The bills, passed in the state Senate on June 20, did not leave the house committee on agriculture before state representatives left for vacation on Friday. But that doesn't mean the house won't consider other legislation regarding the farms when it returns to session July 12. The practice was initiated by a 2002 Environmental Protection Agency agreement intended to compare the largely voluntary agriculture program with the DEQ permit process. The bills were intended to try to exempt most...

The New England Fisheries Management Council moved in the right direction June 21 when it voted to consider proposals from New Bedford fishermen to create three sectors two for draggers that target Georges Bank cod, yellowtail flounder and winter flounder, and a third for fixed-gear vessels that target only cod. July 01, 2007 6:00 AM Like the proposed "point system" for commercial fishing limits we supported in March, a new plan to form fishing groups, or "sectors," represents an...

The public hunger to shop ethically, locally and sustainably - a phenomenon that reached its acme with the high-profile opening last month of the American Whole Foods Market in London's Kensington High Street - is eating up British crops faster than farmers can produce them. The public hunger to shop ethically, locally and sustainably - a phenomenon that reached its acme with the high-profile opening last month of the American Whole Foods Market in London's Kensington High Street - is...

The majority of the samples come from the commercial fishing industry, but some of the species aren't popular commercial catches, so the commission is turning to recreational fishermen to fill the gaps. Next time you slice up your favorite saltwater fish, consider donating its carcass to science. Researchers are interested in how long the fish are living, how big they're growing and other details such as the ratio of females to males to determine what that might mean for the viability of...

If you have family photos of Everett-based boats and commercial fishers, or know someone who does, committee members want to talk with you. Zuanich, who comes from a fishing family, said the group is interested in local boats being built or operated and the people involved. The photos need to include a written description, the dates and locations where they were shot, identification of people in the photo and any other related information. Everett once had a very strong fishing fleet that...