Two years ago, sectors were hailed as a way for fishermen to navigate out of the current regulatory madness. But now that the sectors are about to be implemented, Keding and many other New England fishermen are livid. They say the authorities’ rush to get sectors in place could put many of them out of business.
To some extent, their pain has already been predetermined by a federal law that squeezes overall groundfish restrictions again next May. But the regulators’ erroneous numbers make it that much harder for fishermen to prepare for the next round of cuts.
The alleged data errors make the sectors less appealing. A NMFS spokeswoman says 65 correction requests have been filed so far; the deadline for appeals was extended to the end of December. Even if her agency adjusts its assessments based on the appeals, she says NMFS wouldn’t have enough time to put the corrected fishing quotas into effect until May 2011.
The law’s goal is a noble one: to rebuild stocks of cod, flounder and other groundfish so the waters off New England become a fully sustainable fishery. And it’s been effective in restoring much of the fish stocks. But Congress should reconsider its strict timetable.
The concept of establishing fish stocks by law seems like a ridiculous science experiment to Marshfield fisherman Ed Barrett. And Mike Walsh, a Stoughton resident with four fishing boats docked in Boston, essentially considers the law an economic stimulus plan for Canadian fishermen.
Hundreds of angry fishermen rallied last week in front of NMFS’ Gloucester office over its handling of sectors. They may want to consider a trip to Capitol Hill instead next time: Reforms passed by Congress could trump anything NMFS dictates.
When groundfish stocks such as cod were in danger of disappearing from the waters off New England in the 1990s, it was easy to blame the fishermen. Now the tables have turned, and it’s the groundfish industry that’s in danger of disappearing.
Read the complete story at The Patriot Ledger.