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Monday, December 3. 2007 Coast Guard plucks injured man off vessel TILLAMOOK – The Coast Guard rescued a man who was struck by a crab pot and injured while out on the Tillamook coast Saturday. The 24-year-old man was airlifted from a fishing vessel and taken to a nearby hosptial where he was treated for his injuries. The master of a 77-foot vessel, Lady Kate, contacted Coast Guard Air Station Astoria to request assistance for the man. – KGW, Portland
Venerable fishing vessel gone If the Lou Denny Wayne returns to Santa Cruz, it will be hauled piece by piece down Highway 1. The trip would be far less majestic than the commercial fishing craft's first voyage into town, a flag-waving entrance chronicled by a photo in the Sentinel in January 1951. The historic commercial fishing craft well-known in the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor wrecked against the rocks about a mile south of Pigeon Point early Thursday. On Friday, recovery efforts became salvage work. "This will be the end of it," said Mike Velasquez, a friend of the boat's captain Leo Morelli of Santa Cruz, who was helping remove the boat from the surf Friday afternoon. Morelli and his son, Gabriel Riddle, 21, took the 39-foot, 6-inch purse seiner on a commercial crabbing trip up the North Coast late Wednesday but ran into trouble around 1 a.m. when the vessel hit an unknown object and started taking on water. Morelli told television reporters he purposely crashed the boat into the rocks to save his son, who jumped into the water and swam to shore. The captain stayed aboard the damaged craft and sent out a distress call at 1:15 a.m. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from San Francisco rescued him from the boat and San Mateo County sheriff's deputies helped Riddle up the 100-foot bluff to safety. Neither man was injured. – Santa Cruz Sentinel
SF oil spill sparks memories of Exxon Valez The oil spill in San Francisco Bay also hit people in my hometown of Cordova, the native village of Chenega, Port Graham, Kodiak, Chignik - and all other of the 22 Alaskan communities directly affected by the Exxon Valdez spill more than 18 years ago. The reason Exxon Valdez survivors literally "feel your pain" is that disaster trauma is stored in memory with no time tag other than "present." No matter what else of significance happens in a person's life, trauma memory is able to trump it all in an unguarded moment. As an Exxon Valdez survivor, the intensity of emotion that flooded over me when I learned of the spill in San Francisco Bay was as real as when I first experienced it two decades ago. Besides wishing to extend my sympathy to those harmed by the Cosco Busan spill, I hope to share some of what we in Alaska learned the hard way, so that survivors might avoid our mistakes. The spilled oil will take its toll on wildlife, your beautiful beaches and bays, commercial and sport fisheries and fishing-based businesses, tourism and recreational businesses, local governments that depend on these businesses for tax revenue, and more. You will be surprised to learn, as we were, that despite public promises to "make us whole" from the spiller - in our case, Exxon Corp. - actual damages are quite limited under maritime law. This ancient law is rooted in past centuries when the need to protect the critical shipping industry trumped the needs of most other industries. We now find ourselves in the U.S. Supreme Court having to defend what remains of our punitive damage award. In its appeal, ExxonMobil has invoked the Amiable Nancy, a nearly 200-year-old maritime law that limits the liability of ship owners from reckless mistakes of their captains -- in that case, from pirate captains plundering other vessels for profit. In the two centuries before ExxonMobil dredged up the Amiable Nancy ruling from Davy Jones' locker, crude oil rose to dominance as a global energy source. Much of this oil is shipped to markets in some of the world's largest ships - supertankers carrying millions of gallons. Sophisticated communications make it possible for responsible ship owners to stay in daily contact with their captains. The liability of ship owners was -- and is still -- largely limited to commercial fishermen and private landowners who were directly oiled. All other claims will be tossed out, as they were in our case. If the Exxon Valdez case is a harbinger of litigation to come, it does not bode well for people, civic society