We need better data… better science… and better hearts to regulate fishing

I love to fish and admire those that have made fishing their life’s work. In its most primitive form fishing takes from the water what God has brought us and we use it to nourish our bodies and for people like me and millions of other fishermen our souls. So in addition to the economics I seek to understand the fishing regulation debate. For example, the fact that federal law limits the type and amount of fish commercial fishermen can take and restricts the natural born right of all of us to fish. There are two aspects of the debate: to limit regulation and to preserve our fishery for all.
This week about 3,000 fishermen rallied in Washington, D.C. at a “United We Fish” rally sponsored by the American Alliance of Fishermen. This group’s mission is “To preserve our nation’s fisheries for all Americans”. On their website at www.aafcseafood.org they go to great lengths to discredit just about all of the science-based annual catch data used to set limits to fishing though the Magnuson-Stevens Act (which was reauthorized by Congress in 2006).
Our national fishery is managed by NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service. Their aim is to end overfishing of all stocks. As Eric Schwaab, the Service’s assistant administrator for fisheries, claimed this week in a press release “Ending overfishing is the first step to allowing a fish stock population to rebuild to a level where the stock can be fished sustainably for the long term”.
Fishermen claim stocks are not overfished. For example, fishermen from Galilee, Rhode Island attending the national rally this week claimed species such as dogfish and fluke are not overfished as the National Marine Fisheries Service has claimed. They say data is faulty and basing policy on faulty data does not make sense. It is hurting fishermen, fishing families and fishing communities right here in Rhode Island. Limiting the amount of days fishermen can fish as well as catch limits has caused great economic hardship. Fishermen have gone out of business, sold their boats and to some this means selling a part of their soul.
The National Marine Fisheries Service says that sacrifices have to be made to get fishing under control for significant long-term benefits to the ecosystem and fishing communities. They point to success stories such as the sea scallop industry which has increased from $84.7 million in 1994 to $370 million in 2008. They point to the healthy bluefish stock in the Northeast and off Rhode Island shores and in Narragansett Bay that provides a consistent, reliable fishing opportunity for shore anglers, party/charter boat anglers and the resulting economic benefits. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates that once the nation rebuilds all fisheries, a plan they claim is on track and is required by law, the dockside value of our domestic fishery would go from $4.1 billion to $6.3 billion annually.
Additionally, rebuilding the recreational fishery will help improve the economics of our nations' coastal communities. Annually, saltwater angling generates $82 billion in sales and supports more than 500,000 jobs as noted in a most recent NOAA report.
Fishermen and federal regulators alike share a common goal of preserving our fishery so that it is sustainable. Fishermen benefit greatly from and support a sustainable fishery. But we have to be careful about how we achieve sustainability.
I believe we have two key issues that should be addressed by both sides of the debate. First get better science. The fishermen know the science is faulty. They know what is pulled up in their nets. They report catches daily. Federal fishing regulators and fishermen have to focus on getting better data… better science… so more accurate policy can be created.
Second, the federal government needs to strike a better balance between the economic well-being of fishermen, fishing families, fishing communities and the long-term health of our fishery. It is a balance that needs more attention. People are suffering.
Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish. Visit Captain Dave’s No Fluke website at www.noflukefishing.com or e-mail him ­­­at dmontifish@verizon.net .