Endangered Species: Chronicles of the Life of a New England Fisherman and the F/V Ellen Diane - Paperback

by David Goethel (Author)

If David Goethel was a cat, he would be in the market for more lives. But David is a small boat fisherman, an endangered species, who works tirelessly for himself and others like him to survive. Follow along on that journey, sea stories and autobiography mixed with twists and turns of science and management as David and his family work relentlessly to feed America sustainable seafood. Fishing is not a job; it is a way of life. David is determined to maintain that life fighting through storm tossed adversity that nature lays out endlessly, and the new sinister efforts of a modern society who live on land and have no concept of how those at sea ensure their own survival as well as the fish on which they depend. Reading Endangered Species will take readers on a journey through time while demonstrating why some individuals will always be called to work the sea.

Back Jacket

"If you've been out there, read this book. If you haven't been out there, never mind watching "reality television" shows - you should read this book, as well. David Goethel is the real thing: a one-of-a-kind mix of grit, guts, determination, passion for his livelihood, and respect for the resource. His story has as much to do with the future of commercial fishing as it does its past."

--Brian Robbins, senior contributing editor, Commercial Fisheries News

"New England fisheries have a rich history but are faced with several challenges that jeopardize their sustainability. Fortunately, we have fishermen like David Goethel, who dedicated his life to fishing, collaborative research, and stakeholder-driven management and give us hope for creative solutions. I can't think of a person who taught me more about the marine ecosystem, fish biology, fisheries, and effective policies than David. I expect this book will give us the insights we need to sustain the fisheries he loves."

--Steve Cadrin, PhD, University of Massachusetts"

"David's book makes you feel like you are personally on the crew of his fishing boat the Ellen Diane. As a reporter, when I had a question about fishing, he was the credible source."

--Roger Wood, associate publisher and podcast producer, InDepthNH

"As a ground fish "non permit holder" I learned a lot from David about dealing with the complexity of Federal fairness while watching him work so hard to survive from the North Atlantic fishery. Yet, David Goethel most importantly showed me by example how one deals with impossible road blocks in commercial fishing and personal life. Read Dave Goethel's Endangered Species. It's tough to put down."

--John Bell, Mayor of the City of Gloucester, MA, 2002-2008, chair and a founder of The Northeast Seafood Coalition

"Dave Goethel's book tells a compelling story of his lifelong love of the ocean and passion for fishing. The book chronicles many fascinating stories of the joys and perils of his journey which starts as a young boy with his father on deep sea fishing boats and moves to being a captain of those same boats while getting a college degree in biology before becoming a commercial fisherman and eventually a fisheries manager. The author also provides a thought-provoking picture of fisheries management and commercial fishing in New England and offers potential solutions for conserving both the fish resources and the small boat commercial fishermen who provide fresh fish for our tables."

--Doug Grout, retired fisheries manager and fisheries biologist