The U.S. Coast Guard has released a few more details on the sinking of the salmon tender Lone Star in the Igushik River at Bristol Bay.
"The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has conducted an overflight of the site and reports a narrow sheen extending approximately four miles," the Coast Guard says.
The good Samaritan vessel Tradition responded to the report of the sinking vessel, rescued the four Lone Star crewmen and took them to Dillingham.
The Lone Star is partially submerged in 18 feet of water and reportedly has 14,000 gallons of diesel, 250 gallons of gasoline, 150 gallons of lube oil and 150 gallons of hydraulic fluid aboard.
The Coast Guard has issued a broadcast notice to mariners that the overturned vessel is 3.5 miles north of the mouth of the Igushik River, and boats in the area should maintain a sharp lookout to avoid collision.
As for how the Lone Star sank, a crewmember said that while at anchor a change in the tide "swung the ship against the anchor chain, detaching the transducer and coolant lines," the Coast Guard says. "This created a hole in the steel hull and caused the vessel to take on water."
KDLG radio reports the Lone Star was working for Trident Seafoods.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Trouble in Bristol Bay
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game shut down the local setnet fishery after a salmon tender, the Lone Star, sank this morning in the mouth of the Igushik River.
The good news is all four crewmen aboard the vessel are safe. In fact, they never even got wet, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman told Deckboss.
The Coast Guard received a mayday at 6:57 a.m. from the master of the Lone Star, who said his vessel was taking on water.
The crew got into a raft, and made it onto another vessel, the Coast Guard spokesman said.
The Department of Fish and Game in Dillingham issued an emergency order for Igushik setnetters to pull their nets due to the possibility of fuel in the water.
"If fish are contaminated they should be isolated and destroyed," the Fish and Game announcement said.
The Lone Star rolled over, the department said. But the vessel remains sticking out of the water, the Coast Guard spokesman said.
State records indicate the 86-foot, steel-hulled Lone Star belongs to Charles A. Burrece, of Bellingham, Wash.
The good news is all four crewmen aboard the vessel are safe. In fact, they never even got wet, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman told Deckboss.
The Coast Guard received a mayday at 6:57 a.m. from the master of the Lone Star, who said his vessel was taking on water.
The crew got into a raft, and made it onto another vessel, the Coast Guard spokesman said.
The Department of Fish and Game in Dillingham issued an emergency order for Igushik setnetters to pull their nets due to the possibility of fuel in the water.
"If fish are contaminated they should be isolated and destroyed," the Fish and Game announcement said.
The Lone Star rolled over, the department said. But the vessel remains sticking out of the water, the Coast Guard spokesman said.
State records indicate the 86-foot, steel-hulled Lone Star belongs to Charles A. Burrece, of Bellingham, Wash.
Volunteer? Who, me?
We heard quite a bit of bellyaching when the North Pacific observer program expanded this year to cover new fleets, including halibut boats.
One complaint was that more should have been done to develop an alternative to the inconvenience and cost of having a human observer ride along on small boats.
Surely electronic monitoring — onboard cameras — could keep tabs on catch and bycatch, the critics said.
OK, fine.
Now read this letter from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to several commercial fishing groups.
The letter says a pilot project has been set up to test electronic monitoring systems.
The trouble is, not many commercial fishermen have volunteered to take part in the project so far, the letter says.
The council wants a viable electronic monitoring alternative on the water as soon as practicable, and the volunteer pilot program is "vital to the realization of this goal," the letter says.
One complaint was that more should have been done to develop an alternative to the inconvenience and cost of having a human observer ride along on small boats.
Surely electronic monitoring — onboard cameras — could keep tabs on catch and bycatch, the critics said.
OK, fine.
Now read this letter from the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to several commercial fishing groups.
The letter says a pilot project has been set up to test electronic monitoring systems.
The trouble is, not many commercial fishermen have volunteered to take part in the project so far, the letter says.
The council wants a viable electronic monitoring alternative on the water as soon as practicable, and the volunteer pilot program is "vital to the realization of this goal," the letter says.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Is this anything?
Some days ago, on June 19, a senior seafood buyer for retail giant Walmart sent salmon suppliers this letter.
