EDFish

Scientists Work to Bridge Political Gap Between Cuba, US

EDF Oceans — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:40:06 +0000

Cuban and American scientists have joined forces in an effort to protect baby sea turtles and endangered sharks. They're studying Caribbean weather patterns that fuel the hurricanes that have devastated the Southeastern United States. In the process, they're chipping away at a half-century of government feuding, helping to bring the nations together for talks on vital matters, such as what to do in case of an oil spill.

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Environmental Group Shares Business Acumen to Help Independent Fisherman Survive

EDF Oceans — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:40:54 +0000

Frank Mirarchi has been a commercial fishermen out of Scituate for 50 years and he said the industry has changed beyond recognition since he started fishing. "I used to be a hunter. I'd chase fish just like a guy on the plains hunted buffalo," said Mirarchi, 68, "The solution to all my problems was to catch more fish. But now, with all the fish allocations, it's like trying to juggle a retirement portfolio." Since the introduction of the catch share system to manage groundfish stocks, each fisherman is given a fixed amount of fish to catch and most active fishermen have to buy or lease additional quota from other fishermen to stay in business.

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I'll Have the Cod, Please

Emilie Litsinger — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:52:10 +0000

Being a conscientious seafood lover is difficult today. What is sustainable? What is not? We wrote an op-ed published in the Boston Globe yesterday that we hope will help clarify the right choices to make in order to support both local fishermen and fish stocks. Given the ups and downs of fish populations, what matters [...]

Catch Shares Gain New Allies In Close House Vote

John Mimikakis — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:24:28 +0000

In a disappointing move for the environment and the fishing industry, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a rider that would effectively ban new federal catch shares for fisheries in the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks in large part to catch shares, many fisheries in the United States have been turning a [...]

EDF Stands With Fishermen In Calling for Suspension of Rig Removal Policy

EDF Oceans — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:26:05 +0000

By Jack Sterne, Director of Strategic Initiatives Anyone who’s enjoyed fishing in the Gulf of Mexico can share a story about how great the fishing is around an oil rig. Fish love structure, and I know my fishing is always better around these types of hot spots. A downed tree, a dock, a live reef, [...]

Consumers Deserve to Know about Seafood Contaminants

Tim Fitzgerald — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:52:09 +0000

If you can choose whether to have tartar sauce with your fish, why not high levels of mercury? The Washington Post ran a story last week that said fish consumption advisories for pollutants like mercury do more harm than good by discouraging people from eating fish. Tuesday, the newspaper published a letter in response from me and Dr. Lynn Goldman, Dean of the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and member of EDF’s Board of Trustees.

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Seafood Fraud: What You Order Isn't Always What You Get

Tim Fitzgerald — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:34:51 +0000

Mislabeled seafood, or seafood fraud, is a hot topic in the fish world these days. Recent exposés by the Boston Globe and Consumer Reports have revealed an alarmingly high rate of seafood deception in restaurants and markets. Conducting DNA testing on fish from local restaurants, the Globe found that about 50% of tested fish were mislabeled. What does this mean? Well, for the average seafood consumer, it means that the fish you pay for is often not the one you actually get.

Charting a Course for Gulf of Maine Cod: Part II

Jake Kritzer — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:46:39 +0000

Yesterday, I recounted the recent history of assessments of the Gulf of Maine (GOM) cod stock that has led to a looming crisis for many New England fishermen, and the management response underway in the form of emergency action. Today, I discuss two major goals that will most effectively use the time before us to potentially change our understanding of cod status, and avoid or minimize socio-economic hardship.

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