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.

Scotty and Lawrence discuss what it says about marine mammals when a large pod of dolphins surrounds a female whale about to give birth in order to protect her baby from sharks. Lawrence shares more news about the Future Angler Foundation, the rebounding Atlantic Cod stocks around Newfoundland, the important role of artisanal fishers, how commercial fishing should be regulated to address rapid advancements in fishing technology, DFO’s handle on ensuring our fisheries are sustainable, why fishing organizations are suing tire manufacturers, recently escaped Atlantic salmon from a fish farm in New Brunswick, the second year snow crab fishing off Alaska will be off limits, and the important role of the experimental lakes in north-west Ontario.

Scotty and Lawrence talk about the Ultimate Ice Fishing Show, and then Lawrence asks Scotty a series of questions on ice fishing preferences causing the CFN audience to wade in. Lawrence has several news items to share including a ban on fishing announced in certain national parks to control Whirling Disease, and news about the new Saskatchewan Fishing League App. Lawrence discusses his plans to take part in the coming year’s Tomcod ice fishing festival on the Lower St. Lawrence River.

Scotty and Lawrence talk about the Killer Whales off the coast of Spain that are routinely sinking pleasure boats, the hunting partnership between Killer Whales and Greenland hunters, Ontario’s MNRF fish species priorities, Watersheds Canada’s new direction and leadership with respect to fishing, the status of fish health on the Upper St. Lawrence River and the work of the River Institute, causes for the Muskie die-offs on the St. Lawrence, how pacific salmon adapted to the viruses in the Great Lakes after being introduced, recognition of new donors to the Blue Fish Exploration Centre, the Centre’s new Supreme Novo 38 woodstove, the Cabela’s store in Ottawa recent donation through their “round up for Conservation” program, why some people count down to retirement and their remaining fishing trips, what motivates us to go fishing, a conversation with the president of the Future Angler Foundation, the 148 million tons of seafood consumed by the world each year and how much of this is grown through aquiculture, and open pen fin-fish aquaculture versus closed containment.