November 9, 2009 - At 330 feet long with 180 pounds of fish, 200 pounds of rice (dry weight), 80 pounds each of avocado and cucumber, the California roll created by students at UC California Berkeley is the longest piece of sushi the world has ever seen. Berkeley being Berkeley, the last 15 feet of the roll used tofu rather than fish to satisfy the needs of vegetarians. The record-setting roll was created to honor the 50th anniversary.of the university's Center for Japanese Studies. The effort was sponsored by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute as part of their plan to raise awareness of the Alaskan sustainable salmon fishing industry. Here's more from Ron Hogan at PopFi.com.

October 17, 2009 - The ninth annual Wellfleet OysterFest takes place today and tomorrow. From the website:

This two-day street party celebrates Wefllfleet's famous oysters, clams and shellfishing traditions and brings together locals and visitors alike for a weekend full of hometown flavor and big time fun. The town center becomes a walking district that offers something for everyone: local cuisine, arts and crafts, children's activities, educational exhibits, live music and the Oyster Shuck-Off competition. Satellite events away from the crowds, and many with the beautiful harbor as a backdrop, showcase all that our village has to offer: beachcombing and bird walks, a 5K road race and children's fun run, cooking demonstrations, tasting seminars, book talks, and oyster grant tours.

Families have a FREE children’s area to explore with a moonbounce, pumpkin decorating, face painting, oyster jewelry making, a steel drum workshop, sing-a-longs and more. Over 90 regional artisans will sell their crafts. Live music on the Main Stage will feature many local and regional bands.

The 'Fest is made possible through collaboration with the Town of Wellfleet, the support of many generous area businesses and shellfishermen, a wonderful group of volunteers and, most importantly, the weekend's dedicated revelers. Entry is free.

October 7, 2009 - BOSTON — At the peak of lobster season in the Bay State, Governor Deval Patrick has declared October 7 “Lobster Day,” and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) encourages residents to observe it by enjoying local lobsters from their favorite fish markets and restaurants.

“For generations, the lobster has provided a source of food, jobs and economic activity, and a way of life that dates back to the Native Americans and the first European settlers,” declared Governor Patrick, whose proclamation also noted the value of lobster fishermen to the Commonwealth’s economy, and the abundance of lobster in Massachusetts waters in early October.

According to DFG’s Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), lobsters catches are the highest in the late summer and early fall months when a rise in water temperatures in near shore waters, an increase in lobster feeding activity and inshore migration bring an abundance of lobsters into Massachusetts waters. With high catch rates, the fall months see a drop in prices for consumers. According to DMF data, the ex-vessel price of lobsters (price paid to fishermen or lobster catches) has declined about 25 percent in the last four years, making lobster an affordable choice for consumers at home and at local restaurants. In addition, American lobster provides nutritional value. It is low in fat, calories and cholesterol and high in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc and Vitamins B12, B6, B3 (niacin), B2 (riboflavin), and A.

The Massachusetts lobster industry is diligent in its effort conserve the lobster population. Harvesting is regulated by strict controls on licenses and traps fished, as well as biological measures to protect and conserve lobster populations, such as minimum and maximum legal sizes, and the mark and release of reproductive females. Massachusetts lobstermen are also at the forefront of efforts to protect marine mammals. Massachusetts is the first and only state to require lobstermen to fish exclusively by “sinking” line between traps in state waters, minimizing the risk of trapping whales and other marine mammals.

Facts about lobster and the Massachusetts lobster fishery:
- In 2008, Massachusetts commercial fishermen landed more than 11.7 million pounds of lobster in Massachusetts, generating a gross income of $50.4 million.
- Massachusetts’ lobster fishery generated about $252 million for the Commonwealth’s economy in 2008 by doing business with marine suppliers, bait dealers, lobster dealers, restaurants, retail outlets, supply manufacturers, fuel sales, boat and engine builders, banks and insurance companies.
- There are more than 1,330 lobster permits issued to commercial fishermen in Massachusetts and 11,000 recreational lobster permits. A total of 49 Massachusetts ports have commercial lobster trap fishermen.
- Massachusetts has about 335,000 lobster traps in state waters and another 85,000 just outside state territorial waters.
- Massachusetts-based lobster dealers are the chief distributers of American lobster to the world market.
- Massachusetts lobstermen have removed 3,000 miles of floating rope from waters in an effort to reduce the risk of entanglements of large whales, including the endangered Northern Right Whale, and other marine mammals.

From DFG Press Release

July 1, 2009 - Canadian chefs are cooking up controversy in Montreal serving entrees with seal. Seal is being offered on menus in different ways such as steak, pepperoni, tartare and pan seared with cranberry sauce. The dark red meat is said to taste like beef with a hint of fish. Seal hunting (and serving on menus) is illegal in the USA and in Europe, where there have been strong protests against hunting seals for fur. Some chefs have even received death threats.

Canada allows two seal hunts each year: a small one by Inuits in the Arctic, mainly a subsistence hunt for food, and a much larger commercial hunt, primarily for fur, on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. In the St. Lawrence hunt fishermen are allowed to kill 280,000 seals out of a herd that Canadian officials estimate at 5.6 million. About 15,800 Canadians hold seal hunting licenses.

Here's the full story from Micheline Maynard for the NY Times.