Gulf of Maine warming faster than any ocean waters the planet  News Summary:  Monday Dec 15, 2015: Scientists say that for a variety of reasons, the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than any other marine area, and this has major implications for the disruption of traditional New England species like cod. If the cause of the cod collapse is a retreat from warm water, it is not going to be easily fixed by fishing restrictions. Also lobster, which has boomed in recent decades, could conceivably face the same fate, although not in the immediate future.  The North Pacific Fisheries Management council voted on Bering Sea harvest specifications for 2015, increasing the pollock total allowable catch (TAC) by 43,000 tons or 3.4%. The increase was possible under the 2 million ton cap by reductions in yellowfin sole and rock sole. Cod stays almost the same, but down slightly. Stability is foreseen through 2016.  Responding to stakeholder comments and questions from its partners the Global Seafood Sustainability Initiative (GSSI) steering board voted unanimously to change its benchmarking tool after an initial test. The changes will mean that the GSSI will recognize all schemes that meet its standards. It will also allow schemes which have met aspirational standards beyond the core GSSI requirements to communicate these as ‘indicators’. This compromise may mean the GSSI is closer to achieving its goal of rationalizing certification and ecolabeling schemes that meet FAO guidelines.  The Maine 2014 lobster catch looks to be down slightly from the record harvests of over 125 million lbs. per year, with a more typical year in site. Landings were still strong, but prices paid to Maine harvesters indicate there was not a glut on the market, as happened at times during 2012 and 2013. Overall revenue to harvesters will be higher this year, think most observers.  Finally, the dispute between Ottawa and Newfoundland over funding fisheries revitalization is continuing. The Provincial Premier, Paul Davis, said that the Canadian government may have tricked the Province by now saying only proved damages will be covered in a $400 million fund. The Province says they are being asked to make a change with permanent ramifications into the future, where future costs cannot be measured, and they saw the fund as a way to provide for a future transformation of Provincial fisheries.

John Sackton, Editor And Publisher , Lexington, Massachusetts

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