Hoff Stauffer is managing director of the Wingaersheek Research Group, based in Gloucester. He was the first Director of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the early 1970s, and served as a senior member of various consulting and research firms where he focused on public policy and corporate strategy related to energy and environmental issues.
In Alaska, catch share systems were designed collaboratively from the bottom up over multiple years.
Here, the National Marine Fisheries Service wants to impose a catch share system without careful design in less than a year.
So how can we get ourselves out of this mess?
The answers are relatively simple and straightforward:
1. Set annual catch limits on a pace to sustainable levels that minimize the disruption to fishermen families and communities;
2. Delay implementation of a catch share system until: A.) The shares can be allocated based on sound catch histories; B.) the rules governing transfer of shares can carefully and collaboratively be developed; C.) The capabilities to monitor and enforce can be demonstrated.
3. Also, work out the nasty details not addressed herein on bycatch, habitat protection, carry-forwards, and the like. The fish stocks are already improving. There is no need to set draconian total catch limits or to rush to implement a poorly designed catch share system.
NMFS should pause, take a deep breath, and proceed to do this carefully and fairly, in collaboration with the industry.