Conserving New England Fish - Pew Environment Group

The Law That's Saving American Fisheries: The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

Mon, 06 May 2013 14:20:00 GMT

A generation of determined, farsighted commercial and recreational fishermen, marine scientists, and legislators have shaped the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the law that governs American fisheries.

The Bottom Line: Changing Course for America's Oldest Fishery

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:45:00 GMT

“The fish just aren’t there.” This simple observation from Cape Cod fisheries manager Tom Dempsey to the Associated Press sums up the challenge of decreasing cod populations.

New England's Protected Waters are Threatened

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:45:00 GMT

Parts of New England's waters set aside to protect cod, haddock, flounder, and other important fish could soon be subjected to some of the most damaging forms of large-scale fishing.

The Bottom Line: Don't Remove Protection When Cod Need It Most

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:10:00 GMT

New England is famous for cod fishing. But the industry is ailing – and the cure being proposed might be worse than the disease.

Small Fish, Big Opportunity

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 18:05:00 GMT

Sometimes the environmental challenges facing our oceans seem so large that it's hard to know where to start solving them. Over the past several months, however, a collection of conservationists, anglers and others have come together to urge federal policymakers to safeguard the array of species that serve as the foundation for a healthy marine ecosystem.

New Nationwide Protections for Important Fish

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 13:55:00 GMT

Earlier this summer, regional U.S. fishery management councils in the mid-Atlantic, New England, and Pacific Northwest advanced groundbreaking protections for forage fish in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Progress Made: The Pew Environment Group Celebrates Recent Conservation Victories

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:55:00 GMT

It’s been a busy few months for the Pew Environment Group, with our campaigns racking up important victories all over the globe. Our teams were active in securing new protections for little fish in the United States, sharks in Venezuela, huge tracts of land in Canada, and vast swaths of the Australian ocean.

Big Win for Small Fish: Protections Approved for Forage Fish on the East Coast

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:45:00 GMT

Peter Baker, director of northeast fisheries programs for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to the New England Fishery Management Council’s vote to approve plans that could help prevent the decline of river herring populations by regulating massive trawl vessels in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Fish You Need to Know

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:35:00 GMT

(Trust Magazine) Save the whales? Check. Save the sharks? Check. Save the menhaden? Save the what?

The Fisheries Investment Act: Investing in New England's Fisheries and Fishermen

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:25:00 GMT

New England is home to historic fishing communities and some of the nation’s most valuable fisheries. Funding through the Fisheries Investment Act could help restore New England’s fish and fisheries by addressing critical needs.

The Bottom Line: An Inconvenient Truth About Gulf of Maine Cod

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:30:00 GMT

Many in New England were recently stunned by the news that the region’s prized codfish are in much deeper trouble than anyone had realized. The bleak conclusion of the most recent scientific assessment was unexpected, because just three years earlier cod appeared to show signs of recovery. Fishermen, scientists, and others have rightfully been asking, “What happened?”

The Bottom Line: New Year's Resolution 2012: Let's Gain Weight in the Ocean

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:05:00 GMT

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for Americans is to lose weight. Around this time of year, gyms fill up, the health food sections of supermarkets become crowded, and people whose daily exercise consisted of picking up their mail start jogging. But for the fish in America’s oceans, we need to resolve to help them gain weight.

The Bottom Line

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:40:00 GMT

“The Bottom Line,” explores fisheries management issues, while taking on other related subjects to provide a more in-depth look at the issues facing our ocean fish. With this blog, we hope to continue these informative discussions, cut through the rhetoric, and encourage more people to take an interest in ocean fish conservation.

Overfishing 101: Dissecting Sectors

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:30:00 GMT

New England groundfish fishermen have operated for more than a year under a new system of cooperative fishing groups called sectors. And as often happens with any transformation within an industry, some have prospered, while others have not. Some government officials are asking the federal government to overturn these reforms, but others say leave the basic system alone. So what’s really happening?

Overfishing 101: It Ain't Over Till It's Over

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:25:00 GMT

Everyone loves a good comeback story, but sometimes a storyline emerges prematurely. Mark Twain famously responded to a press inquiry regarding his supposed demise by saying, “The report of my death was an exaggeration.” Similarly, declarations earlier this year that overfishing had ended in America provide a case in point.

