December 4, 2014 — Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced emergency closures that will prohibit cod fishing in the Gulf of Maine until May 12, 2015. In the announcement, fishing regulators argued that the cod stock is at its lowest point in the last 40 years, and the closures are meant to protect areas where the fish congregate and spawn.
The announcement was another blow to local fishermen, many of whom have already been hit hard due to previous regulatory changes that inhibit the types and amount of fish they can bring in each year. Local lawmakers found the measure to be extreme, stating that local fishermen have followed these changes in regulations for years with very little benefit.
“The closures and combination with reductions in allocations make it nearly impossible for fishermen to catch enough fish to pay the cost of the fishing trip,” said State Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, of Gloucester, regarding the cuts.
“These cuts come on top of many years of cuts for the fishermen who have lasted in the industry this long,” said Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk. “Every fish that is landed in Gloucester is caught in a sustainable manner, according to the management schemes that are in place. Saying that the oceans are ‘overfished’ is a falsehood. I believe the oceans are under-scienced; every management scheme based on current science has brought us to where we are today, not the fishermen.
The Mayor added, “ While the fishermen in the industry today may not survive, the question is, ‘Will the industry survive in Gloucester and beyond?’ To survive will require innovation and adaption but I am afraid that will not come soon enough or fast enough for those impacted today.”
Read the full story at the Cape Ann Beacon