BOSTON, MA (January 14, 2009) – Peter Baker, manager of the Pew Environment Group’s End Overfishing in New England campaign, today issued the following statement in response to the National Marine Fisheries Service announcement of its interim rule for managing groundfish (including cod, haddock and flounder) in New England for the 2009 fishing year. "The National Marine Fisheries Service’s draft interim rule shows that the agency sadly is committed to fixing New England’s broken management system with the same tools that have proven ineffective at rebuilding fish stocks for years. That failed system, based on limiting both the number of days a fisherman can fish ("days-at-sea") and the amount of fish that can be carried back to the dock, is decimating the traditional fishing fleet, reducing revenues and forcing many coastal businesses to close. Regrettably, this system has not ended overfishing nor rebuilt depleted stocks.
"This interim rule will not solve our problems, and may well cost many of the region’s fishermen their livelihoods. The time for a new approach has come.
Read the full statement issued by the Pew Charitable Trusts