#northern spiny dogfish

[shark-of-tha-day]

shark of the day: northern spiny dogfish, squalus griffini

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northern spiny dogfish are small dogfish sharks. they can reach lengths of up to around 1.1 metres(~3.6 ft). the northern spiny dogfish can be found in deeper waters near the sea floor around reefs and sandy bottoms located around new zealand in the southwestern pacific ocean. they feed on small fish, cephalopods, molluscs, and crustaceans.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: giant Pacific octopus

Its actually wild to me that's I've been doing this series for almost 2 years and somehow haven't covered a single octopus yet. I've done squid, cuttlefish, nautiluses, and the vampire squid, but somehow the most famous corner of the cephalopod family reunion has eluded me. Time to change that. And why not go big and cover the biggest (maybe) octopus of them all?

(Image: a giant Pacific octopus crawling on the seafloor. It is a large, red, soft-bodied invertebrate with wrinkly skin. A bulbous head contains the eyes and opening to the mantle. Attacked are eight long arms lined with suckers. End ID)

Enteroctopus dofleini is the giant pacific octopus, though genetic studies have indicated that there may be multiple distinct subspecies based on location. They are considered the largest octopus species in the world, though that may not actually be the case. Adults usually reach an arm span of 4.3 meters (14 ft) and weigh up to 15 kg (33 lbs), with some large specimens getting up to 50 kg (110 lbs). That held the record for a long time, but in 2002, a dead specimen of Haliphron atlanticus, the seven-armed octopus was pulled up and while it was incomplete, its size while alive was estimated to be 3.5 m (11 ft) from top to arm tip and 75 kg (165 lbs). Seven-armed octopi are much more elusive than giant Pacific octopi, so we don't have nearly as many specimens to go off of, but if that sample is anything to go by, they are even bigger than the GPO.

(image: divers next to a giant Pacific octopus shown from below with its arms spread, showing off the suckers and the radius of the tentacles, which is larger than the diver. End ID)

The giant Pacific octopus's anatomy is typical of an octopus, just scaled up. It has two body segments: the head and the arms. The head is bulbous and contains the organ systems, including the brain, digestive system, renal system, and all three hearts, and is covered by the mantle. The arms (not tentacles as commonly thought) are eight limbs lined with powerful suckers, each of which can be moved independently. The only hard part of an octopus's body is the beak, used to chop up food. Because the rest of the body is so malleable, an octopus can squeeze its body through any hole large enough to fit the beak. The beak is also venomous, though only a few octopi possess venom potent enough to harm a human and the GPO is not one of them. Octopi (I can rant about what the proper plural is later, but as far as I'm concerned, octopi is perfectly acceptable) along with their squid and cuttlefish relatives, have special pigment-filled cells called chromatophores lining their skin. Using muscular action, the octopus can individually widen or shrink each chromatophore to radically change its color. This is used mostly as camouflage, but can also be used as a threat display in some species (such as the blue-ringed octopus) or for communication. The GPO is usually a ruddy red color when resting. Skin texture can also be altered with muscles, but in the GPO it is usually uneven, with long lateral folds that give it a wrinkly appearance. Octopi have a siphon concealed in the mantle that is used to pass water over the gills and for propulsion.

(Image: a GPO crawling through an aquarium tank. Purple sea urchins and anemones are in the background. End ID)

