• Food

Fishers Caught In Coronavirus Storm, Some Change Business Model While Others Sit It Out

• #conservationist
• fishing
• lobster
• seafood

With many fishermen all around the U.S. forced to stop fishing due to restaurant closures and lack of tourism caused by the coronavirus, many are changing their businesses to sell directly to supermarkets and other retailers for home consumption. 

Why This Matters:  Like family farms, in the U.S., family-owned and small fishing businesses almost all struggle to stay in business due to stiff competition from cheap imports, and that was before COVID -19 struck.

• Ocean

Second Failing Right Whale Spotted Off Mass Coast Entangled In Fishing Gear

• entanglements
• fishing gear
• lobster
• NOAA
• North Atlantic Right Whale
• save the whales
• technology

USA Today reported late Friday that government scientists have spotted off 45 miles off the coast of Nantucket a 19-year-old female right whale named “Dragon” appears to be in poor health because of a fishing buoy lodged in one corner of her mouth. 

Why This Matters:  It’s not just one or two whales — the fate of the species hangs in the balance.  I

• Ocean

Right Whales Get Right of Way

• endangered
• lobster
• ocean noise
• offshore wind
• ship strikes
• Vineyard Wind
• whales
• wind

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wasted no time returning from the shutdown and extended restrictions on shipping in an area off Cape Cod on the way into Boston Harbor to protect the highly endangered Northern right whale.  The “Ship Strike Rule” mandates speed restrictions of no more than 10 knots for vessels 65 feet or greater in certain locations and at certain times of the year along the east coast of the United States.