Rights and Responsibilities Surrounding the Decline of the Cape Cod Fishery
Chase Larimore
Senior division
Individual website
Website 1159 words
Process paper 393 words
I chose my topic based on my interests in life. I am very passionate about protecting the environment so I knew I wanted to do something related to environmental protection. I also have a passion for fishing and have family on Cape Cod and spend time there so I decided to make my project about the rights and responsibilities surrounding the Cape Cod fishery. This connects to the theme of rights and responsibilities because the fishery needs people to fulfill their responsibilities to protect it to survive and access to a healthy fishery is the right of the people.
I started my research by finding general knowledge in encyclopedic sources and searching for scientific journals mostly in JSTOR. These were to build a base of knowledge as well to find highly reliable sources to build my knowledge base. I then began to look outside databases and looked more at official publications by the government. One of my best sources is the 2022 Striped Bass Stock Assessment report which gave me very valuable data relating to population reports and other vital information to understanding the striped bass fishery. Next I turned to newspapers to find important information on public perception and current actions. One of the best sources I found that helped me with information about tuna was the New York Times article about tuna which explained some of the current things taking place in illegal harvesting of tuna. Finally, I looked for information on the right to a healthy fishery. NOAA helped a lot because part of its mission statement discusses its goal of protecting marine ecosystems.
I got my basic argument outline on my website and then began to trim it down to make it easier to read. Then I added all my images and organized them.
The decline in the population of fish around Cape Cod was partially due to mismanagement which is a disregard of the government's responsibilities to protect the fishery. That mismanagement violates people's right to a healthy fishery. Another part of the decline was people's disregard for their responsibilities as the people who were utilizing their right to use the fishery.
The decline of Cape Cod’s Fishery serves as a cautionary tale for what happens when rights to healthy ecosystems are violated, and responsibilities aren't followed. In the instance of the Cape Cod fishery generations of fishermen are hurt, the economy is hurt, and much more.
Primary Sources
Baker, Billy. "Taking the Measure of a Striper Crisis: Stripers are the most Popular Saltwater Fish in New England, and the Fishing was Great Last Year. that's the Problem." Boston Globe, May 25, 2023, ProQuest. Web. 26 Dec. 2024.
The author consulted experts on the fishery along with other research and has experienced the popularity of striped bass fishing The article goes over the effect of the popularity of striped bass fishing. This connects to the theme of rights because it shows the effect of people exercising their right to fish.
Beswick, Aaron. "DFO raises striped bass recreational limit." The Chronicle Herald, 9 Apr. 2024. Press Reader. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
The author is a reporter who consulted government agencies and universities. The article discusses the increase of restrictions on striped bass fishing. This connects to the theme of responsibilities because it shows how people are trying to fulfill their responsibility to conservation and shows the desperate state of the fishery.
Celestino, Mike. "2022 Atlantic Striped Bass Stock Assessment Update Report." Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Nov. 2022. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
The authors are all part of fisheries management committees and have education in fisheries..
This source information on striped bass stocks throughout the years and mortality rates. This connects to the themes of rights and responsibilities because it shows the reasons why it's peoples responsibility to manage fisheries and shows what happens when people overstep their rights to fish and take too much.
"Cod Fishery Under Threat." Whuanganui Chronicle, 31 Oct. 2015. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
The Author consulted experts on this topic of the cod fishery. This newspaper talks about the danger of the cod crash. This connects to the historical context of the cod fishery because it shows how people felt about the dwindling cod stock.
The Fisheries of North America : Third Report of the Fisheries Committee; Including a Report by Rev. W. S. Green, M.A.Royal Dublin Society. JSTOR. Accessed 22 Sept. 2024.
The authoritativeness of the source
Tha author was a specialist in marine biology who was making observations about the North American fisheries in the late 1800s. This describes early degradation of the mackerel fishery and others. This connects to the theme of rights and responsibility because it shows the fishery that we have the responsibility to protect.
Gargan, Edward A. "Ban on Striped Bass." New York Times [New York City], 3 Apr. 1985. New York Times. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
The author is a reporter who lived through the moratorium and interviewed experts on the topic. This newspaper article shows the public's reaction to a striped bass moratorium and the public's view of historic striped bass regulation. Disconnect to the themes of rights and responsibilities because art talks about the government doing its responsibility to manage the strike bass population, and some people felt that that violated their rights.
