When they lowered the quota the plants shut down and everyone stopped fishing for them. You can get .10 a pound I've heard, but it isn't worth it. Why are there so many dogs in MA?
"Fishermen from Massachusetts ports are responsible for approximately 80 per cent of the U.S. Atlantic spiny dogfish quota."
Environmentalists Lambaste Spiny Dogfish Catch Limits
Environmentalists have condemned the opening of the Massachusetts spiny dogfish shark fishery under what they term "an excessive limit that puts the population at risk of collapse." The Ocean Conservancy says that officials in Massachusetts, base of the country's largest dogfish fishery, have "repeatedly defied scientific warnings as part of a relentless campaign to allow continued fishing of mature female dogfish." The organization notes that new rules allow fishermen to "keep 7,000 lbs of dogfish sharks per trip, more than ten times the scientifically advised limit of 600 lbs." Massachusetts officials, says the Ocean Conservancy, "are going ahead with this policy despite new scientific findings that the dogfish population will collapse under status quo conditions."
That sentiment is endorsed by Dr. Jack Musick of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, a member of the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Dogfish Technical Team. "The population is showing alarming signs of distress," he explains. "Due to intense targeting by the directed fishery, we've seen a devastating loss of mature females. This has led to a dearth of baby dogfish, such that the population can no longer sustain itself. This phenomenon, known as recruitment failure, is a formula for complete collapse of the spiny dogfish population."
Dogfish, like other sharks, are especially susceptible to overfishing because they grow slowly, mature late and produce few young. Commercial fishermen target mature female dogfish because they grow larger than males. Female spiny dogfish produce six pups on average after a two-year gestation period. Studies have shown a 75% decline in large female dogfish since 1989 and seven straight years of record low numbers of pups.
In June, the ASMFC Spiny Dogfish Board voted on a proposal to lower quotas to scientifically-recommended levels. Although the majority of members voted in favor of the resolution, it failed by one vote to reach the necessary two-thirds level. Some New England states are reportedly considering voluntary, non-binding limits, but environmentalists are insisting on the need for public, binding agreements.
Fishermen from Massachusetts ports are responsible for approximately 80 per cent of the U.S. Atlantic spiny dogfish quota. Most of the catch is sent to Europe for "fish and chips" and beer garden snacks.
Contact: Tom McCann, The Ocean Conservancy. Tel: (202) 857 3262. Email:
tmccann@oceanconservancy.org.
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