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I can cut and paste the arguments for and against catch shares in this thread from items in the press by people on either side of the issue.
First and foremost, the term "catch shares" is so nondescript that depending on who is speaking, the definition changes. This is exactly like the use of the other most mis-used word in fisheries management, the Marine Protected Area.
The term Marine Protected Area can describe anything from the short term closure of the Cod Conservation Zone off the MA North Shore which most recreational fishers supported and to his credit, Raider Ronnie had something to do with. MPA can go all the way to the No Fishing Reserve off California which many, including myself, think is an arbitrary ban and a crime against all fishermen. As is everything in life, the Devil is in the Details.
The same wide variety of details can be found under the term "catch share". HAs anyone of the experts on this thread read the national catch share policy document by NOAA. Can you explain the difference between the terms "allocation", "limited access privilege program (LAPP)", and "individual fishing quota IFQ." I will state that they all are very different management tools that have different pros and cons. The one thing they all have in common is they all are a variation of the term "catch share". Anyone got any opinions on which might be ok to consider in any fishery here in New England.
I agree with many opinions expressed in this thread and disagree with others as well.
I would ask that all those who suggest there is another way to manage ground fish actually type a paragraph or two of their solution. Just because there are too many boats to all make money from a vastly reduced ground fish stock does not mean overfishing should be allowed.
I tell you what. No smoke and mirrors. No promise of adjusted stock asessments. I challenge anyone to give me a proposal for the following situation:
A commercial ground fishermen fifteen years ago took a government buy out and sold his permit and boat. He then bought another boat with a mostly unused permit with very little catch history. Now he wants the years he fished on the permit he sold to the government to count on the newer but smaller permit. He claims he has no quota but he had no quota three years ago either. Is he a victim of "catch shares" or stupidity. I look forward to a ground fish proposal of merit.
Since when is running a more efficient business a bad thing. I'm an American and Capitalism seems to work. IF I am smarter or make a better business than I can do well. Why does the commercial fleet seem to beg for welfare every time the consequenses of being bad businessmen com home.
The NE Groundfish Fleet overfished for twenty years. Time to figure out how to run a better business.
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