Tag Archives: Christian A. Putnam
With plenty of fish in the sea, will there be anyone to catch them?
In 2003, Cohasset author Susan Playfair’s book, Vanishing Species, Saving the Fish, Sacrificing the Fishermen was one of the first pieces to raise the question of the viability of an under recognized species; New England fishermen. She outlined the harsh life that a fisherman endures by the very nature of their job; the most hazardous non-military occupation in the U.S. Playfair also pointed out that regulations where killing the fishermen more than any other factor. Unfortunately, the regulatory environment for fishermen is still a major challenge.,,, It makes one wonder why anyone would want to become a fisherman. click here to read he op-ed 16:56
Fishing for hope and faith
Many mornings the trucks of fishermen and lobster-men can be seen parked on Country Way in front of the North Scituate Marylou’s Coffee. Recently one truck had a new bumper sticker added that proclaims, “PRESIDENT TRUMP MAKE COMMERCIAL FISHING GREAT AGAIN!” After last week’s decision by the president to pull the US from the non-ratified Paris climate accord, perhaps there is some hope for commercial fishermen that other actions will mitigate the burdensome regulations and ineffective quota restrictions that have practically destroyed the industry. Now most commercial fisherman will not disagree that the climate is changing, along with seawater temperatures. Many of those that make their living harvesting the sea’s bounty respect the phenomenal force that is our environment and have faith that the system is naturally self-correcting. In other words, trying to control nature is like shoveling sand against the tide. Speaking of hope and faith, a well-known member of the Scituate community who happens to be recreational fisherman had his own reminder of the importance of hope and faith. click here to read the story 09:31
