Fishing
Drastic decline in Chesapeake Bay oyster population can only be halted by banning any fishing for them, study reports
By Darryl Fears
The Washington Post 2011-09-01
Pollution from lawns, sewers affecting Barnegat Bay, NJ's main breeding grounds for fish, clams and crabs, and threatens state's $35.5 billion tourism-based economy
By Wayne Parry
The Associated Press; The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2011-06-28
Long abandoned mercury mine that for decades has tainted fish and polluted creek that feeds into San Francisco Bay belongs on list of worst polluted places, feds say
By Jason Dearen
The Associated Press; Los Angeles Times 2011-03-11
As humans eat remaining tuna, grouper and cod, their prey - sardines, anchovies - flourish, creating ecological imbalance that experts say will forever change the oceans
By Marc Kaufman
The Washington Post 2011-02-20
Food security, marine diversity at stake as rapidly increasing acidification of oceans shrinks minerals needed for skeletons of shellfish, coral; 1 billion humas rely on fish as protein source
By Matthew Knight
CNN 2010-12-02
Oil from BP leak in Gulf of Mexico that disappeared was eaten, and made its way up the food chain to fish, whales, researchers learn; study did not look for toxicity in food web
By Campbell Robertson
The New York Times 2010-11-08
South Korea's haenyeo free-dive for abalone, other shellfish; tradition that brought power to women of the sea now endangered by modern fishing boats, techniques
By John M. Glionna
Los Angeles Times 2010-10-27
Review: "Four Fish" is marvelous exploration of contradiction that fishermen feel about saving or killing fish; a necessary book for anyone truly interested in what, how, why
By Sam Sifton
The New York Times 2010-08-01
Gulf of Mexico, like no other American body of water, bears environmental consequences of country's economic pursuits and appetites, including oil, corn
By Campbell Robertson
The New York Times 2010-07-30
In Pennsylvania, epicenter of battle over fracking for natural gas, EPA hears stories of yellowed and foul-smelling well water, deformed livestock, poisoned fish, itchy skin
By Tom Zeller Jr.
The New York Times 2010-07-23
Laid-off land surveyor catches world-record catfish - 130 pounds - in Missouri River
By John Auble
Fox2Now.com 2010-07-20
Canisters pulled up by clam fishermen off New York coast cause blistering, difficulty breathing; canisters dumped back into ocean
By Rodrique Ngowi
The Associated Press; San Francisco Chronicle 2010-06-07
BP request for tax records poses problem for many involved in off-the-books Gulf harvesting of shrimp, crabs, oysters and fish
By Louis Sahagun
Los Angeles Times 2010-05-30
Loop current may pick up BP oil, tainting coastal waters up to Cape Hatteras, N.C.; officials close more of gulf to fishing
By Jeffrey Ball and Corey Dade
The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2010-05-19
Overfishing, destruction of habitat, dams, water pollution put sturgeon on path to extinction
NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands) 2010-03-24
In Quetico, park on border of Ontario, Minnesota, ice fishing challenge stiffened by restrictive rules - no live bait, barbless hooks
By Gustave Axelson
The New York Times 2010-03-12
Discovery that red grouper dig holes that become homes for coral, sea sponges forces scientists to recalibrate and heightens tension with those who fish
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2010-03-08
EPA signals tighter rules on traditionally lax approach to megafarms' manure, which smothers waterways, taints air
By David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post 2010-03-01
Foul byproduct of fracking, a drilling technique for natural gas, pollutes water supplies
By Marc Levy and Vicki Smith
The Associated Press; Charleston Daily Mail (SC) 2010-02-02
Giant squid, following plankton attracted by lights of fishing boats, lure anglers to waters off California coast
By Kelly Burgess
Los Angeles Times 2010-02-02
Grouper protection during spawning season rankles S.C. fishermen; chefs turn to imports from Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama
By Monique Newton
The State (Columbia, S.C.) 2010-01-26
For many, Illinois' carp crisis the culinary opportunity of a lifetime
By Joel Hood
Chicago Tribune 2010-01-10
Scientists stand against mountaintop mining, citing tainted water, contaminated fish, "obliterated" stream ecosystems
By David A. Fahrenthold
The Washington Post 2010-01-08
Opinion: Asian carp threat cause for concern, not panic
The editors
Chicago Tribune 2010-01-05
Pesticides, pollution in food supply linked to obesity epidemic
Environmental chemicals may well account for good part of obesity epidemic, especially in those under 50, and may cause spike in infant obesity rates. Certain hormone-mimicking pollutants throughout food chain act on genes in developing fetus, newborns to reprogram precursor cells into lifelong fat cells, and they may alter metabolic rate, turning body into physiological Scrooge, research shows. Other research reports that the more pesticides children were exposed to as fetuses, the greater their risk of being overweight as toddlers; children exposed to higher levels of PCBs and DDT-related chemical before birth were fatter than others.
