S2E07: Fishing For the Future with Dr. Walt Golet

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Walt Golet, a brilliant scientist from the University of Maine, to dive into a revolutionary project that could change the future of the bluefin tuna fishery.

We're talking about the Close Kin Mark-Recapture Initiative, a groundbreaking collaboration between Walt's lab and Viking Yachts. The goal? To get a more accurate picture of the Atlantic bluefin population and secure the long-term health of this incredible fishery.

As fishermen, we've seen the bluefin stock make an incredible recovery, but that success brings new challenges. Walt breaks down why our current stock assessments may not be accurate enough and how this can lead to a "regulatory spiral."

The solution is an innovative approach that uses a simple fin clip to gather a wealth of data from live fish. We'll discuss:

• How the Close Kin method provides a more accurate count of fish, narrowing the "cloud of uncertainty" in stock assessments.
• The surprising reality of stock mixing and how a fish caught in the U.S. might have been spawned in the Mediterranean.
• How a tiny piece of fin can reveal a fish's sex, age, and stock origin—without having to harvest it.
• The "Genetics for Giants and Juvies" project and how you can easily participate for free.
• The incredible, symbiotic relationship between scientists and the fishing community.

This is a must-listen for anyone who loves bluefin tuna. It's a powerful reminder that by working together, we can ensure a sustainable future for the fish we all love to chase.

Learn more & get involved:

Request a Kit:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXxMQZGTnRos9T3mQSztmfcJKUEZdHiXJxAMgHmDmttI596A/viewform

More info on UMaine:

https://umaine.edu/pelagicfisherieslab/2025/06/05/genetics-for-giants-juvies/

Donate to the Cause:

https://securelb.imodules.com/s/300/13-ORONO/foundation/index-social.aspx?sid=300&gid=13&pgid=748&cid=1912&dids=3010&sort=1&bledit=1&appealcode=O751

Follow the program on Instagram:

@pelagicfisherieslab

Email Walt at:

[e-mail]

Watch this 4 minute video of Walt walking us through the science behind Close Kin and why he thinks this will give us the data foundation to increase our catch limits:

https://youtu.be/-OeB6nqdsBI

Watch this 4 minute video of Walt walking us through some incredible migratory patterns of satellite tagged fish:

https://youtu.be/-OeB6nqdsBI

Special thanks to Viking Yachts for making this episode possible!!