State and Local

The following release was recieved from the Massachusetts House of Representatives: BOSTON—State Representative William M. Straus (D-Mattapoisett), joined by Representative Quinn (D-Dartmouth), Representative Peterson (R-Grafton), Representative Ferrante (D-Gloucester), Representative Koczera (D-New Bedford), Representative Canessa (D-New Bedford), Representative Cabral (D-New Bedford), and Representative Gifford (R-Wareham), authored a resolution calling upon Secretary Locke of the U.S. Department of Commerce to increase the 2010 Annual Catch Limits for the 19 fish stocks in the Northeast multispecies fishery.

“As legislators, we are concerned about the new regulations adversely affecting what is already a difficult situation for our state’s fishermen.  We believe the new regulations are not only overly burdensome but also threaten to unnecessarily deplete jobs in the fishing industry” said Rep. Straus.  “This resolution calls on the Secretary of Commerce to exercise his powers to implement emergency regulations and increase the catch limits” he added.

“We fully support the efforts by our New England Congressional delegation to address the inequities in our current fisheries management regulations which are scheduled to go into effect next week,” said Rep. Quinn.  “We should understand that we must reach a necessary balance between protecting fish stocks and protecting fishermen and their families.”

Fishermen and coastal communities in Massachusetts depend heavily on the Northeast multispecies fishery as a resource and as an important source of revenue, but recent data (2007) have reported that New England’s groundfish landings have fallen to $92 million from previous highs of $313 million annually.  This decrease in value has increased concern about the stability of the local economies and the potential for fishermen to earn enough money to support themselves and their families.

While values have decreased, certain annual catch limits for 2010 have been dramatically reduced by up to 75% of 2009 levels, furthering concerns about economic viability.  Many fear that the new 2010 groundfishery management approach will prove similar to past efforts that did not effectively manage fish stocks.  2007 data demonstrate that only 27% of the total allowable catch was harvested due to regulatory measures designed to protect the weakest stocks, costing fishermen and coastal economies approximately $500 million.

The Massachusetts bi-partisan resolution is mirrored after language sent by 23 members of the Congressional delegation of New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and Massachusetts, including both U.S. Senators for Massachusetts, to the Secretary of Commerce for relief from the Federal Plan scheduled for implementation on May 1, 2010. 

One week into sector management, the fishing industries of Gloucester and New Bedford will hold public meetings today to come up with a status report to take to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke next Wednesday.

The Gloucester meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. today at City Hall, and was organized by Mayor Carolyn Kirk, state Sen. Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester, and state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante, D-Gloucester.

The New Bedford meeting is slated for 2 p.m. at the United Fishermen's Club, 639 Orchard St. Organized by Dr. Brian Rothschild, head of the mayor's fishery task force, it is being called an "emergency" meeting. "The agenda will cover the readiness issue and whether annual catch limits are too risk-averse," Rothschild said.

Locke has scheduled a meeting in Washington, D.C., with nearly two dozen congressmen and senators from the Northeast who petitioned him last month to intervene in the new management system. They appealed to Locke after getting no results from the leadership at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

NOAA pressed ahead with no changes in its sector management system and catch shares as of May 1, despite a series of meetings, forums and appeals from fishermen, scientists and political leaders. NOAA has not disputed the prediction that many boats will be forced out of business because the sharply reduced catch limits don't allow them enough fish to pay expenses, much less profit.

Critics say the catch limits are unnecessarily conservative, based on data that is often three years old, and needlessly threaten the local economies of port cities such as Gloucester and New Bedford.

In a prepared statement, Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk said, "Every day matters because every day the new system is in place is a day closer (to when) Gloucester fishermen are going to go out of business. We want to hear directly from fishermen on the impact of the new regulations now that they are seven days into it."

State Sen. Bruce E. Tarr (R-Glouceste) said, "We can't afford to wait to determine its impacts, and this meeting will give us an important opportunity to develop a strategy on going forward to protect fishing families and our port."

State Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) commented: "I along with my colleagues intend on watching NOAA's fisheries management experiment closely given that it stands to devastate many of our neighbors, friends and family. I am deeply disappointed that NOAA and the National Marine Fisheries Service are not engaged with the industry on this level."

 

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Mayor Carolyn Kirk and Gloucester's two state lawmakers will be hosting an open meeting for local fishermen on how the implementation of the new fishing regulations is going.

Kirk, state Rep. Ann-Margaret Ferrante and state Sen. Bruce Tarr have set up the meeting for Friday beginning at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall's Kyrouz Auditorium. The gathering comes six days after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's new catch-share management system and the National Marine Fisheries Service's new allocation limits went into effect last Saturday.

"Every day matters, because every day the new system is in place is a day closer Gloucester fishermen are to going out of business," Kirk said in announcing the meeting. "We want to hear directly from fishermen on the impact of the new regulations now that they are seven days into it."

Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.

 

 

 

 

GLOUCESTER: Mayor Carolyn Kirk, Senator Bruce Tarr, and Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante have called for a public meeting to hear from fishermen on how the implementation of the new fishing regulations is going. Said Kirk, “every day matters because every day the new system is in place is a day closer Gloucester fishermen are to going out of business. We want to hear directly from fishermen on the impact of the new regulations now that they are seven days into it.”

Senator Tarr concurs and said, “the clock is ticking as we begin a management program with the potential to end the groundfishery as we know it. We can’t afford to wait to determine its impacts, and this meeting will give us an important opportunity to develop a strategy on going forward to protect fishing families and our port.”

“I along with my colleagues intend on watching NOAA’s fisheries management experiment closely given that it stands to devastate many of our neighbors, friends and family. I am deeply disappointed that NOAA and the NMFS are not engaged with the industry on this level. I look forward to hearing about the real time impacts, successes and failures of the implementation” said Representative Ferrante.

The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m., Friday, May 7, at Gloucester City Hall.

 
Read the press release here

Map & Directions 

 

 

 

 

 

NOAA Chief Dr. Jane Lubchenco has responded to the letters sent by New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang urging a delay in implementation of Sector Management.

Read the reply from Dr. Lubchenco [PDF]

Read the original letters from Mayor Scott Lang

 

 

 

New Bedford, Massachusetts mayor Scott Lang wrote a second letter to NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco on April 20, 2010, urging a delay in implementation of Sector Management.  The letter is a follow-up to his original letter written a month ago that remains unanswered.  The letter was copied to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Eric Schwaab, National Marine Fisheries Service and over 70 members of Congress.

The text of the letter follows: I am writing to express my extreme concern that the catch share / sector program remains scheduled for implementation on May 1, 2010.  In my letter dated March 22, 2010, I focused on several key points suggesting the necessity of delaying the start of the catch share /sector program. I have not received a formal response from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [A copy of the March 22, 2010 letter is enclosed herein].  With a short ten days (10) outstanding, I remain steadfast in my position that NOAA is not ready to move forward with the catch share /sector program, and that the start must be postponed.

I believe a number of significant issues remain unaddressed and jeopardize the sustainability of fishing communities in the New England region.  Of utmost concern is the lack of collaboration and buy-in from the fishing industry.  NOAA as a government entity is tasked to work for the public good.  The catch share /sector management regime is highly controversial and untested in a major multi-species fishery, such as New England.  There is no clear understanding of how the program will lead to conservation and rebuilding of fish stocks.  This is exacerbated by the fact that there has not been a thoughtful study or understanding by the Agency of the socio-economic impacts of the catch share / sector program as required under Rule 8 of the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA).  With institution of the catch share / sector program, it has been predicted that we will see over 50% of the fishing fleet adversely impacted and result in irreversible economic harm to fishing communities during one of the nation’s most challenging economic periods.
I maintain there is a much better approach than rushing the implementation of NOAA’s “work in progress” management program.  Setting new and more flexible rebuilding programs under the SFA as is advocated by US Congressman Barney Frank and other members of the federal delegation will lead to more effective and strategic rebuilding measures.  Improved science will allow for the implementation of catch allocations that meet both the goals of conservation and sustaining the economic vitality of fishing communities.  It is premature to implement a program without allowing time for increased flexibility and improved science.