Overfishing 101: New England's First Year of Fishing Under Sectors

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:40:00 GMT

In May 2010, the New England Fishery Management Council began a system of cooperative fishing groups called sectors. Sector members create a business plan that makes clear how the allotment will be divided and how, when and where they will fish. Find out how this new management plan has fared over the past year.

Overfishing 101: Why Rebuilding Fish Populations Benefits Everyone

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:25:00 GMT

All too often, leaders in Washington focus on the short-term impacts of potential policies to the detriment of long-term benefits to our environment and economy. Ongoing efforts in Congress to weaken the federal laws that govern marine resources are a great case in point.

Putting the Cod Back in Cape Cod

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:00:00 GMT

(New York Times Dot Earth) I love fishing, which was one of the ways, growing up in Rhode Island, that I developed my broader passion for the wider living world outside of the human-built one.

A Boat-to-Table Initiative Brings Fish to Chefs

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:05:00 GMT

(New York Times) Sea gulls and cormorants circled overhead in the early morning fog as the Block Island ferry blew its horn in the distance. On the deck of his trawler, the Elizabeth Helen, Steve Arnold took out his Droid Incredible and photographed the best of that day’s catch of fluke.

In Cod We Trust

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:20:00 GMT

The tales old cod fishermen tell remind us how we got to where we are today and how cod populations, although increasing, remain a shadow of their former glory. There is hope for the future, however.

Overfishing 101: A Big Fish Story We Should Take Seriously

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:45:00 GMT

Almost everyone has a friend or a relative who loves to tell the tale of the "big one" that got away. And more often than not, that fish grows larger and larger with every telling of the story. I have to admit, as an avid angler, I may have been tempted to do this a time or two. But not all fish stories are tall tales.

Chart: The Cost of Chronic Overfishing vs. the BP Oil Disaster

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:15:00 GMT

(The Atlantic) Overfishing occurs without much drama. But as the numbers show, its impact on fish is Deepwater Horizon-sized—and then some.

The Hidden Cost of Overfishing to Commercial Fishermen

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:25:00 GMT

A new report commissioned by the Pew Environment Group examines the impact of chronic overfishing in terms of lost revenue to commercial fishermen in three U.S. regions with the highest levels of overfishing. In 2009 alone, commercial fishermen in New England, the South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regions that targeted depleted ocean fish populations lost $164.2 million and realized just 25 percent of potential revenue.

Cod: The Fish that Made New England

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:20:00 GMT

Nothing tells a story like the eyewitnesses who were there. Old-timers in New England’s commercial cod fishery don’t want us to forget how we got where we are today. Overfishing—catching fish faster than they can reproduce—is still occurring on 10 of our dinner-time favorites like Atlantic cod. These “old salts” remember how different the fishing was just a few decades ago. In the words of one of them, “it was the most fantastic fishery I ever saw.”

Overfishing Cost New England Fishermen at Least $149 Million in 2009

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:15:00 GMT

Because of decades of overfishing—catching fish faster than they can reproduce—in 2009, commercial fishermen in New England who targeted species such as cod, flounder, halibut and other bottom-dwelling "groundfish" lost at least $149 million and realized just 21 percent of potential revenues.

Remembering Cod

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:10:00 GMT

Most old fishermen talk about the big ones that got away. But old cod fishermen are different. They relive the decades when they pulled enormous loads of thick, white-fleshed bottom fish out of the Atlantic almost every day.

Turning the Corner in New England's Historic Fishery

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:25:00 GMT

On May 1, 2010, the New England fishery for cod, haddock and other so-called groundfish transitioned to a new management system in which fishermen voluntarily form cooperatives, called sectors. The first year of fishing under the new sector system ended April 30, 2011, and early reports show that sectors have been successful in several ways.

River Herring

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:45:00 GMT

Populations of alewife and blueback herring are in serious decline along the Atlantic coast and face numerous threats. These river herring play an important ecological role in rivers and coastal waters, providing a crucial source of food to wildlife.

The Magnuson-Stevens Act: Helping Restore New England's Valuable Fish Populations

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:05:00 GMT

After decades of overfishing, the storied New England groundfish fishery appears to be on the road to recovery thanks in large part to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). Congress should support this success by rejecting any attemps to weaken the MSA.

Letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service Regarding A Review of the New England Fishery Management Process

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:35:00 GMT

Our letter requests a plan for changes based on the report's findings, a shared vision for fisheries management in New England and a system of performance standards and evaluation.

Letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service Regarding a Recent Report on Scientific Review

Fri, 27 May 2011 13:30:00 GMT

This letter challenges one finding of the report - that there is too much reliance on outside reviewers. In fact, external peer review is critically important to stock assessment science.

Editorial: Working Solutions

Thu, 19 May 2011 19:20:00 GMT

(Cape Cod Times) The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement's decision last week to halve the area zoned for development of offshore wind farms is cause for optimism in the maturing field of ocean management.

Report: Sector Management is Working--But Some Raise Red Flags

Fri, 13 May 2011 21:55:00 GMT

(The Maine Public Broadcasting Network) Environmental groups are today hailing the latest federal report on the Notheastern groundfishery as a cautious indication that the new sector management system is working. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's interim report this week shows the value of fish landings increased during the first nine months of the fishing year, as fishermen got higher prices for their cod, haddock, pollock and other so-called groundfish. The amount of groundfish being landed meanwhile declined about 15 percent.

New England Groundfish Fleet Stays Within Science-Based Catch Limits, Earns More Revenue

Fri, 13 May 2011 15:45:00 GMT

Peter Baker, manager of the Pew Environment Group's Northeast Fisheries Program, issued the following statement today in response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Interim Report for Fishing Year 2010 on the performance of the new sector management system for New England’s groundfish fleet during the first nine months of the program.

Letter to NMFS Recommending Appointment of Four Candidates to Fisheries Management Councils

Wed, 11 May 2011 21:15:00 GMT

All four candidates are highly knowledgeable about New England and Mid-Atlantic fisheries and have a vast and diverse experience in the fishery.

Letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service Regarding Plans for State-Operated Permit Banks

Tue, 10 May 2011 20:45:00 GMT

Our letter supports the plan to expand the permit bank system in New England, which would preserve access to the fishery for local, small-scale fishermen and encourage a diverse fishing fleet.

Most Maine Fishermen 'Hooked' on New Quota System

Mon, 02 May 2011 21:05:00 GMT

This week marks the start of year two of the sometimes-controversial "sector management" plan for commercial fishing in local waters, and catch limits are up for most types of local groundfish.

One Year Old, Catch-Share Sectors 'Effective For Business'

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:15:00 GMT

(WGBH) It has been one year since fishermen in the Northeast began using a new system for regulating how much they could catch.

Overfishing 101: How Ocean Fish Populations are Managed in the U.S. (Part 2)

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:45:00 GMT

To effectively manage these populations, the U.S. needs to base its policy on science. Few topics arouse passions about ocean conservation more quickly than overfishing—taking more fish from our ocean than nature can replace—and what to do about it. In my experience, this debate too often sinks into the details and jargon of fisheries management, making it difficult for the lay person to understand the subject. In this post, I’d like to break it down in a way that is easier to understand.

Editorial: New Catch Limits Signal Success of New Fish Rules

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:25:00 GMT

When May 1 rolls around this year, commercial fishermen in New England will get something that they haven't had in a long time: Good news.

Overfishing 101

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:40:04 GMT

Fishermen, conservationists and scientists have actively debated how best to manage our ocean fish populations for decades. But with so much at stake, it's critical that as many Americans as possible be actively engaged in this discussion. Lee Crockett's “Overfishing 101” blog series aims to do just that by providing a new outlet, in which we hope to open up the discussion to the larger public, cut through the rhetoric and encourage more people to participate in marine fish conservation.

Editorial: Our View: New Catch Limits Signal Success of New Fish Rules

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:10:00 GMT

(Portland (Maine) Press Herald) When May 1 rolls around this year, commercial fishermen in New England will get something that they haven't had in a long time: Good news.

Net Gain for Fish, Fishery

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 21:00:00 GMT

(Boston Herald) Last May, the New England groundfish industry transitioned to a new management system, known as sectors, in which groups of fishermen voluntarily form cooperatives to fish for cod, haddock and other bottom-dwelling species.

