Sarah White

By the 1970s, the U.S. fishing industry had reached a critical crossroads. Fish populations were cratering due to lax or nonexistent industry regulations and stiff competition from foreign fishing fleets. The seafood industry, a pillar of New England’s economy and culture, was in crisis. A solution came in the form of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation…

If you’ve ever struggled across a slick, icy sidewalk, you probably appreciate the importance of de-icing road salt. But have you ever thought about where all those big crystals crunching underfoot wind up? Unfortunately, the answer is probably your nearest body of water. Keeping our winter roads, parking lots, and sidewalks safe is important, but…

For most people, food appears in colorful stacks in grocery store aisles as if by magic, and we all buy the best options we can afford. We may not spend much time pondering where it all comes from or why healthy, affordable fruits and veggies aren’t accessible to everyone.  The “food justice” movement encourages people to rethink and…

In 1973, President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act, setting a whole new standard for protecting vulnerable species. The law was so bold that the Supreme Court later called it “the most comprehensive legislation for the preservation of endangered species enacted by any nation.” The Act is credited with saving 99% of the listed species from extinction.  However, more than 1,600 species remain listed as endangered or…

In summer 2025, a team of scientists and photographers undertook an expedition to Cashes Ledge. Cashes is an extraordinary region deep in the Gulf of Maine that’s known for its towering underwater mountains, rich kelp forests, and abundant marine life. The expedition’s participants dove to explore the vibrant environment, document fish and seafloor communities, collect samples of…