WhyHunger
Note: This letter was addressed to New England fisheries decision-makers regarding Amendment 18 to the groundfish plan. We encourage everyone to join Tristan by submitting your own comments in support of fleet diversity. Click here to learn how
To the New England Fisheries Management Council,
I see consolidation as a problem because, in general, local economies keep wealth in communities and ensure that our neighbors prosper along with us. Local businesses are also better stewards of our natural resources than large, consolidated conglomerates. Finally, coastal communities are healthier and stronger when there are a diversity of careers and role models for young people; further consolidation in the fishing industry would make becoming a fisherman impossible and shrink job possibilities for many young people.
- Establish mechanisms to keep offshore boats offshore for example restrictions from fishing in multiple broad stock areas.
- Establish quota set-aside programs to reward sectors that are able to meet certain benchmarks in order to promote fleet diversity.
- Incentivize fishermen who are primarily owner-operators. Establish policies that ensure quota is fished by fishermen and not used solely as an investment tool.
- Dis-incentivize fishermen who decide to lease 100% of their quota.
- Establish leasing and permit trading constraints that maintain affordability for smaller fishing operations and new entrants.
- Establish leasing and permit trading rules that prevent consolidation into larger fishing operations.
- Set PSC accumulation caps -e.g. somewhere between 2-5% for each species for any one entity.
NOTE FROM NAMA:
Thank you Tristan for sharing your comments. We encourage everyone who, like Tristan believes fleet diversity matters, to submit your own comments as part of a public comment period. Click HERE for help on e-mail comments. Every comment counts!