Fisheries Then: American Eel

Once abundant in nearly all Maine rivers, American eels (Anguilla rostrata) were an important food source for residents of Downeast Maine, especially during the fall and winter. This article takes a look at American eels fisheries in historical context

Fishermen\u27s Knowledge of Halibut and Their Habitat

Relatively few scientific data are available to describe the biology, behavior, and distribution of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) in the Gulf of Maine. This report contains the results of a study aimed at collecting and summarizing fishermen\u27s knowledge of Atlantic halibut and their habitat off the Maine coast

Fisheries Now: American Eel

The American eel is the only species in the Gulf of Maine that spends most of its life in freshwater but spawns in the Sargasso Sea, a large area of the Atlantic Ocean south of Bermuda and east of the Bahamas. American eel larvae (known as leptocephali) are transported by ocean currents for nearly a year until they reach the east coast of North America

Fisheries Now: Alewives and Blueback Herring

Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) and blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis), collectively referred to as river herring, are anadromous fish, which means they spend most of their adult lives at sea but spawn in freshwater. The two species look very similar. Fishermen usually harvest both species together and generally do not distinguish between the two. In Downeast Maine, alewives are more common than bluebacks and locals often use the terms “alewives” to refer to both species

Stories from the Flood: Promoting Healing and Fostering Policy Change Through Storytelling, Community Literacy, and Community-based Learning

This profile features the authors\u27 shared work to co-create both a community literacy project, Stories from the Flood, and the undergraduate community-based learning courses that supported the effort. Stories from the Flood works to assist community members in southwestern Wisconsin to share their flood experiences, aiming to support community healing and serve as a resource for future conversations about flood recovery and resilience. Our collaboration on Stories from the Flood demonstrates the importance of non-university expertise and aims to daylight and correct structural asymmetries that render these rural watersheds both particularly vulnerable to flooding and absent of government intervention

The role of sand lances (Ammodytes sp.) in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem: a synthesis of current knowledge with implications for conservation and management

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Staudinger, M. D., Goyert, H., Suca, J. J., Coleman, K., Welch, L., Llopiz, J. K., Wiley, D., Altman, I., Applegate, A., Auster, P., Baumann, H., Beaty, J., Boelke, D., Kaufman, L., Loring, P., Moxley, J., Paton, S., Powers, K., Richardson, D., Robbins, J., Runge, J., Smith, B., Spiegel, C., & Steinmetz, H. The role of sand lances (Ammodytes sp.) in the Northwest Atlantic ecosystem: a synthesis of current knowledge with implications for conservation and management. Fish and Fisheries, 00, (2020): 1-34, doi:10.1111/faf.12445.The American sand lance (Ammodytes americanus, Ammodytidae) and the Northern sand lance (A. dubius, Ammodytidae) are small forage fishes that play an important functional role in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (NWA). The NWA is a highly dynamic ecosystem currently facing increased risks from climate change, fishing and energy development. We need a better understanding of the biology, population dynamics and ecosystem role of Ammodytes to inform relevant management, climate adaptation and conservation efforts. To meet this need, we synthesized available data on the (a) life history, behaviour and distribution; (b) trophic ecology; (c) threats and vulnerabilities; and (d) ecosystem services role of Ammodytes in the NWA. Overall, 72 regional predators including 45 species of fishes, two squids, 16 seabirds and nine marine mammals were found to consume Ammodytes. Priority research needs identified during this effort include basic information on the patterns and drivers in abundance and distribution of Ammodytes, improved assessments of reproductive biology schedules and investigations of regional sensitivity and resilience to climate change, fishing and habitat disturbance. Food web studies are also needed to evaluate trophic linkages and to assess the consequences of inconsistent zooplankton prey and predator fields on energy flow within the NWA ecosystem. Synthesis results represent the first comprehensive assessment of Ammodytes in the NWA and are intended to inform new research and support regional ecosystem‐based management approaches.This manuscript is the result of follow‐up work stemming from a working group formed at a two‐day multidisciplinary and international workshop held at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts in May 2017, which convened 55 experts scientists, natural resource managers and conservation practitioners from 15 state, federal, academic and non‐governmental organizations with interest and expertise in Ammodytes ecology. Support for this effort was provided by USFWS, NOAA Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (Award # G16AC00237), an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship to J.J.S., a CINAR Fellow Award to J.K.L. under Cooperative Agreement NA14OAR4320158, NSF award OCE‐1325451 to J.K.L., NSF award OCE‐1459087 to J.A.R, a Regional Sea Grant award to H.B. (RNE16‐CTHCE‐l), a National Marine Sanctuary Foundation award to P.J.A. (18‐08‐B‐196) and grants from the Mudge Foundation. The contents of this paper are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New England Fishery Management Council and Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This manuscript is submitted for publication with the understanding that the United States Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes. Any use of trade, firm or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government

