It’s that time of year when fish like alewives and blueback herring journey from the sea to their native fresh waters to spawn. As a keystone species, these fish, collectively known as river herring, play a critical role as building blocks in our coastal ecosystems. They are also important to the health of New England’s fisheries,…
Jun 13
2017
2017
Jun 5
2017
2017
Trump’s National Ocean Proclamation Covfefe, Confusing
Instead of using National Ocean Month as a platform for promoting conservation, Trump seized the moment to suggest ways to exploit and destroy our oceans treasures.
May 5
2017
2017
Facing Another Tough Season, New England’s Groundfishery Needs These Three Things
May’s arrival means that summer is finally close. In New England, there is no better time to enjoy a fresh, local seafood dinner than on a warm summer night. For many of us, that means serving up New England staples like haddock, cod, or flounder. These species aren’t only dinner staples, however. They also form…
Apr 10
2017
2017
Join Us for Screening of Documentary Chronicling Struggling Cod Industry April 13
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…
Mar 20
2017
2017
Trump’s “Two-for-One” Order is Bad for the Environment
President Trump’s first 100 days in office started with a bang – as in, the sound of a shot through the heart of our country’s environmental protections. One of the President’s first official actions was to sign an executive order that requires federal agencies to axe two existing regulations for each new regulation they create.…
Dec 30
2016
2016
On the Radar for 2017: New England’s Deep-Sea Coral Amendment
Deep-sea corals are beautiful and complex organisms that serve as vital habitat for myriad marine species, including commercially important fishes and invertebrates such as crab, hake, and shrimp. What you may not know is that you don’t have to travel to the tropics to find them. In fact, deep-sea corals span the Atlantic Ocean from…
Nov 21
2016
2016
Celebrating World Fisheries Day: Global Fishing Watch Will Have Positive Implications for New England’s Fisheries
“You can’t help in Massachusetts but to come from a tradition of the ocean. Our state was founded on it.” Secretary of State John Kerry said this at the third annual Our Ocean conference this September, speaking at a reception celebrating Global Fishing Watch. A new publicly accessible and free platform, Global Fishing Watch tracks…
Nov 18
2016
2016
This Week on TalkingFish.org – November 13-18
November 16: Local News Outlets Highlights Cape Fishermen’s Frustration with Herring Midwater Trawlers – The New England Fishery Management Council will resume its discussion on localized depletion of Atlantic herring at its meeting tomorrow. If you’re new to the issue of localized depletion, or need a refresher before tomorrow’s discussion (11/17), local Cape Cod news outlets, as…
Nov 16
2016
2016
Presumpscot River Will Flow a Little More Freely Thanks to Historic Settlement
River herring and shad play a critical role in the health of Maine’s coastal fisheries, serving as food for cod, salmon, and striped bass and as a bait fish for lobstermen. Their populations have dipped dangerously low over the last century, however, as dams built to power riverside industries blocked access to traditional spawning grounds.…
Nov 16
2016
2016
Historic Settlement Agreement Reached to Remove Saccarappa Dams
Sean Mahoney, Maine Director for Conservation Law Foundation, commented, “The Presumpscot River was once home to hundreds of thousands of migratory fish before it was dammed, stem to stern, and treated as though it were a public sewer. Restoring the productivity of the fish populations in the Presumpscot is vital, not just for those who fish along the river, but also for the health of our fishing industry in Casco Bay and the Gulf of Maine. Migratory fish like alewives and bluebacks are critical bait for the lobster fishery and key to the entire food system.”