The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the controversial and debated interim rule for groundfish on Monday.
Original Documents
Text of the Final Interim Rule
NOAA’s Press Release
Audio of NOAA Teleconference on Rule
State by State Change in Total Trip and Groundfish Revenue – from NOAA’s Fisheries Service.
Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan: Environmental Assessment – Discusses the economic and biological impacts of the proposed groundfishing rule, from NOAA’s Fisheries Service.
Overview
NMFS Eases Interim Rule (Gloucester Times)
Maine Fishermen: 39-day working rule could be worse
New NOAA limits on fishing pared, but will sting (Boston Globe)
Congressional Response
Senator Olympia Snowe said the rule "contains troubling provisions" but gives fishermen "a fighting chance at survival"
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said "the rule is not as good as it should be." He continued: "I remain concerned that there continue to be areas where two fishing days are counted as one. … Fishermen will still suffer significant financial hardship under this interim plan, and the agency will need to address that. We can do better."
Economic Impact
The Cape Cod Times looked at the economic impact by vessel type (in sidebar box on the Times site)
The Standard Times noted that the rule may have the greatest impact on the southern New England fishery
Industry Comment
The Northeast Seafood Coalition responded to the rule
Opinion-Editorial
OPINION: NOAA chief’s decision brings new hope for regulatory fairness (Gloucester Times)
Environmentalist Comment
Pew Environment Group’s New England Fisheries campaign said the rule "signals a needed commitment to working with the council, the fishing industry and conservation interests to end overfishing"