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Selected tag(s): Fisheries Management

Offshore Boats Thriving Under New Catch Share Rules in New England; Regional Landings Up 4 Percent 1st Week

Encouraging news from John Sackton at SeafoodNews.com on the implementation of sectors in New England:

New England fishermen offload

New England fishermen offload

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS by John Sackton – May 11, 2010 – Catch shares have come to New England as of May 1st, and contrary to reports of disaster, landings overall are up across the region.

In the first week of May last year (2009), total landings were 981,000 lbs. This year, landings the first week of May totaled 1,020,000 lbs., an increase of 4%, according to the NMFS weekly New England landing summaries. These figures were calculated by comparing the NMFS Weekly Auction report year to date totals for the week ending April 30th, 2010, and May 7th, 2010.

By using the change in the year to date figures for this single week, it is possible to get NMFS’ figures for landings through the Auction for this week in 2009 and the same week in 2010. Both Gloucester and New Bedford saw higher landings in 2010. For Gloucester, 331,000 lbs of fish went through the auction, vs. 249,000 for the same week in 2009. For New Bedford, 689,000 lbs. went through the auction this year, vs. 490,000 for the same week last year. In percentage terms, Gloucester is up 33%, and New Bedford is up 40.6%. The reason that the regional totals are not higher is that in 2009, there were landings recorded for one day in Boston, but in 2010, no landings were made this week in Boston.

So, whatever else is happening in New England, the fleet is landing more fish. Also, reports from boat owners and the auctions show some spectacular results. For example, Carlos Rafael, the largest fleet owner in New England, runs 29 groundfish boats out of New Bedford.

New Bedford Fisherman

New Bedford Fisherman

Last week, he was crying crocodile tears, saying “I don’t have enough fish” to the New Bedford Standard Times. Actually, Carlos has landing rights to about 12.28 million lbs. of fish, about 9% of the total New England landings. Most of his fleet is believed to be in the Northeast Sector 9, managed by his daughter, which has allocations of 13.8 million lbs, while additional quota could also be in the Northeast sectors 7 and 8, which also have other boats from New Bedford.

What happened to Carlos during the first week of the program: he landed the highest grossing groundfish trip ever in New Bedford. One of his vessels came in with a gross stock of over $179,000 for one trip. The boat landed haddock, cod, yellowtail, dabs, blackback etc., and because the vessel could keep everything it caught of legal size, the efficiency of the vessel skyrocketed.

It is true that at that rate, Carlos may not need all of his 29 vessels, but on the other hand, his business will be much more profitable this year, as he can determine whether to quickly catch his quota in a few months, or to spread out his trips. But in any case, each trip he is now landing under the new system will be bigger and more profitable than under the old system of trip limits and discards.

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Another Year of Operation Approved for RI Fluke Sector Program

Emilie Litsinger, EDF Oceans NE Groundfish Project Manager

Emilie Litsinger, EDF Oceans NE Groundfish Project Manager

This week marks another historical step towards achieving sustainable fisheries management in New England.  The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) just approved another year of operation for the Rhode Island Fluke Sector Program.  The approval of this year’s program was contingent on the results from the pilot sector last year.  

DEM presented the results of the 2009 program at a Roundtable meeting in mid-February.  The results from the 2009 program were very positive, showing benefits to the resource as well as the fishermen.  In fact, the pilot program participants discarded some 98% less fluke than non-participants and were also subject to higher monitoring coverage. 

The program’s proven ability to reduce regulatory discards will ultimately lead to an increase in the State of Rhode Island’s quota, benefitting the entire fishery.  The results also showed the program’s proven capacity to provide accurate data that facilitates a sound, scientifically based approach to the continuing analysis of sector allocation as a potential strategy for improving the management of fluke. 

The sector participants reported that their participation in the program resulted in enhanced economic efficiencies, an improved ability to make sound and safe business decisions, a cooperative and collaborative orientation among fellow participants, and a heightened sense of well-being and job satisfaction.  The University of Rhode Island also conducted an economic analysis on the performance of the sector in 2009.  Their preliminary results showed that not only did the sector participants benefit economically from the program, but the non-sector members benefitted positively as well. 

