Support Measures to Limit Longlining to Protect Bluefin Tuna and Other Big Fish

Author: Wild Ocean Team Posted Under: Blog, Sustainable Fishing Practices, Tuna

The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed new measures to protect one of the ocean’s most threatened species of fish, the Atlantic bluefin tuna, from one of the most lethally indiscriminate types of fishing gear, the pelagic longline.  Longliners fishing for swordfish and yellowfin tuna typically hang hundreds of hooks ...

Commission Votes for More Striped Bass Conservation

Author: Ken Hinman Posted Under: Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Blog, Striped Bass, Big Fish

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted this week to develop management options for reducing fishing pressure on striped bass beginning with the 2015 season. The action by the 15-state commission came in response to a new assessment of the coastal striper stock, presented at the ASMFC’s Annual Meeting October ...

Coming Together: Striped Bass and Menhaden

Author: Ken Hinman Posted Under: Menhaden, Blog, Striped Bass

By Ken Hinman Two iconic fish – the striped bass, perhaps the most popular game fish on the east coast, and menhaden, the prey of choice for stripers and dozens of other coastal Atlantic predators – will be the topic of discussions at the upcoming Annual Meeting of the Atlantic States Marine ...

BCA Closer to Complete Ban on US Mainland Billfish Sales

Author: Ken Hinman Posted Under: Blog, Billfish, Marlin, Victories, Big Fish, Our News

When the Billfish Conservation Act (BCA) was signed into US law nearly a year ago, conservationists worldwide cheered that the globe’s largest market for imported marlin, sailfish, and spearfish would soon be closed. Although the challenge of getting a bill passed through the legislative process was won, there is still work to ...

Mid-Atlantic Council to Make Critical Decision for Future of River Herrings

Author: Wild Ocean Team Posted Under: Herring, Councils, Blog

By Pam Lyons Gromen – In 2009, Wild Oceans brought attention to the plight of the Atlantic’s river-spawning herrings in an article entitled Out of Bounds. Coastwide, populations of alewives, blueback herring and American shad had plummeted to record lows. We argued that saving these critical forage fish required conservation ...

Pacific Council on the Right Path to Safeguard Forage

Author: Theresa Labriola Posted Under: Councils, Blog, Ecosystems

By Theresa Labriola – Thanks to everyone who signed our petition asking the Pacific Fishery Management Council to initiate a process for developing a forage status indicator. In June, I traveled to the Council meeting in Garden Grove, California to hand deliver your petition to the Council. While there, I ...

5-Year Plan Offers Promising Future for Mid-Atlantic Fisheries

Author: Wild Ocean Team Posted Under: Blog, Councils, Prey Base

Tell the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council that You Support Their Commitment to Ocean Stewardship! The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is seeking public comment on a draft strategic plan that outlines the Council’s vision, mission and strategic goals for 5 years spanning 2014 through 2018. Developed from extensive stakeholder outreach and ...

Federal Councils Act to Protect River Herring and Shad at Sea

Author: Wild Ocean Team Posted Under: Herring, Councils, Blog, Prey Base, Victories

Bycatch of river herring and shad in federal fisheries will finally be regulated, affording these imperiled forage fish protection at sea where they spend most of their lives. Measures adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council two weeks ago in New York City and last week by the New England ...

Federal Council Approves Measure to Conserve River Herring and Shad

Author: Wild Ocean Team Posted Under: Herring, Blog, Councils, Prey Base

On June 12th the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council placed the first-ever limits on the catch of river herring and shad in offshore waters, capping the amount that can be taken in a year by trawl netters fishing for mackerel. Individual states along the eastern seaboard have tightly restricted and in a ...

William C. Cox (1930-2013): A Remembrance

Author: Christopher M. Weld Posted Under: Blog, Our News

Bill Cox, a member of our Board of Directors for nearly 40 years, passed away on May 1st. The following remembrance was written by founding board member and good friend Chris Weld. By Christopher M. Weld I first met Bill when my family rented a house in the summer of ...