By Sharon Begley
Newsweek magazine 2009-09-21
National stream survey finds mercury in every fish
In nationwide stream survey, mercury found in every fish tested, with some higher concentrations found in mining areas of West. In about a quarter of the fish, levels exceeded federal standards for people who eat an average amount of fish. In study, largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass had greatest average mercury concentrations; brown trout, rainbow-cutthroat trout, channel catfish had the lowest. And: How mercury becomes toxic in environment (click 'See also').
By Bettina Boxall
Los Angeles Times 2009-08-19
Opinion: Regulate mercury now to protect human health
EPA should issue tough rule to control mercury spewed from coal-fired power plants, knowing that it is essential to protect human health - toxin is found in increasingly high concentrations in fish. Another reason: GAO, found that, in some cases, mercury emissions were reduced up to 90 percent at average cost of $3.6 million, or pennies a month on consumers' electric bills. And: Mercury-contaminated fish advisories, state by state (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York TImes 2009-07-25
Envy grows over huge largemouth bass caught in Japan
World record for largemouth bass broken in Japan (pending certification), with 22 pound, 5 ounce bass from Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake. Last record was for 22 pound, 4 ounce bass caught in 1932 in Georgia. Most anglers believe that a bigger bass is swimming in California's south San Joaquin Delta east of Brentwood. And: See the fish on youtube (click 'See also').
By Tom Stienstra
San Francisco Chronicle 2009-07-19
Reduced fertility in farmed salmon may undermine wild stocks
Hatchery programs for all salmon species could be reducing fish fertility, thus contributing to demise of salmon runs in California, Oregon and Washington, study suggests. On average, offspring of two hatchery-reared steelhead were only 37 percent as reproductively fit as fish whose parents were both wild, says researcher. Forty million hatchery-raised salmon are released into California river systems every year. And: Herring population that spawns in San Francisco Bay now at lowest level in 30 years (click 'See also')
By Peter Fimrite
San Francisco Chronicle 2009-07-05
Opinion: A strategy to reduce overfishing in world's oceans
Well-managed oceans policy, with strategies to reduce overfishing, would be example for others. Rather than annual catch limits, administration advocates 'catch shares,' which gives individuals or groups fixed percentage of annual catch, then allows them to set rules, supposing that shareholders will have vested interest in growing resource. And: New system would protect marine ecosystem, increase revenues, ensure dinnertime feasts of native fish (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2009-06-21
Reframe sustainability from the people's point of view
Barton Seaver, chef and evangelist for sustainable seafood, argues for compromise, common sense, saying that everyone acts in his own economic interest. Acknowledging that sustainability is about people, not fish, is first step toward finding solutions. With oysters, for example, 'eating a farm-raised Chesapeake oyster supports generations of watermen and supports the most productive marine ecosystem in the world.'
By Jane Black
The Washington Post 2009-05-13
EPA to limit power plants' fish-tainting sludge discharge
EPA moves to limit power plants' discharge of selenium-tainted sludge into waterways. Toxin once was spewed into air, but air-pollution controls now capture it as coal ash or sludge. As with mercury, poison builds rapidly in animals' bodies. Birds that eat tainted fish may have deformed beaks, jaws and problems producing viable eggs; humans who eat fish can suffer neurological damage, hair, nail loss. And: Study links deformed fish to selenium-tainted water near mountain-removal coal mining sites (click 'See also').
