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Groundfishermen Propose by Laurie Schreiber
PORT CLYDE – A new organization called the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association has drafted an area management plan designed to complement groundfish recovery measures already in place.
“The idea was to think outside of the box,” said Port Clyde groundfisherman Glen Libby, who is a member of the Maine Department of Marine Resources’ Advisory Council. The association, which has about 20 members, aims to come up with a state and industry consensus on measures to bring to the New England Fisheries Management Council. “We’d like to form as broad a coalition as possible,” Libby said. “If something doesn’t change real quick, there’s not going to be an industry. Everyone around here is going broke.” The idea took root among fishermen who observed that, contrary to the goals of the federal Groundfish Management Plan’s Amendment 13, fish stocks appear not to be recovering. “Since the inception of Amendment 13, the fishing has gotten steadily worse,” the working draft reads. “This was attributed to the increase of effort brought about by bringing more permits and leased days into this area.” At this point, the document says, many of the fishermen still plugging away have substantial debt and would be in big trouble if the leasing provision were taken away. The expense of leasing days at sea, as well as outstanding mortgages on boats, is a considerable portion of the debt many fishermen have, Mr. Libby said. Financial matters have worsened as the number of days allowed for fishing has been slashed by about a third since the original plan’s allocation of 88 days; an additional cut in days at sea is under consideration now by NEFMC. “Everyone was in agreement that the original plan that gave everyone 88 days was more fair to all and did not create this situation of substantially increasing debt in an already struggling industry,” the document says. “NMFS, by allowing this, has increased debt throughout some members of the fleet and increased pressure on fish stocks that were beginning to return to abundance.” The goal, said Mr. Libby, is to find a way to keep fishermen fishing, which means making better progress to improve fish stocks. The plan is designed to take into account the historical migratory patterns of fish along the inshore area of the coast of Maine. “The premise is that the fish that used to migrate inshore in the spring lived in great numbers 20-50 miles offshore in the winter,” the document says. “There was some fishing pressure on these stocks offshore but not until the advent of new technologies did these winter stocks face the fishing pressure that ultimately led to the decline of the inshore spring migration of fish.” The area outlined is quite large. Using the 43 degree latitude line as the demarcation point, all fishing in the northern zone would be subject to considerable restrictions that would reduce gear efficiency. Anyone would be allowed to fish in the area as long as they conformed to the rules on gear restriction. “An increase in gear technology has the potential to increase fishing mortality regardless of cuts in days at sea,” the document says. “Better technology is fine if there’s an unlimited number of fish, but there’s not,” said Libby. “People are really creative and can find ways to catch fish regardless of days at sea.” Gear restrictions proposed in the current draft are as follows: Net – ground cables not more than 40 fathoms; cookies not to exceed 6 inches diameter. If chain is used in the ground gear instead of wire, the chain must not exceed 1/2-inch diameter; single chain, no added chain to increase weight. Sweep – 120-foot maximum sweep length, roller/rockhopper size limited to 12 inches diameter. Rollers/rockhoppers must be 12 inches apart, edge to edge. Nothing in between them that contacts bottom. Chain in the roller section also limited to 1/2-inch diameter, single chain, no multiple chains. Foot rope – limited to a single piece of chain no larger than 1/2-inch diameter chain; no additional chain to increase weight. Wing end chain – no heavier wing end chains over 1/2-inch diameter; single chain. No tickler chains; square mesh cod ends. Lighter gear with better spacing is intended to reduce bottom impacts and bycatch of juvenile fish. Another suggestion under discussion include a more extensive closure of Jeffrey’s Ledge, except to lobster fishermen; the ledge is now closed only to draggers and is fished heavily by gillnetters and midwater trawlers. The ideas in the document are in process, said Libby. In the meantime, he said, people are struggling. In the Port Clyde area, there are only eight or nine groundfishing boats left. Libby owns three and has one for sale now, but hopes to stay in groundfishing. Even so, with the younger fellows off in New Bedford now, where the money is good, it’s getting hard to find people to work, he noted. “The idea was to have a gradual decline in days at sea and have fishing get better,” he said. “But the fish have declined, too.” MFA’s initiative is part of a larger discussion along the coast that includes the Down East group based in Stonington and the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance from the industry standpoint, and DMR and New England Fisheries Management Council. “I’ve been pushing for a major change,” said DMR commissioner George Lapointe. Last year’s stock assessment showed for the first time that some groundfish stocks were down 40 percent or more. In Maine, the industry continues to contract to the west, ports that still have groundfish boats have fewer, and infrastructure is shrinking. “I said, ‘We’re doing something wrong,’” Lapointe said. “Many people on the council have said the same thing.” NEFMC will consider starting a new amendment at their meeting this month, Lapointe said. “We’re getting a lot of support and some resistance,” he said. “Some people are leery of change and say it would make things worse.” Many in Maine, he noted, support the concept of area management, with inshore and offshore zones. “There’s an increased willingness to discuss almost anything” Lapointe said. Lapointe said he welcome any and all input. If a new amendment starts, it will be important to get all the ideas out there, he said. h |
