Dr. Brian Rothschild calls upon conservation groups to "explain their vision and goals" in supporting catch shares ("Three months in, fishing rules bring disarray," Sept. 8). I welcome this opportunity. For more detail, please also visit http://blogs.edf.org/edfish/. Environmental Defense Fund supports catch shares as the best way to secure the livelihoods fishermen deserve and the healthy fish stocks our nation needs. With over 300 catch share programs already in place worldwide, no other system has been as successful in both restoring fisheries and reviving the fishing industry. Below are some of the findings from studying catch share systems that have been up and running for several years.
Catch shares increase profits and save lives. They allow fishermen to follow their own business strategies rather than forcing them to work around the clock in hazardous conditions under limited days at sea.
Over the last decade, New England groundfishermen endured the highest death rates in the country — higher than coal miners, police officers and loggers. Catch shares have reduced fishermen deaths in Alaska and in the Gulf of Mexico and we hope and expect that they will do the same here.
Read the complete story from The South Coast Today [subscription site].