Industrial fleet working the SHORELINE of RI! - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Fish_Eye · 01-10-2012, 04:33 AM

I've been filming these ships since December -- that's right, just when a lot of the fish are moving out of the bay, these 140' to 150' boats are scooping them up with the Atlantic herring they are targeting.

These photos were taken January 8, 2012. These ships were working the waters off Narragansett and they were around 1,000 feet off the shoreline. Each boat can take up to 800,000 pounds of herring -- and who knows how much bycatch -- they sometimes dump the catch in New Bedford and then run back to continue fishing.

Drive the coast and you'll see just how many boats are working our shoreline -- with little value to the local economy. You wonder where the river herring are? Want to bet there are no observers on board?

This is insane!

piemma · 01-10-2012, 05:23 AM

Why is this being allowed? Who regulates these boats? Who do we call?

Raven · 01-10-2012, 05:29 AM

country of Origin?

likwid · 01-10-2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raven

country of Origin?

New Bedford.

http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripert...ragansett.html

Spring/early summer I showed Nebe where these sit all year.

Fish_Eye · 01-10-2012, 08:30 AM

The Retriever is from New Jersey.

likwid · 01-10-2012, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish_Eye

The Retriever is from New Jersey.

And it sat at Fish Island in New Bedford all of last year.

Home port means little.

This is where all the herring/mackerel is going: http://www.norpel.com/

DZ · 01-10-2012, 08:56 AM

Could look on the bright side - apparantly a robust local population of herring and macks which is a very good sign. And these comm fishermen are still employed.

DZ

JohnnyD · 01-10-2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DZ

Could look on the bright side - apparantly a robust local population of herring and macks which is a very good sign. And these comm fishermen are still employed.

DZ

It's tough to even humor looking at any positives when there are so many major down sides to indiscriminate fishing methods.

It's like telling the Brazilians, "Yeah, I know your rainforests are being completely clear-cut and the entire ecosystem is being destroyed forever, but at least those loggers are getting a paycheck." This is exactly what is occurring in the seas right off our local shores - an entire oceanic ecosystem is being destroyed so that a couple people can get a paycheck.

DZ · 01-10-2012, 10:00 AM

Johnny - I was just making an observation. I'm assuming that if the fishing is occurring its probably legal and herring/mackeral quotas haven't been met? It's probably a good time of year to harvest these species as gamefish by-catch is probably very low. If what they're doing is illegal then by all means shut them down.

DZ

Typhoon · 01-11-2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by likwid

And it sat at Fish Island in New Bedford all of last year.

Home port means little.

This is where all the herring/mackerel is going: HOME

I thought Norpel went out of business

HESH2 · 01-11-2012, 08:35 AM

couple years ago john r had the numbers of herring caught and estimated bi catch of alot of dead stripers following the herring.would be interested to see the numbers now.

likwid · 01-11-2012, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Typhoon

I thought Norpel went out of business

Still there on Fish Is with pair trawlers sitting along side.

Fish_Eye · 01-10-2012, 08:38 AM

BasicPatrick, Is the Honest Bycatch roadshow going to be at the fishing shows this year. What's the latest with their efforts?

slow eddie · 01-10-2012, 02:28 PM

there have been as many as 14 boats working at one time. i couldn't begin to guestimate how many tons have been harvested, but it's gotta be way up there. perhaps they wouldn't do as well with sabuki rigs, but at least there would be some bait left for future generations.
if we keep on taking without thinking of the future, we have none.

iamskippy · 01-10-2012, 06:45 PM

Time to bring whale wars to RI fire up the aluminum boats boys and lets get em

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

onecastmike2003 · 01-11-2012, 05:26 AM

what a shame. ^ what he said might work.

Mr. Sandman · 01-11-2012, 03:42 PM

Utter disgrace and lack of respect for the fishery.

I have seen similar tactics with the same boats targeting squid. One time I counted 22 boats in what appeared to be a square mile (or two)

All I can say is that I have given up hope with all the dept of fisheries. They are a lost cause and do not understand the issues. Screw these jobs for fishermen, there are only a few of them anyway, the fish are far more important than a few jobs for meth'ed out fishermen.

big jay · 01-11-2012, 10:34 PM

Pretty sure there's a spot open on the NEFMC - I'm sure the wife would appreciate if we nominated you...

RIROCKHOUND · 01-12-2012, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big jay

Pretty sure there's a spot open on the NEFMC - I'm sure the wife would appreciate if we nominated you...

