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“Commercial fishermen are clearly faced with more competition in terms of ocean uses that they didn’t have in the past...”
If you’ve ever felt the pride of reeling in a gorgeous striped bass, you know the sinking feeling that only a measuring tape can instill. It’s a mix of emotion which any fisherman can relate to: the thrill of catching a beauty unhinged by a subtle blend of wistful angst. Fishery regulations consider the long-term interests of all parties involved, and, although the short-term costs may be steep, lawmakers must remain steadfast in preserving delicate ecosystems and maintaining a stable marketplace for fishermen to come. Of course, these decisions trickle down to the plates of seafood lovers everywhere, and are affecting New Englanders more than ever.
At the heart of such decisions is Michael Kelly, of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA is an organization that works alongside local fishery management councils to protect valuable marine resources as well as to maintain a thriving seafood industry. As a Recreational Fishing Team Chief and an Environment Liaison, Kelly works directly with various stakeholders, commercial fishing groups and partner organizations to make sure regulations are fully understood. Kelly admits, “In the last three years we’ve seen a growing trend towards improving fisheries’ resources. We are seeing more people working harder to keep seafood resources off the over-fished list. And, I also think we’re seeing a growing sophistication among seafood consumers. People really want to know, ‘where is this product from?’ and, ‘can I feel ethically good about eating it?’ before consuming it.” He attributes much of this consumer awareness to a rise in seafood industry campaigns such as, “Give Swordfish a Break,” a 1998 policy that was implemented to restore numbers of the severely depleted North Atlantic Swordfish. “All of these campaigns have been generated by, or sustained by, folks in the seafood industry - whether it be on the restaurant or retail side. It’s a huge move forward in the kind of sophistication that consumers require before they make seafood choices,” he said.
When a fishery becomes over-fished, a change must be made to the area’s fisheries management plan in cooperation with scientists and fisheries resource managers, at a regional level and eventually at the federal level. Regulations could mean shortening a fishing season, changing limits on the size of the fish or the area in which it was caught, and many other species-preserving methods. “In the long term, regulations are beneficial for both the fishermen and the species. Sometimes it means making really tough decisions in the short-term. But, we’ve seen species like the North Atlantic Swordfish come back to well over 100% of the maximum sustainable yield. We know it’s working, it’s good for the resource, and in the long-term, it’s good for fishermen as well,” Kelly exclaimed.
The seafood industry and the health of local fisheries are particularly valuable in New England, where a reputation for delicious, fresh fish has become a testament to the area’s rich culture. But, according to Priscilla Brooks of the Conservation Law Foundation, this cultural staple is on the brink of being threatened. “We haven’t been able to control the amount of fish being caught in New England because we’ve been relying on indirect management measures, like limiting fishermen’s days at sea, and area closures. What we really need to do is set a quota and stop fishing when we meet that quota. It’s a very uncertain time and New England must figure out how to rebuild its fish population or else there will be continued hard times for the seafood industry,” she stated.
The indirect measures that Brooks mentions are in reference to a 1991 lawsuit filed by the Conservation Law Foundation against the federal government for violating the Magnuson Stevens Act this states that the government must prevent fish populations from being over-fished. The Conservation Law Foundation won the lawsuit, and the government effected several species-protecting measures that Brooks calls “unsuccessful” and “indirect,” since many ground fish populations are still in decline. Among those on her list of critically over-fished populations is the cod found in George’s Bank. In 2005 this cod was reported at only 10% of what scientists deem a healthy and sustainable level. Brooks marks this as a turning point, but she positively notes, “If New England can rebuild its fish populations over the next decade, then the future is really bright.”
Paul Diodati, Director of the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries, aids in overseeing the laws and rules governing the protection of marine fisheries resources. “Commercial fishermen are clearly faced with more competition in terms of ocean uses that they didn’t have in the past. These days, there are many other competing uses for ocean resources. When you compound all of it, with mariners trying to expand their businesses and other cultural developments, the impacts on marine fisheries’ resources increases,” he stated. Similarly to Brooks, Diodati lists George’s Bay cod, as well as Maine cod, and yellow tail flounder as being below historical levels. “They don’t appear to be at a level of abundance that is sufficient to maintain historic levels for commercial harvest,” he claimed. However, Diodati notes other species that are thriving, such as striped bass. With such inconsistency among New England’s ocean resources, it’s no wonder that lawmakers have found it difficult to track down a suitable solution. “I think that it’s the intention of current policy in the nation to maintain commercial fisheries at sustainable levels so that a constant supply of fresh seafood is available to the public. Regulations afford some constancy and regulation of the markets, but sometimes it’s hard to attain that sustainability, even with regulation, due to natural balance,” Diodati remarked.
If New England can efficiently find a way to replenish over-fished fisheries, we can look forward to continuing our reputation for bountiful, fresh seafood. But, the process of saving the seafood industry relies on the consciousness of consumers, restaurateurs, fishermen, and lawmakers alike. As New Englanders, we must fight for the preservation of our home grown resources so that future generations may too enjoy the bounty of our waters.
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General Business 
