At a time when there is good cause for optimism, the year has been marred with too much vitriolic mudslinging and counterproductive tactics by some parts of the industry, and those advocating on their behalf. As a result, we’re not as far along as we should be. The fishery would be better served if this frustration were redirected toward finding ways to make the current system work better.
Roger Fleming is an attorney with Earthjustice. He has been working in fisheries law in New England and Washington, D.C. since 2001. EarthJustice was founded in 1971 as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, and uses the courts as a conservation tool. They are funded by foundations and private donors.
Honest disagreements based on differing views of the facts are part of the fishery management process and typically result in better policies. But when industry participants, their advocates or commentators play fast and loose with the facts, spin wild and baseless conspiracy theories, or attack fellow fishermen, no one benefits, including those that could use some help.
If you listened carefully throughout the year, you could hear valuable advice from many of the most experienced and influential industry leaders for managing the transition to sector management, and productive ideas for improvement. But this was almost always drowned out by angry and aimless shouting from others. We need to move forward. As end of the year reports roll in, I am struck by the increasing volume of calls for overall management stability. Yet, things could still be improved.
Read the complete opinion piece from Talking Fish.