The giant Pacific octopus live in (surprise, surprise) the Pacific ocean. Specifically in the northern regions from the Yellow Sea in southern China, up through the eastern coast of Russia, across to Alaska, and down as far south as southern California. They are found in reefs and rocky bottoms with plenty of places to hide. The GPO occupies a middle portion of the food web. They are predators who feed on hard-shelled invertebrates, fish, and smaller cephalopods. They hunt prey as large as the spiny dogfish shark, which can grow up to 1.2 m (4 ft) and have been reported to attack and drown seagulls. In turn, they are fed on by sharks and marine mammals. Octopi are especially skilled at eating hard-shelled invertebrates like bivalves, as their powerful arms and suckers allow them to pry open the shells to get at the meat within. Octopi need to bite their food into small chunks as their brains are donut-shaped and circle the esophagus. Swallowing something too big can give them brain damage. The GPO prefers to dwell in dens, but will also hide amongst kelp or camouflaged among rocks. Dens can be spotted by looking for the discarded shells of meals piled up outside them They spend most of the day motionlessly resting (something anyone who has ever been disappointed at the octopus exhibit in the aquarium can tell you) and are most active between midnight and early morning. When active, they hunt and search for new hiding spaces. Large GPOs can travel lond distances in search of habitats and mates. Populations in Asia are known to migrate to shallow water in winter and deeper water in summer. They can remember where they've been by using visual stimuli. When threatened, they can release a cloud of toxic ink to blind attackers while they flee.

(Gif: a GPO crawling along the seafloor, showing off how the arms work together to move it. End ID)

Giant Pacific octopi live for up to five years, which makes them ancient by octopus standards. Most species only live for one year. Like all cephalopods except for nautiluses and possibly the vampire squid, giant Pacific octopi are semelparous, meaning they reproduce only once in their lives. This happens in fall and males will seek out females to mate with. Males have a modified arm called a heterocotylus that they reach into a hole in the female's mantle to deposit a packet of sperm that can be over a meter long. The female can then hold onto the packet to fertilize her eggs up to several months later. Genetic testing indicates that both males and females will mate with multiple partners. The female must find a suitable den and will lay up to 400,000 eggs in clusters attached to a hard surface. For the next 6 months, she will stay with her eggs to protect them, blowing oxygenated water over them and cleaning them of algae and other contaminants. She does not eat during this period, subsisting on her internal fat stores. By the time the eggs hatch, she will either have starved to death or will do so shortly. Males also do not survive past mating season. They also stop eating and become more prone to acting in the open, leaving them more vulnerable to predators. The newborn octopi are called pseudolarvae and are roughly the size of a grain of rice. Once hatched, they enter the water column and live amongst the zooplankton. Only a very few of the peudolarvae will survive to adulthood. The majority will succumb to disease or predation. Sexual maturity is regulated by a gland called the optic gland, which is analogous to the pituitary gland in vertebrates. Experiments have shown that females whose optic glands have been removed stop brooding their eggs and resume hunting. They also resume gaining weight and have longer lifespans.

(Image: a female GPO in her den. clusters of small, white eggs hang from the ceiling. End ID)

(Image: GPO eggs about ready to hatch. They are transparent, oblong capsule with the juveniles visible within. They have similar anatomy to the adults, but with visible ink sacs. End IS)

Octopi are the most intelligent of all invertebrates. They are capable of solving puzzles based on trial and error. Indeed, those living in aquariums are often given puzzles to solve as a form of enrichment. Aquarium workers have reported that giant Pacific octopi can recognize individual people and can hold grudges. Captive octopi are notorious for doing things like disabling mechanisms in their tanks, pranking certain people, and even escaping their tanks to visit other ones, then returning to theirs before anyone comes by to catch them. They are capable of tool use and can use shells and human-made objects to build defensive structures around their dens and some small species use shells or other objects as armor. Brain surface area often correlates to intelligence in areas and octopi have the highest ratio of all invertebrates. They are a rare example of an invertebrate whose brains are wrinkled the way those of tetrapods are. Only about a third of all the neurons within the nervous system are located in the brain. There are also major nerve clusters in each arm. It has been said that the arms have brains of their own, though this is not entirely accurate. The arms are capable of independent action, though learning happens in the brain. The arm brains also work to process the massive amount of sensory data they gather. Even a severed arm can act independently until it starves. There are videos out there of uncooked or undercooked octopus arms moving around on plates or grabbing onto diner's faces.