With the effective date fast approaching, I request an accounting from NOAA on the following:

·      A detailed analysis of how the catch share/sector program will impact New Bedford, the nation’s number one fishing port;

·      A list of the number of fishermen participating in the common pool;

·      A list of the number of fishermen participating in the sector program;

·      The scheduled adjustments, if any, proposed for species catch allocations;

·      A list of the number of fishermen that attended seminars to prepare for the implementation of the catch share / sector program and the dates and locations of the seminars; and

·      A complete accounting of all federal funds spent on implementing the catch share program in New England thus far and a proposed budget for future expenditures.

Based on very real concerns, I urge you to delay the implementation of the catch share/sector program until such time that by working together we have addressed these issues and have a reasonable likelihood for the successful implementation of this program.  Collaboratively we can build an action plan that uses credible science and effectuates transition to new management procedures. We must also implement a plan that takes into account due process, fairness, timely modification of stock assessments, and provides adequate infrastructure for management.  I believe your current timetable is irresponsible and a disservice to fishing communities and the public good.  I request your prompt response.   Read Saving Seafood's coverage of Mayor Lang's March 22 letter        

New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department is getting a head start on celebrating Earth Day.

It's holding a festival in Concord on Saturday called "Discover WILD New Hampshire Day" outside of department headquarters.

Children can try archery, cast with the "Let's Go Fishing" program, and create wildlife arts and crafts. Participants can see retrieval dogs in action and become a junior conservation officer.

Read the complete story at The Boston Globe.

 

 

 

 

 

Fish farmer Donald J. Sadue sells thousands of his rainbow trout every year for school aquaculture programs and for stocking, but he can't offer his wares to restaurants or grocery stores.

"Most of the ones you see in the stores come from Idaho," Mr. Sadue said. "New York hasn't wanted fishermen catching sports fish and selling them to a restaurant. It's like saying you can't sell maple syrup that's made in New York, that you have to get it from Vermont."

A pending state bill would legalize the sale of hatchery-raised food-size trout and black bass to third-party vendors. If the bill passes, Mr. Sadue plans to raise 50,000 to 60,000 fish for the restaurant trade and assumes other small operations would open up.

"There are people who would like to get into it, but not with the limited market of stocking," Mr. Sadue said. "My priority is to get this law passed. That opens up so many opportunities."

Read the complete story at the Watertown Daily Times.

 

 

 

 

NEW BEDFORD — The late Capt. Martin "Marty" Manley was honored Thursday with the unveiling of a memorial sign at the city's Popes Island Marina, the building of which was one of his life's accomplishments.

Mayor Scott W. Lang led a series of remembrances of Manley, a waterfront and fishing industry stalwart who died in August 2009 at the age of 76.

Many of those present knew Manley for decades, including former Mayor John K. Bullard, who put Manley in charge of the Harbor Development Commission during his term in office.

Read the complete story at The South Coast Today [subscription site]

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PROSPECT HARBOR, Maine — The intensely fishy smell of sardines has been the smell of money for generations of workers in Maine who have snipped, sliced and packed small, silvery fish into billions of cans on their way to Americans' lunch buckets and kitchen cabinets.

For the past 135 years, sardine canneries have been as much a part of Maine's small coastal villages as the thick Down East fog. It's been estimated that more than 400 canneries have come and gone along the state's long, jagged coast.

The lone survivor, the Stinson Seafood plant here in this eastern Maine shoreside town, shuts down this week after a century in operation. It is the last sardine cannery not just in Maine, but in the United States.

Lela Anderson, 78, has worked in sardine canneries since the 1940s and was among the fastest in sardine-packing contests that were held back in the day. Her packing days are over; now she's a quality-control inspector looking over the bite-sized morsels in can after can that passes by her.

Read the complete AP story at Google.