Peter Baker, manager of Pew Environment Group’s New England Fisheries campaign, stated: "The National Marine Fisheries Service rule on managing groundfish, which was announced today, is a step forward toward achieving the necessary transformation of the New England fishery to a catch-based management system using sectors in 2010."
"This Final Interim Rule signals a needed commitment to working with the council, the fishing industry and conservation interests to end overfishing, rebuild depleted fish stocks and promote a sustainable, more profitable fishing industry in New England. While the current situation offers few easy answers, this rule moves the industry away from the failed days-at-sea management system toward a sector management system with science-based annual catch limits and accountability through monitoring."