Ben Martens chats with Lulu Bates from the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) about the health and future of Maine’s northern shrimp fishery. Lulu, a marine biologist with DMR, brings a wealth of knowledge to the discussion, covering the current state of the fishery, the concerns fishermen have about the science behind it, and the challenges face…

In the summer of 2024, the US Supreme Court struck down the "Chevron Doctrine" in a case brought by a group of New Jersey herring fishermen. In this episode, Ben Martens interviews Andrew (Drew) Minkiewicz, an attorney at Black Point Maritime Law, about what this might and might not mean for fisheries.…

In this episode, Chef Preeti Mistry talks with Chef Tu David Phu live on the podcast stage at the first-ever Cookbook Fest in Napa, California. Tu is the author of the forthcoming cookbook 'Memory of Taste,' that is a "tribute to the enduring spirit of my matriarchs, the rich heritage of Vietnamese cuisine, food insecurity, and the stories that foo…

In this episode, Chef Preeti talks with Chef Debra VanTrece about her recipe for Baby Back Ribs with Sweet Tea BBQ Sauce. Chef Deborah shares her family's rich barbecue traditions and roots in Kansas City and how they influenced the development of her rib recipe (including the potentially controversial addition of sweet tea). Deborah recounts her p…

In this episode, Preeti talks with Chefs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval, the duo behind Masala y Maíz and Marigold in Mexico City. The chefs share their unique culinary backgrounds and the melding of their heritages — Mexican, South Asian, and East African — into their cuisine. They discuss the process behind their lamb barbacoa recipe, a melding of…

In this episode, Preeti engages in a flavorful discussion with British Jamaican chef, food journalist, and friend, Jacqui Sinclair, also known as the Juicy Chef. They first discuss the recipe Jacqui shared with them, which is Lorna's Cottage Pie, originally made by Jacqui's mother. The recipe is a combination of Jamaican flavors with the British cl…

In this episode, Preeti dives into the heart of food's nostalgic power with guest Telly Justice, chef and owner of HAGS in New York City. The conversation centers around Telly's family's old-fashioned cream pie recipe—a simple, yet emotionally charged dish that ties back to her German-American heritage and childhood memories. Telly's journey from a…

In this episode of Loading Dock Talks, Chef Preeti Mistry hosts Fernay McPherson, the chef-owner of Minnie Bell's Soul Movement, a fast, casual fried chicken restaurant in Emeryville, California, and soon to be in the Fillmore District of San Francisco. Fernay shares her journey starting Minnie Bell's in the historic Fillmore district, a place she …

In this episode Chef Preeti interviews Leah Scurto, owner of Pizza Leah in Sonoma County, who shares her journey growing up in restaurants and her love for the craft of pizza making. Leah shares her mother Viola's picadillo recipe that she grew up eating, and the stories behind the beloved family dish. The pair also discuss the importance of intent…

In this episode, Hetal tells Preeti about her family recipe for seero, a sweet semolina pudding made with ghee and toasted nuts. Through the recipe, how she grew up learning to cook and garden with her family while living in a house with a constant rotation of family members immigrating from Gujrat. Hetal also shares her opinions on authenticity in…

In this episode, Chef Rahanna Bisseret Martinez shares more about her family recipe for Shrimp & Grits, one that she made for 40 people at a staff meal while interning at the age of 16. The conversation dives into Rahanna's thoughts on the role of family recipes in her cooking and the transition from home cooking to fine dining. She also shares her…

In this episode, Reem tells Preeti about Sayadiyah, a rice and fish dish packed with flavorful caramelized onions and spices. Through the story of how Reem developed her take on Sayadiyah for her books, Arabiyya, they discuss the connection between food and the Israeli occupation of Palestine, highlighting the impact of severing people from their l…

The new season of Loading Dock Talks is coming on January 18th. This season, Chef Preeti asked some of their chef friends to send them a recipe, whether it was a family recipe or something they grew up eating. They wanted to see a recipe that meant something to the guests. Preeti cooked these recipes so that they could dig into the ingredients, tec…

Environmental DNA, or eDNA, is a method of detecting and monitoring species by collecting their DNA from environmental samples like water, soil, or air. Ben Martens chats with Emily Pierce and Alex Ascher about their research into eDNA and the application of this emerging data collection process for Maine's fisheries. BLOG for more information http…

Dr. Dave Reidmiller joins the podcast to discuss a recent study out of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution which found that the Gulf Stream is warming and weakening. Ben and Dave give an overview of the importance of the Gulf Stream, why a warming Gulf Stream is a weaker Gulf Stream, and what that could mean for the Gulf of Maine, the Atlantic Oce…

Dr. Jamie Cournane of the New England Fishery Management Council joins Ben Martens to talk haddock. The most recent stock assessment indicates that fishermen need to cut their catch by over 80% as the biomass is lower than previously thought. Dr. Cournane walks us through the stock assessment process, what might have gone wrong, and what the future…