Letter to Senator Kerry Regarding Proposal for a Quota Rollover in New England Groundfish Industry

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:01:35 GMT

Pew Environment Group and Conservation Law Foundation commend the Senator for his proposal to allow quota from the current fishing year to “roll over” into the next year, but caution that the proposal should be reviewed by scientists and should benefit those fishermen most in need of quota adjustments.

NE Fishing Debate Played Out in Fishermen Friction

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:39:22 GMT

Mike Russo grew up on Cape Cod, where the sea was always in the air or just around the bend, and knew by middle school he wanted to work a fishing boat. Now 45, Russo owns a boat, hunts cod off Provincetown and is baffled that fishermen like him are being branded industry sell-outs by critics of a group that represents him, the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association.

New Fishing Quota System Gains Support

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:30:43 GMT

On June 24, 2009, John Pappalardo, the Chairman of the New England Fishery Management Council, walked into a critical council meeting in Portland, Maine, fully expecting a battle. The council, an appointed body of fishermen, state and federal fisheries representatives, industry reps and an environmentalist was voting on the most radical change in fisheries management since the 200-mile limit was introduced in 1976.

Fishermen Adapt to New Rules

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 19:16:07 GMT

As he unloaded his catch, Chatham fisherman Eric Hesse had only good things to say about a controversial new fishery management system known as "catch shares" or "sector management" that has drawn a firestorm of complaints from some fishermen as well as municipal, state and national politicians.

Summer's Coming; How Many Fish in the Ocean for New England?

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:55:00 GMT

Thirty-five years ago this week, Congress passed a law to rebuild depleted ocean fish populations. Today, experts say it has produced positive results along New England shores. Peter Baker, Northeast Fisheries Program manager for Pew Environment Group, says there has been plenty of fine-tuning of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), with multiple amendments over the last three-and-a-half decades. However, the result is that many fish, once in danger of disappearing from Atlantic waters, are now back to healthy population levels, he says.

Letter to Senator Kerry Regarding Revenues and Catch Limits in New England Groundfish Fleet

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 20:15:00 GMT

A coalition of non-profit organizations signed a letter to Senator John Kerry (D-MA) thanking him for his leadership on fisheries management issues and requesting collaboration in finding a targeted solution for fishermen facing economic challenges under the sector management.

Overfishing 101: How Ocean Fish Populations are Managed in the U.S.

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:47:25 GMT

All too often the discussion around the issue of overfishing has been limited to a small group of stakeholders such as fishermen, conservationists and scientists. To help open up this debate to the broader public, I've developed a short series nicknamed "Overfishing 101." In this post, I'll take a look at some of the basics of why all Americans should care about how our ocean fish are managed.

America's Fishing Law on the Line

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:05:00 GMT

Enjoyed some tasty New England scallops lately? Reeled in a Gulf of Mexico red snapper? Feasted on some mid-Atlantic summer flounder? Aside from your fishing talents or culinary prowess, you have federal fishery law to thank.

Success Story: Rebuilding America's Fisheries with One Single Act

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 19:10:00 GMT

In honor of the 35th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, a law that is helping to rebuild America’s depleted fish populations, Pew reviews some remarkable successes.

Editorial: Follow the Science

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 18:15:00 GMT

The U.S. Commerce Department plans to send experts to New England fishing ports this month to study the economic impact of federal fishing rules. This could produce some useful data.

Maine Voices: Sustainable Fisheries Work for New England

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:30:41 GMT

Tom Allen served in the 1st Congressional District from 1997–2008, and was a co-founder of the House Oceans Caucus. Read his op-ed on sustainable New England fisheries.

Cod, Is it for Dinner?

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:00:00 GMT

In January, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a national arbiter of fish choices for concerned Americans, announced significant changes to its Seafood Watch list. East Coast fisheries—haddock, pollock, summer flounder and even some stocks of cod—slid from the alarming red “Avoid” zone to “Good alternatives.” Hook-and-line-caught Atlantic haddock was even knighted “Best choice.”

