Coakley's Catch:
"Coakley files lawsuit over fishing cuts" by Meghan E. Irons | Globe Staff, May 30, 2013
Accusing the federal government of shoddy science and indifference to the plight of Massachusetts fishing families, Attorney General Martha Coakley sued the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday over its attempt to limit this year’s catch on cod and other fish.
Everyone is really beginning to come around.
Her office called restrictions that slashed limits by 78 percent of 2012’s quota Draconian. The suit was filed in US District Court.
“The federal government has failed in its responsibility in considering the devastating economic impact of their regulations on our fishing families,’’ said Coakley, flanked by lawmakers and fishermen at Boston’s Fish Pier. “NOAA’s regulations are essentially a death penalty on the fishing industry of Massachusetts as we know it.”
NOAA officials acknowledged Thursday that the quota reductions are drastic but said they are essential to rebuilding severely depleted groundfish stocks and preventing overfishing among populations that have been alarmingly slow to recover....
And it's not because of the Gloucester fisherman, it's large-scale multi-nationals with their mile-long drift nets that have done this.
Scientists held much hope for Gulf of Maine cod after a 2008 assessment appeared to show that the population was thriving and would steadily rebuild. But those hopes were dashed after a 2011 assessment showed a depleted stock, said Thomas Nies, who heads the New England Fishery Management Council.
Scientists spent last year conducting another full assessment at the request of the fishing industry to determine why the numbers were off. They concluded that the bleak 2011 figures were accurate, Nies said.
Isn't counting fish like herding cats?
Still, this year’s drastic cindustry.
(Sic)
Addressing Thursday’s press conference, US Representative Stephen F. Lynch slammed the federal government, calling its approach in addressing the fishing stock one-sided, arrogant, and self-righteous.
“We understand there is a need to manage fish stock and to manage our way back to a healthier fishing environment,’’ Lynch said. “However, these regulations that we see will simply put the fishing industry out of business.”
You were the best of a bad lot, Steve, and would have brought a different view to the chamber.
The lawsuit names the New England Fishery Management Council, which advises NOAA and which voted on the new limits in January.
Cod is a New England staple, popular on the dinner table and a big seller for fishermen.
“It’s the king of all groundfish,’’ said Angela Sanfilippo of Massachusetts Fishing Partnership. ”People demand it.”
But the government’s effort to manage fishing stock has forced fishermen to face harsh cuts that have jeopardized their livelihoods and put them on the brink of hardship....
How about a $700 billion bailout? Will that cover things for a while?
Tory Bramante, the owner of the fishing vessel America, said local fishermen have felt betrayed by past government assurances that restrictions over more than a decade would lead to healthy groundfish populations by now....
Yes, people really are catching up with the lies and broken promises from this government, across all fronts.
Oh what a deadly (and fragile) web we weave....
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Related: Crunching Down a Globe Lunch
Spiders for lunch?
Europe's Empty Net
"EU unveils plan to reduce overfishing" by Raf Casert | Associated Press, May 31, 2013
BRUSSELS — The European Union agreed to drastically alter its fishing policy Thursday, aiming to end decades of overfishing that has depleted many species in its Atlantic and Mediterranean waters.
Combine these actions with the endless radiation being released into the Pacific from Fukushima and the still oil- and corexit-contaminated Gulf of Mexico and we are looking at a serious seafood shortage when that is how most of the world survives. Maybe the globalist endgame and elimination of useless eaters is on the way.
The plan — backed by representatives of EU member states, the European Parliament, and the executive commission — commits the fishing industry to respect scientific advice on overfishing, to reduce the amount of healthy fish thrown back into the sea, and to protect sensitive areas at sea.
As long as it is sound and not some made up fart mist hiding the decline and supplying the agenda-pushing papers with poop to scoop.
North Sea stocks of cod, the emblematic fish in the Atlantic EU waters, have declined by roughly 75 percent over three decades, and special campaigns to revive the species have long struggled.
Bluefin tuna, once the pride of the Mediterranean, has seen its stocks drop by 80 percent over the same time.
Because the catch is going to Japan for sushi.
Also see: Finally, a Post About Fukushima
Sorry it took so long to serve.
Under the new plan, overfishing should end by 2015 for most species and by 2020 for all stocks.
‘‘The next generation will have stocks to fish that are in a better state than that they are now,’’ said Ireland’s marine minister, Simon Coveney, who represented the 27 EU nations at the talks.
The plan needs the approval of the member states and the European Parliament, but since they were intensely involved in the negotiations, that was not expected to be a problem.
‘‘I am confident we can get the agreement,’’ said Coveney.
European Parliament rapporteur Ulrike Rodust was equally ‘‘confident of a large majority in the plenary’’ of the legislature.
Environmental groups welcomed the agreement.
‘‘For decades in Europe, fishing has been a story of decline, with severe overexploitation of fish stocks,’’ said Greenpeace expert Saskia Richartz. ‘‘The deal that is emerging today is good news.’’
Unless you are a hungry person.
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Or maybe you need to be on this:
Big Mac McDiet
"McDonald’s CEO: I lost weight by being more active" by CANDICE CHOI | AP Food Industry Writer, May 31, 2013
NEW YORK — McDonald Corp.’s chief executive, Don Thompson’s McDiet....
Eating at McDonald’s ‘‘every single day.’’
Someone already did that and it didn't work out to well.
Thompson was responding to a question about how the world’s biggest hamburger chain is adapting amid the growing concerns about obesity.
Fish is low fat, but that catch will soon be dropping. I wonder what other fish they will mislabel and call cod. Globe won an award for that stuff, didn't they?
Does anyone trust the world food supply anymore?
Thompson said that he lost the weight by getting active again....
The remarks come as fast-food chains and packaged food companies face criticism about making products that fuel obesity rates.
At the Sanford Bernstein conference on Wednesday, Thompson noted that customers have many options at McDonald’s. For example, he said, someone might get a Big Mac one day and a grilled chicken salad another day.
But going forward, he said: ‘‘I don’t see salads being a major growth driver.’’
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Time to chow down!
