A Report prepared by Dick Grachek for the American Alliance of Fishermen and Their Communities:
Proponents claim Catch Shares will stop overfishing, restore the stocks, create high paying quality jobs, and make the fishermen profitable and safe. A closer look at Catch Share programs in place for decades shows no data to support these claims.
Further consolidation or reduction of the commercial fishing fleet is a known consequence of Catch Shares and a stated goal by NOAA during their push for implementation. This fleet reduction will push the independently owned fishing vessel operations and the dockside support businesses beyond their financial “tipping point”; and in turn will cause the small, family owned, independent fishing businesses and their communities to collapse.
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