Rhode Island’s kayakers and canoers now have a crystal clear idea of what kind of waters they’re getting into. The Rhode Island Blueways Alliance, a nonprofit organization, released 20 detailed maps of paddle trails throughout the state on Monday. more

The New England Fishery Management Council’s executive committee may cut the allowable cod catch for fishermen by up to 72 percent, the Gloucester Times reports. more

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is slated to begin a series of hearings later this month to determine if river herring qualify as a threatened species, according to the Gloucester Times. more

Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank declared a commercial fishery failure in the Northeast groundfish fishery for the May 1, 2013 fishing season, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday. more

Workers in the Northeast groundfishery die at a rate of 600 fatalities per 100,000 full-time employees, making it the deadliest fisheries job in the country, WBUR reported. more

U.S. seafood landings reached a 17-year high in 2001, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. more

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse will receive the inaugural Admiral James D. Watkins Award for dedication to the oceans and ocean science from the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. more

Ever-wary local fishermen welcome the Sept. 13 U.S. Department of Commerce declaration of the New England groundfish fishery as a national disaster, but they wonder if any federal money that follows to Rhode Island will get to those who need it before it’s too late. more

Brad Read, along with his brother Ken, was recently presented the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association’s inaugural Anchor Award. The award recognizes those who make a significant contribution to Rhode Island and its marine trades. Read is executive director of Sail Newport, a public-access sailing center that creates affordable sailing opportunities and draws regattas to Newport. Read, who was chair of the America’s Cup World Series Host Committee, was a central player in drawing this summer’s America’s Cup event back to Rhode Island waters. more

On Wednesday night, the New England Fishery Management Council voted to cut the catch limit on Gulf of Maine cod by 77 percent, a move the opposition claims is tantamount to shutting down the industry, The Gloucester Times reported. more