Reducing Waste at the Grab N\u27 Go

The dining halls at Smith College generate approximately 1/3 of the institution’s total waste stream. A large proportion of this fraction is due to the Grab n’ Go system that two dining halls, Hubbard and Chapin, currently practice during weekdays. Grab n’ Go uses large amounts of packaging and is an area where many improvements could potentially be made to increase the sustainability of Smith dining. This project sought to investigate possible measures that could be taken in the future in order to reduce the amount of waste that is produced by Grab n’ Go. The results of the interviews, observations, and survey that were part of this investigation suggest that although Dining Services is on the whole making significant efforts to reduce waste, there are still a few improvements that can be made. At the present moment the biggest sustainability challenge for Grab n’ Go is to find a cost-effective way of properly disposing of the thousand or more plastic containers that are used every weekday. These containers are compostable and have the potential to be a much more environmentally-friendly option than traditional plastics; however, this potential is not realized because they are not properly disposed of and instead end up in Northampton’s landfill where they are unable to break down. Significant challenges stand in the way of properly composting these containers at the present time. There are many additional smaller changes that can and are being made to decrease the amount of waste that is produced by Grab n’ Go. Dining Services is already very aware of the waste that it creates and is taking steps to reduce this amount. Student behavior is thus where much future improvement needs to be made

Ejijiky: Une Etude d’une Petite Communauté au Sud de Madagascar et sa Dépendance sur la Mer

L’objectif de cette étude était d’étudier la vie des pêcheurs traditionnels, leur dépendance sur la mer, leurs effets sur l’environnement marin, et les problèmes et difficultés qui existent pour eux. Les recherches étaient faits en mars et en avril 2008 dans le petit village d’Ejijiky dans la commune rurale de Faux Cap, à l’extrême sud de Madagascar. Cette étude a focalisé sur la pratique, les outils, et l’économie de la pêche traditionnelle, et aussi sur les difficultés humaines et les effets environnementaux. Selon les pêcheurs à Ejijiky et à Faux Cap, les matériels sont le plus grand problème pour eux. Dans cet endroit on est vraiment pauvre en matériels de la pêche. Aussi, ils ont décrit les problèmes environnementaux qui résultent d’une augmentation de la quantité des pêcheurs qui cherchent les ressources marines dans cette région. Les problèmes et difficultés avec la pêche et la gestion des ressources marines sont nombreux et compliqués. Il n’ y a pas une seule solution qui peut adresser tous les aspects différents. Dans la commune de Faux Cap il existe une association des pêcheurs qui s’appelle Tsy Kivy qui peut, avec l’aide d’un financement du PSDR et de la Banque Mondiale, prendre des mesures pour améliorer la vie des gens et protéger l’environnement au même temps. Cependant, Tsy Kivy est la seule association avec un financement de l’extérieur, et alors est une des seules organisations malgaches qui peut faire des tels projets dans cette région au sud du pays. Tsy Kivy est une partie de la solution des problèmes qui existe pour la pêche traditionnelle, mais elle n’a pas le pouvoir d’améliorer tous

Assessing Growth and Habitat Preferences of Atlantic Halibut off the Coast of Maine Using Biological Samples and Fishermen\u27s Knowledge

The Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) is a data-poor species in U.S. waters. Abundances remain low after a brief but intense commercial fishery in the mid-nineteenth century caused the population to decline precipitously. Low abundances pose challenges for the study of this species, resulting in many major gaps in the understanding of the life history, stock structure, and distribution of halibut in the Gulf of Maine. The research summarized in this report aimed to address specific data gaps relating to the growth rates and habitat preferences of halibut in the Gulf of Maine, both of which are necessary to understand in order to best manage human impacts on this species of concern. Growth rates influence population abundance and biomass trends, both of which play an important role in fisheries stock assessment; however, because few data on young halibut are available, growth rates during the entire life cycle of halibut in the Gulf of Maine are poorly understood. This report presents evidence that back-calculations based on otolith measurements can provide accurate estimates of lengths at previous ages, thus filling a major data gap for young halibut. Back-calculated estimates suggest that female and male halibut have different growth rates, that growth rates are not sensitive to inter-annual environmental changes, and that halibut in the Gulf of Maine have different growth rates than those caught in on the nearby Scotian Shelf. The habitat requirements and preferences of a species influence its abundance and distribution, as well as the ways in which humans interact with that species. The habitat requirements and preferences of Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of Maine are very poorly understood. This research sought to identify key environmental drivers of halibut distribution off the coast of Maine through statistical analysis of existing datasets. A generalized linear model (GLM) suggested that time of year, sediment type, distance to the nearest boundary between sediment types, temperature, depth, and moon phase have significant influences on halibut catches. Habitat suitability indices (HSIs) suggested that juvenile and adult halibut interact with the environment in different ways. Neither the GLM nor the HSIs were able to generate robust predictions of areas of highly suitable habitat for halibut off the coast of Maine. Fishermen’s knowledge of halibut off the coast of Maine was also assessed as part of this research. Fishermen’s knowledge and statistical models provided different but complementary insights into halibut in the Gulf of Maine. The fishermen interviewed as part of this project shared a wealth of information regarding halibut distribution, abundance, and behavior. Some of the phenomena described by fishermen were not previously documented in the scientific literature. The results summarized in this report suggest that it is not always necessary to collect additional biological samples in order to generate new and useful information. Back-calculations and fishermen’s knowledge are not commonly used in life history studies of marine fish species; however, this research demonstrates that both are useful techniques which can provide highly relevant information without requiring extensive and expensive data collection efforts