"Historic photos: Cape Cod pics from the National Archives." Cape Cod Times. Cape Cod Times. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
The Cape Cod Times is along standing newspaper on Cape Cod. These photos show Cape Cods fishing history and shows the early days of cape cod commercial fishing. This connects to the theme of Responsibility because it shows what needs to be protected the historic cape cod fishery.
Huang, Samuel. Interview. 21 Dec. 2024.
Sam Huang works with commercial fishermen off of Cape Cod and islands to sell fresh fish directly to consumers. We discussed the dwindling striped bass population and the effect of poor angler practices, illegal harvest, and general over fishing. This connects to the theme of responsibilities because we discussed how anglers have not fulfilled their responsibilities of conservation.
Kaizer, Peter. "Our Dwindling Herring Stock." Boston Globe, Nov 16 2009, ProQuest. Web. 26 Dec. 2024.
This is published in a well-trusted newspaper by a veteran reporter who consulted experts. This newspaper article looks at the fall of herring stock an important bait fish to the fishery. This connects to the historical context of the dwindling fishery because having less bait makes it worse.
"Omnibus Essential Fish Habitat Amendment 2 Volume 2: EFH and HAPC Designation Alternatives and Environmental Impacts." NOAA, 10 Oct. 2017. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
This was published by NOAA a federal department for oceanographic study so they are one of the most reliable sources for fisheries data. This shows many great maps of essential fish habitats surrounding Cape Cod highlighting its importance as a fishery. This connects to the theme of responsibilities because it shows what a vital ecosystem we are responsible for protecting.
"Our Mission, Values and Vision." NOAA, 16 Oct. 2024.
This is published by NOAA and they are stating what their mission is. This article states that part of NOAA's mission is to protect the marine systems that Cape Cod fisheries fall under. This connects to the theme of rights and responsibilities because it is NOAA A division of the government taking responsibility for the management of fisheries.
"Ports of the Cape." Fishermen's Alliance, 25 Nov. 2022. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
The author of the site is deeply connected to the commercial fishing community of Cape Cod. This allows the author to show what the commercial fishing ports look like. The connects to the theme of responsibilities because it shows how many people are reliant on the fishery.
Secondary Sources
"Atlantic Striped Bass." NOAA Fisheries, 9 Sept. 2024. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
This is published by the department of Government which has studied the striped bass population.
this website gives a good overview of some problems with the straight bass population and also gives a overview of what is being done to manage and bring back the population to its former levels.
This connection to the themes of rights and responsibilities Because this website talks about how the government is trying to fulfill its responsibility to manage the population.
Baker, Beth. "Striped Bass Success Spawns New Legislation." BioScience, vol. 44, no. 8, 1994, pp. 520–22. JSTOR. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
The author is a professor of wildlife and fisheries and is published in peer reviewed journals
This source talks about the resurrection of the striped bass populations that stretched from the 70s 80s and 90s talks about the management strategies that were used to bring the population back from the brink
this connects to the theme of rights and responsibilities because it talks about the responsibilities of management of officially and how they are successful in bringing back a population.
Barringer, Felicity. "U.S. Declines to Protect the Overfished Bluefin Tuna." New York Times, 11 May 2011. New York Times. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
The author is a well-renowned journalist who has many major environmental stories for the New York Times. This article talks about how the US has failed to address the following bluefin to population that has had an effect in the Cape Cod fisher because of the decline the bluefin tuna leading to economic and ecological effects. This connects to the themes of responsibilities because it talks about the US fail its responsibility to protect the tuna population. Which intern affects the Cape Cod fishery.
Bolster, W. Jeffrey. "DISTRESS SIGNALS: HISTORICAL WAYPOINTS IN NORTHWEST ATLANTIC FISHERIES SINCE 1850." Oceanography, vol. 31, no. 2, 2018, pp. 206–17. JSTOR. Accessed 22 Sept. 2024.
The author is an expert of maritime, and environmental history at UNH and has published multiple books.
