{"id":3111,"date":"2011-11-15T16:32:55","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T20:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/?p=3111"},"modified":"2012-04-25T11:51:20","modified_gmt":"2012-04-25T15:51:20","slug":"108ne-fishermen-stand-up-for-sector-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/2011\/11\/15\/108ne-fishermen-stand-up-for-sector-management\/","title":{"rendered":"108 New England Fishermen Stand Up for Sector Management"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marking a major shift in the public debate over the groundfish fishery in New England, 108 fishermen from the five coastal New England states — representing all sizes of operations and 178 boats — have submitted a letter\u00a0 to their Members of Congress saying that a vocal minority in the industry has for too long dominated the debate over Sector management. This letter<\/a><\/strong> says that, in fact, there are many fishermen that want their members of Congress to support stability, profitability and flexibility for their fishery, rather than a return to the \u201cchaos\u201d of the previous management approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few voices calling for the overturn of the entire Sector system have been amplified in the media, and we understand that our elected officials are trying to respond to their constituents\u2019 concerns,\u201d the groups wrote in a letter addressed to \u201cNew England\u2019s Senators and Congressmen.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately,\u201d the letter states, this has led to a series of increasingly dangerous proposals that truly put the future of our businesses and fisheries at risk. Perhaps too many of us in the active industry have been too busy making the new system work to consistently weigh in. This letter is our attempt to rectify that situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The letter was signed by 108 fishermen affiliated with the Associated Fisheries of Maine; Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen\u2019s Association; Midcoast Fishermen\u2019s Association; Northeast Seafood Coalition; and Rhode Island Commercial Fishermen\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n

The writers point to \u201cseveral crucial facts\u201d that \u201chave been largely ignored in this public dialogue,\u201d including:<\/p>\n