Category: Fishing

Michigan: Delta County Fish Kill Blamed on “Black Liquor” From Paper Mill

Officials with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said a recent fish kill along the southern reaches of the Escanaba River at Gladstone was the result of a pipe failure at Verso Corporation’s Escanaba Paper Mill.

“We have been sampling and monitoring the river at numerous points since this incident occurred,” said Tom Asmus, who monitors compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program for EGLE in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Under the Clean Water Act, the program controls point source discharges of pollutants to waters of the U.S. “All indications are that the environmental conditions in the river have recovered.”

The fish kill, which affected at least a dozen species, was reported Sunday Aug. 9 to EGLE and Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel, who responded the following day.

Dead fish – including northern pike, bass, walleye and other sportfish – were found by anglers and personnel from the two state agencies downstream of Verso’s paper mill, specifically, from Dam No. 2 to the mouth of the river at Lake Michigan, a distance of roughly 3 miles. Read more

Fishing

NFWF Announces More Than $640,000 in Grants to Reduce the Impacts of Derelict Fishing Gear

Grants from the Fishing for Energy program will support innovation and comprehensive management of derelict fishing gear to protect and restore the quality of marine and coastal habitats

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $643,500 in grants to support strategies that reduce the impacts of derelict fishing gear to marine and coastal environments and navigational safety in Alaska, Florida, Maine and Washington. The grants will generate $226,500 in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $870,000.

The projects supported by the four grants will result in fishing gear innovations and comprehensive management techniques that prevent the negative impacts of derelict gear on the environment, and decrease the threats it poses to key species. This work supports the management of derelict fishing gear that results in a continuing and long-term plan and efforts for dealing with the gear.

The grants were awarded through the Fishing for Energy program, a partnership between NFWF, Covanta, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program. This year, additional funding was provided by Shell Oil Company and through community service funds arising from a federal environmental prosecution. Read more

Fishing

Secretary Bernhardt Announces Historic Expansion of Hunting and Fishing Opportunities on Public Lands

New hunting and fishing opportunities across 2.3 million acres at 138 national wildlife refuges and nine national fish hatcheries

SAGINAW, MI – Continuing the Trump Administration’s unprecedented efforts to increase recreational access on public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced today at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge the historic opening and expansion of over 850 hunting and fishing opportunities across more than 2.3 million acres at 147 national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. This rule is the single largest expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) in history.

“On the heels of President Trump signing the most significant conservation and recreation funding in US history, providing nearly $20 billion over the next 10 years to fix and conserve the American people’s public lands, the Trump Administration has now made an additional 2.3 million acres accessible to new hunting and fishing opportunities,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “We continue to take significant actions to further conservation initiatives and support sportsmen and women who are America’s true conservationists.”

The final rule opens or expands 859 hunting and fishing opportunities (an opportunity is defined as one species on one field station in one state). On top of last year’s expansion of 1.4 million acres for new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities, this proposal would bring the Trump Administration’s total expansion to over 4 million acres nationwide.

“The Trump Administration and Secretary Bernhardt have made access to public lands for hunting and fishing and other outdoor recreation a priority beginning day one. Hunting and fishing are a part of our American history, and we continue to ensure we provide opportunities for these activities which epitomize our American heritage,” said Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “Furthermore, we have maintained our commitment to promoting good government by reducing the regulatory burden by working with states to facilitate these outdoor activities.”

This rule increases the number of units in the Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System open to public hunting to 430 and those open to fishing to 360. The rule also formally brings the total number of National Fish Hatchery System units open to hunting or sport fishing to 21. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

State of the Great Lakes Report Online

Engaging future generations of water stewards, Michigan’s actions to protect drinking water and the impact of high lake levels across the state are among the topics featured in the annual State of the Great Lakes report, released this week by the Office of the Great Lakes (OGL) in conjunction with Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week.

The report looks at significant issues that affected the Great Lakes and Michigan’s residents in 2019. It also recognizes accomplishments in protecting and restoring water resources for public use, recreation, fish and wildlife, and commerce.

