November 16, 2011
To: The New England Fisheries Management Council
From: Scott W. Lang, Mayor of New Bedford, Massachusetts
Dear Council Members:
As the Mayor of the nation's number one fishing port, I write to you today to draw your attention to pressing issues facing the groundfish industry and call on you to take action. From the long history of top-down fisheries management, we are seeing an abrupt exit of several fishing vessels from the groundfish fleet resulting in job loss and economic harm. In a letter dated November 14, 2011, to New England’s Senators and Congressman, scores of local and regional commercial fisherman took a stance and called on our nation's leaders to address the litany of unfair flaws in restrictive fisheries management policies and inadequate management infrastructure [see letter attached]. On November 15, 2011, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick called on Secretary John E. Bryson of the U.S. Department of Commerce to approve a federal disaster declaration and $21 million in relief assistance, citing the original Marine Fisheries Institute (MFI) Report and new scientific studies authored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFs), the Commonwealth's Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) and the Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) [see letter attached].
I support the Governor's request and bring to your attention a few of the staggering facts indicated in these reports:
* Economic loss to the groundfish industry is estimated at $21 million (MFI Report)
* In 2010, 10% of the fishermen accounted for 57.7% of the total ground fish revenue up from 47.7% in 2009, demonstrating the continued trend of consolidation with no remedy for those harmed (NOAA's 2010 Performance Report).
* The groundfish fleet decreased by 109 vessels from 2009 to 2010 (Break-Even Analysis)
* The groundfish revenue in just one sector fell by 52% (Sector 10 Analysis)
Disaster relief money will provide a much needed band-aid, but is not the ultimate remedy. Allocations need to be adjusted to reflect scientific realities and frameworks implemented that balance conservation with socioeconomics. It is not an overstatement to note that underfishing can be reduced by as much as 50 percent without compromising the sustainability of our various fisheries and species. This must involve careful examination of stock assessments, overfishing levels, and annual catch limits. In fact, the entire management structure requires a dramatic overhaul. A clear example of this is demonstrated in anecdotal accounts around the still-in-progress assessment for the Gulf of Maine cod. Such accounts claim the fishery went from healthy to severely unhealthy in just three short years. Those assessments are more indicative of a clearly uncertain system than an actual indication of a radical shift in the health of the species' population. A further concern stems from yet another unsubstantiated assertion that there may be an unusually large 2010-year class of haddock. The opening or shifting of areas that are now closed to fishing also merit consideration. The impacts of these closures, particularly George's Banks need to be assessed. Real-time science is required to best understand the health of ocean resources and drive smart management. Collaborative research is the answer to obtaining good science. In addition cameras and sophisticated surveillance technology can replace costly observers.
In closing, I am pleased that Inspector General Todd J. Zinser authorized an investigation of the rule making process. Accountability coupled with open and transparent rule making promises to renew industry trust, establish collaborative processes, and make the institutional fixes requisite to proper management of the fishery resources.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters.
Sincerely,
Scott Lang,
Mayor