As one of the biggest supporters of catch shares in New England, the Environmental Defense Fund has few backers on New Bedford's working waterfront. Mayor Scott W. Lang has openly criticized the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose leader, Jane Lubchenco, is former EDF vice-chairwoman, saying its actions "make it clear they listen more intently to environmental groups than fishing groups."
Into this tense atmosphere steps Johanna Thomas, an arrival from California, newly appointed as regional director for EDF's Oceans Program on the East Coast. She recently visited New Bedford and agreed to an email interview with The Standard-Times.
Q: Does EDF recognize the comeback of New England fisheries and would it support an increase in fishing on healthy stocks in recognition of that?
A: Yes, as fish stocks recover and as science allows, EDF supports an increase in fishing on healthy stocks. It makes sense for fishermen to have increased access to fish when there is confidence that stocks and habitats can sustain that. We supported the proposal by Sen. Kerry, Congressman Barney Frank and other members of Congress to allow groundfishermen additional "carryover" of unused quota within scientifically defensible bounds. We are also working on a study of closed groundfish areas. That could result in a closed area network that allows access where strong stocks are abundant, while meeting other management goals. Another question we are pursuing is whether the benefits of closed areas can be quantified in a way that allows reducing "uncertainty buffers" for some key groundfish stocks.
Q: Does EDF think that consolidation of the fleet is necessary?
A: No, we don't think it's "necessary," nor do we know how many boats are right for the New England fleet. We have no position on the number of boats or the right level of fishing power in the region. We don't know anyone who can answer the question "how many boats should there be?" Fishing fleets change in response to fish stocks, regulations, new technology, prices and demand. We do recognize that consolidation has been taking place for more than two decades in the groundfish fleet, after doubling in size between 1975 and 1980. This rapid expansion and subsequent contraction has had a tremendous impact on the industry, shore-side businesses and fishing communities.
We are urging the New England Fishery Management Council to move forward with an amendment focused on establishing "accumulation limits," or limits on the amount of fishing opportunity that any one entity can control. This is going to be difficult, given that this issue is so complex and opinions are so divergent. But there are tough choices to be made so the groundfish industry can have some stability.
Q: Another controversial question is alleged damage to the bottom by fishing gear. On Georges Bank the bottom changes weekly, according to fishermen and scientists, yet environmental groups, like Monterrey Bay, were telling people to eat only cod caught on hooks. Do you want to address that?
A: EDF doesn't oppose any gear type nor do we favor one over the other. We see that markets have a role, but also management, in what gear fishermen choose to use, and how they use it. We've seen a big increase in gear innovation in response to changing regulations and incentives about bycatch in particular. There are a lot of great examples of fishermen in New England and elsewhere making changes to their gear that reduces bottom contact and the weight of their gear, so there are savings to fishermen and lower impacts on habitat.
Read the complete interview from The South Coast Today