New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang submitted comments to Monday's meeting of the New England Fishery Management Council asking that they “take every effort to ensure any promulgated amendment strikes a fair and reasonable balance between conservation and the economic sustainability of fishing communities.”
He added “I believe that the social and economic consequences that fishery management impose on our fishermen and their families, and on local economies are not fully understood by the Agency [NOAA] and are not weighed fairly in the decision making process.
In the development of the amendment it is of upmost importance that the Committee obtain a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic impacts as required under Rule 8 of the Sustainable Fisheries Act (SFA).”
Mayor Lang also states the focus of NEFMC "should include industry self governance and the ability of fishermen to make exchange or the purchase yellowtail flounder bycatch in harmony with market forces". He added “this issue could expeditiously be resolved by changing the rebuilding requirement for yellowtail from 7 to 10 years.”
Finally, Mayor Lang asks that NEFMC “consider eliminating the year round closures on Georges Bank and institute seasonal spawning closures.”