SavingSeaFood - Conservation Law Foundation seeks to work with Mayor, Scientist, and Council on better science

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Conservation Law Foundation seeks to work with Mayor, Scientist, and Council on better science

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang has released this letter from the Conservation Law Foundation's Peter Shelley. Mr. Shelley is an attorney representing CLF on the opposing side of the cities of New Bedford and Gloucester in the cities' lawsuit against NOAA and the Commerce Department on Amendment 16 Federal fisheries regulations.

Mr. Shelley writes, "I was very pleased to hear that Dr. Cadrin reported that he will be bringing the work that his group has been doing on improving the groundfish science to the SSC and the formal groundfish peer review process for further review and analysis."

"We share your concern that the benefits of the rebuilding stocks and the higher groundfish prices should be shared fairly and equitably throughout the fleet and have not had the benefit of the specific information you may have access to that would allow that topic to be addressed by the Council."

"We are also genuinely interested in understanding better what some of the increased costs are associated with the sector system that may be offsetting the increased gross revenues that many fishing ports are recording this year. Having that detail would allow all of us to have a clearer picture of the real economics of the new sectors."

Read the original letter to Mayor Lang.

MELISSA WOOD, NATIONAL FISHERMEN: Meting out the meager

May 22, 2012 - Listening to the New England Council's Groundfish Advisory Panel talk about how that industry is going to pay for monitoring costs is kind of like trying to figure out how to pay your bills when you've just lost your job. Though monitoring is important keeping costs down is critical. As Panel Member Gary Libby pointed out, "If we had 100 percent monitoring we probably wouldn't have an industry."

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