“Michigan and its community partners are committed to supporting restoration efforts that will keep the Great Lakes fishable, swimmable and drinkable today and in the future,” said Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). “It’s imperative that we continue to build collaborations to achieve significant water improvements for the benefit of generations to come.”

The State of the Great Lakes report includes features about new offices within EGLE responsible for climate, environmental justice, and clean drinking water; new lead and copper and PFAS standards for drinking water; work to halt Asian carp from advancing into the Great Lakes; research into harmful algal blooms; student and community water literacy programs; Soo Lock expansion developments; high water impacts around the state; and the status of cruising on the Great Lakes. Read more

Fishing

POMA and Mossy Oak Announce Pinnacle Award Winners

Johnstown, PA – The Professional Outdoor Media Association’s (POMA) 2020 Pinnacle Award honorees were announced by Jake Meyer, Public Relations Manager at Mossy Oak, during POMA’s Virtual Conference on Tuesday, August 11. Mossy Oak has been the presenting partner of the Pinnacle Awards since the program’s inception in 2008, and this year they were joined by Duluth Pack.

The Pinnacle Awards honor content creators for remarkable achievement in traditional outdoor sports-focused communications, including writing, photography/illustration/art, and broadcasting as well as content focused on wildlife conservation.

“The outdoor media has always been a key part of what we do,” stated Toxey Haas, founder and CEO of Mossy Oak. “We started our company with their help and we’ve grown it with the same. They’re our business partners as well as our friends.”

“We’re proud to sponsor the Pinnacle Awards to recognize the best of the best every year,” Ben Maki, Mossy Oak’s Chief Marketing Officer, added. “It’s an important way to reward excellence in outdoor journalism and encourage more in the future.”

 

2020 POMA PINNACLE AWARD WINNERS

Art/Photography:

Winner – Keith Crowley “Danger in Yellowstone”, Hawke Optics – Hawke Life

Outstanding Achievement – Keith Crowley, “Falls Bear”, Hawke Optics – Hawke Life

 

Book:

Winner – Richard Bernier, “Gleanings from 50 years on the Whitetail Track for Reviewers”, Big Whitetail Consultants

Outstanding Achievement – Kristine Houtman, “Why Women Hunt”, Wild River Press of Oregon

 

Broadcast:

Winner – Nick Hoffman, “Nick’s Wild Ride – Full Curls and Float Planes”, Outdoor Channel

Outstanding Achievement – Ryan Gresham, “The 24-Hour Antelope”, YouTube

 

Conservation:

Winner – Michael Fernald, “The Land Between the Lakes”, NWTF TV

Outstanding Achievement – Paul Wait, “Hunter Recruitment”, Delta Waterfowl Magazine

 

Magazine:

Winner – Shane Townsend, “Fly for a Try: A Day on Scotland’s Famed River Tay”, Hatch Magazine

Outstanding Achievement – Tom Keer, “A Bunny Pulpit”, Outdoor Life Magazine

 

Newspaper/Web:

Winner – Ken Perrotte, “Mentor Young Hunters”, Fredericksburg Freelance Star

Outstanding Achievement – Phil Phillips, “Antis Cry to Close Hunting as Grizzlies Expand Range”, NRA’s Hunters’ Leadership Forum website Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Florida: Red Tide Minimal on Florida Coast

The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background concentrations in one Southwest Florida sample over the past week. Additional details are provided below.

  • In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Manatee County.
  • In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.
  • Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Patchy Trichodesmium blooms continue to persist in offshore waters of Southwest Florida, based on recent satellite chlorophyll imagery provided by USF and NOAA. Over the past week, this alga was present at trace levels in a few inshore samples from Florida’s East coast. This alga blooms each year, has not been shown to be toxic in Florida’s waters, and often resembles sawdust but can change color as it decomposes. For more information, please see recent posts on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FLHABs) and information about Trichodesmium on our website (https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/general/trichodesmium/). Read more

Fishing

Utah Cites 60 for Quagga Mussel Violations During Pioneer Weekend

SALT LAKE CITY — Law enforcement officers and technicians for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah State Parks had a busy Pioneer Day weekend, working to prevent invasive quagga mussels from spreading throughout Utah.