Colleen Coogan of NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, joins Dock Talk to give an update on the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team's work to protect northern right whales. What's on the table? How is the Take Reducation Team determining "risk" to right whales? Who is ultimately making regulation decisions? And how can fi…

Menhaden has been referred to as the "most important fish in the sea" in reference to its role as forage in the Atlantic. Its importance to Maine's working waterfront is much more nuanced as it's only recently returned to Maine waters but has already become of outsized importance as forage and bait in the Gulf of Maine. In this episode of Maine Coa…

The Maine Lobstermen's Association's executive director Patrice McCarron joins Dock Talk to give an update on three lawsuits moving forward regarding the future of the commercial lobster fishery in Maine in response to a call to protect right whales. Right whales are a critically endangered species in the Atlantic and NOAA fisheries have started to…

The New Bedford Light and ProPublica recently released a special report entitled "How Foreign Private Equity Hooked New England’s Fishing Industry" written by Will Sennott. Will Sennott joins MCFA's Ben Martens in this episode of Dock Talk to talk about his article and what it might mean for the future of New England's iconic groundfish fishery.Fin…

Sarah Schumann is a 15+ year veteran of the Rhode Island and Alaska seafood industries as well as a passionate advocate for the ocean ecosystems that sustain wild fisheries. In this episode of Dock Talk, Ben Martens interviews Sarah about her latest project the "Fishery Friendly Climate Action Campaign."…

In 2021, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in partnership with Homarus Strategies began a one-year investigation into the issues and conflicts surrounding the integration of on-call fishing gear (another term for “ropeless”) technology in New England. MCFA's Ben Martens interviews Noah Oppenheim on the report and they dive into where t…

Preeti and Devita talk about growing up in an empowering black space, why she founded FoodLab Detroit coming out of the economic crisis of 2008, and the favorite dish that she will never be able to eat again, breakfast at her grandma’s house. For more from Devita: Instagram: @devita_davison Twitter: @DevitaDavison FoodLab Detroit Website | Instagra…

Preeti’s guest this week is Vinny Eng, celebrated sommelier and community activist. Their conversation revolves around safety; feeling safe as immigrants in the U.S., feeling unsafe as queer folks in college, and creating a truly hospitable restaurant by prioritizing the safety of your staff. For more from Vinny: Instagram: @engvinny Twitter: @vinn…

Preeti and Chef Mavis-Jay talk about discovering their chefiness as kids doctoring up boxed mac and cheese, why they decided to go to culinary school at CIA at Hyde Park, and how they left fine dining restaurants to work in restaurant industry activism. For more from Mavis-Jay: Instagram: @chefmavisjay Twitter: @ChefMavisJay Drive Change Website | …

Preeti’s guest this week is Chef Jenny Dorsey - chef and founder of the community think tank, Studio ATAO. Jenny talks about growing up questioning bias in the system, creating real change in the restaurant industry, and Preeti & Jenny debate the merits of Morton’s Coarse versus Diamond Crystal kosher salt. For more from Jenny: Instagram: @chefjenn…

Preeti talks with Brenda Buenviaje - chef and owner of Brenda’s French Soul Food and Brenda’s Meat & Three in the Bay Area - about growing up fishing, foraging, and cooking in Louisiana, starting her career in restaurants as a lesbian in the south, and navigating the spotlight as “The Brenda.” For more from Brenda: Instagram: @chefbuenviaje YouTube…

NOAA Fisheries Science Center recently released a story map titled the "Social Indicators of Gentrification Pressure" which explores how gentrification is affecting 29 fishing communities in the Northeast United States. Eight different Maine communities were highlighted in this work so we invited Matthew Cutler, PhD or Rose Jimenez, MA, MPhil to jo…

Preeti talks with Ashtin Berry - bartender, hospitality activist, and equity educator & consultant - about being raised empowered to speak her truth, chef heroes, and white saviorism in the hospitality industry. For more from Ashtin: Instagram: @thecollectress Twitter: @AshtinBerry Radical Xchange Website | Instagram | Twitter You can find Preeti: …

Preeti talks with Zoe Adjonyoh - chef, activist, and author - about connecting to her ancestral Ghanaian roots and building community through food, being a queer black woman in the industry, and about some of her favorite West African spices and ingredients. For more from Zoe: Her website Her spices (and other fun things) Her cookbook Twitter: @Zoe…

Preeti talks with Nick Cho - Tik Tok star Your Korean Dad and co-owner of Wrecking Ball Coffee in San Francisco - about how he approaches tough conversations with sympathy, fighting for justice, and his favorite tacos from Taco Bell. For more from Nick: Your Korean Dad YouTube Your Korean Dad TikTok Twitter: @NickCho Instagram: @nickcho_ Wrecking B…

