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Fisheries:
Twentieth Century Changes in Fisheries |
The U.S. Fish Commission was founded in 1871 to study the problem of overfishing. G. Brown Goode reviewed each of the fisheries, and his and other studies resulted in guidelines for protecting the fish stocks.
Fisheries and markets have changed with new technologies. The first steam trawler was launched in Massachusetts in 1903. Steam trawlers brought their catch to market faster, and mechanical ice-making also encouraged the market for fresh fish.
Diesel engines began to be used in fishing vessels by 1920, first as auxiliaries. Vessels powered solely by diesel were in use by the 1930s. These cheaper and smaller engines allowed fresh fish trips offshore of a week or less.
Engined vessels were ideal for dragging or towing trawls. In New England these are called draggers. After World War II, inexpensive surplus diesel engines became popular and put the specialized marine engine companies out of business.
In the 1920s Clarence Birdseye invented flash freezing, which became possible aboard larger fishing vessels called factory ships. Fish could be processed immediately, and the ready availability of frozen fish helped increase public demand. The result was increased depletion of both well-known kinds of fish and of species that had previously been unmarketable.
Sonar was used to find fish after World War II. Today even more sophisticated electronics allow fishermen to locate fish, and depletion of fish stocks has increased even more. A major issue for our times is how to satisfy the demand for fish while rebuilding depleted stocks.
One solution is aquaculture. While managed cultivation of fish and shellfish has worked for salmon, oysters, mussels, and some other species, it has not been successful in replenishing some traditional fisheries such as groundfish and lobsters. Aquaculture can cause pollution through high concentrations of fish and fish food, and may present hazards to navigation and unsightly views. There is also the risk of interbreeding between wild and domestic strains.
Another solution lies in fisheries regulation. The National Marine Fisheries Service, working with Maine’s Department of Marine Resources scientists and with fishermen themselves, has set limits on allowable days at sea, how many pounds of fish may be caught, and kinds of gear that may be used. Some of these regulations have been put into effect as amendments to the 1976 Magnuson Fisheries Act.
In Maine, herring is the leading catch in weight per year. Most are used for bait; some are canned as sardines in Maine’s single remaining cannery. In response to emerging world-wide markets, Maine has developed new fisheries: sea urchins, sea cucumbers, elvers, and a range of farmed fish and shellfish. Lobster, however, is Maine’s most valuable fishery.
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