Posted in | National Policy
Fisheries Bills Would Increase Risk of Overfishing in U.S. Waters
American fisheries have come a long way since decades of overfishing left our waters heavily depleted. Now, two bills pending in Congress would undermine that progress, hurting our country’s fisheries and all who depend on them, including fishermen. … More Info
An Opportunity to Build Stronger, Sustainable Fisheries for Future Generations
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the federal law governing nation’s fisheries, is up for reauthorization in Congress. The MSA has worked in rebuilding fish populations; now, it should be strengthened to ensure we’re able to save and restore still-struggling species like the iconic Atlantic cod – before it’s too late. … More Info
National Seafood Month: Chef Bun Lai Pioneers Sustainable Sushi
Bun Lai is the James Beard-nominated chef of Miya’s Sushi in New Haven, CT. Miya’s is known for being the first sustainable sushi restaurant in the world. To celebrate National Seafood Month, Chef Bun Lai speaks about forging a new path, and why it’s important to think of the environment when choosing seafood. … More Info
One That Didn’t Get Away: The Atlantic Sea Scallop and the Future of Fishing
During National Seafood Month, it is important to appreciate the tremendous benefits the Cape and seafood consumers across the country have enjoyed thanks to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which Congress is revisiting this year. In fact, without the science-based fisheries management required by this law, our rich heritage might have become ancient history. … More Info
Commerce Department Sets Dangerous Precedent in Overrule of Fishery Commission
President Trump’s Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, is making waves in fisheries management—and setting a dangerous precedent that may undermine future efforts to protect vulnerable fish stocks in the Northeast. … More Info
“Data, data, data”
The Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing today on the reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the primary federal law governing our nation’s fisheries. It was the first in a series of hearings about the MSA and its reauthorization; the focus of this particular hearing was to understand NOAA’s and the regional councils’ perspectives. The testifying witnesses were Chis Oliver, the newly appointed administrator of NOAA Fisheries, and Dr. John Quinn, Chairman of the Council Coordination Committee and the New England Fishery Management Council (Quinn testified on behalf of the CCC). … More Info
Trump’s National Ocean Proclamation Covfefe, Confusing
Following the tradition of those who have come before him, President Trump proclaimed June National Oceans Month. However, as has been his modus operandi, Trump broke ranks with his predecessors. 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. Marine life had better take cover, because National Ocean Month under President Trump means oil drilling destruction and favoring commercial interests over environmental protections. … More Info
Latest U.S. Fisheries Management Bill, Like its Two Recent Predecessors, is Bad for Fish, the Ocean, and Coastal Communities
A fisheries bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives is a reprise of legislation we saw in the past two Congresses. And, just like those prior bills, the “new” one would significantly weaken our nation’s fishery management law, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which was enacted more than 40 years ago. … More Info
With New Fish Rule, NOAA Lets the Big One Get Away
In October the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees our nation’s fisheries, passed up a chance to take a major step toward EBFM. … More Info
Two New Developments Could Boost Health of Fisheries and Our Ocean
Those of us who care about healthy oceans and fish populations are pleased to see two strong spotlights shine last week on ecosystem-based fishery management, or EBFM. As a reminder, the goal of EBFM is to better inform management decisions with a big-picture approach to fisheries management that uses existing data about where fish live, what they eat, what eats them, and what threats they face in order to ensure that ocean ecosystems and the fisheries they support are healthy and productive. … More Info
