Both NC Senators and seven Members of Congress have written to NOAA Administrator Lubchenco to express that "’allegations of excessive penalties and retaliatory actions by the Office of Law Enforcement’ are by no means isolated to the Northeast." Last May, fourteen members of the North Carolina state legislature wrote to the their representatives in Congress expressing their concern about "questionable actions by the Enforcement Division" of NOAA and NMFS. The legislators state that "over the past several years" they have received complaints from "local elected officials"and industry members about "overzealous and intimidating enforcement practices" and the belief that the Administrative Law Judge System has "a decided bias." Read the letter from the North Carolina legislators. In response to the concerns and request of the state legislators, nine members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, led by Congressman Walter Jones and Senators Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, thanked NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco for her commitment to Massachusetts congressmen and senators "to request an Inspector General review of NOAA’s commercial fishing industry enforcement practices" and told her that the "’allegations of excessive penalties and retaliatory actions by the Office of Law Enforcement’ are by no means isolated to the Northeast." The senators and congressional representatives stated that the Coast Guard Administrative Law Judge court system "warrants consideration" as evidenced by the "97% success rate" of Coast Guard Prosecutors. "Faced with the near certain odds of a guilty verdict and a steep penalty, innocent fishermen may have little choice but to settle, even if settling will do great damage to their reputation, their career and their ability to provide for their family." Read the letter from North Carolina Senators and Congressional Representatives to Dr. Lubchenco.
Gloucester Fishing Industry March and Vigil Wednesday 7 p.m.
A vigil and march will be held Wednesday evening led by Massachusetts State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr and Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk.
"The event is in protest of the overreaching and heavy handed practices of the Office of NOAA General Counsel and Enforcement Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service,"the prepared statement read. "In recent months, the (Massachusetts) state Legislature and (Massachusetts) Attorney General Martha Coakley have questioned and criticized these practices. In response, the (Massachusetts congressional) delegation requested an Inspector General’s investigation of allegations made by the fishing industry, which was granted last month."
Ateam of five members of the Commerce Department Inspector General’s Washington D.C. office arrived in Massachusetts this week to begin private interviews with fishermen and others connected with the industry.
Gloucester vigil & march planned to ‘send message’ to feds Wednesday
OPINION: Vigil for fishermen is really a march for very basic justice
Event Details
What: Vigil and march in support of the fishing industry.
Who: Led by state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, state Sen. Bruce Tarr, Mayor Carolyn Kirk. Entire community welcome to participate.
When: Wednesday July 8, 2009, starting at 7 p.m.
Where: Vigil at Gloucester City Hall, followed by march to and brief speaking program at the Gloucester Memorial "Man at the Wheel" statue, Stacy Boulevard.
Rain location: The vigil and program will be held in City Hall’s Kyrouz Auditorium.
Rhode Island Bus
There will be a chartered bus for attendees from Rhode Island. Pick up points will be:
4:00 pm – Superior Trawl, 55 State Street, Narragansett, RI
4:15 pm – Trawlworks, 30 Walts Way, Narragansett, RI
4:45 pm – Park & Ride (Near Home Depot) North Kingstown, RI
Questions about the bus may be directed to Patrick Lawless (401) 662-3543 info@navigatorlogowear.com
Closed Area II Scallop Access Area will be closed
The National Marine Fisheries Service has announced that effective June 29, 2009, the Closed Area II Scallop Access Area will be closed to all scallop vessels for the remainder of the 2009 scallop fishing year. For information on the Fisheries Survival Fund’s actions in response, the Federal Register posting, weekly yellowtail flounder by-catch data, and all other material provided to Saving Seafood by NOAA go to: https://www.savingseafood.org/management-regulation/closed-area-ii-scallop-access-area-closure-3.html
Resources to brush-up on “Catch Share” issues
A reminder to interested parties of the recent articles and studies addressing the many issues and questions that have arisen in the debate on catch shares.
We urge all stakeholders to ask the difficult questions, seek realistic answers, and most of all, exercise the first amendment right to participate in an open governmental process.
ACADEMIC REPORT: A New England Dilemma: Thinking Sectors Through
On Monday,Seth Macinko and William Whitmore of the Department of Marine Affairsat the University of Rhode Island, completed a report they describe as"an ‘outside’ consideration of the current policy process playing out in the New England Fishery Management Council arena. The executive summary raises important points concisely.
———————–
As support builds for sectors, some fishermen express skepticism
This New Bedford Standard Times observed that for the past five years, New England fishermen havewatched their groundfishing season shrink, their trip limits drop andtheir profits plummet under restrictions designed to build sustainable populations of cod, flounder and other overfished species.