or the environment. In our case, simply put, a giant corporation used its wealth to aggressively drive up legal expenses and to reduce, delay, and eliminate payment of awards to spill victims for more than 18 years -- and counting. But the loss goes far deeper than economic damages. Oil spills in coastal seas create long sticky tendrils of disaster trauma that emotionally scar everyone they touch. Mental health counselors are overwhelmed with those having difficulty coping with disruptions to daily work and play routines, feelings of loss of control over one's life, loss of quality time to visit with family and friends, intrusive dreams, and gnawing worries over an uncertain future. Heaping fuel on the fire was the very tool given to us to "make us whole" -- class-action litigation. We experienced a secondary spill disaster through prolonged litigation that created as much trauma for spill victims as the initial spill. Psychologists found that adversarial litigation emotionally "arrests" disaster-scarred survivors, forcing them to keep the disaster trauma alive and present until case closure. Further, litigation generates new trauma, which amounts to a double helping of stress for disaster victims. For us in Cordova -- as it will be for you in San Francisco -- it's not about whether the Supreme Court should hear the case. It's about justice and reparation, making injured parties whole. It's about more than an oil spill. We ask all of you who share in the cost of oil spill cleanup as taxpayers and in the devastation of this spill as owners of public resources - oiled wildlife and oiled public lands - to join us in defeating ExxonMobil's appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. It is time to retire outdated laws like the Amiable Nancy. But perhaps it is also time for Americans to question whether the adversarial litigation system is really the best way to ascertain truth, ensure fairness and dispense justice. And we in Cordova offer some suggestions for rebuilding our American justice system: -- Post-disaster disputes could be minimized during preliminary planning and scoping of projects by negotiated, legally binding agreements. -- Financial incentives and rules could be created to encourage dispute resolution through non-adversarial negotiated settlements. -- Incentives could be created to shorten litigation timelines by eliminating mechanisms that reward profits through stalling. In Cordova, we hope that it is just a matter of time before these suggestions or other similar ones are demanded by professionals, activists, and victims fed up with the American "injustice system," archaic irrelevant laws, and oil spills. We also encourage those of you (including the state) who are considering lawsuits to demand instead negotiated settlements with a three- to five-year timeline. This will bring closure and allow you to move on with your lives, something we found that is as important as reparation. – Riki Ott, Ph.D., a community activist and former fisherm'am, writing in the San Francisco Chronicle
Crab vessel sinks off B.C. PRINCE RUPERT – At 5 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24 the Freyed Knot put out a mayday call after the vessel rolled over off of Rose Spit. The 32-foot crab fishing vessel had three crew on board at the time when it went hard aground at Toe Hill beach. The three people aboard were standing on the stern of the Freyed Knot in survival suits, and were advised to stay with the vessel as long as possible. The vessel did not have a skiff, although the crew had a deflated raft but were not willing to get into it. Another fishing vessel, the Leski Spirit was in the area and turned about to assist. The Leski Spirit did not feel it was able to tow them off, and Coast Guard concurred it was not a good plan. Coast Guard did dispatch the Cormorant helicopter from Comox, and the Point Henry was on scene at 9 a.m. with the Point Henry 2 assisting. Another assisting vessel was able to get the Freyed Knot off the sandbar, and the vessel was towed to Masset where it was secured at 2:31 p.m. Weather at the time was two to three foot northwest swells, and the wind was blowing at 15 knots from the northeast, which is considered to be fairly good weather for the area. – Prince Rupert Daily News Oregon crabbers pulling pots, if they get out
CHARLESTON, Ore. – The Charleston crab fleet is hitting the waters, trying to bring as much crab in as possible before the predicted extreme storm hits the south coast.
