|
|
Paul Howard, Executive Director
New England Fisheries Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Dear Captain Howard,
I am writing to you today on behalf of the CHOIR Coalition to request that the New England Fishery Management Council
(NEFMC) make herring a priority in 2008.
CHOIR is an industry coalition made up of commercial and recreational fishing organizations, fishing and shore side
businesses, and eco-tourism companies. CHOIR is recognized as a stakeholder in the herring fishery and is a leading
voice for the responsible management of herring.
The Atlantic herring fishery has serious problems that can only be addressed with changes to the Herring Fishery
Management Plan (FMP). Currently, midwater trawlers operate without proper monitoring and insufficient observer
coverage levels. In addition, midwater trawlers are allowed to operate in Groundfish Closed Areas even though they have
a proven bycatch of groundfish, including substantial bycatch of juvenile haddock. Midwater trawlers also operate near
shore, creating substantial gear conflicts and posing a threat to important near shore species such as river herring and
striped bass.
The monitoring system in the herring fishery is inadequate. Recent events illustrate this and serve to reinforce the
longstanding concerns many people have with the way the herring fishery is monitored. These events include the area
Total Allowable Catch (TAC) overage in Area 1B in 2006, the Area 1A pre-June TAC overage in May 2007, and the
monitoring mishap that resulted in NMFS closing- then reopening- the fishery in August 2007. There is also great
concern that landings data are highly inaccurate to begin with since they are based solely on vessel and dealer good-
faith hail weights and because herring vessels are allowed to dump bags at sea without reporting that catch
It’s time for the NEFMC to initiate an Amendment that will fix these glaring deficiencies in the herring FMP. The
amendment should include:
• A mandatory weighmaster system whenever midwater trawlers unload that reports catch and bycatch on a real-
time basis.
• In addition to the seasonal Area 1A buffer, an inshore buffer zone that keeps midwater trawlers at least 50 miles
from shore year-round
• Mandatory industry-funded observer coverage for midwater trawlers and USAPs
• Requirements to bring all fish aboard for sampling (no dumping of bags at sea)
The fleet of large midwater trawlers currently operating in New England poses a grave threat to the future of New England’
s healthy fisheries and the rebuilding of groundfish and whiting stocks. We encourage you to take action immediately to
protect the herring resource, our marine ecosystem and our traditional fisheries.
Signed,
Steve Weiner
Chairman
CHOIR Coalition
On behalf of the undersigned businesses and groups:
Massachusetts Beach Buggy Association
|
| |
|
