The request by 23 federal lawmakers to deliver higher, emergency catch allocations for the New England groundfishery was sent to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke over the head of — and without even a "cc" to — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco.
And the disassociation was meant to be a message — a sign of growing frustration with Lubchenco, a number of sources have told the Times.
The Conservation Law Foundation said it opposes approach taken by the federal lawmakers.
Peter Shelley, director of the CLF's advocacy center, said lawmakers should not be involved in micromanaging the fishery.
EDF Ocean Policy Director Julie Wormser said the council and the National Marine Fisheries Service within NOAA is increasing catch limits wherever new data or flexibility within Magnuson allows. A new survey of pollock, the No. 1 "choke" species in the New England mixed groundfishery, is due in June.
"For the other stocks mentioned in the letter to Secretary Locke, increased investments in science are needed to speed up new stock assessments and safely increase catch limits without overfishing stocks," Wormser added. "It would be very helpful if Secretary Locke and Congress agreed to make those investments."
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.