Episodes

  • Black Sea Bass in the Gulf of Maine with Marissa McMahan

    Black Sea Bass in the Gulf of Maine with Marissa McMahan
    Aug 26 2025
     We're exploring the world of Black Sea Bass in the Gulf of Maine with Marissa McMahan. Marissa is the senior director of Fisheries at Manomet who did her PHD on black sea bass. Often used as an example of a climate "winner" in the Gulf of Maine, we know shockingly little about this species in the northern extent of its habitat. Marissa shares some of the research she has done, some information on black sea bass management, and some details on a project MCFA and Manomet are partnering on with local fishermen to collect new data on this species. check out our blog at www.mainecoastfishermen.org for a story map of this project.
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    25 mins
  • Understand the WHOI loc-ness project

    Understand the WHOI loc-ness project
    Aug 15 2025
    Ben Martens chats with Dr. Adam Subhas of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to explore the research initiative known as the Loc-Ness project. Loc-Ness stands for Locking away Ocean Carbon in the Northeast Shelf and Slope and is testing the safety and effectiveness of ocean alkalinity enhancement to combat climate change.
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    30 mins
  • Talking Red Cod with Graham Sherwood of GMRI

    Talking Red Cod with Graham Sherwood of GMRI
    Aug 5 2025
    When you picture cod, you probably see an olive or silver colored fish. But Emily Coffin caught a red cod in her lobster traps and shared it with the team at MCFA. We had some questions, as did a bunch of our followers on social, so we asked Graham Sherwood of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to join Ben Martens for a conversation about red cod.
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    27 mins
  • The Uncertain Future of Maine Shrimp

    The Uncertain Future of Maine Shrimp
    Oct 7 2024
    Ben Martens chats with Lulu Bates from the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) about the health and future of Maine’s northern shrimp fishery. Lulu, a marine biologist with DMR, brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion, covering the current state of the fishery, the concerns fishermen have about the science behind it, and the challenges faced by those who love to catch or enjoy Maine shrimp.
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    26 mins
  • Fisheries and the fall of Chevron

    Fisheries and the fall of Chevron
    Aug 23 2024
    In the summer of 2024, the US Supreme Court struck down the "Chevron Doctrine" in a case brought by a group of New Jersey herring fishermen. In this episode, Ben Martens interviews Andrew (Drew) Minkiewicz, an attorney at Black Point Maritime Law, about what this might and might not mean for fisheries.
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    29 mins
  • The Opportunity of eDNA for Maine's fisheries

    The Opportunity of eDNA for Maine's fisheries
    Dec 2 2023
    Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is a method of detecting and monitoring species by collecting their DNA from environmental samples like water, soil, or air. Ben Martens chats with Emily Pierce and Alex Ascher about their research into eDNA and the application of this emerging data collection process for Maine's fisheries. BLOG for more information https://www.mainecoastfishermen.org/post/podcast-the-opportunity-of-edna-for-maine-s-fisheries
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    22 mins
  • A Weakening Gulf Stream with David Reidmiller

    A Weakening Gulf Stream with David Reidmiller
    Nov 17 2023
    Dr. Dave Reidmiller joins the podcast to discuss a recent study out of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution which found that the Gulf Stream is warming and weakening. Ben and Dave give an overview of the importance of the Gulf Stream, why a warming Gulf Stream is a weaker Gulf Stream, and what that could mean for the Gulf of Maine, the Atlantic Ocean, and the rest of the world. We also throw some cold water on the “Day After Tomorrow" scenario that some alarmist publications have suggested is happening. More Info at the MCFA Blog https://www.mainecoastfishermen.org/post/podcast-a-weakening-gulf-stream-with-david-reidmiller
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    22 mins
  • A haddock disaster with Dr. Jamie Cournane

    A haddock disaster with Dr. Jamie Cournane
    May 26 2023
    Dr. Jamie Cournane of the New England Fishery Management Council joins Ben Martens to talk haddock. The most recent stock assessment indicates that fishermen need to cut their catch by over 80% as the biomass is lower than previously thought. Dr. Cournane walks us through the stock assessment process, what might have gone wrong, and what the future looks like for this important fishery.
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    39 mins