Statewide, Aquatic Invasive Species technicians inspected 15,709 boats and performed 367 hot-water decontaminations from Friday to Sunday. DWR conservation officers issued 60 citations. Most of the citations were issued for failure to stop at an inspection station, and some were for infractions of state rules to prevent the spread of invasive species, like failing to pull drain plugs.

Technicians inspected a total of 1,572 boats at stations in the Lake Powell area from Friday to Sunday. One hundred forty-eight boats were decontaminated and 11 citations were issued. Last Pioneer Day weekend at Lake Powell, technicians and officers inspected 1,219 boats, performed 115 decontaminations and issued 29 citations. Read more

Fishing

POMA Hires New Executive Director

Johnstown, PA The Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) has hired Thomas MacAulay, former Marketing Director of BPI to lead the organization as its new Executive Director. Thomas will take the helm of the organization on August 11, 2020.

Tony Bynum, President of the Board of Directors said, “I’m super excited to have Thomas on board. Thomas’s availability came at the right time. We had a vacancy and went through a dozen interviews. Thomas was the last person interviewed. His passion and commitment to working with people, along with his financial and business management background really sealed it for us. He [Thomas] had a plan for POMA coming into the interview and his passion and desire to make this organization grow really came through.”

Tony Smotherman, a current board member, worked with Thomas at BPI Outdoors and assured the Board that it made the right choice in bringing him on.

Thomas has some big shoes to fill – literally and figuratively. Thomas is the third Executive Director of POMA and replaces the most recently departed, Kevin Orthman. Orthman helped build a solid brand making POMA the premier national outdoor media organization for the traditional hook and bullet community. Kevin recently left POMA to pursue other life goals with his family.

About POMA:

POMA works with its media members and Corporate Partners to foster excellence in communications at all levels. POMA helps its members build their businesses, connects media and industry, promotes fair and honest communication, and mentors the next generation of outdoor sports communicators. www.professionaloutdoormedia.org

For further information contact:

Tony Bynum, Board President

board@professionaloutdoormedia.org

Fishing, Hunting

Michigan: Anglers Must Register Muskie, Lake Sturgeon Harvests

If you’re fishing for lake sturgeon and muskellunge this season, don’t forget to register your harvest within 24 hours — it’s required. You can register two ways: online at Michigan.gov/RegisterFish, or by calling the new number at 906-287-0816.

“Anglers who register their catch provide important information for resource managers, including details about where the fish was caught and how large it was,” said Cory Kovacs, DNR fisheries biologist. “That type of detail helps us appropriately manage these important species.”

Registering your harvest online or by phone should take only a few minutes. Please keep in mind that fish registrations are not accepted at any state fish hatcheries or DNR field offices. Registrations are currently not accepted at DNR customer service centers due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The harvest season for muskellunge opened June 6 and lake sturgeon opened July 16 this year. You can find season end dates and waters open for these two species in the 2020 Fishing Guide. For information on purchasing your 2020 Michigan fishing license, visit Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

Fishing

California Senate Committee Delays Hearing on Bill 3030, Including More Marine Protected Areas

Hearing on California’s AB3030 Rescheduled for August 12th, 2020

Sacramento, — The California Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee adjourned Thursday without hearing Assembly Bill 3030. The committee is now scheduled to take the matter up on August 12, 2020.

The committee’s agenda included hearings on nine different bills during its three-hour session today, and it was unable to cover all of them. AB 3030 is set to be the second bill heard by the committee when it reconvenes next week.

“We thank everyone who set aside time in anticipation of calling in to oppose AB 3030,” said Wayne Kotow, Executive Director of the Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL), which is leading the sportfishing community’s charge in opposition to AB 3030.

“It has been delayed, but we cannot afford to let our guard down,” Kotow added. “We will need to muster our opposition forces once again next week when AB 3030 is scheduled to be heard by the committee.”

What started as an international environmental plan to restrict the use of 30 percent of all land and water is now being driven to the extreme here in California with an ocean focus on additional marine protected areas (MPAs) with AB 3030.

Aside from pushing for MPAs, AB3030 has several other problems including the following: Read more

Fishing
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