October 2, 2015 — BOSTON — One of the Legislature’s top fishing advocates has taken encouragement from the federal government approving funding for an industry survey of cod stocks.
As part of $6.9 million in federal disaster relief, the National Marine Fisheries Service approved federal funds for an industry-based survey of Gulf of Maine cod, a species whose apparent decimation led to drastic reductions in catch limits and a fisheries disaster declaration.
Gov. Charlie Baker and other Massachusetts elected officials have criticized federal fishery regulators for refusing to consider alternative scientific methods for estimating fish stocks. The School for Marine Science and Technology at UMass Dartmouth has developed new methods for assessing sea life.
Sen. Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, said he was encouraged that the industry study was included in the grant award approved by federal fishery regulators.
“It offers me a sign of hope that they will begin to take seriously collaborative research and consider the independent efforts to try to give us a better understanding of what’s happening with cod stocks,” Tarr told the News Service.
The state Division of Marine Fisheries on Thursday announced the award, which will send most of a $6.7 million pot toward direct aid for fishermen and use another $200,000 to fund the administration of a program to buy back fishing licenses, which would be industry-funded, according to the state. The division will work on developing a proposal for a buyback program, and will work on helping fishermen obtain experimental federal permits for small-mesh nets.
Read the full story at New Bedford Standard – Times