February 3, 2013 — Fisherman and New England Fishery Management Council Member David Goethel is interviewed on Fox News.
February 3, 2013 — Fisherman and New England Fishery Management Council Member David Goethel is interviewed on Fox News.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — January 31, 2013 — Minutes after New England fishery managers took a vote that cast doubt on the historic industry's future, the prospects most clear to Gloucester fishermen Paul Vitale were his own.
"I'm bankrupt. That's it," said the 40-year-old father of three. "I'm all done. The boat's going up for sale."
The New England Fishery Management Council on Wednesday approved a year-to-year cut of 77 percent on the Gulf of Maine cod limit and 61 percent for Georges Bank cod.
The cuts come on top of a slew of other reductions, ranging from 10 to 71 percent, on the catch of other bottom-dwelling groundfish species, such as haddock and flounder.
Fishermen say now they're staring at industry collapse because they've been left with far too few fish for most boats to make a living.
"We are headed down the wrong course here, of exterminating the inshore fleet, for no good reason," said David Goethel, a New Hampshire fisherman and council member.
The cuts, in effect May 1, are expected to be backed by federal managers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's top federal fisheries regulator, John Bullard, acknowledged the reductions will be devastating. But he said the fish stocks are struggling and the industry's steady, excruciating decline must be reversed.
"The first thing we have to do is put denial behind us," he said.
The cuts hit an industry that was crucial to the nation's early economy and remains imbued with the risk and romance of man versus nature — depicted in the famous "Man at the Wheel" statue in Gloucester of a fisherman facing the sea.
The new low limits reduce the cod catch to just a fraction of what it once was and prevent fishermen from landing enough of the plentiful species, such as haddock and pollock. That's because fishermen can't pull up the healthier groundfish without catching too much of the cod that swim among them.
An economic analysis by the council projected that the cuts would reduce overall groundfish revenues by 33 percent, from about $90 million in 2011 to about $60 million in 2013. But fishermen said the projection is far too optimistic.
"It's fantasy. … I mean, I'd rather go to Disney World. I've got a better chance of meeting Peter Pan," said Goethel, who predicted the entire New Hamsphire fleet would be eliminated.
Read the full story from Jay Lindsay of the Associated Press at WTOP
January 31, 2013 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Doug Lipton, PhD, has been tapped to fill the newly created position of Senior Research Economist at NOAA Fisheries. He will start on June 3, 2013. In this new role, Dr. Lipton will provide leadership and strategic direction to the agency’s economics and social science research program. Dr. Lipton’s deep experience in fisheries economics will be invaluable as NOAA Fisheries works to support the economic vitality of the nation’s coastal communities and the productivity of our ocean resources.
“Doug Lipton is a leader in bringing innovative economic thinking to bear on tough issues in managing marine resources and maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems,” said Dr. Richard Merrick, NOAA Fisheries Chief Science Advisor. “Supporting the well-being of our coastal communities is one of this agency’s priority missions. I am very pleased that Doug, as our Senior Research Economist, will help point the way forward as we work to insure that coastal communities benefit from a healthy ocean, today and into the future.”
Currently, Dr. Lipton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland. Much of his research has focused on valuing marine resources such as fish, shellfish, and recreation, and on understanding how water quality affects the value of those resources. In addition, he has been instrumental in developing innovative policies that use economic incentives to drive environmental improvements. For example, he has recently worked on creating market-based programs to fund oyster reef restoration in order to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
In addition to his duties as a researcher and professor, Dr. Lipton has been Program Leader for the Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program for the past 20 years. This program, which is partly funded by NOAA, connects experts in aquaculture, seafood, water quality, and marine and watershed science with the government agencies, citizens groups, and businesses that stand to benefit from their expertise. Among other things, the Sea Grant Extension Program assists coastal communities in contributing to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The program has also helped the crab industry use technology to improve seafood quality control.
