The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas lowered fishing quotas 32 percent for Mediterranean bluefin tuna.
"From the industry’s perspective, we’re blown away by the leadership qualities of Rebecca Lent and Margaret Spring," said Rich Ruais, executive director of the American Bluefin Tuna Associationand Bluewater Fishermen’s Association and a member of the U.S.delegation to the international meeting this month in Brazil. "Their ability to call home and get support shows the U.S. was serious andmeant business. It made a huge difference."
New England bluefin tuna fishermen have joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for years in arguing for lower quotas and an end to illegal fishing of the bluefin stockthat spawns in the Mediterranean Sea. This Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock mixes in the North Atlantic with the Western Atlantic bluefin tuna stock that spawns in the Gulf of Mexico.
Jim Balsiger is acting assistant administrator for NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, based in Silver Spring, Md. Send any comments to him at public.concerns.groundfish@noaa.gov .
Read the complete column at The Gloucester Daily Times.