October 2008 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 13.
Commercial Fishing News
Snowe Calls for Investigation of Northeast Fisheries Science Centre
WASHINGTON D.C. – In response to recent tions of inaccurate stock assessment data flaws in the scientific process, this investiga- limits for New England’s commercial fisher-
complaints by local fishermen questioning and ineffective management regulations on tion will uncover them and if not, our manag- ies. In recent years, we have noted a trend of
the veracity of the Northeast Fisheries Sci- New England’s fishing industry would be ers and fishermen will be able to move ahead growing concerns among certain stake-
ence Center’s (NFSC) stock assessment monumentally grave and costly,” Senator in developing management measures with holder groups with the quality of scientific
data, Ranking Member of the Senate Sub- Snowe said. “For an industry that reeled in confidence that the underlying data form a information produced by the NMFS North-
committee on Oceans, Atmospheres, Fisher- more than $4.1 billion to our region over the sound scientific basis for effective manage- east Fisheries Science Center (Center). This
ies, and Coast Guard U.S. Senator Olympia J. past five years, we must ensure that the ment measures.” Center conducts the stock assessments and
Snowe sent a letter today, cosigned by Sena- decisions NFSC and the New England Fish- The text of the letter is below: develops biomass targets for fish stocks,
tor Collins, Senator Kerry, and Senator ery Management Council are making—most Dear Mr. Zinser: including scallops, lobster, herring,
Kennedy, to U.S. Department of Commerce immediately in regard to the groundfish in- The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con- monkfish, dogfish, and groundfish such as
Inspector General Todd J. Zinser requesting dustry—are based on sound, credible sci- servation and Management Act (MSA), cod, haddock, and flounder. It also provides
an independent investigation to evaluate the ence. By performing an independent inves- implemented by NOAA’s National Marine population estimates and data regarding in-
Center’s scientific process as it relates to tigation of the NFSC to examine the credibil- Fisheries Service (NMFS) and eight Re- teractions between marine mammals and sea
groundfish and to all of the fish stocks it ity of the claims, the Department of Com- gional Fishery Management Councils turtles and fishing gear. Ultimately, the Cen-
analyzes. merce can possibly save our valuable and (Councils), requires that commercial fisher- ter provides scientific information on stocks
As part of the National Marine Fisheries cherished fishing industry from an economic ies in Federal waters of the United States take and allowable fishing mortality rates to the
Service (NMFS), the NFSC conducts stock and ecological disaster.” extraordinary steps to ensure fish stock New England Fishery Management Council
assessments and develops biomass targets An investigation is particularly timely in sustainability. Under the MSA, Congress
Continued on Page 14.
for fish stocks in order to inform the New light of the approaching new groundfish has mandated fish stock rebuilding and an
England Fishery Management Council of stock assessment by NMFS that will inform end to overfishing in
allowable mortality rates and develop accu- revised management measures NMFS plans U.S. waters. The 2007
rate regulations for New England fisheries. to enact before the next fishing year. This MSA reauthorization
Fishery stakeholder groups have raised con- measures, known as Amendment 16, re- took this a step further
cerns about the quality of this scientific quires fishing harvest adjustments for 2009 by mandating that Coun-
information, claiming that the biomass tar- (at the mid-point of that 10-year management cils set catch limits based
gets have been set unrealistically high and plan), and it also requires that the 2009 new on information provided
that other biological data has been errone- harvest levels be calculated based on the by their scientific advi-
ously analyzed. Inaccurate stock assess- results of a 2008 stock assessment review. sors. Considering the
ment data can lead to incorrect and ineffec- “When Congress last reauthorized the significant ecological
tive management measures that could have Magnuson-Fishery Conservation and Man- and economic ramifica-
severe economic and ecological impacts on agement Act (MSA), we included a mandate tions of the scientific in-
the fishing industry. to set catch limits based on scientific assess- formation underlying
“If these allegations are true, the implica- ments,” said Senator Snowe. “If there are the catch limits – which
ripples through fisher-
Delay in Float Rope Implementation
ies, fishing communities,
and everyone depen-
WASHINGTON D.C. – Ranking Member of “I thank NMFS for taking this action to dent on them – it is criti-
the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, ensure that our hardworking lobstermen will cal that all concerned
Atmospheres, Fisheries, and Coast Guard not be forced to curtail fishing activities parties have confidence
U.S Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) during the peak of the fall fishing season in in the accuracy and reli-
today made the following statement order to comply with unduly burdensome ability of the scientific in-
regarding the National Marine Fisheries regulations. It will also give fishermen, formation.
Service’s (NMFS) final rule decision which regulators, and conservationist the This compels us to
will be published in the Federal Register on opportunity to continue working towards a draw your attention to
Tuesday. The rule will provide six additional compromise that will serve the dual purpose questions that have
months for fisherman to obtain new gear that of protecting both whales and our lobster arisen regarding the
complies with the sinking line requirement industry.” quality of the science
aimed to protect Atlantic Large Whales. used to determine catch
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