Month: January 2014

As the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference continued on Monday in Mobile, Ala., some scientists discussed the potential impacts of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Gulf fisheries, often describing the fishery as better off than many think but always adding that there still remains much ongoing research. …

The new five-year farm bill the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate compromised on this week failed to cut out the U.S. catfish inspection program, putting a barrier on catfish imports into the United States. Catfish producers in Mississippi and elsewhere in the South have complained about U.S. trade policy that allows the dumping of low-cost pangasius on the U.S. market, thus crippling the ability of domestic producers to compete on price. …

The organizers of the Wellfleet OysterFest will hire a full-time shellfish specialist to help the town curb outbreaks of illness caused by food-borne bacteria and protect the multimillion-dollar local shellfish industry. The specialist will work with growers, harvesters, wholesalers, retailers and the public on safe handling and best practices, and on research and monitoring waters. The nonprofit group hopes the position will be a model for other shellfishing towns. …