NOAA Moves Forward With Catch Shares
A Science Insider blog argues that recent scientific analyses show usthat fisheries managed with catch share programs perform better thanfisheries managed with traditional tools. Even in the first years afterimplementation, catch share fisheries are stable, and even increasetheir productivity.
Fishermen wary of ‘catch shares’
The New England Fishery Management Councilsolicited advice from fishermen before making a series of what membersadmit will be "brutal" decisions next month certain to radically alterthe industry and leave a trail of winners and losers.
Canadians share fishing success story
An alternative fisheries management systemunder consideration by New England regulators has brought success tothe Canadian groundfishing industry, including increased profits,better scientific data, less waste and improved relationships withfisheries managers. Two fishermen and an economist from BritishColumbia visited New Bedford to discuss the mechanics of their catchshare system with local fishing representatives.
Lubchenco pushes ‘catch shares’
National oceans and fishing administrator Jane Lubchenco promoted "catch shares," the commodification of wild stock into negotiable rights, as the key to healthy future fisheries.
OPINION: by FRANK MIRARCHI: Half a century of fishing
I view the advent of sectors as the opportunity of a lifetime. Over theyears, the business of fishing has been degraded by inefficiency andgrowing price volatility. But rather than merely celebrating theelimination of past transgressions, I look forward to futureopportunities as well. We will be able to develop business plans whichrespond to market opportunities rather than react to regulated fishingseasons as is the case today.
LETTER: Fishing plan demands individual allocations The New England Fishery Management Council tried catch quotasimmediately after it was organized in 1977. By 1982 the council and theNew England fishing industry were so frustrated with quota-relatedproblems that they abandoned catch quotas and spent the next 10 yearsdeveloping the input controls that have now proven to be similarlytroublesome.
Environmental Defense Fund Associate Vice President comments on proposed catch share policy EDF’s Associate Vice President argues that the top government officialfor the nation?s fisheries took a giant step in the right direction forthe U.S. fishing industry and the oceans. At a speech in Boston, Dr.Jane Lubchenco, the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) announced that she was creating a task force to develop a newpolicy on catch shares to ensure that they are fully considered when fishery management councilsamend management plans. Recent scientific studies have shown that catchshares perform dramatically better than conventionally-managedfisheries.
EDF also recommends the following resources:
* Sustaining America’s Fisheries and Fishing Communities report
* Science study – Can Catch Shares Prevent Fisheries Collapse
* Oceans of Abundance working group report
* EDFish – EDF Oceans program’s blog on catch shares and our oceans work
———————————————————–
Sign up for daily news updates
Visit www.savingseafood.org for the latest industry news.
Nils Stolpe’s “Another Perspective” Moves to Saving Seafood
We are pleased to announce that Nils Stolpe’s well-regarded column Another Perspective is moving to Saving Seafood. Since 2005, Nils’ column has appeared in the pages of National Fisherman magazine.
We welcome Nils to the Saving Seafood team.
In addition to writing Another Perspective for Saving Seafood, Nils serves as communications director for the Garden State Seafood Association, he has been a consultant to the fishing industry for over two decades, and he operates the FishNet-USA website.
Please read Nils’ first Saving Seafood column "Our Friends in Washington are Catching On" which addresses what he sees as positive happenings in DC, and negative opinion pieces from editorial boards he calls "out of touch with real working people."
NOAA Chief Requests Investigation of Enforcement
NOAA Administrator requests formal investigation of industry concerns regarding NOAA’s enforcement practices. In response to a May 1 request from Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Congressmen Frank, Tierney, and Delahunt, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco has asked the Commerce Department’s Inspector General to conduct a formal investigation of the concerns raised by the commercial fishing industry regarding NOAA’s enforcement practices in the Northeast. Senator Kennedy responded, "The fishing industry has been a vital part of the Commonwealth?s heritage for hundreds of years, and we must work together to build confidence that the proper procedures are followed in every instance. I welcome the Administrator’s decision to request an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General, and I look forward to reviewing the results." Dr. Lubchenco’s letter to Senator Kennedy is be available on SavingSeafood.org at: https://www.savingseafood.org/images/documents/congress/kennedy_response%20letter_ig.pdf
Catch Share Meetings Scheduled in Narragansett, Portland, New Bedford & Gloucester
Want to learn more about catch shares from fishermen who are fishing under this management system?
Two fishermen and a former fishery manager from British Columbia will be in New England in June to talk with local fishermen about catch shares and their impact on the fishing industry.Come, listen and ask questions. Refreshments will be provided.
