WASHINGTON – November 5, 2009 – Due to overwhelming demand on a call held earlier this week, the Pew Environment Group (PEG) will lead a second background briefing to discuss "catch shares," one means for managing how annual catch limits of fish are allocated among fishermen, on Friday, November 6, at 3:30 p.m. EST.
In the coming weeks, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Catch Shares Task Force will issue recommendations to guide fishery managers as they explore development of these types of management programs for federal ocean fisheries under their jurisdiction. Friday’s call will focus on PEG’s new catch shares white paper, which gives detailed background on these programs and how they are viewed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, along with a few case studies that highlight how this tool can create problems or be successful depending on how it is designed and implemented.Community-based commercial fishermen and recreational fishermen will share their experiences with and perspectives on these programs.
WHAT: Background briefing to discuss the PEG’s new policy paper on catch shares and case studies.
WHEN: Friday, November 6, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. EST
WHO:
Lee Crockett – director of Federal Fisheries Policy at the Pew Environment Group (moderator). Mr. Crockett will discuss the PEG white paper.
Paul Parker – director of the Cape Cod Fisheries Trust. Mr. Parker will discuss Cape Cod hook fishermen’s successful sector management.
Linda Behnken – executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. Ms. Behnken will discuss examples of well designed and problematic programs in Alaska.
Zeke Grader – executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association. Mr. Grader will discuss the concerns that small scale community fishermen have with catch shares.
Dick Brame – executive coordinator for the Coastal Conservation Association’s Atlantic States Fisheries Committee. Mr. Brame will discuss the concerns that recreational fishermen have with catch shares.
CALL LOGISTICS: 1-800-290-9461
PASSWORD: fishing
CONTACT:
Dave Bard, Pew Environment Group, 202-486-4426
Nancy Civetta, Pew Environment Group, 617-901-7193
For more information and resources on Pew’s position on catch shares, visit http://www.endoverfishing.org/DesignMatters.html