(Image: a GPO in an aquarium being given food in a jack-o-lantern as a form of enrichment. End ID)

The giant Pacific octopus is classified as least concern by the IUCN, meaning they are not at risk of extinction. They are considered abundant through their range, though they are at higher risk in some locations. GPOs are also harvested for seafood, being popular throughout their range and beyond. The GPO, along with the big blue and common octopi, are the most commonly eaten species in the Pacific. Pollution, climate change, and ocean acidification are also known to be threats to octopi. A threat that doesn't exist anymore is the "sport" of octopus wrestling. This involves divers grabbing octopi and trying to pull them to the surface, with GPOs targeted due to their size. The octopus was an entirely unwilling participant in this, they are very shy animals that prefer to flee rather than fight. Fortunately, this form of recreational animal abuse doesn't really exist anymore.

(Gif: a GPO in an aquarium crawling along the glass. This shows how each sucker can move independently and work together to move the animal. End ID)

[seal-husband]

pinniped enjoyers!

Bill 4004, currently under consideration in the Washington State Legislature, seeks to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to expand the killing of seals and sea lions (pinnipeds) across all Washington shorelines, including the Puget Sound. Supporters claim this will help salmon recovery, but the science does not support this assumption.

This ‘solution’ does not address the larger issues of climate change, habitat impediments (dams, culverts, etc), habitat degradation, habitat loss, and foreign/commercial/recreational fishing.

These are the leading threats to salmon recovery identified by NOAA. Not seals and sea lions.

In fact, the Washington State Academy of Sciences report on which this bill is based concludes:

“Ecological complexity within the broader food webs in which salmon and pinnipeds reside generates substantial uncertainty about the degree to which pinnipeds have and currently are depressing salmon stocks."

The report also states:

"It is impossible to predict with certainty the outcomes for salmon and the rest of the food web under scenarios where the pinniped population size is changed."

This means that reducing pinniped numbers does not guarantee any benefit to salmon—and could even have unintended negative consequences.

Pinnipeds do not exclusively eat salmon and are important predators of other species that predate on salmon like Pacific Hake, Spiny Dogfish, Lingcod, Cabezon, Rockfish, and Northern Pike (invasive).

These pinniped populations also support the thriving population of transient/Biggs killer whales. Reducing pinniped numbers could decrease the prey available to transient orcas, potentially impacting their health and survival. Studies have not been conducted to understand how reducing pinnipeds could impact the mammal-eating orcas.

Since 2008, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has lethally removed sea lions on the Columbia River to protect salmon, yet salmon populations remain far below historical abundance—even as the number and species of marine mammals killed have increased.

Instead of targeting seals and sea lions, our limited taxpayer funding should address the well-documented, human-caused threats to salmon: habitat destruction, climate change, and overfishing.

Bill 4004 is ill-advised and not founded on the best available science. It villainizes animals that are an integral part of the marine ecosystem.

______

THE FULL BILL SUMMARY CAN BE VIEWED HERE

IF YOU LIVE IN THE U.S. (regardless of state), YOU CAN SIGN "CON" (meaning you are against this bill) HERE

There is no age limit for signing this and you do not have to testify in person. Just make sure your information is correct (city, state, zip code, etc) as you may later on recieve news about the state of the bill.

If you are not from North America or have issues with the submission portal, contact legislators directly:

Representative Rob Chase (R): Rob.Chase@leg.wa.gov

Greg Nance (D): Greg.Nance@leg.wa.gov

Tom Dent (R): tom.dent@leg.wa.gov

Stephanie McClintock (R): Stephanie.McClintock@leg.wa.gov

Adam Bernbaum (D): Adam.Bernbaum@leg.wa.gov

Andrew Engell (R): Andrew.Engell@leg.wa.gov

Joe Schmick (R): joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov

Ed Orcutt (R): ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov

Larry Springer (D): larry_springer@leg.wa.gov

Matt Marshall (R): Matt.Marshall@leg.wa.gov

Mike Volz (R): mike.volz@leg.wa.gov

Kristine Reeves (D): kristine.reeves@leg.wa.gov

Cyndy Jacobsen (R): Cyndy.jacobsen@leg.wa.gov

Lisa Parshley (D): Lisa.Parshley@leg.wa.gov

Mark Klicker (R): Mark.Klicker@leg.wa.gov

Carolyn Eslick (R): carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov

Suzanne Schmidt (R): Suzanne.Schmidt@leg.wa.gov

[iridescenceartandwriting]