“I am excited and honored to be appointed NOAA’s first Senior Research Economist,” said Dr. Lipton, who also noted that economics and social science research are fundamental to maintaining a vital economy and a healthy ecosystem.
Read the full story on the NOAA website
WASHINGTON — January 29, 2013 — The few fishermen who still ply New England's waters for cod, haddock and other groundfish are bracing for a double dose of bad news this week.
The first arrived Monday when, as anticipated, the U.S. Senate approved a $60 billion Hurricane Sandy disaster relief bill that contained no federal aid for the northeastern groundfishery or several other fisheries that face "economic disasters."
The second wave could arrive Wednesday or Thursday if federal regulators, as expected, slash already reduced catch limits by another 70 percent to 80 percent to protect fish populations that scientists now say are much smaller than previously thought.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce designated the northeastern groundfishery an "economic disaster," opening the door for emergency federal funds to help support the industry, research programs or management practices.
But Congress has yet to appropriate the money. And any hope of securing funds through the Hurricane Sandy disaster relief bill died in the House after budget hawks stripped unrelated disaster programs from the bill, which passed in the Senate on Monday.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from New England and Alaska — another state with a certified fishery disaster — vowed to return with another request or pursue other options. The process could take weeks or months.
"It's one thing to get a disaster declaration on paper. It is another thing to be able to provide the relief," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. "And I certainly intend to push until that relief is provided, not only for the families in Alaska, but for those that have been impacted by fisheries disasters throughout the country."
Fishermen are bracing for much starker news from the New England Fishery Management Council later this week. The council's scientific advisory council is proposing an 81 percent cut in the Gulf of Maine cod catch and cuts of 60 percent to 70 percent for other species, based on dire stock assessments.
Last week, the Northeast region's top regulator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, John Bullard, told The Associated Press that the cuts "will have devastating impacts on the fleet, and on families, and on ports," but "reality is here and we have to face it."
Read the full story at the Portland Press Herald
January 29, 2013 — Delegates voted unanimously Monday to reduce the commercial catch of Atlantic menhaden in Virginia waters by 20 percent, mirroring similar action last week in the Senate.
The 98-0 vote aligns Virginia with other states along the Eastern seaboard in a historic coastwide management plan by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to help the floundering stock of menhaden rebuild.
Conservationists praised the action to protect a fish integral to the bay ecosystem and commercial fishery, but a spokesman for the only menhaden fishery left on the Atlantic said the move will cost about 25 jobs.
"It's obviously a success for Virginia," said Chris Moore, Hampton Roads senior scientist with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. "This is critical legislation that Virginia needed in order to get into compliance with this management plan, and it shows Virginia is going to remain a staunch partner in this process."
Better stock management will benefit the bay and the commonwealth ecologically and economically, he said.
But Ben Landry, spokesman at Omega Protein Inc., said a 20 percent cut means layoffs at its Reedville plant and the loss of one boat in its eight-vessel fishing fleet.
"The more that the fishery has to cut back, the more footing you lose on really continuing to be a sustainable business there," Landry said.
Omega employs 300 workers at its plant, which grinds and boils menhaden into animal meal, fertilizer and protein supplements. This year, the company marks a century of operation, and Landry said it remains a "viable business."
"The company's resilient," he said. "We've faced a bunch of challenges in our hundred years, and we'll continue as we move forward. We're hoping to make it a few more."
The little menhaden is generally too oily and bony for the human palate, but tasty to important marine predators ranging from crabs and striped bass to waterfowl and whales. It's also an important filter-feeder, helping to clean up waterways, including the bay.
Read the full story in the Daily Press
January 29, 2013 — As the New England Fishery Management Council gathers in the Port City this week to discuss the fate of the region's fishing industry, lawmakers are advocating a softening of regulatory proposals they say could wipe out commercial fishing in New Hampshire.
The first of a four-day New England Fishery Management Council meeting began Monday behind closed doors at the Sheraton Harborside Hotel. Fishermen are most anxious for Wednesday, when the council will discuss in public the details of its request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service for interim action regarding overfishing of Gulf of Maine cod and haddock in 2013.
