I sent an email Wednesday to the Dir of RIDEM, Janet Coit, asking her to read John Lee's blog: The Dented Bucket on what is going on with the pair trawlers.
I wonder if there is any damage other than the reduction of stocks that could be attributed directly or indirectly to commercial trawling. For instance mass beach stranding of dolphins or whales. Could there be a connection that hasn't yet been discovered or considered? If commercial vessels are in the vicinity of these strandings could it be assumed that they may actually be the cause? Maybe the sounds of the nets, the fish in the nets or even the sonar being used. I'm just grasping at straws trying to find some way to end the slaughter and damage caused by dragger's and trawlers.
Nature saw fit to produce a mass of herring in this particular area... for a natural purpose and balance. Two giant boats scooping them up in one day definitely doesn't seem to fit into the natural balance, and it devoid of any common sense to assume that nature can keep bouncing back at the same rate we strip the ocean of fish...