I’m almost always up to something in May, so I don’t get around to MerMay, but I did this year!!! I’ve got some drafts, but here’s a finished Rodina as a Spiny Dogfish Shark! Spiny Dogfish Sharks are dominantly Northern Hemisphere sharks prowling the subarctic and temperate zones. They eat just about whatever they can, but have a staple diet of herring, squid, shrimp, and even crabs! I thought the vast domain would attribute itself to Rodina well.

The Rest of the Crew: im being optimistic, we will see if these get linked

Rodina (here)

Odell

Priya

CJ

Gillidu

Jin

Jooeun

[bestcommercialfishingpermits]

Simplifying Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits: Streamlined Solutions

Are you grappling with just how time-consuming it is to acquire the Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits you need? Do you feel frustrated by the precious hours and resources wasted on paperwork? As a professional in the commercial fishing industry, your time is valuable, and every moment used for administrative tasks is one that isn’t used to enhance your business. We get it. So, to help, we have formulated a more straightforward and superior approach to obtaining commercial fishing permits for Atlantic waters.

All Your Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits Right Here

Commercial fishing in Atlantic waters can be lucrative indeed. To make it easier for our clients, our platform is designed to provide you with the necessary permits for a wide range of species. These include Summer Flounder, Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab, Atlantic Herring, Monkfish, Smoothhound Shark, Black Sea Bass, Mackerel, Butterfish, Squid, Spiny Dogfish, Skates, Rock Shrimp, Shark, Lobsters, Sea Scallops, Groundfish, Whiting, and many more. On top of that, we also offer the requisite permits for pursuing tuna, too.

Tailored Permits for Discerning Professionals

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we offer an array of forms catering to the needs of commercial fishing professionals from across the US and beyond. However, we go the extra mile by offering forms intended exclusively for particular segments of the industry. Take, for instance, our Atlantic Sea Scallop permits. Since 1994, various limited access permit categories have been in place, encompassing full-time, part-time, and occasional vessel permits. Through our site, you can obtain the precise type of permit that aligns with your operational requirements, whether it pertains to part-time, full-time, the Northern Gulf of Maine, or other specific criteria.

A Genuine Hub for Commercial Fishing Permits

We see our mission as extending beyond merely providing the necessary commercial fishing permits. Simplifying the entire process for commercial fishing professionals is what we’re committed to. Our website is fully optimized for mobile use, granting you the flexibility to complete any required form from virtually anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. Whether you’re on the dock or out on the water, you can apply for the permit you need. Furthermore, our document processors stand ready to address any queries or concerns you may have.

Navigating the Waters of the Atlantic, South, and West

Those measures mentioned are just a few of the ways we endeavor to streamline the acquisition of commercial fishing permits for Atlantic waters and anywhere else. Moreover, these efforts extend to supporting commercial fishing professionals on the west coast, in the Pacific Islands, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, and beyond. In fact, if you need to document your vessel with the Coast Guard, we can help with that as well.

At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we’re on the side of fishing professionals. To see all of the ways that we can help you and your business through our forms, just check out the rest of our site here.

[bostonfly]

The following seafood suggestions are adapted from the ultra-informative appendix to Bottomfeeder, in which Taras Grescoe shares his personal recommendations for sustainable fare. 

