Recreational fishermen protest cod report
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PORTSMOUTH — The Seacoast's independent groundfishermen are not the only
ones concerned with measures that could restrict their ability to catch
cod in the Gulf of Maine. Local party and charter boat operators say
the regulations could cost them their livelihoods, as well.
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Fishing industry says attacks on monitors rare
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NEW BEDFORD — Members of the local fishing industry Monday said assaults by fishermen on the federal monitors who observe the catch are extremely rare.
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19 Members of Congress Call on Obama Administration to Preserve Historic Gulf of Maine Cod Fishery
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – 31 January 2012 – A bipartisan, bicameral group of 19 New England lawmakers today wrote to Secretary of Commerce John Bryson urging his department’s help in preventing the collapse of the region’s historic cod fishing industry. Specifically, the members of Congress requested that the Secretary use his authority to set 2012 catch levels for Gulf of Maine cod at “a level that would allow the industry to survive,” should the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) request interim measures during the Council's meeting tomorrow in Portsmouth, NH.
Specifically, the members of Congress requested that the Secretary use
his authority to set 2012 catch levels for Gulf of Maine cod at "a level
that would allow the industry to survive," should the New England
Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) request interim measures during the
Council's meeting tomorrow in Portsmouth, NH.
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What was or was not "extraordinary" about the SSC actions on Gulf of Maine Cod
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Saving Seafood recently reported on several questions concerning the
2011 Gulf of Maine cod assessment, and the actions taken by the
Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) of the New England Fisheries
Management Council (NEFMC) to respond to questions about the
assessment. Saving Seafood and several other media outlets described
the SSC actions as "extraordinary". To clarify, the SSC’s actions
reflected the Council’s instructions to the SSC. The Council’s approach
to responding to the new stock information deviated from the normal
management process, and produced a unique result that many observers
have described as “extraordinary”.
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Fish trade complaint targets local leaders
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In a December 2 letter to former NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Administrator Pat Kurkul, Pat Kavanagh, a New Bedford, Massachusetts fisherman who is a member of the Sustainable Harvest Sector, accused members of the Northeast Seafood Coalition Sectors of having a 'de facto' cartel, after a Northeast Seafood Coalition member exercised his right of first refusal under the sector contracts of the Northeast Seafood Coalition Sectors.
A member of the Sustainable Harvest Sector who is also a member of the Associated Fisheries of Maine has told Saving Seafood that Mr. Kavanagh first raised his concerns with both groups, neither of which felt "the matter warranted any further consideration." Mr. Kavanagh then sent his personal letter of complaint to Administrator Kurkul.
Administrator Kurkul forwarded the issue to the New England Fisheries Managment Council, noting that because "this provision may affect the liquidity of the ACE trading market, the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) may want to consider this issue in upcoming sector discussions." The NEFMC has not done so to date.
In her cover letter, Administrator Kurkul noted that her "understanding is that all sectors have included a right of first refusal within their operations plans in an attempt to protect the sector and its membership. However, all Northeast Fishery Sector operations plans also include a right of first offer" which applies to ACE transfers by its members. Essentially, any Northeast Fishery Sector member can lease ACE from another member before this is offered to anyone who is not in a Northeast Fishery Sector."
She continued "A sector contract is a private agreement between a fisherman and the sector and the current regulations do not prohibit a sector from establishing a right of first refusal or a right of first offer. For this reason, we have approved these provisions in sector contracts. Fishermen may choose whether or not to join a sector based on many factors, including contract provisions."
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