CODFISH NUMBERS AT KEY FISHERY HITS ALL-TIME LOW

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_COD_DECLINE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-08-10-09-27-20

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- The level of codfish spawning in one of the most critical fisheries in the Northeast U.S. is at an all-time low, putting more pressure on a fishery already dealing with declining catch and dramatic quota cuts.

National Marine Fisheries Service scientists say the amount of cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine is estimated to be 3 to 4 percent of its target level. That number declined from 13 to 18 percent three years ago.

Low levels of reproduction in the fishery are holding repopulation back, scientists say. They are investigating what might be driving down the numbers of cod but believe temperature change - which they have also linked to a declining Northern shrimp stock and northern migration of herring - may be one factor.

The Gulf of Maine, along with Georges Bank, is one of two key areas where East Coast fishermen search for cod, a vital commercial fish in New England that appears in supermarkets and roadside fish-and-chip shops.

[ladjf]

1. Wake up humans. You apparently are one of the stupidest species

ever to live on Earth.

[GliderGuider]

2. No, the problem is that we're the cleverest species.

But not terribly wise. Or far-sighted. Cleverness can't substitute for either of those, since its evolutionary purpose is to satisfy short term priorities.

Natural selection hasn't (yet) provided us with a counterbalance to our cleverness. So the only counterbalances available are the ones that play out across all species - we call them the Four Horsemen.

So it goes.

[PoutrageFatigue]

5. This^^Is on point...

...We have determined more and more efficient methods to gather resources, without ever fully considering the ramifications of that increased efficiency on long-term sustainability...

Seems we are about to learn that lesson the hard way...

[NickB79]

3. We stopped eating cod a while ago

For a bit, we switched to pollock and ocean perch, as it's much cheaper and more sustainable.

Now I've just been catching sunfish at the local lakes off the shore or docks with my daughter. We can't eat as much as we'd like, since there's always the threat of too much mercury and pollutants in freshwater fish

I've literally looked into raising my own tilapia in our backyard using an old hot tub

[Enthusiast]

4. Kicked and recommended!

Wake up, people!