The Gloria vessel was the first to land their gear Saturday after the crabbing season officially started at midnight. Captain Jeff Reeves says it was a rough night with poor conditions, but most crabbers want to get the most bang for their buck before this storm moves in. "It's predicted to be one of the biggest weather events that I can recall. The crab gear will get moved around. Some of it may go completely away. We've seen pots in a significant weather event last year roll 50 miles up the coast." In order to salvage their gear, crabbers hope to land most of it before the conditions get bad enough to sand in the pots. Reeves brought in about a ton of crab and based on competitive pricing he's expecting to get around two-dollars a pound. "Crabs look great, I didn't have much. Would've liked to have three times that much, but I did run only one crab screen." Crabbers seem to be positive about this season, and are hoping the quantity of crab keeps up with the quality. – KCBY, Coos Bay <<<•>>> Tuesday, December 4. 2007 Farmed salmon lawsuit taken to California Supreme Court LOS ANGELES -- What could unite such fierce competitors as Bristol Farms, Costco, Safeway, Albertsons, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's? A group of fish-eating consumers who want to know whether the salmon in the stores' display cases is wild or farmed. The grocery giants have formed an unlikely alliance to fight a legal bid by 11 consumers who contend that California markets have failed to clearly distinguish salmon caught in the wild from its farm-raised cousin, which is injected with red dye to appear more palatable. It's a claim grocers deny. "I'm very concerned about what I put into my body," said Jennifer Kanter, a 32-year-old Los Angeles sales professional who is one of those who filed the lawsuit. Although federal and state laws require suppliers to clearly label salmon containing dye, officials from the Food and Drug Administration and the California Department of Public Health acknowledge that because of limited resources, they don't actively enforce the rule. The California Supreme Court has scheduled arguments in the upcoming weeks. Salmon is big business. It is a food recommended by the American Heart Association, and consumption of it has quintupled in 16 years. Much of the demand is met by the farm-raised variety. Critics say salmon farming poses environmental and health concerns. The fish are raised in nets in bays and inlets; excess fish meal and waste from the fish cause pollution. The meal, which is used to fatten the salmon, contains small amounts of dioxin and other harmful chemicals, according to a study cited by the plaintiffs. The fish waste harms the ocean's ecosystem, scientists say. In a study last year, a consumer advocacy group tested salmon advertised as wild in markets in the Northeast and found that about half contained dye without labels disclosing the fact. "People were paying a premium for wild salmon, and we're not getting it," said Nancy Metcalf, author of the survey for Consumers Union. No such studies have been done in California, she said. Kanter grew up in Seattle, where she fished for salmon. It wasn't until she moved to Los Angeles five years ago that she learned that some of the fish in markets was actually farm-raised. "I didn't know you could have anything but wild-caught salmon. I had never seen (it) before," she said. "I just knew that it wasn't what I was used to. It's gray." Concerned that the labeling rule wasn't being enforced, Kanter and others went to court three years ago contending that they should have the right to demand that information from suppliers when authorities fail to do so. The original lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages and class-action status, alleges that consumers bought unlabeled dyed salmon that was sold by "the nation's largest and most sophisticated grocery chains." The argument was rejected by lower courts and is now before the California Supreme Court. Rex Heinke, attorney for Kroger (parent of Ralphs), Safeway and Albertsons, said the job of enforcing the labeling rule is up to federal regulators, not consumers. "Congress wanted uniform enforcement of these laws nationwide. We don't dispute that if the state government jumps through the right procedural hoops, they can enforce the law too, if the federal government doesn't object," Heinke said. "But nowhere is there any mention of consumers enforcing." Craig R. Spiegel, a lawyer for the consumers, said the implications of the suit "go way beyond the facts of this case." "The holding is not limited in any way to food coloring," he said. "The decision says whenever conduct violates both state and federal law, consumers cannot go to court to enforce the regulations." The suit has the backing of a dozen prosecutors, California Attorney General Jerry Brown and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. According to papers filed by Kamala Harris, San Francisco County's district attorney, if California's justices don't intervene, the lower court rulings will "destroy local civil law enforcement action safeguarding the public against unlawful and deceptive practices in the sale of food and other products." – San Jose Mercury News Questions arise from Oregon plan for marine protected areas NEWPORT, Ore. – How large is large? How small is small? How many? Why is this process underway? What is the need? "For some, outreach may mean doing a workshop or two in a community, then calling it a day," said Onno Husing, director of the Oregon Coastal Zone Management Association (OCZMA), who attended the session. "Outreach should be an effort to establish real and enduring relationships. I also believe outreach needs to be a genuine two-way street -- a process where information is not just issued, but an iterative journey where informed and constructive feedback finds its way back into policy development. That means using feedback to adjust expectations, strategies, outcomes, and schedules." They met with the Oregon Salmon Commission on Nov. 19 and Lincoln County's Fishermen Involved with Natural Energy (FINE) committee on Nov. 20, where they briefed the fishermen on the current marine reserve designation process, and gleaned feedback about what role, if any, fishermen were willing to play.
