In years gone by, the capturing of great North Atlantic fish and whales by sturdy fishermen was surely among the most noble of professions. Now - through no fault of the fish or the fishermen - there are 6.6 billion humans on Earth. With our ever-increasing numbers and improved technologies for commercial fishing, the human species has managed to decimate what once seemed to be a limitless supply of sea creatures. 
We’ve been hearing for some years now that the overfishing of Earth’s oceans is one of the greatest challenges faced by humanity in this century.
So I was surprised when Lindsay filed a story this week quoting Steve Murawski, chief science advisor for the National Marine Fisheries Service as saying he’s hopeful overfishing will be solved in the U.S. by the year 2010. He bases that hope on a new act, signed into law by President Bush in January of 2007.
It’s the strengthened Magnuson-Stevens Fishery and Conservation Reauthorization Act. Will this newly strengthened law actually solve the deep problem of overfishing from U.S. shores? What about the crippled fishing industry, the fishermen who can no longer work, and the already decimated fish populations? I looked, but couldn’t find a comprehensive review or discussion of the act or its anticipated effects. If anyone knows of one, please let me know.
Meanwhile, it’s not just fish, but also the great sea mammals such as whales that are suffering in our human world. There was a vivid illustration of that fact this week, when two humpback whales - a mother and calf - became stranded (apparently hurt) in California’s Sacramento River. Scientists are saying that the whales’ injuries probably came from a boat propeller. People lined the shore as scientists tried yesterday to lure them out with whale songs. Last I heard, they weren’t successful, but they are saying it could take weeks to get the whales back where they belong.
AP reported earlier this week that Irish dolphins could have their own brogue. This report came on the heels of an Earth & Sky radio interview with Erin Oleson of Scripps, who told us that blue whales have their own dialects, too.
And I read this morning in the wonderful blog by Kit Stolz A Change in the Wind that D.K. McCutchen - author of The Whale Road - recently updated a very touching 1996 post from Lubec, Maine on the Bay of Fundy about the few remaining North Atlantic right whales.
Deborah,
Remember too, that Carl Safina, president of the Blue Ocean Institute told Earth & Sky that fisheries can recover. He said the problem of over-fishing has a relatively simple solution. “If we leave certain areas alone, and we don’t over-fish in the rest of the areas, the fish know what to do naturally, and they will recover,” Safina said.
He also explained that we can help by eating fish - that is, the right kind of fish.
Eleanor
Eleanor, yes, now I do remember that! That’s very hopeful news. Thanks.
It reminds me of when I first started gardening, maybe 15 years ago. My garden looked so … strained. Then I got busy with other things and left the garden alone for six months. And when I finally got around to noticing it again, nature had improved it a lot! Now I try to be conscious of gardening with nature …
If the human species could learn to work with nature … that’d be a good thing.
Deborah
I grew up on the east coast and alot of my friends had dads who were “waterman”. These dads fished for a living. I can remember being at the end of the dock when they returned home. It was a way of life. So, to me it was always a bit sad when commercial fishing took over. Now we over-fish, pollute the waters and have taken over yet another part of nature..the seas.
i recently recieved last months issue of national geographic with an article on this problem and the pictures of the wasted bycatch turned my stomach. it is horrible what we are doing but at the same time there is hope in the fact that we can recognize the problem before we destroy too much.
thanks so much for your program, I have been listening for years!
now with streaming in El Salvador I am able to enjoy you and Prairie Home Companion, lol
yes,eating fish is better than not eating
consumption of beef,and pork are subsidized and full of chemicals and use lots of resources to get one lb of meat, vs fish and with sustainable practices then the stocks can replenish
one of the problems of course is 6 billion on a planet made for 1/2 billion
ask Billy Meir
Peace
Senor Pescado
Michael, so great to hear from you in El Salvador! It is indeed a tiny planet, and we humans do seem to consume a lot.
Hope you’ll drop by again!
Deborah
I think it’s good that Bush is trying to do something to help out with this problem, but I’d definitely like to know more about what his plan is.
I live by Nantucket sound on Cape Cod. I find it really disturbing that draggers are allowed to work these waters. It has been proven that they disrupt and actually destroy the ocean floor which is the breeding ground and habitat for the small fishes and ocean life. How is this allowed? Must we wait until there is nothing left and the ocean floor looks like the moon? Without habitat there is no future home for ocean life. These
dragger fisherman are ruining the ecosystem.How can they live with themselves? How can
we put a stop to this blatant disregard for a public resource?