population is no longer at risk of extinction and in need of... http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/state-agency-petitions-removal-of-species-from-endangered-list/24768216

Alaska wolf killings upset National Park Service
By Associated Press
7:09 PM March 2, 2014
All 11 wolves in the Lost Creek pack near Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve were shot
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) – Alaska Fish and Game officials killed an Eastern Interior wolf pack last week, and the National Park Service — which had been studying the animals — is none too pleased..... http://www.ktva.com/alaska-wolf-killings-upset-national-park-service/

U.S. Navy Analyzes Operations Within an Evolving Arctic Frontier
BY REUTERS ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014
gCaptain
By Andrea Shalal
WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy is mapping out how to expand its presence in the Arctic beginning about 2020, given signs that the region’s once permanent ice cover is melting faster than expected, which is likely to trigger more traffic, fishing and resource mining. “The Arctic is all about operating forward and being ready. We don’t think we’re going to have to do war-fighting up there, but we have to be ready,” said Rear Admiral Jonathan White, the Navy’s top oceanographer and navigator, and director of the Navy’s climate change task force. “We don’t want to have a demand for the Navy to operate up there, and have to say, ‘Sorry, we can’t go,’” he said. The Navy this week released an “aggressive” update to its 2009 Arctic plan after a detailed.... http://gcaptain.com/us-navy-updates-arctic-plan/

Market Reports
Gulf/South Atlantic
IFQ fisheries flourish; oysters, blue crab struggle; shrimp fortunes vary
WINNERS
The top finfish stocks — red grouper and red snapper — are in good shape, as are their fisheries, both now managed in the Gulf of Mexico under individual fishing quota programs. Cold water temperatures early in the year slowed the grouper harvest a bit, but mild weather toward year's end may well compensate when Florida's final numbers are tallied.  Red snapper prices were a healthy $3.82 through mid-August in 2013. And average catch per trip value has risen over the past three years from $1,950 to $2,586 in 2013. Under IFQ management, the grouper fishery.... http://www.nationalfisherman.com/magazine-top/magazine/3056-market-reports

Colored lobster rope could be safer for whales
ROCKPORT, Maine - Preventing endangered northern right whales from becoming entangled in lobster gear could be as simple as changing the color of rope, a whale researcher says. If the whales can see the fishing gear more clearly, then they are better able to avoid it, said Scott Kraus, a leading researcher on northern right whales. "We know they can see the ropes. We thought by making them.... http://www.nationalfisherman.com/news-events/top-news/3085-colored-lobster-rope-could-be-safer-for-whales

Marine protected areas not holding up
Andrew Robinson
Published on March 03, 2014
A Memorial University geography professor who is part of an international group of researchers says we need to rethink how marine protected areas (MPA) worldwide serve the interests of conservation..... http://www.thetelegram.com/News/Local/2014-03-03/article-3631193/Marine-protected-areas-not-holding-up/1

The crisis in Ukraine could hit you right in the cereal box
By Roberto A. Ferdman 2 hours ago
Ukraine is the world’s third largest exporter of corn and fifth largest exporter of wheat, which has caused some havoc in those markets lately. While political unrest continues to grow in and around the country, global grain prices have charged upwards. ”The importance of the Black Sea region to global grain markets should not be understated,”  Luke Mathews, an analyst at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, said in a note this morning (paywall). Global corn prices have risen by over 8% since the beginning of the year..... http://qz.com/183230/the-crisis-in-ukraine-could-hit-you-right-in-the-cereal-box/



























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