"Please review the attached letter in regards to wild salmon. This is a reconfirmation of our requirements for sustainable sourcing of wild salmon," said an email introducing the letter. "Now that the wild salmon harvest season is upon us, please review your source fisheries to ensure that they meet our sustainability requirements."
The letter said the company will buy only from fisheries "certified sustainable to the MSC standard," or actively working toward certification.
Uh-oh.
The bulk of Alaska's salmon industry, you'll recall, recently fired MSC — the London-based Marine Stewardship Council — as tedious, expensive and superfluous.
Walmart said it might consider an alternative to MSC certification. But, according to its letter, "Walmart has not yet determined any other standard to be equivalent to MSC. Therefore, no other standards will be accepted as equivalent until such time as we announce our decision."
Deckboss hasn't talked with the MSC folks, but imagines they're delighted with Walmart's stance.
I've also not talked with Alaska's major salmon processors. But I'm guessing they're not too worried.
Why not?
Because the processors are confident most buyers trust that Alaska has a good and very abundant wild product, and that the state manages its salmon runs sustainably.
Further, I expect the processors believe the Alaska brand trumps the MSC brand.
Deckboss did ask Tyson Fick, spokesman for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, for a comment. Remember, Alaska's major salmon processors control the ASMI board.
"It is amazing to me," he said, "that America's largest retailer appears to be saying that they will not buy American seafood without the endorsement of a foreign-based environmental group while promoting foreign seafood with clearly inferior fisheries management and quality, all in the name of sustainability."
"Please review the attached letter in regards to wild salmon. This is a reconfirmation of our requirements for sustainable sourcing of wild salmon," said an email introducing the letter. "Now that the wild salmon harvest season is upon us, please review your source fisheries to ensure that they meet our sustainability requirements."
The letter said the company will buy only from fisheries "certified sustainable to the MSC standard," or actively working toward certification.
Uh-oh.
The bulk of Alaska's salmon industry, you'll recall, recently fired MSC — the London-based Marine Stewardship Council — as tedious, expensive and superfluous.
Walmart said it might consider an alternative to MSC certification. But, according to its letter, "Walmart has not yet determined any other standard to be equivalent to MSC. Therefore, no other standards will be accepted as equivalent until such time as we announce our decision."
Deckboss hasn't talked with the MSC folks, but imagines they're delighted with Walmart's stance.
I've also not talked with Alaska's major salmon processors. But I'm guessing they're not too worried.
Why not?
Because the processors are confident most buyers trust that Alaska has a good and very abundant wild product, and that the state manages its salmon runs sustainably.
Further, I expect the processors believe the Alaska brand trumps the MSC brand.
Deckboss did ask Tyson Fick, spokesman for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, for a comment. Remember, Alaska's major salmon processors control the ASMI board.
"It is amazing to me," he said, "that America's largest retailer appears to be saying that they will not buy American seafood without the endorsement of a foreign-based environmental group while promoting foreign seafood with clearly inferior fisheries management and quality, all in the name of sustainability."
Tenderman dies after ammonia leak at Sitka
KCAW Raven Radio in Sitka reports an 82-year-old man has died after an ammonia leak aboard the fish tender Eigil B. More here.
Is the halibut war finally drawing to a close?
The National Marine Fisheries Service has published proposed regulations to establish a "clear allocation" of halibut between Alaska's rival commercial and charter fleets.
As longtime Deckboss readers know, this has been a long and frustrating conflict, one regulators have repeatedly failed to settle.
Will it be different this time?
Click here for details on how you can weigh in on the proposed halibut catch sharing plan.
As longtime Deckboss readers know, this has been a long and frustrating conflict, one regulators have repeatedly failed to settle.
Will it be different this time?
Click here for details on how you can weigh in on the proposed halibut catch sharing plan.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Commerce nominee easily confirmed
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted 97 to 1 to confirm Chicago billionaire businesswoman Penny Pritzker as the new secretary of commerce.
The Commerce Department houses the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Both Alaska senators voted for Pritzker.
Here are statements from Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski.
The Commerce Department houses the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Both Alaska senators voted for Pritzker.
Here are statements from Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
