At The Pew Charitable Trusts, we’ve long believed that decisions about how to protect and manage natural resources from marine fish and coastal wetlands to rivers and terrestrial forests should be based on peer-reviewed science and other credible evidence. Gathering that data has traditionally been the purview of professionally trained scientists, but advances in technology and project design have made it far easier for members of the public to contribute useful information, interpret results, and otherwise engage in the scientific enterprise. In short, volunteers are better equipped than ever to participate in the scientific process and, ultimately, improve ecosystem health. The interest in citizen science has grown so much that even U.S. federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), are promoting its use to conduct research projects that would not otherwise be possible.
“Adult gag grouper live in nearshore waters from coastal North Carolina south to Brazil and as well as in the Gulf of Mexico. Red grouper can be found as far north as Massachusetts to southeastern Brazil, (including) the eastern Gulf of Mexico,” said Barry Nash, seafood technology and marketing specialist with North Carolina Sea Grant.
Nash said red grouper have an average life span of 30 years and can be as long as 49 inches, while gag grouper can reach 58 inches in length. Red grouper weigh an average of 51 pounds while gag grouper can get as big as 81 pounds, he said.
Gag grouper have a long, compressed body and 11 to 14 rays in its anal fin. Their coloration varies widely and changes with the size and age of the fish. Large gag are dark brownish-gray on top, and paler to white on the bottom. Gag also have traces of dark, wavy markings on their sides. Smaller gag are a lot lighter in coloring, and have numerous dark brown, or charcoal, kiss-like marks along their sid
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Citizen Science Increasingly Informs Ocean Expertise and Policy
An angler reels in a small fish from Puget Sound in Washington state. An increasing number of programs encourage the public to contribute data and observations from the natural world to scientists and policymakers. A new journal article highlights how marine and coastal leaders created a successful citizen science program in the U.S. Southeast.
Aaron McCoy
Getty Images
At The Pew Charitable Trusts, we’ve long believed that decisions about how to protect and manage natural resources from marine fish and coastal wetlands to rivers and terrestrial forests should be based on peer-reviewed science and other credible evidence. Gathering that data has traditionally been the purview of professionally trained scientists, but advances in technology and project design have made it far easier for members of the public to contribute useful information, interpret results, and otherwis
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More than half of all squid landings in the Northeast come from Rhode Island. But last year, as a result of the pandemic, some Rhode Island fleets saw earnings dip by 30 percent.
Jason Didden, a fishery management specialist at the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, says that so far in 2021, total longfin landing are off to a slow start at less than 5 million pounds landed, compared to this time last year when around 11 million pounds had been landed. Illex season typically gets started in May and 2021 squid quotas are the same as 2020: 23,400 metric tons for longfin and 30,000 metric tons for illex. (The illex quota was expected to be reviewed in May.)
Bluefish Need Your Help
Josh Peznowski with a summertime bluefish.
Bluefish, those voracious predators that chase every lure in the tackle box, are in need of your help!
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council are jointly considering management changes to the bluefish fishery to end overfishing and begin rebuilding the stock to a healthy status.