Gravel beds in Fraser River threatened VANCOUVER – Swift and sweeping action is needed by all government levels to protect the 90-km gravel reach between Hope and Mission that represents the most biologically rich part of the Fraser River, says a report for the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council. The 111-page report, titled Saving the Heart of the Fraser, said the reach represents "some of Canada's most biologically significant riparian and aquatic ecosystems" and is under "extreme stress" from activities such as urban growth, agriculture, resource extraction and industrial development. The Fraser River flows 1,370 km from its headwaters at Mount Robson Provincial Park to the Strait of Georgia at Vancouver, draining 236,000 square km or about one-quarter of the province. At least 30 different species of fish spawn, rear or migrate through this part of the lower Fraser River, including more than 10 million pink salmon in peak years and an endangered population of sturgeon that is the source of a popular catch-and-release sport fishery. The report says current environmental law is "insufficient to protect this environmentally unique and economically valuable Canadian ecosystem," noting habitat is at risk from a "bias towards development and the momentum generated by the growing population in the region." The report is authored by council deputy chair Mark Angelo and biologist Marvin Rosenau, a former provincial fish biologist, both of whom are with BCIT's fish, wildlife and recreation program. "The heart of the Fraser has internationally renowned fisheries values and is one of the most productive stretches of river anywhere in the world," Angelo said. The report states that despite 150 years of impact, there is much biodiversity in the lower Fraser River that can still be saved. It recommends: -- All levels of government -- federal, provincial, local and first nations -- devise a consensus-based plan of immediate measures to stem the losses of irreplaceable ecosystems. -- Research to identify the sites needing immediate protection, purchasing private sites where possible or protecting them via covenant, perhaps through organizations such as The Nature Trust or the Sto:lo Trust. -- Converting important Crown sites -- and perhaps even reserve lands, with first nations approval -- to protected areas, with the use of land trades to preserve aboriginal interests. -- Restoring areas of the river that have been damaged over the years, including potential removal of non-essential rip-rap armour used for shoreline protection. -- Reducing shoreline damage associated with commercial cottonwood plantations as well as gravel extraction, and stemming the loss of agricultural land. -- Investigating the importance of large woody debris as habitat in the lower Fraser River, and the effect on fish of the Agassiz debris trap, which is meant to reduce damage to boats downstream. -- Better law enforcement in the lower river, and the recognition that damaging fish habitat should be considered a serious violation. The council provides independent policy advice to the B.C. and federal governments for a sustainable fish resource, including protection of habitat. Council board members include former federal fisheries minister John Fraser, chairman and retired University of B.C. oceanography professor Paul LeBlond, B.C. Aboriginal Fisheries Commission chairman Arnie Narcisse, and Jeff Marliave, vice-president of marine science at the Vancouver Aquarium.—Press release
Biologists worry about California salmon number MERCED, Calif.—Biologists are concerned by a rapid decline in the number of Chinook salmon spawning in the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers this year. The California Department of Fish and Game expects fewer than 500 salmon will spawn in the Merced River this year, down from 1,200 last year. Chinook salmon typically spend several years in the ocean before returning to inland streams and rivers to spawn. One biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said this year's low fish count could spell crisis for the population. Scientists are exploring how loss of habitat, murky water conditions, low water flows, high temperatures and toxic algae are affecting the species. – San Jose Mercury News <<<•>>> Wednesday,December 5, 2007 Deadliest catch? Not in Alaska ILWACO, Wash. – They head out to sea in pursuit of a crab's sweet meat. Months of sleep-deprived labor can pull in hundreds of thousands of dollars for a top-grossing vessel. Their death toll — 17 lives lost in the past seven years — makes this the most lethal Pacific harvest. These are not the Bering Sea crabbers who gained fame on the Discovery Channel's reality series, Deadliest Catch, but the Dungeness-crab crews who toil in anonymity off the Washington and Oregon coasts. Since 2000, their death rate has been 50 percent higher than that of Bering Sea crabbers and four times the rate of all U.S. fishermen, federal statistics show. "We're the deadliest catch," says Mike Banks, the Oregon skipper of the 38-foot Alexa B, which on Saturday joined several hundred crabbers for the opening of the new Dungeness season off Oregon and part of Washington. "We're fishing in the Pacific Ocean, where the storms blow 3,000 miles in from Japan." These Northwest crabbers take pride in a fishery that still has room for the little guy, who can break into the harvest with far less capital than required to fish the Bering Sea. Most Northwest crab boats range in length from 30 to 80 feet, far smaller than most Bering Sea crab boats, which can reach more than 180 feet. Both fleets face severe weather this time of year, when the crabs are at their prime. Bering Sea squalls can coat gear and decks with freezing spray, making boats dangerously top-heavy. That's rare on Northwest waters, but the local fleet still gets rocked by storms. Saturday's opening came as forecasters warned of a monster