March 18, 2013 — Calling current efforts being undertaken by the New England Fishery Management Council "a short-sighted plan" that " threatens New England’s coastal ecosystem," the Pew Environment Group's Peter Baker has issued an email call to action asking recipients to "tell NOAA officials that New England’s iconic fish need protection now more than ever."
Saving Seafood has analyzed similar claims emerging from a number of environmental groups in recent days. For more information on this topic see:
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ANALYSIS: NY Times blog post Misleads Public on Habitat Closed Area Changes
TEXT OF THE EMAIL TO SUPPORTERS:
Dear Friend,
A short-sighted plan threatens New England’s coastal ecosystem, and you can help prevent its adoption. Thousands of square miles of protected waters could soon be subject to some of the most damaging forms of large-scale fishing, putting the recovery of cod and other struggling marine life in peril.
These closed areas were put in place following widespread overfishing and the collapse of fish populations in the 1990s, and were intended to protect juvenile fish, spawning areas and seafloor habitat. They also provide benefits to other species, including the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, endangered humpback whales and harbor porpoises.
Now fishery managers want to open more than half of these sheltered zones—a combined area the size of Connecticut—to commercial fishing.
But many of these fish populations are still recovering from the lingering effects of decades of overfishing and habitat damage, and they face additional challenges including warming ocean temperatures.
Removing protections now will undermine nearly two decades of species and habitat recovery for a short-term financial payoff, with no long-term economic benefit for our coastal communities.
Please tell NOAA officials that New England’s iconic fish need protection now more than ever. Ask them to keep the groundfish closed areas intact and to improve habitat protection.
Sincerely,
Peter Baker
The Pew Charitable Trusts
LETTER SUPPORTERS ARE ASKED TO SIGN:
I strongly oppose NOAA Fisheries' proposal to potentially open nearly 5,000 square miles of protected New England waters to commercial fishing. These areas have been protecting habitat and contributing to the recovery of fish and other wildlife for nearly two decades. With several groundfish species still severely depleted, now is not the time to eliminate protections and risk pushing these groundfish beyond their ability to recover.
Recent scientific assessments indicate that many of New England's groundfish populations are at precariously low levels and half are being fished at unsustainable rates. For example, Gulf of Maine cod is at approximately 16 percent of what is considered a healthy population, while Georges Bank cod is at just 7 percent. Removing protections for juvenile and spawning fish will result in even greater damage to these populations, their habitat, and the fishing communities that depend on them.
These proposed changes to protected areas represent a fundamental change in the way marine resources are managed for the public good and will have significant impacts to the region's ocean habitat. I urge NOAA Fisheries to complete a full analysis of the potential biological and economic impacts prior to reopening any currently protected areas to additional fishing. In short, an environmental impact statement is needed.
Read the email asking recipients to sign a letter in opposition to changes in closed areas here