SCITUATE, Mass. — March 14, 2013 — Fisherman Frank Mirarchi comments on the Conservation Law Foundation’s blog post, “A Conspiracy Afloat?” The post is a response to a recent Saving Seafood analysis, which found CLF’s claims against changing New England closures contradict numerous studies.
I regret that the Conservation Law Foundation has chosen a low road in what should be a principled discussion of alternative fishery management strategies. To begin, the photograph that CLF chose to illustrate the blog depicts neither New England fishing gear nor a seabed typical of our fishing grounds.
The quotation attributed to Upton Sinclair is insulting and patronizing. A fisherman’s pay, in fact his life’s fortune, depends not on winning a public relations debate, but rather on the long term sustainability of the fish stocks he harvests. Cuts such as are being imposed on cod and yellowtail flounder will bring financial ruin to many fishing families.
There is far more substance to Saving Seafood than a few fat-cat fish processors and public relations flaks. As members of Northeast Seafood Coalition fishery sectors, over 300 vessel owners and crews contribute to its operation each time we unload a catch of groundfish. Saving Seafood is a valuable source of information but, more importantly, it is our voice.
Finally, regarding the substance of this debate, NEFMC is not wantonly opening heretofore protected areas. In reality, it is reconfiguring a now partially obsolete series of closures which were designed in the 1990’s to reduce fishing mortality under an “input based” management strategy which was replaced in 2010. In addition to retaining those portions of existing closures which scientific evaluation has determined to require continued protection, the Council is proposing to impose additional closures of similar habitats.
It is becoming apparent that CLF’s positions are based more on ideology than pragmatism. Continuing references to “bulldozing a forest” and “ripping up the ocean floor” betray a willful ignorance of the complexity inherent in managing a fishery. Hyperbole might be an asset in fundraising but it adds not one iota to a reasoned debate over fishery management.
Frank Mirarchi owns and operates a groundfishing vessel out of Scitutate, which he operates with his son, Andrew. He was the recipient of the National Fisherman's "Highliner Award" in 1988. He is currently a member of the Northeast Seafood Coalition and Massachusetts Bay Groundfish Association.