SavingSeaFood - One year into a new groundfishing management systems, some see progress, other inequality

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One year into a new groundfishing management systems, some see progress, other inequality

Just over one year ago, New England’s groundfish fishery underwent what some describe as the most sweeping change since the enactment of the federal Magnuson-Stevens Act of 1976, the primary law governing management of the country’s marine fisheries. Last May, an amendment to the law transitioned the Northeast fishery away from the longstanding days-at-sea system, under which fishermen were allotted a certain number of days to fish in federal waters. In an attempt to revamp their approach toward rebuilding depleted fish stocks, federal regulators authorized fishermen to organize into sectors, voluntary groups that are allocated a share of the annual catch limit to divvy up among members as they see fit.

Early reports indicate that fishermen are earning more money under the sector or “catch share” system despite catching lower volumes of fish, though regulators are hesitant to credit the sector model alone. Supporters say the system offers an economically and environmentally viable alternative to the days-at-sea model, but some argue that sectors have led to a greater concentration of catch share ownership among a few larger players. Terms more commonly used to describe trading in the global oil market are popping up, with critics citing the “commoditization” of the fishery and labeling large owners of catch share as “speculators.” Meanwhile, congressional action threatens future funding for catch share programs and a lawsuit makes its way through the Boston courts.

After working in the groundfishing business for more than 20 years, Maggie Raymond is well acquainted with the disadvantages of the days-at-sea management model. Too many boats racing to catch as much fish as quickly as possible led to a number of problems. Ever-increasing “trip limits” restricted the number of fish that could be landed per day, and area closures, some of which are still in place, put wide swaths of federal waters off limits for part or all of the season. Fish were wasted when fishermen who had reached their catch limits tossed the excess back overboard, helping neither the resource nor the fishermen, Raymond says.

Today, Raymond’s two 70- and 60-foot steel trawlers operate out of Boston under the auspices of the Sustainable Harvest Sector, Maine’s largest with 105 permits and 38 active vessels from Maine to Cape May, N.J. “Initially, it was a difficult transition,” she says. “There were a lot of new reporting requirements.” Sectors allow groundfishermen to pool catch rights and collectively ensure that their membership doesn’t exceed its allocation of about 20 managed stocks.

Not everyone has fared well under the sector system, however. About 10 boats in the Sustainable Harvest Sector tied up after receiving too little allocation to make fishing worthwhile, or struggling to cope with the changes. But in light of federal requirements to limit fish mortality — such as a 30% reduction for Gulf of Maine cod — and the roughly 400 active vessels out fishing, something had to give, Raymond says. “The reason why so many people are complaining that they don’t have enough allocation is we’re dividing it up between too many people.” Nonetheless, “It’s really unfortunate that a lot of people were hurt,” she says.

Libby of Port Clyde fished all of his allocation last year and also leased some, making out adequately even though his total volume dropped by a quarter. “I did pretty well,” he says. “A lot of the guys were down worse than me.” The Port Clyde Community Groundfish Sector includes mostly smaller boats that fish in the Gulf of Maine, and some fishermen haven’t received enough allocation to earn a living, Libby says. “They have to go out and ask their neighbor for a handful of fish so they can go out and work.”

Some criticize the sector management system for exacerbating contraction of the fishing fleet, a trend prevalent long before the system’s implementation. “There has been ongoing consolidation in this fishery for at least the last five years,” says Marjorie Mooney-Seus, spokeswoman for NOAA’s Northeast regional office. From 2007 to 2009, 20% of active vessels in the Northeast accounted for about 66% of groundfish revenues. In 2010, the same 20% of vessels accounted for even more, about 75% of groundfish revenues, according to the NOAA interim report. The number of vessels accounting for the top quarter of those dollars dropped by half, from 26 to 13, from 2007 to 2010.

Concern about consolidation led the New England Fishery Management Council earlier this year to ask the National Marine Fisheries Service to publish a “control date” beyond which the acquisition of permits might be handled differently. A report by council staff found that in Massachusetts, the top three permit holders controlled 41% of the allocation of Georges Bank winter flounder, 25% of another unnamed stock and 10% to 20% of 11 other stocks. A final decision has yet to be reached on the ramifications of the April 7 control date.

Read the complete story from Maine Biz.

JESSICA HATHAWAY: 'National Fisherman' editor says New York Times misrepresented catch share support

May 18, 2012 - The New York Times heralds catch shares for saving summer flounder and Northeast haddock, which is like crediting a freshman class for the seniors' high college placement rate. By the same token, we could blame catch shares for the demise of Northeast cod stocks. But we don't.

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