Brian Rothschild — whose university program is already producing more reliable scientific fishery data than the government — says he believes the councils can work as effective management bodies if they are condensed from up to 18 members to perhaps 5 or 6, and if the councilors served in those roles on a full-time basis.
But his most significant recommendation would be to have the councilors — rather than being nominated by governors so the Commerce Secretary can ignore even their recommendations in making the final, special-interest choice — elected from within a region's fishing communities.
From a locally biased standpoint, that would rectify one problem: Gloucester, the capital of New England groundfishing industry, isn't even represented on the New England council. But from a wider perspective, it would fix the problem Rothschild noted when he testified before a congressional subcommittee that the current system "disenfranchises" the fishing industry and fishing communities.
Rothschild argues that the current format amounts to granting regulatory authority without any real accountability — and that breeds bad government.
He's right. But if there is any saving of the council process, his solution is a course that would give fishermen and their communities a realistic level of input, and the kind of accountability any fair system needs.
If there is any attempt to save this failing process, his idea is at least worth a look.
Read the complete editorial from the Gloucester Times.