There’s always talk about fishery closures, and many people in our community believe they are unwarranted “land grabs” without any true scientific evidence to back them up. This is a great episode with a woman who is both a science writer AND a Partner of a Commercial Fisherman who breaks down the reasons why fishermen and fishing communities are important to saving our seas for generations to come. 

POCF Danielle Hall is the Digital Producer for the Ocean Portal for the Smithsonian Institution and runs the Smithsonian National Museum’s ocean education website 

Danielle was featured on the POCF blog in 2021 when she first moved in with her fisherman on a small Island in Maine. At the time, she had no real background in commercial fishing, and acclimating to a very small fishing community was a big challenge. It’s interesting to hear how life has changed for Danielle, including becoming an advocate for commercial fishing communities and her work as a scientist. 

Danielle recently DM’d me with a message that I know many fishing couples and families have had behind closed doors: Fishermen are important resources for scientists and researchers to learn how to preserve the environment. 

Today, we’re checking in with Danielle to hear about her comment on a federal initiative she recently submitted. Danielle is also a great example of how POCFs contribute to fishery policy and how we have and can affect change. Let’s give Danielle the floor:

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