storm capable of spinning out 40-foot seas and hurricane-force winds. Most boats were expected to stay in port. The Northwest fleet also must navigate treacherous river sandbars to enter and exit ports. Last year, Oregon bars claimed seven commercial crabbers — three in February when the Catherine M capsized trying to cross the Tillamook Bar with a load of Dungeness crab. Then on Dec. 16, the vessel Ash capsized off the mouth of the Rogue River. Four died. "He was trying to get some income for the holidays and had just crossed the bar," said Cecil Ashdown, widow of 44-year-old skipper, Rob Ashdown. "Then the sneaker waves hit. The first one, they were able to ride out, and the second one flipped them over." In the seven-year stretch ending last year, the Dungeness fleet suffered five capsizings that claimed 14 crew members, while three others died in separate incidents. Thirteen deaths happened in Oregon waters, four off the Washington coast. Northwest crabbers say the fatalities reflect the intense competition, as small and large boats battle to grab as much crab as fast as possible. The danger grows with fatigue, or alcohol and drug abuse. This past January, a young Oregon skipper tested positive for methamphetamine after a disastrous bar crossing that killed one of his crew. There are also newcomers, with the biggest churn in the larger Oregon fleet, with some 450 permits. "You get greenhorns who buy boats and get to thinking they are going to make the big bucks," said Gary Wintersteen, a 30-year veteran who crabs off Oregon. "Inexperience kills." Coast Guard officials say the Northwest fleet includes some poorly maintained vessels, and skippers who scrimp on required emergency drills. They are troubled by the fatalities. "We're looking at a pretty major problem and I don't think we have come to grips with it as an agency," said Cmdr. Chris Woodley, of the Coast Guard's district office in Seattle. To try to shrink the death toll, the Coast Guard now conducts dockside safety checks before the season starts. For four days, 38 inspectors fanned out to check the fleet. Inspections are not mandatory — 13 skippers refused to let the Coast Guard board. Some 200 agreed. Inspectors checked life rafts, emergency locator beacons and survival suits. "It's pretty cool having you guys out here doing this," said Bob Shaw, a 51-year-old skipper from Arch Cape, Ore. Shaw is a veteran of Alaska and Northwest fisheries who recalls two mishaps from his early career that required Coast Guard rescues. He veered off to pursue technology but recently bought the 56-foot Double Eagle and rejoined the crab harvest. As a Coast Guard inspector waxed the zipper of a survival suit, Chris Burton, a member of Shaw's crew, decided to try one on. A stout man, Burton struggled unsuccessfully to pull on the bulky suit. He tried a second, larger one. It fit — crucial knowledge should he ever have to abandon ship. After four days, the Coast Guard's list of deficiencies included six vessels with bad survival suits, 11 with expired batteries on emergency locator beacons and at least a half-dozen boats with improperly installed life rafts. These dockside checks were inspired by a program that began in Alaska in 1999. Those checks have more bite because the crab vessels are required to have stability instructions — developed by a naval architect — that specify a maximum number of pots. The checks were supplemented by vessel inspections that the state of Alaska now requires for participation in the Bering Sea harvests. Fatalities among Alaska's crabbers have shrunk dramatically. Between 2000 and 2006, 11 crabbers died — compared to more than 45 during the previous seven years. Coast Guard officials note that the downturn began long before 2005, when a new harvest system ended the race for the crab by giving vessels predetermined shares of the catch. "The biggest single preventive thing we did was start enforcing the stability rules," said Woodley, who helped pioneer the program. But it's difficult for the Coast Guard to determine the stability of the Northwest fleet. Most of the crab boats are less than 79 feet and thus exempt from having to hire a naval architect to develop stability instructions that guide the loading of pots. The Coast Guard is considering a rule that would require all vessels 50 feet or longer to have such stability guidelines if they are new or undergo major renovation. "The whole crux of the issue is to know how much is too much," said Michael Rosecrans, the Coast Guard chief of fishing-vessel safety. "They [crabbers] think they understand that, but they don't always understand." The Coast Guard is considering other proposals, as well, including one to beef up restrictions when boats attempt to cross the river bars. All this safety talk makes some crabbers uneasy. They worry about more bureaucracy and rules that they fear will force out more small operators. "I don't want any more Coast Guard involvement, no way," said Banks, the Oregon skipper. Banks carefully planned his strategy for the season opening, with the approaching storm putting fishermen and Coast Guard teams on edge. A few hours before midnight, he guided his boat over a turbulent Columbia River bar, a run complicated by navigation rules that required him to turn off his deck lights so as not to hamper the vision of oncoming river pilots. Out at sea, the crabbing was hot. Banks and his three crew pulled in some 15,000 pounds of Dungeness to fill their hold in about eight hours. Then, as the winds picked up, and waves occasionally began to wash across the stern deck, they scurried back to port. – Seattle Times Rough water, tough fishing EUREKA – Here’s a roundup of the opening of Dungeness season: EUREKA: Reported offshore wind gusts of 60 mph and swells topping 24 feet put a crimp in the crab season Monday, but December’s first storm did surprisingly little damage on land as rains and winds tapered off Monday night.
