December 7, 2022 — Well, where do I start?
I guess the nation no longer cares for the fishing industry. Our government agencies have regulated us to the breaking point. Their data is unjust and from what fishermen see and what they are saying are on two ends of the spectrum.
You can set a net almost anywhere in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank and catch a white hake. But the assessment team that NOAA and NMFS has says there isn’t any hake, so they put unrealistic quota restrictions. So, that means boats with not enough quota have to purchase leased fish in hopes to catch other fish. But leasing hake quota is $1.50 a pound before you leave the dock. The average price to the boat for landing those fish is $1.40, and that number is being generous. So, you lose money on catching a fish in hopes of catching another fish that lives in the same habitat.