The New England Fishery Management Council is hosting schedule of coast-wide scoping hearings to inform the public of both the New England and Mid-Atlantic Councils’ intent to consider catch share management in the monkfish fishery. The attached document defines and explains the different types of catch share programs, the elements and requirements of a catch share program, and various alternative approaches for public consideration.
Meetings are being held on Tuesday the 11th in New Bedford, MA and Warwick RI. The remainder of the schedule is available in the Saving Seafood Event Calendar. (link https://www.savingseafood.org/event-calendar.html)
The Councils hope to elicit early comment from stakeholders by encouraging the public to voice its opinions, comments and concerns about catch share management generally, and about specific elements or programs, in order to assist them in the development of alternatives for formal consideration. The public also is invited to ask questions that the Councils may answer in the course of plan development. See page 6 for some examples.
All correspondence should be emailed to the following address: monkfisha6@noaa.gov. Alternative forms of communication are listed on page 11 of the scoping document. The deadline for comments is 5 p.m. on February 15, 2011.
The "Amendment 6" document from the New England and Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Councils is described below.
Purpose of this Document:
The purpose of this document is to inform the public of the New England and Mid‐Atlantic Fishery Management Councils’ (NEFMC and MAFMC) intent to consider catch shares management in the monkfish fishery, and to elicit early comment from stakeholders. The document will define and explain the different types of catch share programs, the elements and requirements of a catch share program, and various alternative approaches for public consideration. The Councils strongly encourage the public to voice their opinions, comments and concerns on catch share management generally, and on specific elements or programs, in order to assist the Councils in the development of alternatives for formal consideration. The public is also invited to ask questions that the Councils may answer in the course of plan development.
Why are the Councils considering Catch Shares?
Members of both Councils consider catch share management as a way to improve the economic performance of a fishery, by increasing flexibility, maintaining total catch within set limits, achieving optimum yield, promoting safety, and reducing the regulatory burden on vessel operators. Furthermore, nearly 3/4ths of the monkfish limited‐access permit holders also hold permits in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery, where a catch share program (sectors) has already been implemented. Some of those permit holders have requested that the NEFMC consider catch shares in the monkfish fishery to coordinate the management and improve performance of both fisheries.
NOAA’s National Catch Share Policy supports the Councils efforts to explore catch shares management approaches wherever appropriate in fishery management plans.
The NOAA Policy says:
To achieve long‐term ecological and economic sustainability of the Nation’s fishery resources and fishing communities, NOAA encourages the consideration and adoption of catch shares wherever appropriate in fishery management and ecosystem plans and amendments and will support the design, implementation, and monitoring of catch share programs.
What is a “Catch Share”?
NOAA defines a “Catch Share” as a generic term for a fishery management program that allocates a specific portion of a total fishery catch to individuals, communities, or cooperatives (including sectors). In general, quota shares can be allocated to an individual or group and can be area‐based or catch based.
The term “Catch Share” includes Limited Access Privilege (LAP) Program, a statutory term used in the language of Magnuson‐Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act (MSA). Here, the term is used to describe a “federally issued permit to harvest a unit of fish expressed as a portion of the total allowable catch that may be held by a group or by an individual.” LAP permits may not be issued for more than 10 years with a formal detailed review occurring 5 years after implementation and every 7 years thereafter as written in the statute. The Act also maintains that a LAP does not confer any compensation if it is revoked or limited at any time.
Most importantly, catch shares are not a property right but rather a harvesting privilege.
Read the Catch Shares Discussion and Scoping Document.