Our Blog: From the Waterfront

Legislation Focuses on the Chesapeake Bay

Legislation Focuses on the Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is an iconic marine ecosystem that inspires stories, songs, and lifelong memories. I’ve fished, hunted, and raced sailboats in and around the bay. And while now I live in the headwaters of the bay watershed, I continue to be closely connected to it. This summer, members of Congress in the Chesapeake Bay […]

Buffeting Winds in Bristol Bay: 2023

Buffeting Winds in Bristol Bay: 2023

This article was originally published on August 10, 2023 on One Fish Foundation’s blog and is reprinted here with permission. Imagine being a commercial fish harvester in Bristol Bay in 2023. I have spoken with several over the past few years, and just recently spoke with them again to get a sense of how they […]

NMFS Finds Errors in Recreational Fishing Data

NMFS Finds Errors in Recreational Fishing Data

It’s impossible to count every fish caught by recreational fishermen, yet accurate recreational catch and landings data are an essential part of the fisheries management process. Thus, saltwater fisheries managers are constantly seeking better estimates of anglers catch, landings, and effort. Currently, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) employs the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) […]

Senator Murkowski’s ‘Improving ARCTIC’ Act

Senator Murkowski’s ‘Improving ARCTIC’ Act

Senator Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) legislation, the Improving Agriculture, Research, Cultivation, Timber, and Indigenous Commodities (ARCTIC) Act, is a comprehensive piece of legislation containing provisions that are important to small commercial fishermen, working waterfronts, and indigenous fishing communities. The legislation seeks to improve federal agricultural programs so more groups can benefit from them. “We applaud Senator […]

Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act

Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act

New legislation taps a uniquely trained and highly motivated workforce eager to contribute to conservation. The Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act, S. 1918, introduced by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chairs of the Senate Oceans caucus, creates a grant program to hire, retrain, and redeploy veterans to work on coastal, […]

Watch: Jean Flemma Talks about Climate Change and Our Oceans

Watch: Jean Flemma Talks about Climate Change and Our Oceans

Jean Flemma, co-founder of the Urban Ocean Lab and director of the Ocean Defense Initiative, joined the Network for an online Waterside Chat on July 19, 2023. Jean is a long-time policy hand and, as host Tom Sadler described her, “important and very wise counsel on ocean policy”. Their conversation covered a range of issues […]

Striped Bass Addendum II Will Promote Rebuilding

Striped Bass Addendum II Will Promote Rebuilding

Top photo by John McMurray At its May 2023 meeting, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC’s) Atlantic Striped Bass Management Board (Management Board) learned that recreational striped bass landings had nearly doubled in 2022 and that, unless fishing mortality was reduced, there was little chance that the striped bass stock would be rebuilt by […]

Land-Based Farm Credit System Could Expand to Fishing Businesses under New Bill

Land-Based Farm Credit System Could Expand to Fishing Businesses under New Bill

Recently introduced legislation could be a big help to fishing-related businesses and fishing communities. The Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Angus King and Lisa Murkowski, would provide access to loans from the Farm Credit System for businesses that supply goods and services to the fishing fleet. “The Fishing Industry Credit Enhancement […]