The River Rally is River Network’s premier annual event that brings together over 500 river conservationists for 3 consecutive days of education, inspiration and celebration. The location of the River Rally moves each year: in 2008, we were on the banks of Lake Erie; in 2010 we will be in the mountains surrounding Salt Lake City. Staff, board members, volunteers, agencies, tribal representatives, and individuals interested in watershed conservation should all consider attending the event. Check out more information on the event here 

56th Annual Mid Atlantic Sports and Boat Show

Dates: February 5-8, 2009
Place: Virginia Beach Convention Center

Once again it is boat show season. Many of us consider a boat show a necessary part of the winter recreational fishing experience and look forward to admire the new boats and gadgetry. Its almost like Christmas for adults. The year’s top fish awards and expert angler recognitions will be part of the ceremonies on Friday evening.

Chcek out the CCA VA booth at the back row and see the 73 pound record striper caught last January in a mount created by Dave Saunders.

Show hours are as follows:
Feb. 5, 2009 Thursday 5 pm – 9 pm
Feb. 6, 2009 Friday 12 Noon – 9 pm
Feb. 7, 2009 Saturday 10 am – 8 pm
Feb. 8, 2009 Sunday 12 Noon – 5 pm

If you did not catch it, on December 23, 2008, NOAA Fisheries released a final rule giving anglers and spearfishers who fish recreationally in federal ocean waters until Jan. 1, 2010 to be registered in the national saltwater angler registry, a new tool designed to help the nation better manage and rebuild valuable fish stocks.

NOAA Fisheries received nearly 500 comments from anglers, state officials, fishing and environmental organizations on its proposed national registry rule during the comment period from June 12 until Aug. 21. The comments were considered carefully and helped NOAA Fisheries decide to give states and anglers another year to comply with the new rule.

The final rule outlines the process NOAA Fisheries will use for registering saltwater recreational anglers.  It also addresses the qualifications and procedures for exempting states and their anglers from the federal registration requirement.

For the complete document click here

 Its about time!

NOAA submitted the first ever report to Congress identifying nations – France, Italy, Libya, Panama, the People’s Republic of China, and Tunisia – whose fishing vessels were engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2007 or 2008.

This opens the way for continued consultations between the U.S. government and officials of each of the six nations to encourage them to take corrective action to stop IUU fishing by their vessels. “Illegal fishing is a global problem that is depleting fish stocks and hurting the economies of nations and the livelihoods of people who depend on sustainable fishing,” said Dr. Jim Balsiger, NOAA acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s Fisheries Service. “Our report is part of stepped up efforts called for by Congress to work with other nations to stop illegal fishing on shared fish stocks.”
Annual global economic losses due to IUU fishing are estimated to be about $9 billion, according to an international task force on IUU fishing.

According to NOAA’s report, the identified nations had fishing vessels that did not comply with measures agreed to under various international regional fishery management organizations. In the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, fishing vessels of identified nations were using illegal fishing gear, fishing during a closed season, or not complying with reporting requirements. Failure to report catch and effort data to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas hampers the ability of that regional fishery management organization to conduct vital stock assessments used to manage and rebuild stocks, such as the severely depleted eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean bluefin tuna.

In the Pacific Ocean, identified nations had vessels that violated an international rule requiring any vessel fishing for tuna in the eastern Pacific Ocean be listed in the vessel register for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, the regional fishery management organization that manages tuna stocks in that area.

Today’s identification of nations follows two years in which NOAA’s Fisheries Service, working with the U.S. Department of State, conducted extensive outreach at bilateral and multilateral meetings to inform fishing nations of the new international measures to combat IUU fishing under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act.

The act, signed into law in 2007, amends the High Seas Driftnet Moratorium Protection Act to require the U.S. to strengthen international fishery management organizations and address IUU-fishing and the bycatch of protected living marine resources. Specifically, the Moratorium Protection Act now requires the Secretary of Commerce to identify in a biennial report to Congress those foreign nations whose fishing vessels are engaged in IUU fishing or fishing activities or practices that result in the bycatch of protected living marine resources. The act also now requires the Secretary to certify whether these identified nations have stopped IUU fishing and the bycatch of protected resources.

Today’s identification will be followed by consultations to urge nations to adopt corrective measures. Following consultations, NOAA will formally certify each of the six nations either as adopting effective measures to stop IUU fishing, or having vessels engaged in IUU fishing. If a nation is found to be engaged in IUU fishing, that nation’s vessels may be denied entry into U.S. ports and the President may prohibit imports of certain fish products from that nation or take other measures.

