— PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — March 3, 2013 — A local resident pegged as the new executive director of the New England Fishery Management Council acknowledges the industry faces some daunting challenges as he transitions into his new role.
The 18 members of the New England Fishery Management Council recently selected Tom Nies of Portsmouth as the agency's new executive director. He succeeds Capt. Paul Howard, who served in the role for 16 years. Howard's last day was Friday, and Nies steps into the post on Monday.
The NEFMC is one of eight regional councils established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. It manages fishery resources within the federal 200-mile limit off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Nies took a long road to get here. He grew up in Indiana, served for 21 years in the Coast Guard, where he gained experience with fisheries enforcement, and first came to Portsmouth when he was stationed in New Castle in 1981. He completed his Coast Guard career as captain of the USCG Spencer, based in Boston, before returning to New Hampshire's Seacoast.
"The assessment information we're getting and some of the information we're getting from fishermen is there are some issues with cod stocks," he said. "Clearly, they're not rebuilding as we hoped they would."
Just a few years ago, scientists believed that cod populations were rebounding. A 2011 assessment suggested that stocks were much lower than previously believed and that dire measures were needed to help the formerly ubiquitous species survive.
Some fishermen have blasted the science behind the stock assessments, saying the results don't match up with what they see on the water and that cutting catch limits threatens the survival of the industry. Cod has long been the money fish for small-boat fishermen and holds historical significance for the region.
Nies, who is not a scientist, said he nonetheless finds the science behind the studies "fascinating" and believes there is compelling evidence that cod is a species in trouble. He said that, despite stringent measures taken since at least 2004, the species has not recovered as others have.
"I wish we knew better why we were having these problems. We don't have a real good handle (on it). I have little doubt there were some decisions made in years past that didn't help us out," he said.
Nies said there are factors beyond fishing that could be affecting cod stocks. He said that while there is "no doubt" climate change is going on, it remains unclear to what extent it might affect cod stocks. What is clear is that populations of gray seals and harbor porpoises, which prey on cod, are on the rise, he said.
Nies said one of his duties as he takes over as executive director of the NEFMC will be to facilitate a move toward an "ecosystem-based approach" to fisheries management. That means taking a more holistic view of the complex interactions between species, rather than focusing on how individual stocks or species of fish are doing, he said.
Read the full story at the Portsmouth Harold