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 […]
Category Archives: Commercial Fishing
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 […]
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 […]
We Are Going Fishing!
After months of fighting to save Southeast Alaska’s Chinook salmon troll fishery from a misguided lawsuit filed by the Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC), our fleet is going fishing! On June 21st the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Court’s May decision to close the fishery while the National Marine Fisheries Service addresses technical […]
The Gulf Council Needs a Balance of Voices
The Gulf of Mexico’s most valuable fish stocks are under threat as years of conservation and fishery success are quickly becoming unraveled. Gag grouper and greater amberjack face 70-80% quota reductions. As of 2017, red grouper spawning biomass is the lowest it has ever been. Even the celebrated red snapper fishery is in decline. This […]
Watch the Waterside Chat with Eric Brazer
Eric Brazer joined host Tom Sadler for a Waterside Chat on April 26th, 2023. Eric is the deputy director of the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance, a member of the Network’s Policy Council, and a voice on behalf of science-based management of Gulf Red Snapper and other species. Among many other things, Eric […]
New Video Highlights Economic Value of Fishing Communities
“Instead of more fish today, we want more fish forever.” – Stephen Rhoads Our colleagues at the Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association (ALFA) are featured in an inspiring new video, Alaska’s Sustainable Fishing Legacy [watch below]. It’s part of the Farms Across America series. MFCN’s Network Policy Council co-chair, Linda Behnken, is joined by Stephen Rhoads, […]
Straight Talk On Striped Bass
Addressing Common Misconceptions about Striper Management I’ll admit here that while I try real hard to NOT look at social media or other internet chatter on fisheries management stuff, I often can’t help it. I mean, I haven’t exactly found that arguing with people on Facebook is productive. So, I’ve become accustomed to reading, shaking […]