So after listening to corrupt NEFMC actions all day- and the science center and the services excuses - I am so bothered by what this government is doing to our industry. We have followed the rules- now they want more. More rules that have not worked. 20+ years ago the government closed most of the Gulf of Maine to us - all other fisheries are allowed to fish them.. Fisheries that are capable of catching groundfish. That is not working!!! Now they are saying it is still our fault- well NOT !! If you close and area- it should be closed to all areas.... period. New low for cod stocks Officials say the blame for the disastrous drop must be shared by fishermen and regulators. By Doug Fraser dfraser@capecodonline October 01, 2014 2:00 AM HYANNIS — Back in July 2012, John Bullard was the newly minted Northeast regional director for the National Marine Fisheries Service. Soon after he took the reins, Bullard anguished over quota cuts of 77 percent for Gulf of Maine cod and 55 percent for Georges Bank cod, deemed necessary to rebuild those failing stocks. As difficult as that action was 18 months ago, it wasnt enough, and here we are back at the table with stocks headed towards zero, Bullard told the New England Fishery Management Council meeting at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa in Hyannis Tuesday. We could make the argument that it was too little, too late. The council will debate a cod emergency action today that could involve more closures, a drastically reduced quota and other measures. The council starts at 8:30 a.m. Bullard placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of his agency, but said that the council and fishermen all had a hand in the collapse of cod stocks. This is what we have presided over, he said resignedly. In August, the NMFS population estimate of the Gulf of Maine cod stock showed the 2012 measures, as drastic as they were, had failed to stem the slide of the regions iconic fish. The amount of spawning Gulf of Maine cod is now considered to be at an all-time low, only 3 and 4 percent of the size scientists said constituted a healthy, sustainable population producing the maximum yield for fishermen. Although they havent taken a comprehensive look at Georges Bank cod stock in a couple of years, NMFS scientists believe its spawning stock is also mired in the single digits, at 8 percent of what would constitute a healthy size. The fishery council comprises appointed members including fishermen, representatives of the fishing industry, occasionally a member of an environmental organization, and federal and state fishery officials. It draws up fishery management plans that govern commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters throughout the Northeast. NMFS turns those plans into legally enforceable fishing regulations. Before the council meeting Tuesday, representatives of two marine environmental watchdogs — Pew Charitable Trusts and the Conservation Law Foundation — held a press conference that blamed NMFS and the fishery council for mismanaging fish, particularly cod, stocks. They blamed both agencies for allowing chronic overfishing, failing to monitor and manage the catch, the discarding of cod caught unintentionally by other fisheries, inadequate habitat protection and weak fishery management that had little chance of success. After many years of declines, its sad to see that cod stocks have found a new low, said Peter Baker, Pews director for the Northeast Oceans. Pew released a report Tuesday that outlined a pattern of decision making that researchers said delayed the rebuilding of these stocks. They pointed out that environmental groups had to resort to litigation to force the council and NMFS to address critical issues such as overfishing, inadequate monitoring of wasteful bycatch, and unrealistic fishery management plans. The report revealed that the New England council was the slowest of the nations eight regional councils at drawing up and implementing rebuilding plans with nearly 60 percent taking almost a decade to come to fruition, and 22 percent taking more than 15 years. Delays in rebuilding, environmentalists said, result in lower population levels that are less resilient to disease and environmental changes such as global warming. Council member Tom Dempsey, who is also policy director for the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermens Alliance, agreed that the council generally sides with the least painful alternative, citing the most optimistic scenario outlined by scientists. There will be plenty of pain to discuss today because the councils groundfish committee has advised a quota reduction from this years quota of 830 metric tons for Gulf of Maine cod to between 200 metric tons and 514 metric tons. University of Massachusetts professor Steve Cadrin said that reduction will bring profound changes to fishing in the Gulf of Maine. Since cod swim with other, more plentiful species like pollock, redfish and haddock, fishery managers might have to shut down all fishing once the cod quota is exhausted. And, cod bycatch in other fisheries such as lobster and the recreational cod catch, will also have to be dealt with to bring back cod. These are all serious ideas in the quest for how we face collapse, Bullard said, urging the council to take action. Because this stock is going in the wrong direction, time is not going to be on our side. It is an enemy. Follow Doug Fraser on Twitter: @dougfrasercct.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:46:53 +0000
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