We applaud DEM for continuing to support this worthwhile program and are certain that the results from this year’s program will continue to show positive benefits to both the resource and the fishermen.

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Follow @DianeRegas on Twitter for Insightful Thoughts and News on Catch Shares

Diane Regas' Twitter page. Diane Regas, EDF Vice President - Oceans Program.

Diane Regas on Twitter

Like many organizations diving into the world of tweets, blog posts, status updates, and friend follows, EDF uses the power of social media to share information with supporters, policymakers, members, peer organizations, reporters, and opponents in order to further the conversation around important environmental issues that impact out world and our lives. In addition to our blog EDFish and new Catch Shares Net, you can find updates on some of our work and insightful comments on key news articles and opnion pieces by following Diane Regas, EDF Oceans’ Vice President, on twitter.

Today, Diane posted a series of six tweets all on the transition to sectors catch share management in New England’s groundfish fishery.

  • DianeRegas: 1 of 6: Boston Globe positive on New England catch share. Work in progress—toward a healthy fishery. http://bit.ly/9JjxRw
  • DianeRegas: 2 of 6: Providence Jrnl ++ on NE catch share. “It’s past time to put it into effect.” http://bit.ly/9A5jMX
  • DianeRegas: 3 of 6: Portland Press Herald + on NE catch share. “The old rules created the wrong incentives for fishermen.” http://bit.ly/beGgsa
  • Diane Regas: 4 of 6: AP story clear on NE catch share. Published across the country, tells story of last several years. http://bit.ly/dC7fkd
  • Diane Regas: 5 of 6: GDT negative over NE catch share. Hot rhetoric scares fishermen, ignores data and undermines civil discourse. http://bit.ly/bjYG9x
  • DianeRegas: 6 of 6: Atlantic Monthly positive on NE catch shares. Headline (cap & trade) off—but summary is helpful. http://bit.ly/dkxDdA

In addition to following Diane Regas on twitter, you can also find EDF Oceans throughout the social media landscape. Here are some of the key pages and tweeters to follow: 

EDF Facebook Page (facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund)
EDF Oceans on Twitter (@EDFOceans)
Tim Fitzgerald, Sr. Oceans Policy Specialist on Twitter (@hawaiifitz)
Dan Whittle, Cuba Program Director on Twitter (@Dwhittle12)
Ryan Ono, Oceans Research & Outreach Associate on Twitter  (@RyanOno)
Phoebe Higgins, Project Manager – Pacific Coast Region on Twitter (@PhoebeHiggins)

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Catch Shares Address Community Impacts in Ways Conventional Fisheries Management Can’t

Johanna Thomas, EDF Oceans - Pacific Coast Regional Director

Johanna Thomas, EDF Oceans - Pacific Coast Regional Director

At the end of the day, all fishing communities have one thing in common: they all depend on healthy, productive fish stocks. Catch shares management help fishing communities by maintaining fish stocks or bringing them back, while increasing the quality and profitability of fishing jobs.  They can also include tools and mechanisms that benefit communities, things you won’t find under traditional management.

Today more than 60 federal fish stocks are overfished or undergoing overfishing.  As a result, thousands of fishing jobs have been lost. Under conventional management, fishermen in these underperforming fisheries face closures, ever-increasing limits on harvest levels, and dwindling seasons.  When fishing is allowed they are often forced into a dangerous and inefficient race for the fish.

For example, under conventional management, the West Coast trawl fishery has been on a downward economic spiral.  Plants have closed, infrastructure has been lost, and ports have become shadows of their former selves.  An estimated 15% of the fleet has left the fishery due to lack of fishing opportunity in the last five years; fishermen have been leaving the industry, creating worsening economic conditions for communities that have historically relied on groundfish landings.   Under status quo management, a few major players have bought up a large number of permits, consolidating ownership and leading to fewer owner-operators on the water.  

In contrast, catch share programs can include ways to deliver the benefits of a healthy fishery to communities, including fair allocation, limits on consolidation, and opportunities for new entrants.  Catch shares can also include ways to conserve the resource so that the fishery will deliver benefits into the future.

