Saving Seafood

Senator Collins Urges Senior Administration to Develop Gray Zone Fishing Agreement with Canada

April 9, 2019 — SEAFOOD NEWS — Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, took issues affecting Maine’s lobster industry to the Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee hearing this week – specifically the “Gray Zone” and the ongoing trade war with China.

The Gray Zone sits approximately 10 miles off the coast of Maine, around Machias Island. Canadian and Maine lobstermen both work in the area, but do not follow the same regulations, which has caused disputees. Maine Lobstermen mark the tails of egg-bearing females and return them to water in an effort to allow them to lay eggs and continue reproducing. Maine lobstermen also abide by size limits, and toss back oversized lobsters to keep the stock strong. Canada lobstermen do not have to follow the same conservation measures, so those notched and oversized lobsters are able to be caught by Canadian lobstermen just yards away.

“Each country manages their lobster and other fisheries in that area through separate and often conflicting regulations,” Senator Collins explained. “The implications of these regulatory discrepancies are very concerning and very unfair to Maine’s lobstermen.”

Dr. Neil Jacobs, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, committed to working with Senator Collins to “explore the possibility of developing a fisheries management agreement between the U.S. and Canada that would provide for cooperative management of the Gray Zone.”

Besides the issue with the Gray Zone, Senator Collins also spoke out on the ongoing trade war with China, urging the Senior Administration to make some progress with the dispute.

“The retaliatory tariff of 25% that China has levied on U.S. lobster has been very detrimental to the industry,” explained Senator Collins. “What is the status of the trade talks with China, and what hope can you provide to my lobster exporters who are struggling day in and day out, having lost that very lucrative market to our Canadian neighbors?”

While no guarantees were made, Gil Kaplan, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade said that they have been “making progress” and are “optimistic about an agreement.”

This story was originally published on SeafoodNews.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.

Jacobs now leading NOAA as Gallaudet focuses on Blue Economy initiative

March 5, 2019 — U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made a change in leadership for the agency that oversees NOAA Fisheries.

In a memo dated 25 February, Neil Jacobs told NOAA employees that Ross assigned him to the “nonexclusive” role of undersecretary and NOAA Administrator. He replaces retired Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet, who had served as the agency’s acting administrator.

The switch will not change NOAA’s mission or priorities, Jacobs said.

“This is a natural shift that occurs in agencies and departments over time,” a NOAA spokesperson told SeafoodSource in a prepared statement. “Both leaders are dedicated professionals who believe in the people, science, and missions at NOAA. The agency’s important work on behalf of the American people and businesses will occur seamlessly into the future.”

Jacobs said Gallaudet continues in his position as the assistant secretary for oceans and atmosphere in the Commerce Department. In this position, Gallaudet will work on the department’s Blue Economy initiative, which is looking to bolster how the U.S. can better leverage the resources in the world’s second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone.

One of the priorities for the Blue Economy initiative is to examine how the U.S. can increase the amount of seafood America produces. Currently, America imports roughly 90 percent of the fish and shellfish consumed annually. The initiative also calls for surveying for oil and gas exploration.

Read the full story at Seafood Source