New idea: An 'acoustic' fence for salmon
New Zealand's first acoustic fish fence, designed to stop salmon smolt being lost in irrigation water, has been installed and tested.
At a cost of around $1 million the Rangitata Diversion Race Management Limited has installed the 58 million bubble and sound system designed to discourage salmon and divert them into a bypass back to the Rangitata River. In the late ‘90s, research found that 200,000 smolt went down the system and while 20,000 crossed Mid Canterbury and entered the Rakaia River, the rest were lost to the fishery. RDR manager John Young said metal screens were soon shown to be ineffective. Algae quickly built up and silt just stuck to it. With the arrival of didymo in the Rangitata the choice of an acoustic fence was fortuitous. The system has to be proven to work and there is a computer controlled monitoring system so that when a fish passes through the bypass it triggers a video recording. The acoustic fence will be fully operational by winter when the salmon eggs laid this summer develop into smolt and run to the ocean. – Stuff, New Zealand
What were they thinking? DILLINGHAM – Five people spent the night on the icy waters of Bristol Bay, their aluminum boats stranded, before being hoisted to safety by the Coast Guard Tuesday morning. The five, whose names were not immediately released, were taken to the hospital in Dillingham, where they were checked for hypothermia, the Coast Guard said. The stranded boaters were reported missing at about 7 p.m. Monday. A Coast Guard helicopter found them at about 6 a.m. Wednesday, one-quarter mile from Naknek. The boats -- a 16-footer and a 14-footer -- became stuck while one was pulling the other, the Coast Guard said. – Anchorage Daily News
To the Editor: Trawlers killing halibut The North Pacific Fishery Council begins its December round. One hot topic will be halibut bycatch by the trawlers. Apparently they’ve killed between 50 and 100 percent more than they should have caught. In a dollar reduction of the Area 3 halibut fishery (that’s us) it’s a cut of $10 to $20 million and it comes out of the pockets of the individual quota halibut fleet and local processors. The problem is there’s virtually no observer coverage in the Gulf of Alaska. The Bering Sea trawl fleet is monitored about 85 percent of the time, while our GOA trawl fleet, that is supposed to be monitored at 30 percent, has figured out ways to game the system so that the actual monitoring may be as low as 10 percent. National Marine Fisheries Service enforcement, that made a bust on one of the observer games in ’05, is out front wanting change, saying the trawl fleet should be held to the rules. At the center of the debate is Jim Balsiger. He’s the head of the halibut commission. He’s also regional director of NMFS in Juneau and, as such, votes on the NPFMC. At the council meeting in Anchorage in October he voted to continue the slaughter of halibut. Newly appointed Duncan Fields sat by and didn’t say a word. It’s unknown how high the price of halibut has to get before these gentlemen will consider them worth saving. Balsiger’s situation is especially interesting, serving two masters as he does. As head of the halibut commission he’s sworn to protect halibut, as a member of the council he bends the rules for the trawl industry. He should do the right thing and resign one position. Thanks to Bill Alwert for the figures above. He has all the collaborating data and invites any doubters to check it out. – John Finley, wrrting to the Kodiak Daily Mirror <<<•>>> Thursday, December , 2007 Search ends for missing California crabbers
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