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Default fight the big box boats
The transition of the New England ground fishery to Catch Shares Management is causing a disaster. Recreational (charter, private) and smaller commercial fishing vessels are losing access to local ground fish stocks.
Incentives under catch shares for larger/wealthier boats to lease quota and overfish inshore areas is squeezing out the recreational and small boat commercial fishermen. This added fishing pressure is most evident around Stellwagen Bank, an area where many charter, recreational, and small commercial fishing vessels have historically fished for years.
An amendment (Fleet Diversity Amendment - Amendment 18) to limit the concentration of quota and protect fleet diversity was voted as a priority by the New England Fishery Management Council in November for 2013.
Because of the impending TAC cuts for 2013, consolidation and individual quota accumulation will become even worse. Permits, quota, and access to the fishery are now, more than ever, extremely vulnerable under Catch Shares Management.
Fisherman Ron Borjeson started a petition to gather support for fleet diversity measures. If you support a more diverse ground fishery and limits on the concentration of quota, please sign and share the following petition.
http://www.change.org/petitions/figh...n-and-the-fish
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