A Scene from Newfoundland
Today’s photo brings us to the heart of a hard lesson. When the collapse of the Atlantic Cod population was noticed in the 1990s, the Canadian Federal Government placed a moratorium on fishing of the species.
Cod populations were estimated to be at a startling 1% of their original numbers in North Atlantic waters. The U.S. has been trying quotas with targets and timelines. Since then, there have been additional drops in the estimated population. NOAA cut fishing allocations even further, as recently as last year.
The economic importance of the cod fishing industry was never a question, but the future of the species still is.
We thank Dan Conlin for this view of one of our current environmental challenges, just as we’ll show your view of our successes; large or small. State of the Environment is about your view of our lives and environment today.
Photos may be submitted from around the world to State of the Environment on Flickr through the end of 2013.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.