PODCAST · society
Maine Coast Dock Talk
by Maine Coast Fishermen's Association
A podcast about commercial fishing, the people, the places, and the environment of coastal Maine. Maine Coast Dock Talk is a project of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.
Episodes
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New England Fisheries and Risk Policy
With the New England Fishery Management Council implementing a new risk policy this year, MCFA’s Hannah MacDonald sat down with Megan Ware of the Maine Department of Marine Resources to discuss what this means for our fishermen and fisheries management
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The History and Future of the USDA office of Seafood
On April 15, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of the Office of Seafood. Ben Martens sits down with Noah Oppenheim of the Fishing Communities Coalition to talk about the history behind this announcement and what this Office might mean for the future of Seafood...
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Black Sea Bass in the Gulf of Maine with Marissa McMahan
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...
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Understand the WHOI loc-ness project
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...
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Talking Red Cod with Graham Sherwood of GMRI
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...
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The Uncertain Future of Maine Shrimp
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...
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Fisheries and the fall of Chevron
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...
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The Opportunity of eDNA for Maine's fisheries
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...
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A Weakening Gulf Stream with David Reidmiller
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…
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A haddock disaster with Dr. Jamie Cournane
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...
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Colleen Coogan and NOAA's Take Reduction Team
Colleen Coogan of NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, joins Dock Talk to give an update on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team's work to protect northern right whales. What's on the table? How is the Take Reducation Team determining "risk" to right whales? Who is...
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Menhaden Updates with Megan Ware of Maine Department of Marine Resources
Menhaden has been referred to as the "most important fish in the sea" in reference to its role as forage in the Atlantic. Its importance to Maine's working waterfront is much more nuanced as it's only recently returned to Maine waters but has already become of outsized importance as forage and…
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MLA's Patrice McCarron with Right Whales and Lobster Legal Updates
The Maine Lobstermen's Association's executive director Patrice McCarron joins Dock Talk to give an update on three lawsuits moving forward regarding the future of the commercial lobster fishery in Maine in response to a call to protect right whales. Right whales are a critically endangered…
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New Bedford Light's Will Sennott On Private Equity in New England's Fisheries
The New Bedford Light and ProPublica recently released a special report entitled "How Foreign Private Equity Hooked New England’s Fishing Industry" written by Will Sennott. Will Sennott joins MCFA's Ben Martens in this episode of Dock Talk to talk about his article and what it might mean for the...
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Fishery Friendly Climate Action
Sarah Schumann is a 15+ year veteran of the Rhode Island and Alaska seafood industries as well as a passionate advocate for the ocean ecosystems that sustain wild fisheries. In this episode of Dock Talk, Ben Martens interviews Sarah about her latest project the "Fishery Friendly Climate Action...
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On Demand Fishing Gear
In 2021, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in partnership with Homarus Strategies began a one-year investigation into the issues and conflicts surrounding the integration of on-call fishing gear (another term for “ropeless”) technology in New England. MCFA's Ben Martens interviews…
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On Gentrification in Maine
NOAA Fisheries Science Center recently released a story map titled the "Social Indicators of Gentrification Pressure" which explores how gentrification is affecting 29 fishing communities in the Northeast United States. Eight different Maine communities were highlighted in this work so we invited...
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Scallop Electronic Monitoring in the Gulf of Maine
The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association has been working with scallop fishermen in the Gulf of Maine to pioneer an electronic monitoring program to collect data for the fishery. Learn more about this program and the work MCFA is doing to create a sustainable fishery for the next generation of…
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Fish Wrap: 30x30 and the Fishing Industry
Maine Coast Dock Talk's first "Fish Wrap" dives into the concept of 30x30 and the impact that protecting 30% of the US oceans may have on fishermen. Ben Martens was joined by Leigh Habegger of Seafood Harvesters of America, Noah Oppenheim of Homarus Strategies, and Monique Coombs of the Maine…
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Johnny Shockley, Founder Blue Oyster Environmental
What are nutrient credits and how can they help revitalize Chesapeake Bay fishing communities while also cleaning up the bay? MCFA's Ben Martens interviews Johnny Shockley, a third-generation Maryland waterman, oyster aquaculturist, and founder of Blue Oyster Environmental about his work in...
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Patrice McCarron on Right Whales and Maine's Lobstermen
In mid-April 2020, a federal judge ruled that NOAA fisheries had not been doing enough to protect right whales. How did we get here? What does this mean for Maine fishermen? Where do we go from here? Ben Martens interviews Patrice McCarron of the Maine Lobstermen's Association for some answers.
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Interview with Alan Tracy, CEO Vessel Services
Maine Coast Fishermen's Association's Ben Martens talks Alan Tracy, CEO of Vessel Services. Vessel Services has a long history of supplying Maine boats with ice, fuel, and gear. In this Covid-19 free Pod, learn a little bit about how they were formed, what they are doing to evolve, and the…
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The case for cod
The Conservation Law Foundation has filed a petition demanding that the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Secretary of Commerce take immediate action to end overfishing of Atlantic cod. Ben Martens and Monique Coombs discuss what this actually means, what might be the impacts on Maine...