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-05-03
After 16 years, Ecuadorian water pollution case in judge's hands
In Ecuador, judge will decide whether Texaco is to blame for pollution of rain forest waterways where tens of thousands used water for drinking, cooking, bathing and some later died. Farm worker activist conducts 'toxic tours' to one massive sludge pool (of hundreds) where waste was dumped into leaky unlined pit. Study under way on effects of pollution on fishing, agriculture. And: Chevron shareholders want report on protection of people, environment in countries where it operates (click 'See also').
By Juan Forero
The Washington Post 2009-04-27
Health hazards in 'Poisoned Waters'
Toxins from industry, agriculture, massive suburban development and from face creams, deodorants, prescription medicines and household cleaners now found in drinking water, threatening fish, wildlife and, potentially, human health, Hedrick Smith reports in PBS Frontline program (watch at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/poisonedwaters/view/). And: Study shows pesticide's insidious effect on food chain (click 'See also').
By Diane Buxton
WGBH/Frontline 2009-04-14
Opinion: Clearing muddle around clean water
Congress, White House must ensure that Clean Water Restoration Act, which protects all waters, becomes law. Original 1972 Clean Water Act was written to protect all waters, wetlands, but Supreme Court narrowed scope, weakened safeguards, confused enforcers, so 20 million acres of wetlands, 60 percent of small streams have been unprotected from developers. And: Fresh water shortage among most daunting challenges, author says (click 'See also').
The editors
The New York Times 2009-04-17
Undercover operation nets fish trafficking charges
In four-year undercover operation, agents used cover stories, recorded conversations, fish coroner to link Southern Maryland, fish market in D.C., and possibly dinner plates along East Coast. Authorities say traffickers moved about 600,000 pounds of illegal rockfish (also called striped bass) from Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay, valued at between $3 million and $7 million.
By David A. Fahrenthold and Del Quentin Wilber
The Washington Post 2009-02-07
Some Arctic waters off-limits to commercial fishing
Rapid climate changes cited in new ban of commercial fishing in parts of Arctic waters. Restrictions endorsed by fishermen/processing trade group. Concerns include unregulated fishing, warming, effect of commercial fishing on region's resources, subsistence fishing, ecosystem.
By Juliet Eilperin
The Washington Post 2009-02-05
Sea's CO2 absorption falls; tougher emissions limits may be required
Suddenly, Sea of Japan absorbing much less carbon dioxide than before, scientists find; other oceans likely affected. Weakening of absorption would require countries to adopt stricter emissions limits to prevent dangerous rises in temperature. And: It's the tiny ocean plants - phytoplankton - that absorb CO2 (click 'See also') to build cells during photosynthesis, then, upon death, carry carbon in their cells to deep ocean, sequestering them. They're also base of marine food web. Zooplankton - tiny animals - eat phytoplankton and are in turn eaten. If phytoplankton don't get enough nutrients, surface waters become "marine deserts," so fish can't survive in surface water, and seabirds can't eat.
By David Adam
The Guardian (UK) 2009-01-12
Opinion: Blocking pollution for public, planetary health
Bush-Cheney plan to measure emissions of coal-burning power plants hourly instead of annually could mean more pollution - and enormous cost to public health, planet. And: Fish from Catskills waterways unsafe to eat; they and their predators - bald eagles - contaminated with methylmercury, a power-plant toxin. (click 'See also') .
The editors
The New York Times 2008-11-28
Bid to protect cod, anchovy, whiting, other over-fished species
Citing urgent need to retain viable fishing industry, European Commission proposes drastic cuts in fishing limits and ban on several others to let populations recover from overfishing. But EU governments regularly ignore pleas from EU and scientists to limit fishing. And: Anchovy populations now unstable, UK group says (click 'See also').
By Jessica Aldred (and agencies)
The Guardian (UK) 2008-11-10
Whales in busy Alaska waterway endangered
Beluga whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet declared endangered over Gov. Sarah Palin's objections. Listing means that new offshore drilling, new bridge, other activities must show they won't harm the 375 whales. And: Alaska Natives have been allowed to hunt the whales for subsistence, but there was no hunt for belugas in 2008 (click 'See also').
By Kenneth R. Weiss
Los Angeles Times 2008-10-17
Maryland repopulating Chesapeake Bay with oysters
In restoration effort, Chesapeake Bay groups enlist waterfront property owners in oyster-growing venture using cages built by inmates at nearby prison. Maryland has planted more than 485 million oysters in the bay this year, a record, governor reports.
