The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this week released the 2010 Final Report on the Performance of the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery. It elaborates on earlier release of catch and value data for the 2010 groundfish season and adds new information on fishery performance, leasing of quota, costs and jobs.
“The report concludes that when all fishing across the region is analyzed, fishermen as a whole are generally doing marginally better financially, even though they are spending less time fishing and catching fewer fish than previous years,” stated NOAA Administrator Dr Jane Lubchenco.
NOAA is sharing the findings at the New England Fishery Management Council’s “lessons learned” workshop, which is expected to provide important recommendations to help fishers and their communities thrive despite low quotas.
NOAA has been working quickly to raise catch levels based on new fish stock science and allowed fishing in some previously closed areas. NOAA and the Council are also considering rolling over unused quota to the next fishing year.
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