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The Maine Scallop Lottery
Host Ben Martens answers a listener question about the lottery system used to issue commercial scallop permit in the state of Maine. Why do we have it? Where did it come from? And what will be its impact on Maine fishing communities? Featuring music from Sara Trunzo
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Ian Mayo, the steward of Sturdivant's Wharf
Ian Mayo of Mayo Enterprises sits down with host Ben Martens to talk about owning and maintaining Sturdivant's Wharf in Portland, ME. Eroding piers, crane operations, dredging, boat maintenance, fish, seafood and politics. What does it take to keep a wharf in Maine working?
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Portland Working Waterfront Update SHORT
In response to concerned fishermen who had started a city-wide referendum to limit the unconstrained and unplanned development along the working waterfront in Portland Maine, waterfront advisory group was created. In previous Dock Talk podcasts you heard from the fishermen, managers, and wharf...
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Terry Alexander on Right Whales
Host Ben Martens sits down with Maine fisherman Terry Alexander to talk about the current issue facing right whales and the impacts that new rules and regulations may have on Maine's commercial fishing industry. You can learn more about this issues on our website. www.mainecoastfishermen.org
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Interview with Pat Keliher, Commissioner Maine DMR
Ben Martens sits down with the Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Pat Keliher to talk about the future of Maine's commercial fisheries. What kind of impact will a reduction in bait, a push to protect migrating whales, development pressure, and climate change have on one of Maine's...
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A potential change to lobster licenses in Maine
Host Ben Martens sits down with Rep. Jay McCreight to talk about a bill she has introduced in the Maine legislature which would change when someone can get a lobster license. Currently, fishermen who aren't young enough for the student program, have to sit on a wait list to enter the fishery.…
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Working Waterfront Part 3 - A Way of Life
In this podcast, we hear about the longtime struggle of the fishermen from the perspective of the fishing families, artists, and city stakeholders. The Perfect Port is part one of a three-part podcast series about the Portland Working Waterfront and the issues that have arisen between commercial...
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Working Waterfront Part 2 - Rising Tide
In this podcast, we talk about the development of Commercial Street over time and the regulations that are intended to protect the commercial marine activities that take place out of the city. The Perfect Port is part one of a three-part podcast series about the Portland Working Waterfront and…
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Working Waterfront Part 1: The Perfect Port
In this podcast, you will hear from two well-respected members of the fishing industry, Jim Buxton and Willis Spear, about their histories, how they have seen Commercial St. change in their time in Portland and the issues that they face presently. This podcast is dedicated to the fishermen...
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Episode 7: A Conversation with John Bullard, Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator, NOAA Fisheries
Join us today for a thought-provoking interview with John Bullard, the Regional Administrator in charge of NOAA Fisheries from Maine to Cape Hatteras, NC. A native of New Bedford, Massachusetts (and the city's former mayor), John believes strongly that protecting the soul of New England means...
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Episode 6: A History of the Herring Industry with Gladden Schrock
Join us for this episode of Maine Coast Dock talk, where we take a trip down memory lane with fisherman Gladden Schrock. The interview you are about to hear is part of our Oral History Initiative. More histories can be found on the MCFA website.
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Episode 5: Marine Spatial Planning with Nick Battista
This week Ben chats with the Island Institute's Nick Battista about marine spatial planning. Not many people know about marine spatial planning, but it has a huge impact on the way we all interact with the ocean, whether it's for fun or, like commercial fishermen, for our livelihoods. Ben and...
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Episode 4: The importance of eating seafood with Barton Seaver, chef and author
Join us for this very special episode of Maine Coast Dock talk, where Ben asks chef and author Barton Seaver why people should eat more fish. Barton, a new resident of Maine, specializes in seafood and has published two beautiful cookbooks on the subject (see MCFA blog for links). Ben and Monique...
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Episode 3: Connecting rivers to the sea with Anne Hayden
Join us for a fascinating interview with Anne Hayden of the Downeast Fisheries Partnership. On this episode of Maine Coast Dock Talk, Anne and our host Ben discuss the ways that forage fish populations connect Maine's rivers to the Gulf of Maine. Ben and Monique also explain why you should be...
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Episode 2: Controversy on Cashes Ledge
This week on Dock Talk, we'll discuss the recent controversy over the potential designation of a Marine National Monument in the Gulf of Maine with Michael Conathan, the Director of Ocean Policy at the Center for American Progress. Ben and Monique will also chat about the future of fisheries and...
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Episode 1: Welcome to Dock Talk / Interview with Gerry Cushman
Welcome to the docks! Join us for an introduction to life on coastal Maine's working waterfronts. Meet the staff of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association and listen along as Executive Director Ben Martens interviews Gerry Cushman, a fifth-generation fisherman and lifelong resident of Port…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Maine Coast Dock Talk have?
Maine Coast Dock Talk currently has 39 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Maine Coast Dock Talk about?
A podcast about commercial fishing, the people, the places, and the environment of coastal Maine. Maine Coast Dock Talk is a project of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.
How often does Maine Coast Dock Talk release new episodes?
Maine Coast Dock Talk has 39 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Maine Coast Dock Talk?
You can listen to Maine Coast Dock Talk on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Maine Coast Dock Talk?
Maine Coast Dock Talk is created and hosted by Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.
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