# Cautious Optimism and a Win for Groundfish as West Coast Catch Share Program Gets Underway

*Published:* 2011-01-19
*Author:* Shems Jud

On January 11th, the new catch share program took effect for Pacific Ocean trawl-caught groundfish. The new management system was developed over a period of six years by fishermen, regulators and policymakers who recognized that the West Coast’s largest fishery was headed for the rocks.

As reported in the [**San Jose Mercury News**](http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17119645?nclick_check=1), there is nervousness but also a cautious optimism that both fish and fishermen will win under the new system, just as they have in British Columbia and Alaska.

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