The Blue Fish Radio Show

While some can’t wait for the debate about forward facing sonar to end, others believe we aren’t finished by a long shot. Regulators in the U.S. are actually surveying anglers for their views on whether the technology should be banned. We reached out to professional angler David Chong for his views on the topic. David is one of Canada’s top professional bass anglers and a long-time representative of many fishing, boating and electronic brands. Welcome back David to The Blue Fish Radio Show!

In the Blue fish News on CFN Live on March 25 2024 Lawrence and Scottie discuss the important role of local champions, the “World Unseen” exhibit, the 2024 walleye and perch Lake Erie commercial harvest “total allowable catch”, impacts of open pen fin-fish aquiculture, the state of Great Lakes fisheries, commercial fisher protests underway in Newfoundland / Labrador, the growth of small scale farm operations across Canada, dangers associated with family farming, the return of small scale commercial fishing, supporting local seafood fishers, and Canada’s signature on the new World Trade Organization high seas fishing treaty.

Terry Rees and his 20 years with FOCA Director of the Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations for twenty years, and recently announced that he will be moving on. Terry’s leadership on countless water quality issues over the years has served the over-500 cottage associations that are affiliated with FOCA, and the knowledge and experience he’s amassed is significant. Terry is our guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show where he talks about a wide range of issues, strategies, programs and regulations meant to maintain a strong one-health relationship between property owners and the waters they love and appreciate.

Watersheds Canada on Fish HabitatLawrence Gunther speaks with the new Executive Director of Water Sheds Canada Robert J. Pye, and Melissa Dakers, Habitat and Stewardship Program Manager, about their work on creating resilient fish habitat on The Blue fish Radio Show. Robert has many years of experience in promoting fishing and conservation, and Mel is led the charge to expand the charity’s shoreline restoration programs to include shoreline wetlands and fish habitat. Learn how their programs operate year-round, how you can get involved or learn more, and some exciting news about what’s coming up! This is our 3rd episode featuring Watersheds Canada over the past six years, and we are excited to witness the evolution of their focus on fish!

Blue Fish News Live on CFN March 18 2024Lawrence and Scottie talk about the role of mentors, fertile Grass Carp  in the Great Lakes, school instruction about invasives, Scotty Fishing’s role in schools with donating hatchery equipment, ice fishing and Great Lakes ice coverage stats, Lakes Superiors designation as the fastest warming lake in the world, and advocacy efforts to have B.C.’s Chinook salmon labeled as unsustainable to properly advise consumers, and how some stocks are bouncing back.

E435 In Search of the Great Canadian Shark with Dr Chris Harvey-ClarkDr. Chris Harvey-Clark is one of Canada’s leading shark researchers and a frequent shark expert guest on TV and in documentaries. Chris just released his new book, “In Search of the Great Canadian Shark.” Chris speaks with host Lawrence Gunther about his numerous shark encounters and the work he’s assisting with to track Great White Sharks in Atlantic Canada. To buy the book send an email to ChrisHarveyClark@Gmail.Com.

Two new books are discussed, “In search of the Great Canadian Shark”, and “Thinking Big About Small-Scale Fisheries. Lawrence and Scottie discuss Lawrence’s work with Canon to launch the new tactile printer for the blind. The unknown Arctic fishes and control over the new commercial fishery. The extreme age of Greenland Sharks and traditional techniques to cure their meat. The movement of fish species north into the Arctic Ocean. The bid by recreational fishers in Newfoundland / Labrador to increase personal harvest limits of Northern Cod. What Muskie eat. Good news about Atlantic Salmon on a New Brunswick River thanks to a new fish-friendly bridge. New data on chemical pollutants in the St. Lawrence River stemming from treated sewage waste releases. The success of the “swish and spit” program for preventing invasive aquatic species from entering the Great Lakes. The impact of 70 new species of invasive earth worms brought to North America. A delayed oil spill mitigation effort on the Fraiser River. Methane gas leakage into the atmosphere. Efforts to create a giant garbage incinerator on the banks of the Ottawa river. Numbers of Great Lakes water usage and releases for 2022.

The Blue Fish News Live on Canadian Fishing Network includes a quick overview of the new book, “Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries”. Lawrence and Scottie talk about  the new Inuit Arctic commercial fisheries . A comparison between the consolidation of Canada’s agriculture sector and what is happening with our commercial fisheries. The growth of Canada’s community supported fisheries. Research showing that male bass left alone during the six-week spawning season raise 4-times more fry than bass that are angled, and how seasonal sanctuaries could replicate this result. Where to buy fresh sustainably caught shrimp and other seafood. A huge Chinook fish kill caused by a commercial fishing vessel releasing bycatch off the coast of Vancouver Island. And the award given to Dr. Steven Cook from Carleton University by the International Game Fish Association.

