In a major win for endangered North Atlantic right whales, a federal judge ruled that gillnet fishing gear must be removed from 3,000 nautical miles of ocean waters in southern New England. Opening the areas to gillnet fishing without considering harm to right whales violated the Endangered Species Act, and the gear must be removed until the required analysis is complete.
Nov 5
2019
2019
Jun 18
2019
2019
Give Atlantic Cod a Break: Decades of Bad Management
New England’s storied cod population is on brink of collapse. Our regional and federal fishery managers are tasked with maintaining a healthy Atlantic cod population. Yet they have a long record of making management decisions that do more harm than good.
Oct 18
2018
2018
How Can a “Biological Opinion” Help North Atlantic Right Whales?
Immediate action is required to save the North Atlantic right whale. Getting an accurate Biological Opinion is a key step.
May 2
2018
2018
Fisheries Managers Fail to Protect Our Ocean (Again)
After 14 years of development, a newly approved plan for managing New England’s fisheries should have prioritized protection of important ocean habitats and improved the long-term well-being of our fishing economy. Instead, in a short-sighted decision, fishery managers put fragile habitats and overfished species at even greater risk than they are today.
Apr 20
2018
2018
Canada is Taking Action to Save North Atlantic Right Whales
Last year, 17 North Atlantic right whales died, leaving the remaining population of less than 450 precariously close to extinction. Twelve of the deaths last year occurred in Canadian waters. Certain folks in the U.S. pointed their fingers at our northern neighbors saying that efforts here are pointless unless Canada makes necessary changes, but Canada is taking action – and they’re doing it much faster than we are.
Apr 14
2018
2018
WATCH: Right Whales on the Brink of Extinction
North Atlantic right whales are in crisis. Last year, we lost 17 whales out of a population of barely 460. If we don’t act now, this already-endangered species could go extinct in our lifetimes. CLF recently hosted a conversation with experts on right whales to discuss this crisis – and what can be done to…
Feb 21
2012
2012
Letter to Secretary Bryson: New England Can’t Afford To Put Gulf of Maine Cod at Risk
Gulf of Maine cod, the lifeline of our inshore fishing fleet up and down the coast of New England, is in a biological crisis. That is why I wrote today to the Honorable John Bryson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce, calling for federal fisheries disaster relief and interim emergency action. You can read…