In this series

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A ‘Day of Reckoning’ for the New England Groundfishery Article
Fishing boats are seen at the commercial fishing pier, Wednesday, February 1, 2012, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (AP/Jim Cole)

A ‘Day of Reckoning’ for the New England Groundfishery

Though new fishing regulations on New England fishermen are stricter than ever before, they are still the best hope for an industry on the verge of potential collapse.

Michael Conathan

Hurricane Sandy, Climate Change, and the Future of Fish Article
Brian Hajeski, 41, of Brick, New Jersey, reacts as he looks at debris of a home that washed up on to the Mantoloking Bridge the morning after Hurricane Sandy rolled through, Tuesday, October 30, 2012, in Mantoloking, New Jersey. (AP/Julio Cortez)

Hurricane Sandy, Climate Change, and the Future of Fish

The sudden post-Sandy shift in the national dialogue about climate change shouldn’t ignore the fishing industry.

Michael Conathan

Omega 3s vs. Mercury—Is Seafood Good for You? Article
The preponderance of evidence shows that in virtually all circumstances, the health benefits of fish outweigh the detriments. (AP/ Elaine Thompson)

Omega 3s vs. Mercury—Is Seafood Good for You?

Michael Conathan breaks down the health benefits and detriments of fish in your diet.

Michael Conathan

Innovations to Increase and Stabilize Fishing Profits Article
Glen Libby shows a cod fish to a youngster at the Port Clyde Fresh Catch stand at the Farmer's Market in Rockland, Maine. (AP/Robert F. Bukaty)

Innovations to Increase and Stabilize Fishing Profits

Two methods in particular—community-supported fisheries and underutilized species—provide a framework for how both fishermen and consumers can get more value from American seafood.

Michael Conathan

Time for New England to Hit the ‘Reset’ Button Article
Earlier this week the Red Sox hit the

Time for New England to Hit the ‘Reset’ Button

Michael Conathan recommends New England’s groundfish industry take a cue from its beloved baseball team and take the bold, painful steps needed for long-term success.

Michael Conathan

Caution vs. Recklessness in the Arctic Article
Ships bringing oil drilling equipment to Alaska, left, pass through Seattle's Elliott Bay as a Washington State Ferry passes on its way into Seattle, Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP/Donna Gordon Blankinship)

Caution vs. Recklessness in the Arctic

Michael Conathan shows how the oil-and-gas industry could learn from fishermen’s approach to Arctic resources.

Michael Conathan

The Hidden Cost of Cheap Lobster Article
Cooked lobster claws and tails are seen at a lobster dealer in Portland, Maine. (AP/Pat Wellenbach)

The Hidden Cost of Cheap Lobster

Michael Conathan explains how the record-low price of lobster is another economic effect of global climate change.

Michael Conathan

Cape Wind Project and Fishermen Seal a Deal Article
Supporters of the Cape Wind project to put wind turbines on the coast of Cape Cod gather outside the state house in Boston. The project cleared a major hurdle this week with an agreement to share the ocean space with fishermen.
<br /> (AP/Bizuayehu Tesfaye)

Cape Wind Project and Fishermen Seal a Deal

Michael Conathan explains what a settlement between Cape Wind and Martha’s Vineyard fishermen means for fishing, energy, and ocean planning.

Michael Conathan

Long-Term Fishery Investments Starting to Pay Off Article
Coho salmon, above, are one of six species declared fully rebuilt last year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (AP/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Long-Term Fishery Investments Starting to Pay Off

Fish populations are starting to rebuild thanks to strict catch limits, writes Michael Conathan. Wholesale changes to the law would be a mistake.

Michael Conathan

The Ethics of Seafood Article
Mature rainbow trout struggle in a net at Harrietta Hills Trout Farm near Harrietta, Michigan. There are many ethical questions surrounding whether we should eat farmed fish as opposed to wild fish.
<br /> (AP/John L. Russell)

The Ethics of Seafood

Michael Conathan probes the ethical issue of wild versus farmed seafood.

Michael Conathan

Sustaining Seafood Sustainability Article
A "Seafood Watch" sign with a color-coded rating program hangs over the seafood counter in Whole Foods in Hillsboro, Oregon. (AP/ Rick Bowmer)

Sustaining Seafood Sustainability

Michael Conathan shows seafood sustainability initiatives must figure out how to sustain fishermen as well as fish.

