Last week, federal fisheries chief Eric Schwaab told Congress that U.S. fisheries are on track to meet the goal of ending overfishing this year, and that prospects for the fishing industry should improve in years to come. “We have turned a corner in our management of fisheries in this country, and the sacrifices made and being made by so many who rely on this industry are showing great promise,” Schwaab said. “As we end overfishing and rebuild stocks, we will increase the economic output of our fisheries, improve the economic conditions for our fishermen, and create better, more stable and sustainable jobs and opportunities in our coastal communities.”
Playing the cynic for a moment, that’s the sort of optimistic assessment one might expect to hear from the person in charge of federal fisheries regulations. But last week, I heard almost exactly the same thing from someone much closer to the ground. To quote Tom Dempsey, the policy director for the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association: “We’re at the bottom of this pit, and now we’re digging out.”
So what does digging out (or should I say fishing out?) look like?
Well, for one thing, Schwaab and Dempsey both point to expected increases in fishing limits. This year was the federally-mandated deadline for all U.S. fisheries to put in place science-based catch limits that immediately stop overfishing. Assuming the science bears out and the end of overfishing is confirmed, this year’s limits should – theoretically – be the lowest fishermen will see in the foreseeable future. As historically overfished populations begin to recover, fishing limits should rise. In fact, the New England Fisheries Management Council has filed a proposed rule that would increase catch limits for 12 groundfish stocks for the 2011 season that begins May 1st. Notably, catch limits for yellowtail flounder – a choke species whose low limits can shut down the entire fishery if reached – would be 44% higher than planned.
Read the complete story from WGBH.