Absolutely, Always: Artic char, Halibut (Pacific), Herring, Jellyfish, Mackerel, Mullet, Mussels, Oysters, Pollock, Sablefish, Sardines, Squid, Trout

No, Never: Bluefin tuna, Chilean sea bass, Cod (Atlantic), Dogfish, Flounder, Grouper, Halibut (Atlantic), Monkfish, Orange Roughy, Sharks, Skates, Sole (Atlantic), Tilefish

Sometimes, Depends…

Anchovy. Low in mercury, high in omega-3s. Available canned, salted, pickled in vinegar, and fermented in Asian sauces. Though flavorful and good for you, anchovy numbers in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean are at an all-time low. Until the fishery in the Bay of Biscay is reopened, avoid.

Cod, Pacific. An excellent alternative to Atlantic cod. Though there is some bycatch with trawl- caught Pacific cod, much is caught with bottom longlines, which have lower rates of bycatch.

Crab. Thanks to the disappearance of their main predators, crabs are doing quite well. King crab from Russia, much of which ends up in chain restaurants, is considered overfished.

Haddock. Bottom-longline and hook-and-line-caught haddock from the United States and Canada is a good choice (and an excellent alternative to cod in fish and chips). Much haddock, unfortunately, is still caught with trawls, with high bycatch levels.

Lobster. Sweet- fleshed Atlantic lobster is generally a good choice, though there is uncertainty about overfishing in the Gulf of Maine. Spiny or rock lobster from Central America, much of which ends up in chain restaurants, is overfished with substandard gear that kills and cripples divers.

Salmon. Industrially farmed salmon (the market name is generally Atlantic salmon) is spreading sea lice to wild stocks, contaminating coastal environments. It can also be very bad for you. Favor sustainably fished wild Alaska salmon, particularly sockeye, coho, and pink. In a pinch, organically farmed salmon is a better alternative to industrially farmed.

Scallops. Farmed scallops, generally sold as bay scallops from Asia and South America, are generally a good choice. Atlantic scallops (sold as giant scallops) are not overfished, but they are dredged, which damages the seafloor.

Shrimp. Be careful eating imported shrimp. If it is farmed, it is often treated with chemicals and antibiotics, and intensive shrimp ponds are polluting some of the world’s poorest countries. If it is wild-caught with trawls, bycatch is enormous. Wild-caught northern shrimp, pink shrimp, and spot prawn from Canada and northern U.S. waters are the only consistently good choices.

Snapper. Avoid overfished red snapper, which accounts for half of the snapper landed in the United States, and is mostly caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Stocks of yellowtail snapper on the market, which is hook-and-line-fished, are in better shape.

[originaljediinjeans]

Sharks of Arendelle (Norway)

Since I like sharks as well as Disney’s Frozen and Frozen II, I wonder what kind of sharks that Anna, Olaf, and Elsa would encounter in the fjords in and around their kingdom of Arendelle and in the ocean beyond. Now that Elsa is a full-time nature goddess, she might be spending some time with some of these sharks. The Northuldra people (or other tribes that live by the sea) may even know about these animals. In the real world, Norway has four shark species that live off of its coasts, from the temperate south to the bitter Arctic. Here’s a brief guide: 

Basking Shark

Basking Sharks are the gentle giants of the northern ocean. They are often seen swimming with their wide mouths open to filter plankton from the ocean water. They frequently cruise at or near the surface of the ocean to feed and appear to “bask” in the sun, hence the name. The Basking Shark can grow to 13 meters (30 feet) long, the second largest fish in the ocean after the Whale Shark. The basking shark is harmless to man. 

Sailors heading to Arendelle encounter the Basking Shark in the open ocean or even swimming up the fjord to enjoy the sunshine. 

Small Spotted Catshark 

On the other end of the size spectrum is the small spotted catshark. This species of catshark (small, bottom-dwelling shark) lives on the Eastern Atlantic coast, and the waters off the coast of southern Norway mark its northernmost range. The small spotted catshark grows to under a meter long and has a slender shape. It gets its name from the spots on its back that are mixed with a mottled coloration. Its also has small, cat-like eyes. 