Today’s report to Congress also includes information on the status of living marine resources around the globe and multilateral efforts to improve stewardship of these resources.

NOAA has also just released a proposed rule that outlines the procedures for identifying and certifying nations for IUU fishing and bycatch of protected living marine resources. A draft environmental assessment of the rule is also now available. To read the Report to Congress, the draft rule and environmental assessment, go to http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/intlprovisions.html

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov for more information.

It is not news that pollution is killing the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Nor is it news that pollution hurts critters, our health, our economy, and much more. But until now the direct line between pollution and those dreadful impacts has not been drawn.

On December 29, 2008, the  a comprehensive assessment of pollution’s impact on the iconic blue crab population.

Here are some key facts:

Less Crab Food Low-oxygen “dead zones” on the bottom kill the food that crabs eat, wiping out or preventing the growth of 75,000 metric tons of clams and worms a year. That is enough food to support about half the commercial crab harvest, more than 60 million blue crabs annually.

Less Crab Habitat Sediment from runoff and algal blooms caused by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution are darkening the Bay’s waters, killing the underwater grasses that young crabs need as shelter from predators. More than half of the Bay’s eelgrass has died since the early 1970s.

Overfishing
Because a diminished Bay can support fewer crabs, overfishing has become an Continue Reading »

Maryland Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists recently concluded the 2008 oyster survey, an annual assessment of the health and population of oyster bars in Maryland’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay.  Since 1939, each fall biologists use a dredge to monitor natural oyster bars, seed production and planting areas, dredged and fresh shell plantings and oyster sanctuaries.

“Preliminary results from 2008 indicate that reproduction was poor throughout most of the bay, with the exception of the lower eastern shore areas of Tangier Sound, Honga River, and the Little Choptank River,” said Mitch Tarnowski, DNR fisheries biologist.  “In general, mortalities and oyster disease levels appear to be relatively low again this year.”

During the late 1950’s, biologists starting seeing the effects of Dermo (Perkinsus marinus) and MSX (Haplosporidium nelsoni) diseases on the bay’s oyster population.  While not harmful to humans, these parasitic organisms infect oysters and have lead to the death of up to 90 percent of oysters in some areas.  Both diseases thrive in higher salinities, so mortality is much higher in the lower parts of the Bay.

Typically, disease causes the greatest problems during years with Continue Reading »

Barrett Mattision (a friend who we originally met while fishing the Rio Grande River in Terra Del Fuego, Patagonia) and his good friend Evan Jones recently released a fabulous new book called Fly Fishing in Patagonia: A Trout Bums Guide to Argentina. Barrett and Evan have spent many years traveling in and around most all parts of Patagonia in search of trout and their book provides details of where to go, what you will catch, what to bring and when to go to most all the places in Patagonia that have trout fishing. I have not yet visited all the places that they document in the book, but the many places I have been that they cover in the book are spot on, all the way down to the flies you need for the different trout that haunt the different rivers and spring creeks.

If you are intrigued by the trout fishing in Patagonia, want a handbook on how to do it yourself, or are planning a trip to Patagonia this book really is a must have. You can learn more and purchase the book here.

*note while we are friends with Barrett we do not receive any kick backs from sales. All the sales go to support Barrett and Evan’s trout bum lifestyle and trust me, we have seen Barrett’s  truck, he’s not getting rich

Maryland Department of Natural Resources proposed recreational and commercial blue crab harvest regulations for the 2009 season.  Designed to help rebuild the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population and fishery, the proposed regulations continue the scientifically established conservation goals of reducing female blue crab harvest by 34 percent and ensuring that no more than 46 percent of the blue crab population is harvested annually.

“These regulations reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that Maryland’s iconic blue crab, and the local businesses and favorite family and community gatherings who rely upon it, continue for generations to come,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “From these regulations, we expect scientifically measurable benefits, and a more sustainable future for both blue crabs and watermen.  The environmental need for these regulations, combined with federal and state assistance for impacted watermen, provides the most sensible path to restore the resource.

The proposed regulations for the 2009 Chesapeake Bay commercial blue crab fishery include More…daily bushel limits for mature female hard crabs and seasonal closures.

“Recognizing the influence of harvest restrictions, we designed the 2009 regulations to make the impact more manageable and equitable throughout the bay and season, while still protecting the most reproductively valuable female blue crabs,” said Secretary John R. Griffin.  “We worked with watermen an other interested groups throughout the summer and fall of 2008 to develop next year’s regulations.”

The proposed regulations close the commercial season for harvesting mature female hard crabs from Continue Reading »