This source was useful because if provide information on import information on problems with the fish species that make up Cape Cod's fishery. This source connects to the theme of rights and responsibilities because it shows the natural resource that people are responsible for protecting.
Cumbler, John T. Cape Cod: An Environmental History of a Fragile Ecosystem. University of Massachusetts Press, 2014. JSTOR. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
The author is a well-renowned environmental historian who has done a lot of work surrounding Cape Cod. This book highlights some of the significant impacts of humans on the fishery. This connects to the theme of responsibilities because it shows what happens when we fail our responsibility to protect our fisheries.
Hackett, Steven C. "Fisheries, Marine: Management and Policy." Water: Science and Issues, edited by E. Julius Dasch, vol. 2, Macmillan Reference USA, 2003, pp. 65-69. Gale In Context: Environmental Studies. Accessed 22 Sept. 2024.
The author is a professor of economics specifically with a focus on environmental issues. This encyclopedia provides a good background on fisheries management as a whole. This connects to the theme of rights and responsibilities because management is the responsibility of the people and management protects the rights of people.
Hughes, Patricia E. "Marine Ecosystem Assessment of Pleasant Bay, Cape Cod, MA: Conclusions." Northeastern Naturalist, vol. 27, 2020, pp. 157–58. JSTOR. Accessed 22 Sept. 2024.
The author has been published in a well renowned peer reviewed nature journal. This paper shows one of the important ecosystems on cape cod and mentions some threats. This connects to the theme of rights and responsibility because it shows the ecosystem that we have the responsibility to protect.
Lam, Mimi E., and Daniel Pauly. "Who Is Right to Fish? Evolving a Social Contract for Ethical Fisheries." Ecology and Society, vol. 15, no. 3, 2010. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26268187. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024. Lam, Mimi E., and Daniel Pauly. "Who Is Right to Fish? Evolving a Social Contract for Ethical Fisheries." Ecology and Society, vol. 15, no. 3, 2010. JSTOR. Accessed 30 Sept. 2024.
The author is a world renowned marine biologist and an expert of fisheries. The source speaks on the rights that people have to fish and an ethical way to do it. This connects to the theme of rights because it talks about who has the right to físh.
Magnuson, John J., et al. "Whose Fish Are They Anyway?" Science, vol. 293, no. 5533, 2001, pp. 1267–68. JSTOR. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
This journal article was published in a well renowned peer reviewed science journal.
this article talks about who should have the right to the bluefin tuna and The degradation of the population that's happened and how could be rebuilt.
this connects to the themes of rights and responsibility because it discusses right surrounding bluefin tuna, and the responsibility of rebuilding the population
Safina, Carl. "Bluefin Tuna in the West Atlantic: Negligent Management and the Making of an Endangered Species." Conservation Biology, vol. 7, no. 2, 1993, pp. 229–34. JSTOR. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
This journal article is published and a reliable biology journal
This journal article talks about the mismanagement of the tune fisher in the Atlantic in about how that has brought that population closer to extinction
This connect the theme of rights and responsibilities because it talks about what happens when people skirt the responsibility of managing fisheries correctly and how that interacts with peoples right to fish in terms of decoration of population.
"Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna." NOAA Fisheries, NOAA, 9 Sept. 2024. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.
This document was published by a US government entity That employees scientific experts in fisheries to write the webpage. This website gives good insight into some of the management practices used to manage bluefin tuna population. This connects to the theme of the rights and responsibilities, because it talks about some of the steps that the government takes to fulfill its responsibility to manage the fishery.
"Getty Images Cape Cod Fishing Boat." Getty Images. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.
These are all images of Cape Cod fishing and related subjects like marinas. This shows a good visual of many of the topics I'm talking about like large fleet of boats and some of the technique used for fishing. This connects to the context of My project giving a good Visual for people.
McKenzie, Matthew. Environmental History, vol. 21, no. 2, 2016, pp. 405–07. JSTOR. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
The author has a PhD and specializes in marine environmental history. This review discusses the cautionary tail the book paints. This connects to the theme of responsibilities because it shows the effects of the failure of the responsibility to manage the fishery.