It was hard to let these go!

Fresh off the press! Our perspective in @natrevbiodiv.nature.com discusses the wealth of information on biodiversity contained in historical sources, and its integration for long-term ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation. A thread on the paper and what led to it: rdcu.be/eEcIt

Guess where we’ve been this week! Hint: you might see a dolphin or two here 🐬 #destinationx #huntforherring #fishfriday

HERRING & POTATOES 🐟🥔 Herrings and potatoes played a vital role in the annual prosperity of coastal communities such as the Isle of Man. In the 1800's unproductive fishing seasons and harvests left the poorest with no source of food and income.

Thanks to NWIFCA, we've gotten our hands on some fascinating early 1900s reports from the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Committee 📚These reports include notes on the timing and success of the herring fishery, the condition of herring, and a district map revealing historic herring grounds!

Had a great trip to NW England last week! One highlight was our visit to Fleetwood Maritime Museum ⚓⛵ where staff and volunteers picked out a few hidden gems for us — including Close’s 1904 fishing chart of the Irish Sea, marking historic herring fishing grounds! 🗺️

We’re visiting NW England next week (23–27 June) to talk to locals from historic herring ports 🐟 If you’re from the area and know anything about the Irish Sea herring fishery (past or present), or know someone who does, please get in touch here or at [email protected]

Last week, we visited the Amgueddfa Forwrol Llyn Maritime Museum, which has an excellent exhibition on Nefyn herring 🐟, women of the sea 🙋‍♀️, and artefacts from other local fisheries 🦞. It’s a must-see if you’re in the area!

New paper 📢 Coral reef depth zonation patterns are not 'universal' and may be disrupted by local human impacts. We show evidence of spatially dependent effects of depth on benthic community structure across the Pacific Ocean. 🌊🧵⬇️

Wren hunting – on St Stephen’s day (26/27 December) – with sticks & stones – believed to result in good herring season 🐟🪶

📢 Calling all members of the fishing and seafood industry, historians, government and local experts! 🐟 Know where herring were caught, when they arrived, where they spawned, or how they were used? 🗣️ We want to hear from you! 📩 Contact [email protected]

From "kings" and "queens" to "over-day tarts" and "wine-drinkers", herring has held more titles than a Tudor monarch! 🐟 #FishFridays #Herring #OceansPast

How times have changed!

Extract from a 1682 book 'SALT AND SEA'. Apparently Welsh herring boats were piddling! 😂 This is a quote from an earlier 'paper' for 'parliament men', and 'fishmongers' by Captain Lloyd, Welsh gent and fisher. Does anyone know who this is? #EdwardLhuyd? #WelshHistory #OceansPast #FishFridays

And finally welcome to FisHistory @jangeerthiddink.bsky.social, a marine benthic ecologist who studies the effects of human disturbance on the benthos, and Dr Shaun Evans, the director of @ystadaucymru.bsky.social and Lecturer in Early modern and Welsh History @bangoruniversity.bsky.social

Welcome to FisHistory @georginahunt.bsky.social, a fisheries postdoc with a PhD in marine historical ecology 🐟 and @emilyphilly.bsky.social a fisheries research assistant with experience in Welsh fisheries 🦀🦞🐚

Welcome to FisHistory @alecbmmoore.bsky.social, a marine historical ecologist, and @leafyhistory.bsky.social, an associate lecturer @openuniversity.bsky.social and the author of The Atlas of Early Modern Wildlife 📘

Excited to be involved in this project!