Chesapeake Bay Journal 2008-10-01
Italy's fishing methods threaten bluefin tuna, group says
Italy ignoring bluefin tuna rules and further endangering species, conservation group charges. Countries agree to quotas, but Italy reports a fleet of 185 vessels and surveyors count 283. Spotter aircraft, banned by accord, also used, group says. Official says Italy is following the rules.
By Ariel David
The Associated Press; The Union-Tribune (San Diego, CA) 2008-10-07
Alone on the Nile, fisherman's worries drift away
Development encroaches on Qorsaya island in the Nile, long home for fisherman, his two wives and their 13 children, at least one grown and a fisherman like his dad. 'If you ask me to choose between eating food or drinking from the Nile, I choose the Nile. I can't describe the value of the Nile. There are no words.'
By Jeffrey Fleishman
Los Angeles Times 2008-08-03
As ocean warms, catch of the day changes in Scottish waters
As ocean warms, octopus appear in Scottish seas lobster traps and might be eating the more lucrative catch; their price drops to that of cod. Squid, deep-sea John Dory fish, red blenny and Japanese skeleton shrimp among those invading - others have hitched rides on ship hulls.
By Paul Kelbie
The Observer (UK) 2008-07-20
Sport fishermen, factory fishing boat workers tangle
Costa Rica launches probe after tuna spotters for industrial seine-fishing boat drop explosives onto or near boats of sport fishermen, and, separately, encircled sport boats with fishing net and yelled threats. And: Industrial trawler fishing (which drags nets along the sea bottom) is main culprit for soaring numbers of dolphin deaths (click 'See also').
By Pete Thomas
Los Angeles Times 2008-07-08
Salmon season
Despite dearth of ocean salmon along West Coast, Klamath River expects strong return of big, four-year-old fish this fall. Since ocean fishermen will take few or none of them, many more can be allocated to the river fisheries. Fishing guides expect a busy year; hotels, restaurants, guide services and tackle shops along the river will benefit, too.
By John Driscoll
The Times-Standard (CA) 2008-03-30
Fish no match for biofuels byproducts
As biofuels plants open, pollution follows. In Alabama, substance resembling salad dressing repeatedly fouled waterways near the state's first biofuels plant, and for 20 miles downstream, fish died with oil around them. In Missouri's bootheel, illegal dumping kills 25,000 fish and wipes out population of endangered mussel.
By Brenda Goodman
The New York Times 2008-03-11
Drugs in the wild
Fish, wildlife show abnormalities linked to pharmaceutical residues in waterways and environment. Implications are grave: Chronic exposure to trace levels can damage a species at the foundation of a food pyramid. In Pakistan, common vulture virtually disappeared after birds began eating carcasses of cows that had been treated with an anti-inflammatory drug - it made the birds' kidneys fail.
By Jeff Donn, Martha Mendoza and Justin Pritchard
The Associated Press; The Sun Chronicle (MA) 2008-03-10
Great Lakes fish shift
Commercial and sport fishing will likely be affected as fish population undergoes quick changes in Lake Huron. Blame could be placed on exotic invasive species, including zebra mussel, quagga mussel, round gobies and the spiny water flea. Ecosystem evolution will be studied this year by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
By Jeff Kart
The Bay City Times 2008-03-05
Superfund cleanup
In calculating cleanup for Duwamish River in Seattle, critics say coalition underestimated chinook salmon consumption by Native American tribe and decided that the river would never become source of clams, which are bottom feeders where pollutants settle. And, fish caught from tribe's 70 boats on river are bought by Safeway, a grocery chain.
By Robert McClure and Colin McDonald
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (WA) 2007-11-27
Catch and release
Pesticides, industrial pollutants, fertilizers, gasoline and motor oil contaminate fish in Texas county's waterways. Some fish are so toxic that the state has banned their possession. Others are listed in limited consumption advisories.
By Scott Streater
Star-Telegram (TX) 2007-11-25
Toxic slick
San Francisco's fishing fleets face slick of Cosco Busan's bunker fuel stretching from bay into Pacific Ocean, covering prime salmon, halibut, striped bass and Dungeness crabbing spots; already, sport fishing has seen steep decline and long-term health of seafood questioned.
