The federal government will push for the expansion of a controversial concept that gives commercial fishermen a guaranteed share of the overall catch as a tool for restoring depleted stocks in the Gulf of Mexico and other fisheries.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday the approach, known as “catch shares,” is a proven strategy that can make fishing safer and more profitable while rebuilding fish populations.
The federal push for catch shares arises from concerns that traditional methods, including seasonal limits and buyouts of fishing boats, have brought only marginal recovery of fish stocks. More than 20 percent of U.S. fisheries have not been rebuilt, despite a mandate from Congress three years ago to end overfishing of all species by 2011.
“The current tools we have aren’t getting the job done,” NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said, “so we’re expanding the toolbox.”
The approach would let commercial fishing crews harvest their share of the catch when they can command higher prices, rather than competing in derby-style openings that often lead to market gluts and wasted fish. Scientists say that once given a fixed share of the catch, fishermen are less likely to overfish because they have a financial interest in seeing the species thrive.