Who Fishes Matters Campaign
JOIN THE TOUR -- CLICK & FIND OUT IF WE'LL BE VISITING YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS
If we care about the health of our ocean, fishing communities, and our food system, then who fishes matters.
The New England groundfish fishery is well into it's third year of a new 'Catch Share' management system, with its promises to improve ecological stewardship of our oceans. However, we know that uncontrolled 'Catch Share' programs around the world have consolidated into monolithic, industrial scale, non owner-operator fishing fleets. This direction undermines communities, ecosystems, and our food system. Read more.
The New England groundfish fleet is already seeing signs of excessive consolidation and its dire ecological and economic consequences. Fewer entities are controlling more of the quota. Quota and permits are migrating from small and mid-scale to larger-scale industrial operations. The cost of leasing quota and buying permits is skyrocketing. Read more.
TAKE ACTION
Sign the petition 'Fight Big Box Boats: Save Family Fishermen and the Fish".
The New England Fisheries Management Council, led by chairman Rip Cunningham, are stalling when it comes to protections for family fishermen. The Fleet Diversity Amendment, also referred to as Amendmnet 18, is currently on the docket for upcoming policy considerations. By signing this petition you will help pressure the Council to act on policy that can protect family fishermen and prevent concentration of quota into the hands of a few.
Read more about the Fleet Diversity Ammendment.
FISHERMEN ARE WEIGHING-IN
Fishermen from around New England are writing to the fisheries Council, urging for family fisher protections and restrictions on the amount of quota any one entity may control. Read testimony here.
Council meetings often alienate family fishermen and therefore fewer and fewer are actually getting their voices heard by policy makers. Instead, paid representatives and lobbyists are filling the void. To counter, fishermen are creating 'video testimonies' to get their voices
heard even when they cannot attend meetings.
Visit our YouTube channel to watch.
THE PUBLIC IS WEIGHING-IN
If you eat seafood, care about where your food comes from, swim in the ocean, or are impacted by consolidation, than this IS your business.
Farmers, scientists, food activists, small business owners, environmental advocates, and more are all weighing-in to prevent consolidation of the fisheries and protect family fishermen. See a one-pager view of the comments. Click HERE to view the 1,200 comments that recently weighed-in to the Council.
OTHER RESOURCES
- Download and share our 'Who Fishes Matters' Seafood Card
- Read a report by Food and Water Watch 'Fish, Inc: The privatization of U.S. fisheries through Catch Share programs'
- Support local fishermen and a more healthy ocean by joining a Community Supported Fishery program near you.
JOIN US WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
- Comment, Like, and Share our content on Facebook
- Follow our Blog
- Sign up for our Newsletter
- Learn about the Fish Locally Collaborative and how you can become a member.
Facebook