If you went swimming at the bottom of the Arendelle Fjord you would likely encounter a catshark living in the thick kelp and rocks on the bottom. Olaf would very much like to be friends with one.

Spiny Dogfish Shark

The spiny dogfish is closer to your average shark size, growing between one and a half to two meters in length. They have small spines in front of their dorsal fins and small white spots marking the length of their bodies. The spiny dogfish has a slender form and large, round eyes. It also lives in shallow waters and fjords. 

The spiny dogfish are considered a nuisance by the fishermen of Arendelle and is hunted. However, after Anna becomes Queen, Elsa intervenes and asks her to pass a decree protecting them. 

Greenland Shark

The Greenland Shark is a slow, stealthy giant that lives in cold, dark, and deep waters. Size wise, it si larger than the great white but smaller than the basking shark. In spite of its slow metabolism and behavior, it is a predator that feeds on seals and other large arctic creatures, much of it carrion. In recent years, Greenland sharks have gained notoriety for being able to live to a very old age, the oldest documented shark being nearly three hundred years. They have the potential to live over five hundred years old. This discovery was actually made by scientists from Denmark. 

The Nokk is a very old friend of the Greenland sharks, and it goes to them for  advice. They have centuries of wisdom to share. One of the oldest sharks living in the time of Queens Elsa and Anna was born before Arendelle was a kingdom... 

[adventurewildlifemagazine-blog]

Why Protecting a Shark Nursery in the Patagonia Sea Is Crucial

Juan Martín Cuevas is a marine conservationist with the Argentina program at WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society). Since late 2015, he has been working to develop and implement a conservation plan for sharks and rays in the Patagonian Sea. Cuevas contributed this article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. In the waters found off the southern part of the Buenos Aires province in Northern Patagonia may be one of the most popular shark-fishing spots in Argentina and possibly in all of South America. Called Bahía San Blas, this spot is a baby-delivery room of sorts, serving as a major nursery for several shark species, including the tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus), or cazón. And while this 888-square-mile (2,300 square kilometers) stretch of sea is considered a marine-protected area, its remoteness leads to weak law enforcement and a significant loss of sharks to recreational fishing. This lack of true protection is particularly harmful to the topes — the focus of my conservation work. Topes are medium in size and easy to handle, with a long, pointed and transparent snout. During the spring and summer, fishers gather these sharks by the thousands. Even so, few know that the species is endangered. Due to their low reproduction rate — females give birth to about 20 pups every three years — it is illegal to kill tope sharks in Buenos Aires province waters. They have also been classified as Critically Endangered in the Southwest Atlantic since 2006 as Brazil and Uruguay saw an extreme population decline and the Argentine trawler fleet reduced its catch per unit effort (CPUE) by 80 percent after a peak of 610,000 individuals landed in 1984 for all commercial fleets.

Tope conservation

My goal has been to engage fishing guides in a tagging program called Conservar Tiburones en Argentina(Conserving Sharks in Argentina) that involves most of the coast of  thePatagonian Sea — a body of water teeming with threatened and endangered sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras (also called ghost sharks, even though they aren't actual "sharks"). For this project, 12 coastal shark fishing sites distributed between Faro Querandí and Puerto San Julián in southern Patagonia (representing fewer than 1,243 miles, or 2,000 km, of coastline), have been designed to encourage fishermen and the local community to protect coastal sharks. This includes the tope sharks; the critically endangered gray nurse shark (Carcharias taurus), or escalandrún; the copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus), or bacota; the broadnose sevengill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus), or gatopardo; spiny dogfishes (Squalus acanthias); and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna zygaena). During the project, I helped to recruit 83 anglers, 25 fishing guides and participants in three shark tournaments to shift from catch-and-retain practices to catch, tag, and release (I am happy to report that many of of these folks remain involved in this work). The program began as an initiative of the Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP), created by a partnership between Birdlife International, Fauna & Flora International, and WCS to obtain data on threatened species. Since 2013, the project has tagged more than 450 sharks in the targeted coastal shark fishing sites.