Letter to the National Marine Fisheries Service Regarding a New Management Measure for New England Groundfish

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:45:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group supports many of the provisions in the latest groundfish management plan update including new state permit banks, monitoring requirements and a spawning protection area, but we have reservations about the rebuilding plan for yellowtail flounder.

Success Story: Sea Change in New England

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:50:00 GMT

Once there was such an abundance of cod, haddock and flounder in the waters off New England that the saying goes, “you could walk across Cape Cod Bay on the backs of cod.” New England was built on fisheries, but that heyday is gone.

Change in Fishing Rules Altering Storied Industry

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:40:00 GMT

Scores of fishermen have stopped going to sea in the past year as controversial new rules take hold that could fundamentally alter the storied fishing economy, culture, and communities of New England.

Working with Fishermen to Ensure Sustainable Seafood

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:35:00 GMT

Years of overfishing have brought significant consequences to one of New England's oldest industries. Fishermen have lost jobs, coastal businesses have struggled and the region's iconic species, such as cod and flounder, have declined in population.

Editorial: No Need to Lift Catch Limits

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 19:20:00 GMT

New England fishermen who catch ground fish like cod and flounder are in the midst of a pioneering season marked by hard limits on overfished stocks and a new system of dividing most of the catch among boats based on their locations and past volume of fish.

Frank Attacks Commerce Dept. on Catch Limits

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:15:00 GMT

The federal government's key agency overseeing fishing in New England is aligned against fishermen and federal officials have callously and carelessly ignored an industry in crisis, Representative Barney Frank wrote today in a blistering opinion article against the Obama administration's Commerce Department.

Healthy Marine Environment Wins with Secretary of Commerce Locke's Decision

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:30:00 GMT

Peter Baker, manager of the Pew Environment Group's New England Fisheries Campaign, issued the following statement today in response to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke's decision to deny a request for emergency action to increase fishing limits for New England groundfish such as cod and flounder.

Commerce Secretary Denies Fish Catch Limit Hike

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:30:00 GMT

The U.S. commerce secretary Friday denied a request by the governor of Massachusetts for emergency increases in New England's fish catch limits, saying there's no new science to justify them.

Successes of the Pew Environment Group

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Read about our successes, from the designation of the world’s largest no-take marine reserve in the Indian Ocean to the signing of the world’s largest conservation agreement in the Canadian boreal forest.

Gov. Patrick, Don't Let Fish History Repeat Itself

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:05:00 GMT

Gov. Deval Patrick recently asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to implement an Emergency Action to increase the amount of fish, such as cod, flounder and other groundfish, that fishermen are allowed to catch.

Newsmaker of the Year: In the Eye of the Storm

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 21:45:00 GMT

Jane Lubchenco smiles as a dolphin leaps out of the water, arcs in the air and splashes back down just a few metres away.

Rough Waters: The Ongoing Fight Over Regulating New England Fisheries

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 21:05:00 GMT

New England's fishing industry is transitioning to a new cooperative way of fishing, and there are different forces at work – some that signal hope for the future, others that engage in an ongoing fight.

Warming Waters Exacerbate Dwindling New England Fisheries

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:50:00 GMT

Pete Libra is frustrated. The 40-year-old cod fisherman sees lots of fish in the ocean, and he wants to catch more. Fishing authorities see fewer, and want him to catch less.

Feds Aim to Bump up Limit on Vital Fish Stocks

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:55:00 GMT

Federal regulators are looking to allow fishermen to catch nearly six times the original limit of a key groundfish stock after fishermen said it was set so low it would sabotage the Northeast industry.

Good News for Pollock

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:00:00 GMT

In June of 2010, new science revealed that pollock was not overfished and overfishing was not occurring.

Pew Statement on Increase in Annual Catch Limits for Pollock

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Peter Baker, who manages the Pew Environment Group’s New England Fisheries Campaigns, today issued the following statement in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announcement that it would be raising the Annual Catch Limit for pollock by nearly 500%.

Grounded: Rather Than Test New Limits, Fisherman Ties Up His Boat

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 19:05:00 GMT

"It was the lesser of two evils," said Tony Pereira of his decision to enter a sector, as the new fishery management system is known.

