Kelp Forest and Cod at Cashes Ledge; 80 miles off the coast of Maine
On Thursday, April 13, Conservation Law Foundation will host a special screening of “Sacred Cod: The Fight for the Future of America’s Oldest Fishery” at Boston Public Library.
The film, which debuts on Discovery the same night, captures the collapse of New England’s iconic cod population, delving into the role of overfishing, the impact of climate change, changes to fishery management policies, and the implications of losing what was once the lifeblood of waterfront communities up and down the coast.
Conservation Law Foundation has worked for decades to restore New England’s fisheries to sustainable levels. From advocating for science-based fisheries management to pushing for protected zones to replenish overfished populations, we’re on the front lines working to build a healthy ocean and thriving waterfronts. Now that a new Massachusetts-focused study confirms cod populations have diminished by 80 percent over the last decade – and with climate change intensifying, especially in the Gulf of Maine – local action to save our “sacred cod” will be paramount.
This year, it’s expected that the U.S. federal fisheries law, the Magnuson-Stevens Act, will be up for re-authorization in Congress. It’s vitally important that the law retains its conservation tenets (or strengthens them) and promotes science-based, whole ecosystem-focused management principles. Sound management will provide the building blocks to move toward more sustainable fisheries that can once again be a boon for New England’s economy.
Panel to Discuss What’s Next for the Cod Industry
Immediately following the screening on April 13, a panel discussion will be held, featuring a variety of perspectives on what’s next for cod in New England. Included in the panel is David Abel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Boston Globe and one of the Sacred Cod filmmakers. He will be joined by CLF Senior Counsel Peter Shelley, who is featured in the film.
Two additional special guests – retired commercial fisherman Craig Pendleton and Andrew Pershing, scientist at Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) – will round out the panel.
Admission to the screening is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:30 and the film starts at 6:00. Seating is on a first-come/first-served basis, so make sure to arrive early!
Learn more about CLF’s work in building sustainable fisheries to preserve New England’s most storied tradition.
