Congressman Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts) has written to NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco to follow-up on their meeting of October 6th. The meeting also included representatives of the New England fishing industry who are “intimately familiar” with difficult fisheries issues “as the government looks to balance fishing opportunities with the conservation of fish stocks”.
The congressman asks Dr. Lubchenco and her staff to thoroughly review the issues discussed “so that substantive action can mitigate some of the economic stress this industry is currently experiencing.”
In the letter, the Congressman made the following points:
Northeast Skate Complex Amendment 3
Discussed the computational errors made in the Skate complex and stated the need for a specified remedy.
See also: Panel admits data error on skate fishery.
Scallop Observer Program.
Addressed the failure of the National Marine Fisheries Service to properly manage the scallop set-aside for the expense of carrying a mandated observer in the Elephant Trunk Access Area.
See also:
Six Coastal Members of Congress Urge NMFS to Fund Scallop Observer Program.
Scallop Set-Aside Failure: Industry Gets No Apology and No Compensation.
Closed Area Analysis
Noted that thirty percent of Georges Bank has been closed to fishing since 1996 with no recent discernible analysis since that time to determine whether there has been benefit from this action.
Urged the Agency to outline a proposal to analyze all closed areas, their effectiveness, and economic impact.
Sectors
Expressed concern about the “real threat of significant consolidation” posed by the planned shift to Sector Management.
Noted that recommendations for severe reductions in groundfish catch could force many who rely on this commercial fishery out of the business unless the Agency takes a lead role in increasing fishing opportunities.
Observed that many fish within the multispecies complex are harvested at levels far below their total allowable catch, and urged the Agency to do everything within its power to provide increased access to fish stocks that have gone underutilized.
Pollock / Stock Assessments
Outlined the current concerns with the scientific efficiency of the pollock assessment as an example of a continuing problem with stock assessments, and urged that a series of workshops be developed where the industry can interact with NOAA scientists to develop a more informed set of stock assessments.
U.S.-Canada Boundary Management Agreement
Noted that the current agreement puts U.S. fishermen at a disadvantage, and urged Dr. Lubchenco to form a NOAA task force involving her staff and members of the industry to develop a comprehensive plan for fisheries interactions with Canada.
Economic Analysis of proposed fishery regulations
Stressed the need to provide economic analysis for all proposed fishery regulations; specifically, the analysis of the economic impact of sector management on the northeast multi-species industry.
Stated that this information should be provided in a manner that is both accessible and easily understood by those who are most affected including fishermen, shore side businesses, and coastal communities.
Expressed the concern that the economic impacts of many regulations and actions are unclear despite the mandate of National Standard 8.
Also in the meeting were members of the Congressman’s staff and Congressman John Tierney’s staff, and from National Marine Fisheries Service Dr. Jim Balsiger, acting assistant administrator, and Dr. Steve Murawski Chief Science Advisor.
Participants representing the commercial fishing industry included Roy Enoksen of Eastern Fisheries, Richie Canastra of the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction, and Vito Giacalone, Governmental Affairs Chairman of the Northeast Seafood Coalition.
Also attending, from the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology, was Dr. Brian Rothschild, Dean Emeritus.