April 23, 2013 — GLOUCESTER, MA –- The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has approved an exemption allowing groundfish sector fishermen to use 4-1/2” mesh to target redfish under 100% observer coverage for the remainder of the 2012 fishing year, which ends April 30. Whether anyone will be able to take advantage of the program, however, remains to be seen.
NMFS said that “sectors using this exemption would therefore be required to pay for 100% of the at- sea cost for a monitor on 100% of 4-1/2” redfish exemption trips.” Industry members were stunned.
“I don’t understand what they’re thinking,” said Terry Alexander, whose boat took part in the REDNET sea trials.
Forcing fishermen to pay 100% of at-sea monitoring costs would make it hard to come out on top at the end of the day, especially given today’s high fuel costs, he said.
“We’re burning a lot of fuel and getting 40-to-50 cents per pound for the fish. I don’t think it’s workable the way it’s written. I don’t think we can make any money doing it this way,” Alexander said.
Read the full story at Commercial Fisheries News