Portsmouth fisherman Erik Anderson, president of the N.H. Commercial Fishermen's Association, said Wednesday will be the day the council discusses the fate of this and other fishing communities as it addresses fishing quotas. Proposals suggest reductions of cod and haddock catches by as much as 80 percent, he said.
"The impacts are huge. We've said it right along," he said. "This is it. If these guys don't have any fish to catch, it's over."
The National Marine Fisheries Service has declined the New England Fishery Management Council's request that interim measures be enacted for a second consecutive year on Gulf of Maine cod. The interim measures would reduce, but not end, overfishing of the species.
Last year's interim action was for the 2012 fishing season, which ends April 30. It reduced catch limits by 22 percent, and was implemented to avoid the collapse of the fishery while also taking action on an updated stock assessment that revealed the Gulf of Maine cod population was much smaller than previously believed.
"We're required to end overfishing immediately," said Maggie Mooney-Seus, public affairs officer for the National Marine Fisheries Service northeast regional office. "We found some flexibility that would allow us to take some interim measures in 2012."
The law that requires NOAA's fisheries service to end overfishing immediately is the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Mooney-Seus said the agency warned last year, and still believes, that the act does not allow for interim measures to be implemented for a second year in a row.
"That's where we stand right now," she said.
On Monday, U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., released a joint statement after sending a letter to Rebecca Blank, acting secretary of the Department of Commerce, asking that NOAA reconsider its decision. The Department of Commerce oversees NOAA.
Read the full story at Seacoast Online
January 22, 2013 — Restaurant customers traded down in 2012 — from entrées down to appetizers, from bottles of wine down to glasses, and from expensive entrées down to cheaper ones — according to point-of-sale data analyzed by research firm GuestMetrics LLC.
GuestMetrics analyzed more than 250 million checks at full-service restaurants. During the course of 2012, the number of entrées ordered declined by 1.5 percent, while orders of appetizers and sides grew by 2.8 percent.
The average price of an entrée was $11.56 in 2012, compared with $5.57 for appetizers and sides, indicating downward pressure on average checks, GuestMetrics said.
The fastest-growing appetizers were chicken wings, oysters, ribs and empanadas, according to the data.
Among entrées, the largest categories — steaks, burgers and pizza — “actually held up fine,” GuestMetrics president Brian Barrett said. He added that the decline was driven by less prevalent items, which he said suggests "an underlying shift taking place in consumer preference to more mainstream entrées."
Items containing protein did particularly well, growing overall by 2.1 percent, while non-protein dishes grew by just 0.3 percent. Among protein, beef did the best, particularly burgers, rib-eye steaks and filets. Seafood dishes grew most slowly, particularly shrimp, bass, clams and tuna, “though their sluggish performance was partially offset by strength among oysters, salmon, grouper and trout dishes,” Barrett said.
January 14, 2013 — With 2012's wholesale prices being the lowest in years, lobstermen look to the state for solutions.
Last year was a rough year for lobstering and the industry has a lot to say about it.
As part of a month-long series of meetings across the state's coastal towns, the Division of Marine Resources hosted a standing-room-only crowd on Monday to hear ideas and feedback on a range of issues from marketing to potential changes in the licensing system to how to handle market crashes.
In 2012, the industry caught a record 123 million pounds of lobster in Maine's waters, up 18 percent from a year ago. The value of the catch, however, fell to $331 million, down $3.7 million.
The year was marked by a glut in the market, the lowest wholesale price in a generation and protests against Canadian processors who imported lower-priced Maine lobster.
"We don't know if it will happen again. Do we need to do something? I hear up and down the coast that we need to do something but we don't know what," said Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher.
Keliher said the feedback has varied in different parts of the state. In Yarmouth, for example, there was minimal support for the idea of limiting fishing to three days a week during times of market gluts. Fewer lobsters were caught in southern Maine last year than along the midcoast.
