Squid School Surprisingly Near Surface!
By Danna StaafSome people might be surprised by the sheer number of squid in the photo--but rest assured, that's quite normal. This is the California market squid, a gregarious creature that often travels in large shoals. (Or should I say schools? They certainly seem to be swimming in a coordinated manner.)Other folks might find the squids' vivid colors astonishing--especially if they've ever purchased a box of market squid for bait or dinner.Read the rest of the story on Science 2.0 here.
The (Nonsensical) Politics of Fisheries Funding
By Michael ConathanAll eyes in Washington are focused up these days. They’re peering cautiously at that ever-encroaching debt ceiling and the economic ruin pundits and politicians are forecasting if we allow ourselves to bump into it. Meanwhile, spending-phobia has gripped the less headline-grabbing, more mundane aspects of congressional operations as well. So we’re going to spend a bit of time today in one of Capitol Hill’s metaphorical windowless rooms crunching numbers to find out what Congress is doing to fund (or not fund) fisheries management.Let’s start with a quick note about the congressional appropriations process. Per the Constitution, Congress holds the “power of the purse.” The president asks for money by submitting a budget but the legislature dictates how much will actually be spent.Like all pieces of legislation—recall your “Schoolhouse Rock”—spending (also known as appropriations) bills originate in committee. In this case, that’s the Appropriations Committee, which passes them on, accompanied by an explanatory report, for consideration of the full body. Ultimately, both House and Senate must pass identical versions of legislation that are then sent to the president to be signed into law. The bill that contains funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, and thus for fisheries management, is the Commerce, Justice, and Science, or CJS, Appropriations Act.House appropriators talked a good game this year in the CJS bill’s report, stating “healthy levels of investment in scientific research are the key to long-term economic growth.” One would think that in these days of anemic job growth, 9.2 percent unemployment, and an angry electorate, if Congress held “the key to long-term economic growth,” they might use that key to unlock America’s potential. Instead, line-in-the-sand politics rose up and trumped common sense. In short, the “cut spending now” mantra seems to have all but obliterated the more reasoned and storied catchphrase of entrepreneurs everywhere: “You have to spend money to make money.”Read the rest of the story here.
Florida Fishermen Catch 25-Foot-Long Giant Squid, Offering Rare Opportunity to Study Elusive Creature
By Alisa OparGiant squid are creatures of the deep ocean. So it was quite a surprise when recreational fishermen spotted one floating on the surface some 12 miles off of Florida’s Jensen Beach on Sunday. They hauled the 25-foot-long dying invertebrate on to their 23-foot-long boat. “I thought we definitely need to bring it in, because no one’s going to believe us if we don’t,” said Robert Benz, who was fishing with friends Joey Asaro and Paul Peroulakis. “I didn’t want to leave it out there and just let the sharks eat it.”
On Monday scientists at the University of Florida’s Florida Museum of Natural History preserved the squid, which died shortly after it was found. John Slapcinsky, the museum’s malacology collection manager, explained that giant squid reproduce just once in their lifetime, and then often become lethargic and die slowly. That’s probably what happened to this animal, as it was discovered barely alive near the surface. The finding offers a rare opportunity to learn more about the elusive creatures, which can grow to be 60 feet long, top 1,000 pounds, and have pigment cells on their white-and-red skin that allow them to rapidly change color, presumably for communication or camouflage.Read the rest here.
Fish and Game Commission Votes on Effective Date for South Coast MPAs
Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, DFG CommunicationsThe California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) today selected Oct. 1, 2011 as the effective date for implementation of the marine protected areas (MPAs) in Southern California.In a 4-1 vote, Commissioners selected this day to better inform affected ocean users of the new regulations in the South Coast Study Region, which spans from Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border. Commissioner Daniel Richards was the only vote in opposition.On Dec. 15, 2010 the Commission adopted regulations to create a suite of MPAs in this study region. Developed under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) planning process, this network of 49 MPAs and three special closures covers approximately 354 square miles of state waters and represents approximately 15 percent of the region. The regulatory package is being prepared for the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) and the date selected today allows time for OAL review and approval, finalizing the lawmaking process.For more information on the south coast MPAs or MLPA, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/southcoast.asp.
Marine preservation proposal would allow Indian tribal harvests
By Matt Weisermweiser@sacbee.comAmerican Indian tribes on California's North Coast will retain the right to harvest plants and wildlife for subsistence purposes under a plan for new marine preserves north of Fort Bragg.
The California Fish and Game Commission, meeting in Stockton on Wednesday, approved the subsistence gathering language as its preferred option for additional environmental study.Though not yet final, it indicates a major shift in state policy toward coastal protection."I hope if one thing comes out of this process, it's the beginning of long-term trust between sovereign tribal governments and the state of California," said John Laird, secretary of the state's Natural Resources Agency.
Read more here.
California water pact attacked by GOP congressmen
Washington -- House Republicans representing the San Joaquin Valley pressed their attack on California's plan to restore water to fisheries and wildlife, holding a hearing Thursday on a bill that would gut a key bipartisan pact passed by the state Legislature in 2009 after decades of litigation.The bill has environmental groups and Bay Area Democrats in an uproar, but it has an excellent chance of passing the GOP-controlled House this year - one of many areas from abortion limits to spending cuts where Republicans are moving aggressively to shift the direction of government.In the Democratic-controlled Senate, however, the water bill faces strong opposition from California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both Democrats, as well as opposition from the Obama administration.Read more at the San Francisco Chronicle.
Editorial: Fisheries have equal claim to water
You've seen the signs — "Farms, not fish!" — when the TV cameras are about to roll. But it isn't likely you've seen any proclaiming "Fish, not subsidized water for corporate ag," which is because there haven't been many signs like that.
Fishermen can be just as appealing as farmers, but agriculture continues to win the political and public relations fight over the limited amount of California water that both of them need. Those who should be supporting the fishing interests—including the people and institutions of the Central Coast—should start doing that more loudly and more clearly.A bill now in the House, H.R. 1837 by tea party favorite Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, would set the clock back to 1994 for environmental regulations imposed on giant water traffickers such as the Westlands Water District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.Read the rest of the The Monterey County Herald editorial here.
Commerce Secretary nominee should champion policies that rebuild fish stocks and strengthen coastal economies
By Talking Fish on June 2, 2011
Last week, President Obama nominated John Bryson, a former energy company CEO, to be the next Secretary of Commerce. According to the Boston Globe, Bryson has a long history of business leadership, having spent nearly two decades as chairman and CEO of Edison International, a major electric utility. He is also a director of Boeing and Walt Disney and an adviser to a large private-equity firm in New York.Why should this matter to Talking Fish readers? The Department of Commerce houses NOAA, so the Secretary of Commerce plays a significant role in creating and enforcing federal fisheries policy and all ocean matters. While President Obama’s announcement of the nomination emphasized Bryson’s business expertise, he was also co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).That heritage may be controversial among fishermen and a few politicians in New England, but we think it reflects a perfect blend to guide the nation forward in obtaining full economic benefits from our marine resources without compromising the ocean’s ability to sustain these benefits.Read the rest here.