Lenfest Ocean Program Research Series Reports

Are Antarctic Minke Whales Unusually Abundant?, January 2010
The study’s findings indicate that the Southern Ocean minke whale population around Antarctica has not grown unnaturally large in the wake of industrial whaling, which decimated populations of other larger whales in the region.

Catch Shares Improve Consistency, not Health, of Fisheries, December 2009
Catch share programs result in more consistent and predictable fisheries but do not necessarily improve ecological conditions, according to a new study published by the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

New England Fisheries Enforcement, June 2009
Study calls for smart compliance program that focuses enforcement and penalties on frequent offenders, while strengthening the basis of moral obligations to comply.

Subsidies to U.S. Fisheries, February 2009
Study shows that fishing subsidies in the U.S. are larger and more harmful than previously thought.

Atlantic Sharks at Risk, June 2008
Results of study show critical need for management action to prevent shark population depletion.

Shark Declines in the Mediterranean Sea, April 2008
Study suggests the Mediterranean Sea may be losing large predatory sharks.

Effects of Losing Top Predators, April 2008
Loss of top marine predators could have greater impacts than previously understood.

Global Assessment of Aquaculture Impacts on Wild Salmon, February 2008
A new study finds a widespread negative impact of aquaculture farms on wild salmon survival.

Aquaculture Impacts on Wild Salmon, December 2007
A new study shows that parasites from fish farms may drive some wild salmon populations towards local extinction.

Setting Annual Catch Limits for U.S. Fisheries, September 2007
A new approach to setting catch limits may help end overfishing in the United States.

Have Gray Whales Recovered from Whaling?, August 2007
New study suggests historic Pacific gray whale populations were three to five times larger than previously believed.

Strengthing European Fisheries Management: Options for Enforcing the Shark Finning Ban, May 2007
Restrictions designed to accommodate a variety of processing practices hamper effective regulation of shark finning. This can be resolved by requiring fishers to land sharks with fins still attached.

Managing Bull Kelp Forests, April 2007
Careful management of this useful but fragile resource is recommended to ensure benefits to humans and wildlife.

Are Circle Hooks Effective?, February 2007
Circle hooks have reduced turtle deaths in some trials, but are not universally successful at reducing the accidental catch of sea turtles.

Strengthening Rebuilding Plans: Three Recommendations for Action, September 2006
Better design and implementation of rebuilding plans may help restore depleted fisheries.

Rebuilding U.S. Fisheries, August 2006
Ten years after the legislative mandate to rebuild fisheries, most fish stocks that should be rebuilt by now are still in poor shape.