Pew Urges Thoughtful Approach to Catch Shares in Light of New Report on West Coast Trawl Fishery Proposal

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:20:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group’s Lee Crockett, director of Federal Fisheries Policy, and Peter Baker, manager for New England Fisheries Campaigns, today commented on a new study by Ecotrust that found design concerns in the proposed West Coast trawl fishery catch share program. Support for this report was provided by the Pew Environment Group.

Fisheries: What's the catch?

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:30:00 GMT

Dave Marciano first started working on commercial fishing boats when he was ten.

West Coast Group, Opposed to Catch Shares, Wants New England View of Fishery Management

Sun, 30 May 2010 19:05:00 GMT

An Oregon-based environmental group called Ecotrust is coming to New England next week to learn what effects catch shares and sector management are having on the regional fishing industry.

Rules Could Boost Fish Stocks

Fri, 07 May 2010 16:15:00 GMT

Starting May 1, most of New England’s ground-fishing fleet sailed under a promising new, science-based management plan called sector allocation. It could rebuild fish populations, help fishermen run their businesses more efficiently and profitably, and bolster fishing communities.

Good for Fish, Good for Fishermen

Mon, 03 May 2010 16:20:00 GMT

(Cape Cod Times) On Saturday, New England fishermen gained more flexibility to fish in ways that make business sense while allowing our ocean ecosystems to recover.

Editorial: New Fishing Rules Need Time to Work

Sun, 02 May 2010 19:30:00 GMT

A new set of fishing rules promises to use the best available science to determine how many pounds of fish from each species can be caught allowing the populations to rebuild.

End Overfishing in New England Campaign Brief

Sat, 01 May 2010 21:00:00 GMT

The new “sector” system is changing the way the fishing is managed so fish populations can rebuild, and in turn, sustain productive fishing communities.

Editorial: Region's New Fish Story

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:10:00 GMT

New offshore-fishing rules for New England finally go into effect this weekend, based on creating 17 fishing sectors, each with a quota for groundfish.

Editorial: Don't Delay New Fishing Rules

Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:15:00 GMT

Traditional New England groundfish like cod, pollock, and flounder could get a new lease on life as the region’s fishermen switch to an innovative way of divvying up the catch on Saturday.

Prolific Georges Bank Spared from Drilling

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:40:00 GMT

Pew Environment Group project manager Jud Crawford was interviewed on The Saving Seafood Hour radio show.

Pew Statement on Drilling in Georges Bank

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Peter Baker, manager for the Pew Environment Group’s New England Fisheries Campaigns, issued the following statement today in response to the Obama administration’s policy announcement on offshore oil and gas drilling.

Pew Applauds NOAA for its Conservation-Minded Catch Shares Policy

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Lee Crockett, director of Federal Fisheries Policy at the Pew Environment Group, today issued the following statement in response to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) release of its draft policy on the use of catch shares in federal fisheries.

Design Matters: Making Catch Shares Work

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:20:00 GMT

Catch shares are fishery management programs that allocate fishing privileges in the form of a specific portion of the total annual catch quota.

Saving the Seafood

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:55:00 GMT

After a study warned that overfishing could destroy the world's seafood stocks, a recent report says that the situation is improving.

Statement on the Hilborn-Worm Study on Rebuilding Global Fisheries Published in 'Science'

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:35:00 GMT

Rebecca Goldburg, director of Marine Science at the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to a paper published in the journal Science.

Pew Applauds New Sector Management to Rebuild Cod and Flounder Populations

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:25:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group commends the New England Fishery Management Council for its hard work in shepherding New England’s 400-year old groundfish industry into a new era of management.

Poll Shows Strong Support for a New Management System for Groundfish

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:30:00 GMT

The Pew Environment Group released today the results of a public opinion survey conducted with voters in Maine and Massachusetts, which showed that voters overwhelmingly support a new management system for the groundfish (cod, flounder, haddock) that have been a cornerstone of New England’s economy for centuries.

Annual Catch Limits Reinforced by Fishery Closure Provisions: Essential for Ending Overfishing in New England

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:25:00 GMT

A report by John D. Crawford, PhD, Pew Environment Group & Boston University Marine Program

Sectors: It's Time to Do Things Differently

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:10:00 GMT

In 2010, our groundfish fishery here in Maine and the rest of New England will take a dramatic turn and move in a new direction.