Michael Conathan

Sensible Ocean Policy Falling Victim to Political Games Article
Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA) relentlessly attacks the administration's National Ocean Policy even though it would streamline government involvement, eliminate duplication of effort, and ensure taxpayers get more value for their dollars. (AP/Young Kwak)

Sensible Ocean Policy Falling Victim to Political Games

Michael Conathan explains how the National Ocean Policy benefits America’s fisheries and why conservatives’ attacks on the policy don’t hold up.

Michael Conathan

Sustaining the ‘Wicked Tuna’ Article
National Geographic's new series "Wicked Tuna" puts the spotlight on the bluefin tuna, a fish that has become one of the world’s poster children for overfishing. (AP/Monterey Bay Aquarium)

Sustaining the ‘Wicked Tuna’

Michael Conathan explains why the best way to save the overfished bluefin tuna is to support New England’s artisanal fishery.

Michael Conathan

Lamenting the Loss of an Ocean Champion Article
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) speaks to media outside her office on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP/Carolyn Kaster)

Lamenting the Loss of an Ocean Champion

Michael Conathan explains how Sen. Olympia Snowe’s retirement will affect our oceans and fisheries.

Michael Conathan

The Uncertain Science of Fisheries Article
Crewmen on the trawler Erika-Lynn of Port Clyde, Maine, work on rigging while fishing in the Gulf of Maine. (AP/Robert F. Bukaty)

The Uncertain Science of Fisheries

Michael Conathan explains the fluctuations inherent in fisheries science and why stability is fundamental to sustainability.

Michael Conathan

The Top 5 Fish Stories of 2011 Article
Characters from the film "Finding Nemo" are shown at the Pixar headquarters in Emeryville, California. In the film, three frightening sharks claimed “fish are friends not food.” Actions combating the practice of shark finning helped us return the sentiment. (AP/Paul Sakuma)

The Top 5 Fish Stories of 2011

Michael Conathan enumerates the top developments of the year for fisheries.

Michael Conathan

Defining a Fishery Disaster Article
Fishing vessels form a flotilla in Vineyard Haven Harbor, in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. (AP/Steven Senne)

Defining a Fishery Disaster

Michael Conathan explains why New England’s groundfishery may be on the brink of disaster, but not for the reasons called out by some politicians.

Michael Conathan

10 Tips on Sustainable Sushi Article
The Tabu Sushi Bar and Grill in El Cajon, California, is shown. As with shopping for fish at the grocery, some choices at the sushi bar are better than others for the envrionment. (AP/Lenny Ignelzi)

10 Tips on Sustainable Sushi

Michael Conathan’s advice on what to consider when you sit down at the sushi bar.

Michael Conathan

Optimism for New England’s Groundfishery Article
The trawler Black Beauty leaves the Portland Fish Exchange, in Portland, Maine. Stakeholders in New England's fisheries need to find common ground on managing them. (AP/Robert F. Bukaty)

Optimism for New England’s Groundfishery

More emotionally charged rhetoric won’t pull New England’s storied fishing industry back from the brink, writes Michael Conathan. It will take compromise on all sides.

Michael Conathan

The Newest Redlist Species: Commercial Fishermen Article
Shell fisherman Darren Saletta heads out to the flats from Barn Hill Landing in Chatham, Massachusetts. Commercial fishing jobs declined in recent years. (AP/Julia Cumes)

The Newest Redlist Species: Commercial Fishermen

Jobs in commercial fishing are down, but lawmakers’ attacks on fisheries management systems will not solve the problem, says Michael Conathan.

Michael Conathan

What I Did on My Summer Vacation Article
Coast Guard Beach is shown in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. (AP/Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Margo Tabb)

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

Michael Conathan explains why, despite what we see on the surface, the oceans are not OK.

Michael Conathan

The (Nonsensical) Politics of Fisheries Funding Article

The (Nonsensical) Politics of Fisheries Funding

Michael Conathan wonders what legislators are thinking by slashing budgets to maintain the fisheries that support millions of jobs and put food on our tables.

Michael Conathan

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