Weekly Recap, March 16-22: AI’s False Promise for Food Systems and More

Fishing vessel equipment and colorful nets in coastal waters with snow-capped mountains in the background

Here’s a look at some seafood stories we’re following:

Op-ed: The AI ‘Revolution’ Is a False Promise for Food Systems
This Civil Eats op-ed by family farm advocate Anthony Pahnke and NAMA board president Jason Jarvis explores big business’ push for AI in agriculture and fish farming. The authors explain why AI would deepen dependency and displace workers without improving food access.

Thousands of Alaskans Urge Begich to Ban Bottom Trawling
A piece in National Fisherman reports that thousands of Alaskans are calling on Rep. Nick Begich to support a ban on bottom trawling. The story highlights growing concern that trawling harms marine ecosystems and threatens the long-term sustainability of Alaska’s fisheries.

The MARA Act Would Open Our Oceans to the Harms of Factory Farming
A new piece in FoodPrint explains how the MARA Act would fast-track offshore fish farming in federal waters under the guise of “research.” It warns the bill could worsen ecosystem harms and funnel public resources to corporate aquaculture without benefiting fishing communities.

Scottish politician Ariane Burgess stands at a podium in parliament.

Ariane Burgess, a member of the Scottish Parliament, brings attention to salmon asthma, which many of Scotland’s fish farm workers suffer from. Photo: Scottish Parliament (via YouTube), CC BY 3.0

SNP Ministers “Are Ignoring Salmon Asthma Risks for Fish Farm Workers”
An investigation from a U.K.-based food workers union finds that Scotland’s fish farm workers face high risks of “salmon asthma” from airborne chemicals and fish proteins. Critics say officials aren’t doing enough to protect worker health in the nation’s growing salmon industry.

Catching the Codfather: Painting Fish (Part 5)
The fifth episode in WGBH’s Catching the Codfather podcast and video series follows fishing mogul Carlos Rafael, whose fraud scheme hinged on a system for mislabeling fish. It also explores how the federal catch shares program led to supply chain abuse that helped Raphael hoard fish. For more than 15 years, NAMA has opposed catch shares and advocated for community-supported fisheries.

Main photo courtesy of NOAA Fisheries