Read the full story in the Portland Press Herald
January 9, 2013 — It's a system, called catch shares, that the government and environmental groups will tell you is the best thing to happen to fish since catch limits. But fishermen in the halibut and black-cod industry—the first in the country to live with the bizarre realities of these new policies—have weathered its real consequences, outcomes that fly in the face of more official, rosy portrayals. Outcomes like absentee landlords, brokers and bankers, fish quota that costs more than your house, and a new generation of people cluttering their hulls, demanding sandwiches.
Those owners, the ones who were gifted the shares at the outset of the program's launch, own that fish now—or, more specifically, they own the rights to catch a certain amount each year. The program is designed to make them eventually sell that quota as they get older and stop fishing. And it's intended to land those shares in the hands of young fishermen, as no one is supposed to be able to purchase quota unless they can prove 150 days or more of commercial fishing experience. But the sad truth is that few of those initial quota holders let go of their shares. They're too valuable an asset to sell. And for the next generation—who have to buy quota rather than receive it from the government—catch shares are expensive, an investment on par with buying real estate in a volatile market.
The result is that about half the halibut caught in 2011 was dragged out of the sea by guys who leased quota from these owners. Legally, the first generation of quota owners are allowed to hire a skipper, like Painter or Bright, and lease them the right to fish for their shares. That means whenever Painter and Bright go fishing, they not only provide the boat, pay the crew, and take the risk on the sea—they also pay rent to their fishing landlords, who sit at home and collect a check.
The rent used to be about 50 percent of the value of the fish, worth up to $7.14 a pound at the docks in 2011, to the owner. The deal has earned the owners nicknames like "slipper skippers" and "mailbox fishermen." Greedy as the practice can be, it's permissible, the government's way of making the new program look and act like the old one, in which seasoned fishermen traditionally hired skippers to helm their boats as they aged out.
Yet as the quota era of fishing has taken hold, the stealthier and more opportunistic practice of walking on has become a trend that stalks a fine line of legality. Those who bought quota after January 1995 aren't allowed to lease. They are supposed to sell as they retire instead, encouraged to do so by a "boots on deck" rule that says they have to be on the boat while their quota is fished, unless they own the boat, or at least 20 percent of it. The idea was to transition the fishery away from leasing over time. But while the goal of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council—one of eight regional councils the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses to implement fish management—was that quota owners actively participate in fishing their quota, they set no requirement that those owners actually lay their hands on fishing gear. That loophole let a leasing culture sink deep hooks into the halibut fishery.
There are a few exceptions. Some walk-ons still fish alongside their skippers and crew. Others are young crewmen who buy quota as a guarantee of finding work, or bought a little but can't afford a boat. And some are fishing widows. But the remainder are visitors, industry retirees, tourists, or investors. They don't fish. They simply walk on the boat, climb below deck, and entertain themselves while others do the work.
"This last fella that I leased, he was in his 80s," says Painter. "He would come on board, read four or five books and watch movies, and that was about it. He doesn't come outside."
Read the full story at Seattle Weekly
January 7, 2012 — Fewer fish are being caught off New England coastlines. And it's affecting the bottom line of small businesses in the Pioneer Valley.
Northampton's Webster's Fish Hook has been in business for the better part of 28 years. Its owners say, when it comes to the supply of local fresh fish, they've never seen a year like this one.
Haddock and Cod are two of the most consumed fish among seafood lovers in New England. “Frequently we go and we do buy salmon, shrimp, cod, haddock,” said Denise Robinson of East Longmeadow.
They're so popular, this past Christmas Eve, Northampton's Webster's Fish Hook sold 200 pounds of haddock. But new reports show cod and haddock stocks in New England are depleting and harder to find.
“It's been a challenge lately getting good fresh fish especially haddock and cod. The prices have really soared recently. Due in fact to a couple of different reasons, one because of the new regulations in place and two because there really isn't as much fish there as there used to be,” said owner Dan Webster.