Preeti talks with Asha Gomez - chef, activist and cookbook author - about her childhood growing up between India and the U.S., finding her voice in activism and policy work, and of course pani puri! For more from Asha: Her website Her culinary experiences: Third Space Her cookbooks: My Two Souths & I Cook in Color The organization CARE You can find…

Introducing Loading Dock Talks, a podcast hosted by Chef Preeti Mistry. Each week, Chef Preeti talks to their favorite food folks about their lives, food and social justice, and they do a little shit-talking too. Subscribe to Preeti's Substack to get behind-the-scenes content, to cookthe recipes, and to get extended versions of the interviews.…

The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association has been working with scallop fishermen in the Gulf of Maine to pioneer an electronic monitoring program to collect data for the fishery. Learn more about this program and the work MCFA is doing to create a sustainable fishery for the next generation of Maine fishermen.…

Maine Coast Dock Talk's first "Fish Wrap" dives into the concept of 30x30 and the impact that protecting 30% of the US oceans may have on fishermen. Ben Martens was joined by Leigh Habegger of Seafood Harvesters of America, Noah Oppenheim of Homarus Strategies, and Monique Coombs of the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.…

What are nutrient credits and how can they help revitalize Chesapeake Bay fishing communities while also cleaning up the bay? MCFA's Ben Martens interviews Johnny Shockley, a third-generation Maryland waterman, oyster aquaculturist, and founder of Blue Oyster Environmental about his work in creating a better future for the next generation of waterm…

In mid-April 2020, a federal judge ruled that NOAA fisheries had not been doing enough to protect right whales. How did we get here? What does this mean for Maine fishermen? Where do we go from here? Ben Martens interviews Patrice McCarron of the Maine Lobstermen's Association for some answers.Di Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

Maine Coast Fishermen's Association's Ben Martens talks Alan Tracy, CEO of Vessel Services. Vessel Services has a long history of supplying Maine boats with ice, fuel, and gear. In this Covid-19 free Pod, learn a little bit about how they were formed, what they are doing to evolve, and the optimism Alan feels about the future of fishing in Maine.…

Di Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

Host Ben Martens answers a listener question about the lottery system used to issue commercial scallop permit in the state of Maine. Why do we have it? Where did it come from? And what will be its impact on Maine fishing communities?Featuring music from Sara TrunzoDi Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

Ian Mayo of Mayo Enterprises sits down with host Ben Martens to talk about owning and maintaining Sturdivant's Wharf in Portland, ME. Eroding piers, crane operations, dredging, boat maintenance, fish, seafood and politics. What does it take to keep a wharf in Maine working?Di Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

In response to concerned fishermen who had started a city-wide referendum to limit the unconstrained and unplanned development along the working waterfront in Portland Maine, waterfront advisory group was created. In previous Dock Talk podcasts you heard from the fishermen, managers, and wharf owners about their concerns. Here's an update on what h…

Host Ben Martens sits down with Maine fisherman Terry Alexander to talk about the current issue facing right whales and the impacts that new rules and regulations may have on Maine's commercial fishing industry. You can learn more about this issues on our website. www.mainecoastfishermen.orgDi Maine Coast Fishermen's Association

Ben Martens sits down with the Maine Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Pat Keliher to talk about the future of Maine's commercial fisheries. What kind of impact will a reduction in bait, a push to protect migrating whales, development pressure, and climate change have on one of Maine's most iconic industries?…

Host Ben Martens sits down with Rep. Jay McCreight to talk about a bill she has introduced in the Maine legislature which would change when someone can get a lobster license. Currently, fishermen who aren't young enough for the student program, have to sit on a wait list to enter the fishery. This wait can take as long as 20 years in some areas. Th…

In this podcast, we hear about the longtime struggle of the fishermen from the perspective of the fishing families, artists, and city stakeholders.The Perfect Port is part one of a three-part podcast series about the Portland Working Waterfront and the issues that have arisen between commercial fishermen, lobstermen, groundfishermen, and others ove…

In this podcast, we talk about the development of Commercial Street over time and the regulations that are intended to protect the commercial marine activities that take place out of the city.The Perfect Port is part one of a three-part podcast series about the Portland Working Waterfront and the issues that have arisen between commercial fishermen…

In this podcast, you will hear from two well-respected members of the fishing industry, Jim Buxton and Willis Spear, about their histories, how they have seen Commercial St. change in their time in Portland and the issues that they face presently. This podcast is dedicated to the fishermen themselves.The Perfect Port is part one of a three-part pod…

Join us today for a thought-provoking interview with John Bullard, the Regional Administrator in charge of NOAA Fisheries from Maine to Cape Hatteras, NC. A native of New Bedford, Massachusetts (and the city's former mayor), John believes strongly that protecting the soul of New England means protecting our working waterfronts. Ben and John discuss…

Join us for this episode of Maine Coast Dock talk, where we take a trip down memory lane with fisherman Gladden Schrock. The interview you are about to hear is part of our Oral History Initiative. More histories can be found on the MCFA website.Di Maine Coast Fishermen's Association