February 13, 2013 — UMass can provide the trust needed on the path to sustainable fisheries and allow avoidance of a situation where only one one group or person supplies solutions.
One element that will be absolutely necessary on the path to sustainable fisheries is trust, and one that must be absolutely avoided is that one group or person can supply the solution.
The UMass Dartmouth School of Marine Science and Technology is perfectly poised to satisfy both those requirements.
SMAST Dean Steve Lohrenz tells The Standard-Times he relishes the chance to stand as a facilitator, mediator, diplomat among the competing interests. He wants to bridge the gap, for example, between the intuitive, experience-based knowledge of fishermen and the fine scientists of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Some would take exception to any complimentary characterization of NOAA's work, but Lohrenz recognizes it's not the scientists to blame for inappropriate enforcement of inadequate or simply bad policy.)
Lohrenz told the editorial board on Tuesday that UMD Chancellor Divina Grossman has charged him with the twin tasks of building external partnerships and strengthening the quality of SMAST's output by leveraging statewide university assets.
We can imagine seeing industry representatives and environmentalists both agreeing to help overcome the funding challenges SMAST faces as state and federal funds wane, giving the parties an incentive to engage in reasonable debate.
Fishermen already trust SMAST research such as the scallop surveys that saved the fleet and make New Bedford the richest port for seafood landings in the U.S. year after year.
Read the full opinion piece in the New Bedford Standard Times