Meeting Locations and Times:
________________________
Narragansett, Rhode Island Tuesday, June 25-7pm
Coastal Institute Bay CampusUniversity of Rhode Island
Narragansett, RI,
Hazard Rooms
________________________
Portland, MaineWednesday, June 35-7pm
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commercial Street, Portland, ME
________________________
New Bedford, Massachusetts Thursday, June 4 12-3pm
Waterfront Grille36 Homers Wharf,
New Bedford, MA
________________________
Gloucester, Massachusetts Thursday, June 45-9pm
Gloucester House
63 Rogers Street,
Gloucester, MA
________________________
Sponsored by Environmental Defense Fund
Email Emilie Litsinger at elitsinger@edf.org with any questions
Mayor’s group completes plan requested by Governor Patrick.
Goal is to mitigate effects of days-at-sea reduction.
New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang’s Ocean and Fisheries Council has completed a plan proposing strategies to possibly mitigate days at sea reductions in southern New England and to support future advances in fisheries management.
Invited by Mayor Lang, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick attended a meeting of the Ocean and Fisheries Council on April 16, 2009. The Governor listened to the concerns of commercial fishing representatives regarding current federal regulations. The participants expressed distrust in the federal science programs that generate the information being used to manage the fisheries.
It became apparent to the Governor that third-party research could build public confidence in management decisions while adding needed information about our fisheries resources. The audience supported the University of Massachusetts’ School of Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) as the entity to engage in this activity. The University’s relationship with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MADMF) constituting the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute (MFI), provided an apprporiate partnership to address this task.
The resulting plan was a joint effort of the Mayor’s Ocean and Fisheries Council; Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, particularly Paul Diodati and David Pierce; and the School for Marine Science and Technology, particularly Kevin Stokesbury. Steve Cadrin of NOAA Fisheries provided valuable input.
In response to Governor Patrick’s request, the members of the planning team propose partnering with NOAA Fisheries to:
1. Review the SNEMA winter flounder assessment;
2. Describe modifications to the present fishing boundaries that will allow more effective fishing of the Georges Bank stocks;
3. Examine alternative fishing strategies and gear designs to minimize catch of winter flounder while obtaining optimum yield from other stocks;
4. Develop a survey involving fishing vessels including a monitoring program;
5. Design a fishery management and information system to facilitate current and anticipated management.
The complete plan can be downloaded from the Saving Seafood website:
https://www.savingseafood.org/images/documents/regulation/strategies%20to%20mitigate%20the%20das%20reductions%20in%20sne%20final%5B1%5D.pdf
“Fishermen Organized for Responsible Dogfish Management” sends letter to Dr. Lubchenco
Letter will address the overabundance of spiny dogfish on traditional fishing grounds and their interference with other fisheries.
Fishermen Organized for Responsible Dogfish Management, an ad hoc group of recreational, commercial and party/charter fishing and allied organizations and businesses, will be approaching NOAA Administrator Lubchenco asking for her help in a situation which is becoming increasingly critical to fishermen from the Carolinas to Maine – the overabundance of spiny dogfish on traditional fishing grounds and their interference with other fisheries.
If you are in an organization whose members are being adversely affected by dogfish or a business that is similarly affected on the East coast, please take a few minutes to fill out the form at http://fs16.formsite.com/NilsStolpe/form629955342/index.html, indicating that you will sign onto a letter to Dr. Lubchenco. We are aiming to transmit the letter to Dr. Lubchenco, on Wednesday, April 21, but will keep the sign-on site above active, and will keep NOAA/NMFS personnel informed as the list grows.
If you have any questions, please contact Nils Stolpe via email at nilsstolpe@fishnet-usa.com. If you know anyone else who you think would be interested in the dogfish issue, please forward this email to themFor more dogfish information, visit the website for the Dogfish Forum that was held in Philadelphia last September (http://www.fishnet-usa.com/dogforum1.htm).
NOAA Commits $16 million; Council Rebuffs NMFS on Mixed-Stock Exception
NOAA Commits $16 million for Research, Reporting and Monitoring.
Council Rejects report, tells Judge Harrington NMFS failed to consider Mixed-Stock Exception.
NOAA commits $16 million
At the New England Fisheries Council meeting this morning in Mystic, Connecticut, NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco announced $16 million of its current fiscal year 2009 budget for research, reporting and monitoring, to assist the Northeast fishing industry with the transition to management of the fishery by sectors and catch shares. Although there is no direct aid for affected fisherman, NOAA promises $6 million for cooperative research, enhancing existing research projects in which fishermen and scientists work together to improve surveys of fish stocks, as well as develop and test fishing gear that targets healthy stocks. An additional ten million will be used to develop data reporting and fishery monitoring systems to better monitor fishing efforts, document catches, and track fishing permit transfers.
Council rebuffs NMFS on Mixed-Stock Exception
The New England Fisheries Management Council on Monday voted 12-4-1 to reject a NOAA report and to inform Federal Judge Harrington that NMFS failed to provide a proper qnalysis of the Mixed-Stock Exception