The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 has been a success. The number of overfished stocks has never been lower in the law’s 40 year history. It’s not perfect by any means, and Congress is reviewing the Act to consider changes, as it does every 10 years. In my view, there are ways […]
On April 24, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced ground fish regulations that included a prohibition on recreational possession of cod in the Gulf of Maine through at least April 30, 2016. The impact of this announcement is that what I grew up calling “deep sea fishing” has collapsed. Party boat operators from the historic […]
The fishing season for summer flounder, locally known as “fluke,” has just opened up here in New York. The waters are cooler than they should be in mid-May, so the fluke were still pretty sluggish, but even so, opening day saw anglers catch a reasonable number of fish. In New York, fluke less than 18 […]
Gulf of Mexico fisheries support an estimated $22.6 billion in seafood, commercial fishing and recreational fishing activity. That’s why Gulf residents pay close attention when a proposed bill in Congress threatens the marine resources we rely on. H.R. 1335, the “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,” would weaken the management of […]
As one of the younger guys in my fleet, I might have the best vantage point to see where fishery management is headed. I’m 33 years old, and I captain the F/V Janet E out of Half Moon Bay, CA. I fish salmon and Dungeness crab. I’ve owned and operated my boat for 5 years, […]
Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act: Does that title scare anyone else in the conservation community? I wonder how this is making the environmental community shudder. Since I and a large number of sportfishing anglers/guides I represent make our living from the ocean, we have a lot invested in the future […]
Pacific halibut, one of the region’s most iconic fish, is being treated in some fisheries no better than your daily trash. Halibut abundance has declined over the past 15 years, and Alaska halibut fishermen have reduced their catch to conserve stocks for the future. Washington-based trawlers, on the other hand, are still allowed to catch, kill, and discard […]
June –- the time of year to be on the ocean chasing coho and chinook out of coastal ports. Moving out in the early morning, hopefully on flood or slack tide, with the expectation of finding the quarry before mid-day winds point the boat back toward a comfortable harbor. Most of us fishing the ocean […]
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