Author: Judy Benson

Sea to table: fish, shellfish & sea vegetables from local waters

The Spring-Summer 2018 issue of Wrack Lines focuses on local seafood, from newly abundant species to old favorites. Read how restaurants and markets are offering local seafood, availability of fish, shellfish and kelp, the experiences of a first-time clammer and some great recipes by Connecticut chefs.

Safety training helps fishermen survive in a dangerous job

Chris Fowler knows the perils of his occupation as a commercial fisherman, consistently ranked one of nation’s the most dangerous jobs. So a year after he began catching skate, whiting, squid, flounder and fluke from a vessel docked in New London, he took a day off from fishing to equip himself with the skills he needs to survive an accident at sea.
He was one of 36 commercial fishermen and state agency personnel who took part in a daylong safety and survival training course on May 10 sponsored by Connecticut Sea Grant, Fishing Partnership Support Services, the U.S. Coast Guard and UConn-Avery Point.

Long Island Sound resource inventory moves toward completion

Despite 300 pages of data, maps and listings of the ecological resources and human uses of Long Island Sound, the inventory created as the foundation for the first-ever marine spatial plan for the estuary isn’t yet complete. At least that’s the view of two of the speakers at the public hearing May 8 on the draft version of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan Resource and Use Inventory.

Students get real-world experience helping towns meet climate challenges

UConn students in the “Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Municipal Policy and Planning” class this spring had real-world experiences helping towns meet the challenges of rising sea levels and more frequent and intense storms, After spending the fall semester learning how climate change is impacting local communities, they spent the spring semester applying what they learned in individual towns.