This past December a new e-book called “Thinking Big about Small-Scale Fisheries in Canada” was released and can be downloaded for free. The book is a project of “Too Big to be Ignored Canada, a new Cross-Canadian research and knowledge sharing hub focused on increasing the visibility, recognition, and enhancement of small-scale fisheries in Canada. Evan J. Andrews, editor of the book, and Kristen Lowitt, co-author of chapter #6, are Lawrence’s guests on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Link to hear Lawrence, Evan and Kristen discuss the book, and the many common challenges facing Canadian and other small-scale fisheries around the world.

Scottie and Lawrence discuss the Ottawa Boat and Outdoor Show, boat prices, Striped Bass predation of salmon Smoltz, new Indigenous Conserved and Protected Area in Manitoba, leaving local communities out of marine protection talks, and offshore wind power and what it means for fishing.

Lawrence and Scottie discuss the evolution of outdoor shows, Blue Fish Canada’s mandate, one health, next generation anglers, and what constitutes sustainable fishing.

Scottie and Lawrence discuss aquatic invasive species, Grass Carp, Tench, state of Great Lake’s commercial fishery, fish consumption advisories, Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes, sewage releases, eating Great Lakes Salmon, the Red Fish commercial fishery about to open on the Golf of St. Lawrence, carbon releases caused by large commercial draggers stirring the ocean bottom, and salmon plasticity.

Lawrence And Scottie examine the spread of Gobies throughout southern Ontario, and where we are with electric boats. Recorded live on Canadian Fishing Network on February 5, 2024.

Jeff Butler produces the biweekly newsletter Plug Boats featuring everything electric that has to do with boat propulsion. After the big electric boat advertising push by organizers of the 2024 Toronto International Boat Show, I knew I had to get Jef on the podcast to find out more about electric boats. He did not disappoint – link to hear my conversation with Jeff Butler from Plug Boats on The Blue fish Radio Show.

The Great Lakes Fish Health Network led the charge to research and pen an article titled, “Governing for transboundary environmental justice: a scientific and policy analysis of fish consumption advisory programs in the Upper St Lawrence River.” On January 29 2024 Lawrence and Scotty discuss why different government jurisdictions offer contradictory fish consumption advisories on Canadian Fishing Network Live on Facebook. Link below to read the entire article on Facets Journal:https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/full/10.1139/facets-2023-0072

It’s always a pleasure to speak with artists who have a focus on fish on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Nick Mayer has been earning his living full time painting fish and related fish art, and judging from the reaction in my own home, a truly extraordinary artist. His Mission is to connect People with Nature by appreciating it’s beauty. Not only does Nick paint, but He’s caught over 75 species of fish on a fly rod including Sailfish, Sharks, Tarpon and Muskie. You can learn More About Nick's Work at https://www.nickmayerart.com. Enjoy the podcast as Nick and I discuss his journey from marine biologist to successful artist!

On Canadian Fishing Network Live Lawrence and Scotty talk about the slow start to the ice fishing season, Great Lakes ice coverage, the importance of women fishing associations, Lawrence’s editorial on finding commonalities between indigenous fishers and recreational anglers, threats posed by Alberta’s irrigation channels to wild Cutthroat Trout, and their 130 lakes suitable for ice fishing, five fishing apps anglers are recommended to have on their phones, and other technology Lawrence uses as a person without sight.

Abraham Francis is a member of the Mohawks of Akwesasne where he serves as the Environmental Science Officer. Abe speaks with Lawrence about the historic connection Mohawk First Nations people have with the fish of the St. Lawrence River, why his people were forced to suspend this connection for the past two generations, what’s being done to re-build this relationship, and why understanding fish health and fish contamination is crucial to reconciliation.

Catch the Blue Fish News Live on Canadian Fishing Network for January 8 2024. Lawrence Gunther and Scottie Martin cover finesse fishing trends, fishery biologist scholarships, Clam Pro Tackle’s commitment to move away from Lead, and up-coming outdoor shows:

National Geographics Monster Fish TV hosts Zeb Hogan and Stefan Lovgren have just released their new book, Chasing Giants, In Search of the World’s Largest Freshwater Fish. Zeb Hogan is a research biologist at the University of Nevada, an advisor to the UN Convention of Migratory Species, and our guest on The Blue Fish Radio Show. Zeb’s adventures around the world researching and filming over 30 one-hour specials for Nat-Geo TV have both amazed viewers world-wide and identified the five most common threats to the world’s largest freshwater fishes. A scientist and TV host who enjoys fishing as much as he does researching fish, Zeb has probably checked off every fish on the bucket list.