# New England Fishery Management Council Member Supports Catch Shares

*Published:* 2009-05-15
*Author:* 

![Julie Wormser, NE Regional Director of EDF Oceans Program](https://blogs.edf.org/edfish/wp-content/blogs.dir/18/files/2009/05/hiking-in-white-mountainssm3.jpg)*By Julie Wormser, New England Regional Director – Environmental Defense Fund Oceans Program.*

I want to share Dave Preble’s terrific op-ed that was just published in the New Bedford Standard-Times, *[Prosperity for New England Fishermen](http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090513/OPINION/905130355/-1/NEWS)*. He wrote it just as groundfish fishermen in New England are preparing to fish under “sectors,” a fishing cooperative based form of catch shares.   
   
I first met Dave at a New England Fishery Management Council meeting last summer. He sits on the Council and is one of the most thoughtful voices on that body. Born into a fishing family, Dave has been involved in both commercial and recreational fishing and fishery management for over 45 years. He has taught me quite a lot about how public policy decisions affect both fish and the fishing communities that depend on them.