In an interview with World Fishing and Aquaculture, National Marine Fisheries Chief Eric Schwaab made the following statements:
– NOAA is strongly committed to the success of catch share programs.
– Because their share is secure under catch share programs, fishermen plan their business to take advantage of good weather, markets and other business considerations and tend to be more selective about when and how they catch their allotment.
– We believe that more fishermen over time will chose catch share systems.
– I understand the concern with the 10-year rebuilding time frames in Magnuson. However, I believe Magnuson already contains some of the flexibility we need by allowing certain exceptions based on biology and other issues.
– In response to a January review of [enforcement by] the Commerce Department Inspector General, NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco recently outlined specific steps the agency has taken and will take … while we strive for transparency in our process and to ensure fair treatment, we also know that an effective program is essential if we are to protect fisheries and other marine resources that sustain the jobs and economic vibrancy of America’s coastal communities. … The steps we’ve taken, along with those we’ll implement as we move forward, will go a long way toward protecting our nation’s marine resources through the enforcement of fair, well understood, and effective regulations.
– … catch share funding is not requested at the expense of other fisheries research and management programs. … The National Marine Fisheries Service Operations, Research, and Facilities budget request increased from $724.2 million (€563.8 million) in fiscal year 2009 to $907.8 million (€706.5 million) in FY 2011; this $183.6 million (€142.9 million) increase demonstrates that fisheries research and management has been, and continues to be, a clear priority for NOAA.
– Currently, 84% of the nation’s seafood is imported. Americans eat way more seafood than our fishers can provide. We believe that fish farming may provide some of the solution to this challenge. Right now, NOAA is holding public listening sessions around the country to help guide the development of a new national aquaculture policy.