Monthly e-Magazine Articles

What do herring mean to the Cape? Council wants to know.

What do herring mean to the Cape? Council wants to know.

With river herring populations rebounding, Harwich selectmen heard a proposal to open that town’s Herring River to harvest.
“This is a legacy,” said Selectman Don Howell, a member of the board when they shut the run down in 2004 because of low numbers. “We are good stewards.”
While the town has done its part, too many river herring heading to runs across the Cape are being caught offshore, beyond the limits of town and state regulations.
Ray Kane, outreach coordinator at the Fishermen’s Alliance, was at the Harwich meeting in early February. He supported Brad Chase from the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and Don Yannuzzi, natural resources director in Harwich, in developing a re-opening plan.

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The importance of collaboration in fisheries

The importance of collaboration in fisheries

“You cooperate with the police, you don’t collaborate,” is a phrase I’ll always remember.
I heard it at a scientific conference years ago when a speaker compared the difference between cooperative and collaborative research. Collaboration implies shared ownership and interest in a specific outcome, while cooperation is when people work in support of another’s goals.

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Annual meeting highlights accomplishments, welcomes new board members

Annual meeting highlights accomplishments, welcomes new board members

Numbers surfaced at the annual meeting of the Fishermen’s Alliance last month – 504, 2, 7, 3, 12, 25, 10,000, 228,000, 1.7 million, and more. Each is part of a story.
The first several were shared by Policy Manager Aubrey Church, who started in February of last year.
She has spent more than 500 hours in New England Fishery Management Council meetings advocating for the fleets on the Cape, tracking myriad, changing federal regulations. If the hours CEO John Pappalardo and Outreach Coordinator Ray Kane (who is on state and regional committees) are added, the number more than doubles.

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Fisheries report from 1970s tells tales

Fisheries report from 1970s tells tales

“The good ole days weren’t always good. And tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.”
We thought of that line by pop star Billy Joel when we came across a copy of a fisheries report from 1978 that has observations about the industry as well as descriptions and landings of Cape ports.
“An Economic Profile of the Cape & Islands Fisheries” was prepared by the Cape Cod Planning and Economic Development Commission (precursor of the Cape Cod Commission).

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Chowder and stew to another food pantry, this time in a school

Chowder and stew to another food pantry, this time in a school

At the Cape’s biggest high school, Barnstable, we’ve joined forces with some great people to launch a new initiative that I wish wasn’t needed:
Cape Cod’s first school-based pantry to serve students and their families facing food insecurity.
Our part? Make sure “Small Boats Big Taste” haddock chowder, fish stew, and clam chowder are part of the offerings.
“Red Hawks Food Pantry” is the brainchild of Dave Badot, Barnstable High School’s food and nutritional director, with a lot of help from Moira Bundschuh, the school’s family and community coordinator.

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Photo Gallery:  Rock Harbor re-imagined

Photo Gallery: Rock Harbor re-imagined

The commercial dock at Rock Harbor in Orleans needs reconstruction: three vessels have snagged and sank, ladders that extend from the pier are dangerous, and tight quarters mean the boats have to raft three or four deep. The town is poised to change all that with an upcoming construction project that will be presented to town meeting voters in May. Project planning has been underway for years and permits are in place. A state-funded Seaport Economic Council grant has helped fund the design, and with support from voters, a portion of construction can also receive funding. Check out this gallery to existing conditions on the commercial side of the pier and artist renderings of proposed improvements.

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