The quota system favors bigger, less sustainable operations and fails to address dogfish predation.
If you want to win an argument about fisheries management, all you have to do is say, "It's not that simple." But in spite of the many complexities, there are sound questions to be asked regarding the legitimacy of the stock assessment. I'm confident that the picture is neither as bleak as the assessment and environmental groups suggest, nor as rosy as some of the fishermen report.
Adjusting only the total allowable catch fails to address the fundamental factors inhibiting an effective recovery of groundfish stocks, or what policies would create a truly sustainable, economically beneficial fishery for the long term.
The quota system inherently favors large fishing operations that are allowed to concentrate their efforts in relatively small areas, close to shore, like Stellwagen Bank.
Read the complete opinion piece at The Portland Press Herald.