Patagonia conservation

Shark conservation in the Patagonian Sea includes everything from preparing management plans to estimating population sizes of target species. In 2016, I initiated just such a population study. We captured tope sharks in the San Blas protected areausing longline gear with barbless circular hooks baited with Brazilian menhaden, a forage fish. We measured each shark's length, determined their sex and attached dart tags to their dorsal fins. Three monitoring stations were established to repeat the tagging procedure during the springtime of the next three years to complete a tope count inside the marine-protected area. I am also engaged in projects to identify priority habitats, increase shark awareness in local communities, and to engage key stakeholders as stewards in the design and implementation of a Tope Conservation Program.

Commercial fisheries

While we have been working with recreational fishermen, commercial fisheries are also essential to this conservation. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Argentina's catches of cartilaginous, or chondrichthyan, fishes (as opposed to bony fishes) are among the highest in the world. While the sharks, rays and skates that make up the majority of this fish class are not traditional targets, many species are hauled in incidentally in nets as bycatch or harmed unnecessarily during industrial and small-scale fishing activities. There are 30 species of sharks and skates in the Patagonian Sea that are rated as "Threatened" on the Red List kept by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). For instance, the regional school shark (Galeorhinus galeus) is Critically Endangered and the Argentine fishery for this commercially targeted species has collapsed. Other seriously threatened cartilaginous fish off Patagonia include vulnerable angel sharks (Squatina occulta,S. guggenheim, andS. argentina) and endangered narrownose smoothhounds (Mustelus schmitti). Despite strong evidence of shark species declines, management actions have been slow to implement. In 2013, the Federal Fisheries Council passed a resolution to reduce the mortality of chondrichthyans, making the practice of finning (the removal of shark fins for use in a popular Asian soup delicacy) illegal, requiring fishers to report incidental catches, and placing observers onboard boats to report any significant levels of incidental catches. While such measures were necessary and overdue, they have not eliminated overfishing, nor have they ensured the future of these species. In Argentina and the Patagonian Sea, comprehensive research and sustained engagement and advocacy remain essential to improve the conservation of sharks, rays and their chondrichthyan cousins before we lose them for good. Source : https://www.livescience.com/60432-protecting-shark-nursery-patagonia-sea.html Read the full article

[bostonfly]

Excerpted from Bottomfeeder: How to Eat Ethically in a World of Vanishing Seafood by Taras Grescoe

Absolutely, Always: Artic char, Halibut (Pacific), Herring, Jellyfish, Mackerel, Mullet, Mussels, Oysters, Pollock, Sablefish, Sardines, Squid, Trout

No, Never: Bluefin tuna, Chilean sea bass, Cod (Atlantic), Dogfish, Flounder, Grouper, Halibut (Atlantic), Monkfish, Orange Roughy, Sharks, Skates, Sole (Atlantic), Tilefish

Sometimes, Depends…

Anchovy. Low in mercury, high in omega-3s. Available canned, salted, pickled in vinegar, and fermented in Asian sauces. Though flavorful and good for you, anchovy numbers in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean are at an all-time low. Until the fishery in the Bay of Biscay is reopened, avoid.

Cod, Pacific. An excellent alternative to Atlantic cod. Though there is some bycatch with trawl- caught Pacific cod, much is caught with bottom longlines, which have lower rates of bycatch.

Crab. Thanks to the disappearance of their main predators, crabs are doing quite well. King crab from Russia, much of which ends up in chain restaurants, is considered overfished.

Haddock. Bottom-longline and hook-and-line-caught haddock from the United States and Canada is a good choice (and an excellent alternative to cod in fish and chips). Much haddock, unfortunately, is still caught with trawls, with high bycatch levels.

Lobster. Sweet- fleshed Atlantic lobster is generally a good choice, though there is uncertainty about overfishing in the Gulf of Maine. Spiny or rock lobster from Central America, much of which ends up in chain restaurants, is overfished with substandard gear that kills and cripples divers.