Specifically, the forthcoming Pacific groundfish catch share includes:

  • Strict ownership caps for each species in the plan to ensure that no individual fishermen or entity can accumulate excessive amounts of quota.  There are also caps on the amount of species quota that any entity can control through business arrangements.
  • An Adaptive Management Program that will be used to stabilize fishing communities and maximize benefits of the program while protecting against unanticipated consequences.  For example, the adaptive management quota can help traditional fishing ports maintain access to landings of groundfish. The program takes 10% of the trawl total allowable catch and dedicates it to a public trust pool.
  • In addition, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is developing guidelines for community fishing associations and collective fishing arrangements.  These programs will provide communities with the opportunity to maintain access to groundfish, opportunities that do not exist under status quo management. 
  • Room for new entrants – Quota is divisible down to the single pound level, meaning that young fishermen can buy in slowly, one pound at a time. Likewise, as some fishermen leave the fishery, permits will become available for purchase. In addition, quota from the Adaptive Management Program mentioned above could be leased or loaned to new entrants to enable them to enter the fishery at reduced cost.

Current management is failing to make fishing a profitable livelihood for the fishermen that rely on the resource. This in turn is putting our fishing communities in danger, and catch shares are coming at a time when many fishing ports are already extremely vulnerable.  Catch shares provide the means for communities to benefit from a productive and renewed fishing fleet.

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Statement of Sally McGee, EDF New England Fisheries Policy Director and NEFMC member, on Today’s Council Actions

Sally McGee, EDF New England Fisheries Policy Director

Sally McGee, EDF New England Fisheries Policy Director

Today, Sally McGee, EDF’s New England Fisheries Policy Director released the following statement on today’s NE Council actions.

“I am pleased to support recommendations today for modifications to the skate and the red crab fisheries which will increase flexibility and likely lead to increased profitability for many New England fishermen.

“Consistent with New England Fishery Management Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) recommendations, the Council has recommended that the National Marine Fisheries Service should increase the skate wing possession limit from 1900 to 5000 pounds.  This will help reduce discards and add a revenue stream for some groundfishermen while maintaining a sustainable catch level.  The SSC has also identified and prioritized skate for research and assessment of age, growth, maturity, discards and bycatch over the next several years so we will continually better our understanding of these important species.

“Also, the new red crab analysis by the SSC provided an opportunity to increase the Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) to more accurately reflect the state of the fishery.  Consistent with the best science available, I was glad to join a unanimous vote in favor of increasing the ABC to 1775 metric tons for fishing year 2010.  It is very encouraging that this new analysis, provided by the Council’s scientific advisors, shows us that increasing the ABC for this stock will allow fishermen to catch more crab while maintaining the long term sustainability of this fishery. 

“The skate and red crab management measures before the Council today are precisely the kind of actions that the NEFMC should take to support New England fishermen and fisheries.”

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Catch Shares Not for Private Anglers – Part of EDF’s Comments on NOAA’s Draft Catch Share Policy

Amanda Leland, EDF Oceans Program - National Policy Director

Amanda Leland, EDF Oceans Program - National Policy Director

EDF recently submitted comments to NOAA on its draft catch share policy.  In the letter we address how catch shares are better than fishery closures; how they improve fishing jobs and restore the resource; and how they are locally designed to meet specific biological, economic and social goals. We also address the importance of stakeholder input in the design of a catch share program.

We’ve been asked recently what EDF’s position is regarding recreational fishing and catch shares.  Here’s what we say in our letter to NOAA:

There are two distinct segments of the recreational fishing community: charter boats and private individual anglers. Current management is failing both segments, as seasons dwindle, bag limits shrink, size limits increase and fishing opportunities are decreased. The recreational fishing community deserves better than that.

Since charter boat captains maintain a fishery-dependent business similar to commercial fishermen, catch shares management should be considered for that segment. However, for private anglers catch shares are not appropriate and a new approach is needed. We should support new ideas that can help get fishermen back on the water and restore the resource.

Read EDF’s full letter of comments to NOAA.

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