By Brian Hoffman
San Francisco Chronicle 2007-11-09
Fewer fish
Salmon runs off the Washington coast and Columbia River were lower than expected during summer; biologists are puzzled and speculate about bad conditions in the far north ocean, where the fish migrate.
By Mark Yuasa
The Seattle Times 2007-11-04
Fish tale
In remote stream that leads to the Miramichi in New Brunswick, a taste for brook trout finally bears fruit after 903 casts on two days, and 118 on the third - but who's counting?
By Adam Clymer
The New York Times 2007-10-16
Water footprint
As population explodes and planet heats, water for drinking and crop irrigation is diminishing, forcing extra energy use to reach remote supply; already, China, India, Africa and American West reserves are drying up, setting stage for people-versus agriculture battles.
By Jon Gertner
The New York Times 2007-10-21
Dead zone:
Ethanol craze looms dangerously large for fish and crabs in Chesapeake, since larger acreage planted in nitrogen-needy corn means more fertilizer runoff into water, which spawns growth of oxygen-depriving algae, study reports.
The Associated Press; Business Week 2007-08-27
Opinion: Mountaintop mining
Bush administration's proposed legalization of high-altitude strip mining, with follow-up poisoning of Appalachian drinking water and fish habitats with dumped leftovers, will add converts to reaffirmation of Clean Water Act protections.
The editors
The New York Times (may require subscription) 2007-08-27
Price of coal:
In 2000 in Kentucky, a torrent of coal-mining sludge was released when an earthen dam collapsed after a previous leak; the goo, 20 times the volume of the Exxon Valdez's crude oil spill in Alaska, covered vegetable gardens and suffocated fish as it fouled 100 miles of streams and rivers before dispersing at the Ohio River.
By Peter T. Kilborn
The New York Times 2000-12-25
Getting out:
Reasons for hunting, fishing are myriad, but many have to do with connection to nature, delicious food, and as remedies for cabin fever.
By Shawn Clark
Sheboygan Press (WI) 0000-00-00
Trout temptation:
Lake trout, a Rodney Dangerfield of fish, with its oil and sweet-tasting flesh, may not be a thrill to catch, but they do move anglers to buy homes that front the Finger Lakes and spend hours with fishing poles in hand, hoping for a bite.
David Wallis
The New York Times; Milwaukee Journal 2007-08-17
Recalls: raw oysters
The FDA is warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from an area of the southern tip of Hood Canal in Washington after an outbreak of illness caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria. Oysters from the area were distributed to California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, New York, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia (Canada), Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Food and Drug Administration
Eel on a stick:
Lamprey harvest is a waterlogged, delicious tradition for Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest that begins with pulling them off rocks where they have flung themselves - just watch out for those big round bloodsucking mouths full of sharp teeth.
By Ann Dornfeld
National Public Radio 2007-08-10
Opinion: A fish tale
It's a stretch to blame the precipitous worldwide decline of marlin, swordfish, tuna and sharks on Hemingway, even figuring spawning rates over four generations, but quest for sportsman-trophy fish photos like his have targeted the at-risk bluefin tuna.
By Paul Greenberg
The New York times (may require subscription)
Reviews:
"The Zen of Fish," and "The Sushi Economy," offer lessons in how global economy works, dangers of over-fishing and how it thrives on demand, and why trout might not be the best choice for eating raw (think tapeworms).
By Stuart Biggs
bloomberg.com 2007-08-08
Cheney, behind the scenes
Operating by stealth, and relying on loyalists who owe him their jobs, Dick Cheney's pro-business commitment has left crops green from irrigation and tens of thousands of salmon rotting along the Klamath River and stopped a plan to list a Wyoming trout as endangered. (On 04-07-08, the series from which this story was digested was awarded a Pulitzer prize for national reporting.)
By Jo Becker and Barton Gellman
The Washington Post 2007-06-27
Asian menace:
Carp brought in the '70s to eat algae in catfish ponds have escaped to breed and crowd waterways, leaping out of the water to injure boaters and jet skiers, and endangering the commercial fishing industry along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers.
CNN, WSMV.com