Mayor Mitchell urged the Council to adopt Alternative 7 for Georges Bank and Alternative 5 for the Great South Channel.
WASHINGTON (Saving Seafood) โ April 23, 2015 โ This morning, New Bedford, Massachusetts Mayor Jon Mitchell delivered remarks on Omnibus Habitat Amendment 2 (OHA2) to the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) at the Council's meeting in Mystic, Connecticut. Mayor Mitchell urged the Council to adopt Alternative 7 for Georges Bank and Alternative 5 for the Great South Channel, with clam gear exemptions, citing the alternatives' scientific backing, popular support among those impacted by the management actions under consideration, and compatibility with National Standard 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
Mayor Mitchell highlighted the fact that Alternatives 7 and 5 are the preferred alternatives of the NEFMC's Habitat Committee. Specifically, he noted that, based on the Council's Swept Area Seabed Impact (SASI) model analysis, these alternatives are a significant improvement over the habitat protections currently in place, and reflect the conclusions of the best scientific information available.
Mayor Mitchell also reminded the council of its obligation under National Standard 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, to consider the economic impacts of regulations in formulating management decisions. The Mayor submitted to the Council a letter of support for the alternatives signed by nearly 380 fishermen, vessel owners, shoreside business owners and employees, and other concerned members of fishing communities supporting Alternatives 7 and 5. The petition, whose signatures were collected over only the past two days, reflects the broad support within the industry for these measures.
The mayor pointed out that revenue from those fisheries does not only improve economic conditions for boat owners and fishermen. Rather, the entire community benefits from an economically stable fleet. Fishery revenues directly fund local jobs and infrastructure including those in processing, marine equipment, construction, housing, hospitality, and many more areas. It also increases tax revenue to provide critical social services including education and community development.
He noted that these alternatives have the support of the groundfish and scallop industries, and protect the concerns of the surf clam industry. By providing access to economically important fishing grounds while improving protection over current measures, Mayor Mitchell explained that these alternatives best balance conservation with the needs of industry and communities, and thus best comply with National Standard 8.
Listen to Mayor Mitchell's remarks before the Council
Read the letter submitted by Mayor Mitchell to the Council
View the letter from 380 fishing community members supporting Alternatives 7 and 5