Manchester lies on the Cape Ann, on the Northeast of Massachusetts. Being a coastal town, Manchester’s economy thrives off of the ocean, its beautiful beaches and the fish that swim beneath it. Cod, along with other groundfish such as haddock and flounder, has supported coastal towns and economies throughout the Northeast for hundreds of years. Much has changed since the early days. Boats have gotten larger and faster, satellite navigation has replaced compasses and paper maps, and fish are now refrigerated instead of salted and dried. This advancement of equipment and techniques has carried heavy unintended consequences. Fishing fleets in Massachusetts and the world began to overfish and expand their industry to unsustainable levels leaving New England’s cod population to almost go extinct. Funny that “Cape Cod” doesn’t see much cod anymore. With fish populations steadily declining and people losing their businesses, Manchester, and other towns in New England desperately needed a new approach. After acknowledging this devastating concern, the New England Fishery Management Council developed an innovative plan to reform the way these fish are caught. This Council includes fishermen and other stakeholders from every state in the region to come together to discuss sustainable fishing practices. In 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service implemented a system where fisherman have specific quotas they can fill based on historical data organized through systems of management town by town. For Manchester, conservation of its unique ecosystem is necessary for its economy. These new and improved fishing practices have led to large increases in fish populations, happy fisherman, and happy customers.