Salmon. Industrially farmed salmon (the market name is generally Atlantic salmon) is spreading sea lice to wild stocks, contaminating coastal environments. It can also be very bad for you. Favor sustainably fished wild Alaska salmon, particularly sockeye, coho, and pink. In a pinch, organically farmed salmon is a better alternative to industrially farmed.

Scallops. Farmed scallops, generally sold as bay scallops from Asia and South America, are generally a good choice. Atlantic scallops (sold as giant scallops) are not overfished, but they are dredged, which damages the seafloor.

Shrimp. Be careful eating imported shrimp. If it is farmed, it is often treated with chemicals and antibiotics, and intensive shrimp ponds are polluting some of the world’s poorest countries. If it is wild-caught with trawls, bycatch is enormous. Wild-caught northern shrimp, pink shrimp, and spot prawn from Canada and northern U.S. waters are the only consistently good choices.

Snapper. Avoid overfished red snapper, which accounts for half of the snapper landed in the United States, and is mostly caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Stocks of yellowtail snapper on the market, which is hook-and-line-fished, are in better shape.

Tilapia. Native to the Nile, this bland- fleshed fish is fed vegetable protein, so farming it does not diminish the world’s stock of animal protein. However, tilapia raised in Asia is treated with antibiotics, pesticides, and carbon monoxide. Favor tilapia raised in the Americas, where standards are higher.

[bestcommercialfishingpermits]

Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits: An Easier, Better Way

Have you found it more difficult than it should be to complete all of your Atlantic commercial fishing permits? Do you find that you waste time and/or resources filling out permits that should only take a brief period of time? As a commercial fishing professional, your time is valuable. Every moment spent filling out forms is one that isn’t spent doing something productive for your business. Those are just some of the reasons that we’ve put together a simpler, better process for those who need commercial fishing permits for Atlantic waters. All the Necessary Atlantic Commercial Fishing Permits in One Place We know just how much opportunity there is in commercially fishing Atlantic waters. That’s why, at our site, you’ll find the permits you need to commercially fish for Summer Flounder, Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab, Atlantic Herring, Monk Fish, Mackerel, Butterfish, Squid, Spiny Dogfish, Skates, Rock Shrimp, Smoothhound Shark, Black Sea Bass, Shark, Lobsters, Sea Scallops, Groundfish, Whiting, and more. Of course, we have all of the permits you need to fish for tuna on your terms, too. Specific Permits for Discerning Professionals At the Commercial Fishing Permits Center, we offer plenty of forms that many commercial fishing professionals from all over the country (and beyond) will need. That said, we’re more than glad to offer forms that will only be of use to certain commercial fishing professionals. Case in point, our Atlantic Sea Scallop permits. As you may know, since 1994, limited access full-time, part-time, and occasionally vessel permit categories have been in place. We can work with you to ensure that you have the right kind of permit, whether it’s for part-time, full-time, the Northern Gulf of Maine, and much more. A True Commercial Fishing Permits Center Site Our goal isn’t just to be able to offer the kinds of commercial fishing permits that professionals will need. Additionally, we want to make the entire process easier on commercial fishing pros. That means, for one, that our site is completely mobile optimized. So, you can fill out any form you need from just about anywhere, provided that you’re on the internet. You can file for your lobster permit while you’re on the dock or even when you’re out on the water. Document processors at our site can answer any and all of your questions, too, so that you can always have the info you need. Fishing in the Waters South and West of the Atlantic The above are just some of the ways that we make it easier to get the commercial fishing permits you need for Atlantic waters and stay in compliance. Additionally, the above are also plenty of the reasons that we make it easier for commercial fishing professionals on the west coast, in the Pacific Islands, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, and elsewhere. Should you have any questions about any related to these forms, our staff can answer them. For more information, just call us at (866) 292-4204.