fisheries

Something strange seems to be happening with striped bass on Martha’s Vineyard. Scientists and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribal officials think a small population of the fish could be defying their migratory nature. And that, in turn, could be impeding efforts to restore a second fish species: herring.

Recreational-scalloping season is here. But enthusiasm is down among commercial catchers, many of whom are aging out of the industry.

An abundance of cinder worms was behind the unusual fish kill.

The study says offshore wind farms are already affecting the data that's used to shape fishing regulations.

The Massachusetts fishery is in a moment of change. Lobstermen today are facing warming waters that are affecting lobster populations, offshore wind developers encroaching on fishing grounds, and strict fishing regulations imposed to protect critically endangered right whales.

Four Massachusetts lobstermen have filed a class action suit against the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Marine Stewardship Council, groups that urged distributors and grocery stores to avoid purchasing lobster because of the fishery's impact on North Atlantic right whales.

“What we've seen over the last two decades is, simply put, mortality caused by humans is outpacing reproduction in the species,” said Heather Pettis, research scientist at the New England Aquarium.

"Questions have been coming at us about potentially euthanizing Snow Cone. The science of euthanizing a whale at sea is, let's say, in its extreme infancy," Landry said. "But if we find a weather window, we do feel as though there are things that we can do to make her life better."

The “Red List” is used by more than 25,000 restaurants, stores, and distributors — including Whole Foods, Red Lobster, Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, and Disney to guide purchasing and menu choices.

A federal judge has ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is in charge of protecting North Atlantic right whales, failed to do so. The agency's rules and regulations that are meant to reduce entanglements in lobster fishing gear were insufficient, the court found.