The only specialised marine publication in Oceania that focuses on the maritime industry, from super yachts to small craft to large commercial ships, including coastal shipping, tugs, tow boats, barges, ferries, tourist, sport-fishing craft
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WATERWAYS – Waterfront Business In brief… Work begins on hybrid ferries Construction has begun on two pioneering diesel-electric hybrid ferries at the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow on the River Clyde, Scotland. The 900-tonne ships, said to be the world's first sea-going roll- on roll-off ferries, are expected to enter service next year. CalMac Ferries, which runs the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, will operate the ferries. They accommodate 150 passengers and 23 cars and are designed for short routes, including the link between Skye and Raasay. Industry says guide insults consumers The Forest and Bird Society's updated Best Fish Guide is an affront to the common sense of the New Zealand consumer and is no more than a campaign document, says the chief executive of the Seafood Industry Council, Peter Bodeker. "The guide says there are very few New Zealand fish species we can eat with a clear conscience," Bodeker says. "The proper guide to what fish can be eaten is what fish is available in any reputable fish shop, because all commonly eaten species are part of the quota management system." He said scientific research indicating significantly reduced stocks of hoki resulted in massive cuts in the catch limit between 1995-2001, which the industry accepted. Stock had rebuilt and cautious increases had been introduced. "This is the system working as it should," Bodeker said. The guide says anchovies, pilchards, albacore tuna and kina are the best fish to choose while shopping. It rates orange roughy, southern bluefin tuna and some sharks the worst. Fifty-six percent of the 78 species in the guide have never had a quantitative stock assessment, and 80 percent have not had a full stock assessment in the past 10 years, says the society's marine conservation advocate, Katrina Subedar. "Using the guide gives consumers the power to make a change," she says. Snapper is one of the worst-ranked species in the guide. "In one region, snapper has been fished down to between eight and 12 percent of the original population," Subedar said. But Bodeker said in some areas, reduced snapper stocks had resulted in a drop in the total allowable catch there. "In other areas, such as the East Coast and Gulf Harbour, snapper are plentiful and there is absolutely no reason to prohibit snapper takes in these areas." 40 Professional Skipper March/April 2012 BEACON SAVES CREWS' BACON AN ALERT FROM a fishing vessel's emergency beacon on January 24 resulted in a rescue helicopter from Whitianga picking up three crew from the 18m longliner Rebecca May's liferaft. The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand issued broadcasts to vessels in the area and a fixed-wing aircraft and a helicopter went to investigate, followed by the helicopter. A nearby fishing vessel, the Lady Columbo, picked the crew from the liferaft at around 1330. Maritime New Zealand is investigating the incident. Volunteer lost on Raoul Island AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH failed to find a Department of Conservation volunteer on Raoul Island who went missing around sunrise on January 2. Mihai Muncus-Nagy of Romania, aged 33, joined the team at the end of October, fulfilling a dream to go to the island. Evidence suggests he was swept into the sea while carrying out routine meteorological readings. Raoul Island, situated 1000 kilometres northeast of New Zealand, is the largest island in the Kermadecs. Three DoC staff and four volunteers are typically based there to carry out conservation work, run a weather station, collect air samples and perform other tasks. DoC and the Department of Labour will investigate the incident. RISK OF EATING CONTAMINATED KAI PRELIMINARY RESULTS FROM a study has found Maori who enjoy eating their favourite wild kai such as eel (tuna), lamprey (kanakana), flounder, whitebait and watercress may be putting their health at risk if they only eat from contaminated sites. The study by NIWA and South Canterbury Maori, Te Runanga o Arowhenua, aimed to assess the current level of contaminants and whether these posed a risk. DDT, PCBs and dieldrin remain in the environment for a long time and accumulate in the food chain. The team found wild kai formed only a small proportion of the survey group's diet. Kai randomly gathered from any of the test sites was safe to eat, but if members of the group only ate kai from the most contaminated sites there was an increased risk to their health. The survey group ate eel almost once per month, three times more than the recommended limit, but their consumption of trout, flounder and watercress was below the limit. PHOTO: SEAPIXONLINE.COM