More than 20 nations agreed Friday to discourage unregulated and destructive bottom trawling on the South Pacific high seas, a victory for environmental groups. Enormously effective at catching fish, the nets also wipe out almost everything in their path, smash coral and stir clouds of sediment that smother sea life, marine experts say. Observers and ship locator monitoring systems are to be used, and vessels must remain at least five nautical miles from deep-water corals and other...

Fisk, also a fisherman, said the contracts would be 'very basic' and could be "tweaked" to accommodate variances in different fisheries. We get a tremendous amount of interest in fisheries statewide - every gear type, every issueyou name it, from sport to commercial, from groundfish to net fisheries. They will recommend state fisheries, and our fish coordinator will basically be the one doing the leg work and the staffing for that body," Nizich said. Fisk said time might not allow for the...

Commercial fishing for spring chinook salmon resumes in the lower Columbia River tonight after a two-week hiatus. That would bring its season total to about 1,300 salmon and 69 percent of the commercial allowance of upper Columbia wild spring chinook, protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. State officials will meet again Wednesday to consider gillnetting on Thursday night, which likely would be the final net-fishing period of the season. Several commercial fishermen wanted to...

Canned tuna imports stood at $1. Vegetables and fresh fish imports also showed encouraging increases. Expect rise in imports: Envoy - Fiji Times Online Fiji Times Online. Canada's Federal Minister of International Trade David Emerson visited a Fiji booth display last week that showcased a variety of fresh produce and canned products from Fiji imported by Fruiticana, an Indo-Canadian supermarket chain that has begun importing from Fiji in a major way. Canada's Federal Minister of...

Whether youre on the lake or in the fields or woods, a good weather radio or even listening to commercial radio can give you time to make it to a safe shelter. One of the biggest dangers people face in the outdoors is weather, and sometimes theres nothing you can do to protect yourself. Last week, three Central Texans were struck by lightning while fishing and boating, and two died as a result of their injuries. I soon found myself running with my fishing rod and other gear through a maze...