[flatts1]

My goodness, where to begin.

"As for your article, its all heresay, you weren't even there."

MEherring, did you happen to notice I quoted those who were there. You really need to pay more attention. These are your fellow commercial fishermen that you and your friends screwed over. You know it, I know it, and all of the non-herring commercial fishermen in New England know it. No amount of spin from you will ever change that. FACT: Midwater pair trawling for herring in New England created CHOIR.

"The work of you and your friends as devastated the Maine herring fishery - midwater trawlers, purse seiners, cannery workers and not very helpful to lobstermen either."

Wow! And I mean WOW!!

Did it ever occur to you that the midwater pair trawlers are simply not compatitble for the New England region? There is a reason why they had to bring these boats over from Europe and the west cost of the United states. As was mentioned by previous folks, there was never a problem with herring before the MWTs. Ooops, I forgot. The Russians devastated the stock first. After the US booted them from the EEZ, you were later allowed to make that same mistake. Great company you have there.

"The MLA is not a supporter of CHOIR..."

I said they have "supported CHOIR's positions". Pay attention. Do you disagree that MLA supported the so-called "buffer zone" like virtually everyone except the midwater herring lobby?

For options that reduce landings, there would be revenue losses to herring processors and impacts on processing plant employees. The cannery in Maine is particularly vulnerable to options that significantly reduce the Area 1A TAC since the cannery has traditionally been dependant on that area in the summer. Reductions in available
herring, highly variable landings, and increased cost of herring will make it difficult for the cannery to continue to produce canned herring at a profit and keep employees working"
NEFMC - A Herring Specs 2010-2012

Obviously if landings are reduced it will impact processors.

Shhh. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Don't tell anyone. We'll keep this between you and I. The trick is not bending to industry pressure to allow things to get so out of hand that reductions are inevitable. It's called pay it now or pay it later, MEherring.

In other words, had the MWTs never been promoted (yes promoted) by the state directors in the first place, then the TAC in the inshore Gulf of Maine would still be at 60,000 mt as it had beeen for sooooo long before they showed up.

Did you ever hear herring described as "the rice of the sea"? I learned that from a commercial fisherman. Everything changed when the MWTs impacted this region. Everything!

Think about that for a moment and imagine what your friends in Prospect harbor could be doing now with 60,000 metric tons of SUSTAINABLE harvest without pair trawlers.

"Sleep well Mike"

Sleep well, yourself. There is a reason why you don't give your name.