December 18 – There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays – After being declared a “fishery disaster,” changes in regulations to allow bottom trawling in Cashes Ledge, Jeffreys Ledge and the only protected portion of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary seems counterintuitive to ever devising a long-term strategy that could help restore groundfish populations in the Gulf of Maine. At a time of the lowest recorded groundfish populations in history, how does it make sense to increase bottom trawling in the best, remaining habitat areas?

December 20 – The Bottom Line: Don’t Remove Protection When Cod Need It Most - New England is famous for cod fishing. But the industry is ailing – and the cure being proposed might be worse than the disease. A proposal by regional fisheries managers to reopen areas where groundfish are currently protected is a big step in the wrong direction.

December 21 – Fish Talk in the News – Friday, December 21 - In this week’s Fish Talk in the News, NEFMC opens closed areas and delays decisions on catch limits; ASMFC cuts menhaden catch 20%;NOAA will return $543,500 in fines; Brian Rothschild replaces as head of Marine Fisheries Institute; a Gloucester scallop boat goes missing; warm waters in the Gulf of Maine cause environmental change.

October 2 – All About Aquaculture: from 2000 BC in China to Today in the U.S. - This piece is the first in a series that will focus on aquaculture, both world-wide and in New England. Over the next few weeks, the series will explore topics such as the various methods of aquaculture, its environmental and sustainability implications, current aquaculture research and production in New England, and national regulations and sustainability certifications. This first post focuses on aquaculture’s history and its current status as a seafood provider in the United States.

October 3 – The Bottom Line: Historic Moment for Menhaden - By Lee Crockett of the Pew Environment Group. Menhaden numbers have plunged nearly 90 percent over the past 25 years, and the regulators responsible for their management will soon make a critical decision. In December, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission(ASMFC) could finally help the depleted population recover by setting a coastwide, science- based annual catch limit.

October 5 – Fish Talk in the News – Friday, October 5 - In this week’s Fish Talk in the News, fish stocks lacking scientific assessments are severely depleted; community-supported fisheries provide economic opportunity for fishermen; a sustainable seafood festival in Boston; Seacoast Online explores the tension between fishermen and scientists over stock assessments; sharks hurt Cape beach revenues; the History Channel puts the spotlight on New England fishermen; fish are likely to reach smaller sizes due to warming water; ocean acidification threatens ecosystems and fisheries.

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  TalkingFish.org interviews Chef Jeremy Sewall, shown here plating a delicious dish (Photo credit: Jeremy Sewall).

  Wednesday, March 28 – “Chef Jeremy Sewall seeks high-quality local seafood for his daily menus” – TalkingFish.org interviews well-known Boston chef Jeremy Sewall, the Chef/Owner of Lineage and Island Creek Oyster Bar and the Executive Chef at Eastern Standard.

• Thursday, March 29 – “Little Fish, Big Fishery” – The latest post in the “Bottom Line” series by Lee Crockett of the Pew Environment Group. Within the next few weeks, alewife and blueback herring, collectively known as river herring, will begin their annual migration from coastal waters to their native rivers.
• Friday, March 30 – “Fish Talk in the News – Friday, March 30″ – A roundup of fish stories in the news: the commercial striped bass fishery in Massachusetts will be allowed to continue; some rivers are reporting higher-than-average herring runs this year, and consumers are becoming more interested in eating the fish; warming Gulf of Maine waters may be bad news for ocean ecosystems; Whole Foods commits to keeping overfished seafood out of stores; and a lucrative elver season is underway in Maine.

• “Bottom Line: Historic Anniversary for Fishing in America’s Oceans”: Lee Crockett of the Pew Environment Group discusses the 2007 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and the progress that has been made because of its strict limits on overfishing.
• “Fish Talk in the News – Friday, January 27″: This week’s news roundup: discussion of NOAA’s potential move from the Department of Commerce to the Department of the Interior, talking fishery management with Maine fisherman Glen Libby, and updates on menhaden conservation and the Gulf of Maine cod stock assessment.

Catch up with the latest news from TalkingFish.org, a blog brought to you by CLF and other organizations and individuals who want to see a sustainable fishing industry in New England and abundant fish populations for generations to come. TalkingFish.org aims to increase people’s understanding of the scientific, financial and social aspects at work in New England’s fisheries. Here’s what went on this week:

• September 13: “Overfishing 101: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over” – In the eleventh post in his “Overfishing 101 series,” Pew Environment Group’s Lee Crockett writes about the progress U.S. fishery management has made toward ending overfishing – but he cautions that our work is not done yet. “Plenty of hard work remains to ensure that strong catch limits are effectively implemented, enforced and adjusted to reflect the best available science over time,” Crockett writes. “Congress also will need to provide ongoing funding for data collection, monitoring and analysis. This will allow us to verify that fishing is occurring at sustainable levels and will inform us when America’s fish populations rebuild to levels that can support thriving fisheries and ocean ecosystems.”
  

• September 16: “Fish Talk in the News – Friday, September 16″ – A weekly update of recent news stories that might interest TalkingFish.org readers.