Move to Redefine New England Fishing

Sat, 30 May 2009 20:10:00 GMT

Vincenzo Russo, a fisherman here for 35 years, used to fish as many days as he wanted, but federal regulations now require him to secure expensive permits — up to $500,000 — if he wants to fish more than 73 days a year.

A Better Fishing System

Mon, 18 May 2009 16:20:00 GMT

New England's fisheries feed our region's cash flow and provide dinner for our tables. But by most measures the current management system of this vital industry has been a failure, and hasn't adequately protected the marine ecosystem nor promoted a profitable fishing industry.

Fishermen See Hope in Dividing Quotas

Thu, 07 May 2009 20:20:00 GMT

In 2006, a group of Cape Cod fishermen got together and determined that the complex system of regulations that govern their industry just wasn't working.

Environmental Group Advocates for New Approach to Fishing Regulations

Thu, 07 May 2009 20:20:00 GMT

Fishermen are often at odds with environmentalists, but both sides are increasingly finding themselves in agreement behind a movement to jettison the current method of restricting New England fish catches in favor of locally managed fishing sectors.

The Economic Case for a New Approach to Fisheries Management in New England

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:50:00 GMT

New England’s economy was built on the teeming fishing grounds off its shores, turning the region into an international powerhouse by the eighteenth century.

Pew Report Finds New Management Plan Would Increase Economic Value of Groundfish Industry

Wed, 06 May 2009 14:35:00 GMT

The New England groundfish fishery would be more economically and environmentally sound if the system used to manage the activities of commercial fishermen was changed from regulations based on “days-at-sea” to annual catch limits, according to a report released today by the Pew Environment Group.

Public Opinion on Fishing in New England

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:20:00 GMT

A survey on voter attitudes toward overfishing and Amendment 16 was commissioned by the Pew Environment Group and was carried out by City Square Associates, Inc., a research and consulting firm in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Pew Statement on the National Marine Fisheries Service Final Interim Rule for Groundfish Management During the 2009 Fishing Year

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Peter Baker, manager of Pew Environment Group's New England Fisheries campaign, today issued the following statement in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service announcement of its Final Interim Rule for managing groundfish (including cod, haddock and flounder) in New England for the 2009 fishing year.

Cape Cod Fishermen are Among First to Share and Better Manage Limits on Their Catch on Cod

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Until three years ago, John Our did what most fishermen do when they catch more cod in a day than they are allowed to bring ashore: He threw overboard thousands of pounds of the scarce and fabled fish, once so plentiful that it helped to spawn New England cities.

New England Fisheries at Critical Crossroads

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:25:00 GMT

Once there was such an abundance of cod, haddock and flounder in the waters just off our shores that as the saying goes, "you could walk across Cape Cod Bay on the backs of cod." New England was built on fisheries. Those days, however, are long gone.

Editorial: Days at Sea Failure

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:25:00 GMT

The news from the National Marine Fisheries Service this week was as inevitable as it was devastating: The number of days fishermen are allowed to harvest their catch would be cut again this year, to only 20 days for some.

More Rules on Tap for Fishermen

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:35:00 GMT

For the region's commercial fishing fleets centered in New Bedford and Gloucester, the next year promises more of the same — a crazy quilt of closed grounds in different seasons and further reductions in days at sea, under interim regulations released yesterday.

Statement of Peter Baker, Pew Environment Group, on the National Marine Fisheries Service Interim Groundfish Management Rule for the 2009 Fishing Year

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:40:00 GMT

Peter Baker, manager of the Pew Environment Group's End Overfishing in New England campaign, today issued the following statement in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service announcement of its interim rule for managing groundfish (including cod, haddock and flounder) in New England for the 2009 fishing year.

Council's Change Offers Hope to Region's Fishermen

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:10:00 GMT

With the support of many forward-thinking commercial fishing organizations, the industry’s regional governing body, the New England Fishery Management Council, recently sent a clear signal that New England will move away from the current failed fisheries management system in favor of a structure that can rebuild fish stocks and bring profitability back to the region’s cod and groundfish fleet.

Sectors Could Be Last Chance to Save Fishery

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:25:00 GMT

Management of New England's traditional cod and groundfish fishery is at a crossroads.

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