JohnR
04-11-2002, 03:00 PM
I'm on a couple different fishing related news wires and this one just came in from the folks at RI Fisheries Management:
Hello folks; harsh realities - part one, FYI......
NE groundfish mediation talks fail; restrictive fishing regulations expected NMFS to publish restrictive Interim Rule
By Dan McGovern
Apr. 10 - WorldCatch News Network - An 11th hour tentative agreement reached on the final night of mediation came unraveled Wednesday morning, dashing hopes of averting disaster in the New England groundfish industry.
U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler was told in a briefing Wednesday morning that no settlement was reached during the five-day mediation between the National Marine Fisheries Service, environmentalists and the fishing industry. She has now indicated a ruling intended to protect 12 species of fish is imminent by May 1.
The Sustainable Fisheries Act requires that all 12 species of groundfish, including haddock, cod and flounder, be restored within 10 years.
Meanwhile, the National Marine Fisheries Service told WorldCatch News Network Wednesday that it will now publish its Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register outlining specific, restrictive fishing regulations on or before April 15 for implementation by the beginning of the 2002-03 fishing season.
Among the measuers included in the Interim Rule are several closures in the Gulf of Maine and limits on Days-at-Sea in both Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine.
A key measure is an effective 22-day limit on fishing days in the Gulf of Maine between May and October, when codfish are aggregating to spawn.
Fishermen currently get 88 fishing days each year. Under the Interim Rule, any day fished between May and October would count as two days. Fishermen are only allowed to use a maximum of 44 days during that time which equates to 22 actual fishing days.
The restrictions could devastate New England's smaller fishing vessels, which primarily fish along the coast.
On Georges Bank, where codfish stocks are more abundant, the 2-for-1 fishing day restriction would be in effect May through July.
The plan also shuts down coastal fishing areas in the Gulf of Maine in May and June.
"The Interim Final Rule is an appropriate exercise of NMFS’ statutory authority to adopt measures that reduce, rather than stop, overfishing...," the agency said in court documents.
NMFS made its required filings in federal district court on April 1 that included a three-part remedy phase, initially filed on March 18, and included the Interim Final Rule, of the lawsuit concerning the management of northeastern groundfish.
Judge Kessler ordered the plaintiffs to respond to that filing by Friday, April 12, but that has now been extended to Monday, April 15.
Judge Kessler issued charged the National Marine Fisheries Service in December with violating federal law by not moving aggressively enough to reverse overfishing.
This does not mention anything regarding the Recreational or Charterboat sectors but I'm certain that will follow shortly...
Hello folks; harsh realities - part one, FYI......
NE groundfish mediation talks fail; restrictive fishing regulations expected NMFS to publish restrictive Interim Rule
By Dan McGovern
Apr. 10 - WorldCatch News Network - An 11th hour tentative agreement reached on the final night of mediation came unraveled Wednesday morning, dashing hopes of averting disaster in the New England groundfish industry.
U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler was told in a briefing Wednesday morning that no settlement was reached during the five-day mediation between the National Marine Fisheries Service, environmentalists and the fishing industry. She has now indicated a ruling intended to protect 12 species of fish is imminent by May 1.
The Sustainable Fisheries Act requires that all 12 species of groundfish, including haddock, cod and flounder, be restored within 10 years.
Meanwhile, the National Marine Fisheries Service told WorldCatch News Network Wednesday that it will now publish its Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register outlining specific, restrictive fishing regulations on or before April 15 for implementation by the beginning of the 2002-03 fishing season.
Among the measuers included in the Interim Rule are several closures in the Gulf of Maine and limits on Days-at-Sea in both Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine.
A key measure is an effective 22-day limit on fishing days in the Gulf of Maine between May and October, when codfish are aggregating to spawn.
Fishermen currently get 88 fishing days each year. Under the Interim Rule, any day fished between May and October would count as two days. Fishermen are only allowed to use a maximum of 44 days during that time which equates to 22 actual fishing days.
The restrictions could devastate New England's smaller fishing vessels, which primarily fish along the coast.
On Georges Bank, where codfish stocks are more abundant, the 2-for-1 fishing day restriction would be in effect May through July.
The plan also shuts down coastal fishing areas in the Gulf of Maine in May and June.
"The Interim Final Rule is an appropriate exercise of NMFS’ statutory authority to adopt measures that reduce, rather than stop, overfishing...," the agency said in court documents.
NMFS made its required filings in federal district court on April 1 that included a three-part remedy phase, initially filed on March 18, and included the Interim Final Rule, of the lawsuit concerning the management of northeastern groundfish.
Judge Kessler ordered the plaintiffs to respond to that filing by Friday, April 12, but that has now been extended to Monday, April 15.
Judge Kessler issued charged the National Marine Fisheries Service in December with violating federal law by not moving aggressively enough to reverse overfishing.
This does not mention anything regarding the Recreational or Charterboat sectors but I'm certain that will follow shortly...