2013 Florida Spiny Lobster Seasons

The 2013 Florida commercial and recreational lobster season starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31. Regular spiny lobster  lobster harvesting is preceded by a two-day spiny lobster recreational season July 24 and 25.

The two-day sport season occurs on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July each year (July 24 and 25, 2013). Commercial fishermen may begin putting their traps in the water Aug. 1, and recreational and commercial fishermen may harvest spiny lobsters starting Aug. 6.

source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Kodiak Alaska Fish Smoking Workshop

Smoking Fish for Fun and Profit is back by popular demand. Scheduled for September 4–6, 2013, the Kodiak workshop is for anyone interested in smoking and salting fish, including home fish-smoking enthusiasts, small smokehouse operators, fishermen who want to direct market fish, and commercial operators.

The workshop offers lectures and hands-on activities led by Alexandra Oliveira, University of Alaska Fairbanks seafood scientist at the Kodiak Seafood and Marine Science Center. Faculty members Brian Himelbloom and Brennan Smith, and Sun'aq Tribal Enterprises CEO Chris Sannito, will also teach at the workshop.

Topics are the principles of fish smoking, safety of smoked products, preparation of fish sausage, salting and drying, brining, filleting sockeye for curing and cold smoking, and hot-smoking chum, coho, and black cod.

For more information, visit http://seagrant.uaf.edu/map/workshops/2013/smokingfish/index.php