Do that, and I'd be come pro-pair trawling out of spite

striperman36 · 01-11-2012, 11:59 PM

Dented bucket has a new blog about it
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Nebe · 01-12-2012, 04:38 PM

You would think that if the quota was not reached last year, there might be a problem.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

PRBuzz · 01-13-2012, 08:35 AM

Just an FYI:

Pair Trawling in Rhode Island waters: is it worth it? | The Dented Bucket

Soundbounder · 01-17-2012, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRBuzz

Just an FYI:

Pair Trawling in Rhode Island waters: is it worth it? | The Dented Bucket

Require reading!

WoodyCT · 01-13-2012, 12:04 PM

And for some good news...

North Carolina is about to open the trawling season for stripers.

Each boat can keep about 100 fish per day.

And they take the 100 largest ones, even if it means making many tows and shoveling dead ones over the side by the 1000s.

Sickening!

striperman36 · 01-13-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodyCT

And for some good news...

North Carolina is about to open the trawling season for stripers.

Each boat can keep about 100 fish per day.

And they take the 100 largest ones, even if it means making many tows and shoveling dead ones over the side by the 1000s.

Sickening!

Just like High grading for fluke in the Sound.

ecduzitgood · 01-13-2012, 01:34 PM

I wish someone would start a fund to finance private boat owners to anchor in mass in the ares the pair trawlers are fishing to make it impossible for the trawlers to get to the schooling fish. There seem to be enough people who care and I am sure they could generate plenty of support/dollars.

I wonder if a kayak challenging them would make the news and perhaps garner support from the general public to end the carnage, maybe I should take one for the team and get out there after the winds settle.

BasicPatrick · 01-13-2012, 02:46 PM

This nothing new and yes you should all be outraged. This is the fleet I have spend 13 years fighting. Twenty plus are currently working the back side of Cape Cod and Gansett/Block Island Sound.

MSBA, The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association, a couple of Tuna Groups that are now ABTA formed CHOIR many years ago to fight this fight and we still are at it today. We have been winnigna s their operations are far more restricted then they were when we began but the fight is far from over.

"Dock Talk" in the last few days is that a pair of Mid Water Trawl Boats (should be called super draggers or mid water draggers) possibly owned by the company Sea Freeze (NJ/some operations in RI?) got 5 300-500 lb Blue Fin on one day this week and on the second day got 3 more. I just got a call that maybe 4 more on a third day.

There is also a dock rumor that an observer was on board. FYI...observers just write down what they are allowed to see and sample, they do not enforce or point out violations, they are not law enforcement and have a very tough job as it is.

The dock talk rumor is that the crew cut one tuna up to eat. In my eyes better than wasting the fish but also clearly that is the only illegal part of what is going on in RI State Waters.

If I lived in RI I would be calling the state and demanding that this fishery be pushed outside the 3 mile line. Most states have a 90 foot state waters limit.

Herring and mackerel fishing is not bad when done by smaller boats with captains tied to the resource and contributing to the local community. These local operators can coexist with our shared resources.

Industrial Pair Trawling should not be allowed near our waters. We need to save local fishermen. Take the minimum wage low income industrial sweat shop factory jobs being filled by god knows whom back to the countries from whence they came. I want traditional New England Fishermen and our natural resources protected.

BasicPatrick · 01-13-2012, 02:51 PM

Mike....Honest By Catch will be at RISAA and MSBA.

The Battle against these boats is coming to a head this Spring. Ammendment 5 to the Herring Plan is goign to Public Hearing sometime mid Feb and will continue to March. We must overwhelm the public hearings. We WANT

1. 100% monitoring (if gov't wont pay then industry should)

2.Restrictions on dumping

3. Weigh all fish landed

4. Closed Area Monitoring fishery wide.

5. Some By Catch protection

Honest By Catch urges all to attend the public hearings and send in comments. We will be advising when and how once the info is released.

Also in April Honest By CAtch will run 1 bus from Cape Cod and 1 Bus from RI to the final decision meeting on AM 5 in CT.

IF we show up we will win. If we do not we will not.

Please respond this Spring when we ask for help.

vineyardblues · 01-13-2012, 03:15 PM

90 foot state waters limit ? wtf

BasicPatrick · 01-13-2012, 03:48 PM

Peter...Most States do not allow commercial fishing vesssels over 90 foot to fish in state waters. RI does allow these 140-165 on average monster trawlers. Its like dragging a gill net...everything dies and nothing escapes for tomorrow.