Bad News for NE Fishery

[Mr. Hankey]

I caught this in the Boston Globe yesterday and thought I would share. I enjoy reading many of your reports of your fishing trips up north and remember the days catching Cod from a rubber raft just off the beach. I guess times have changed...



BOSTON (AP) — New England’s top fishing regulator said Friday that crippling cuts in catch limits this year are unavoidable and they will devastate what remains of the region’s once-flourishing fishing industry.

On Friday, John Bullard, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northeast office, said key fish populations are so weak, ‘‘draconian’’ cuts in catch are unavoidable.

‘‘They cuts will have devastating impacts on the fleet, and on families, and on ports,’’ he told The Associated Press in an interview.

‘‘That reality is here and we have to face it,’’ Bullard said.

Officials are set to meet next week to decide catch limits for fishermen who chase bottom-dwelling groundfish, such as cod and haddock. A key New England Fishery Management Council committee has already recommended massive cuts that fishermen have repeatedly warned will destroy the industry.

The centuries-old groundfish industry, which pulled in about $90 million in 2011, was a critical part of the nation’s early economy, and is so revered locally that a wooden cod replica hangs in the House chamber of the Massachusetts Statehouse.

Bullard’s statements Friday follow years of battles between the industry, environmentalists and regulators over increasingly tough fishing rules, and months of effort to find some way to avoid catastrophic reductions.

But a new assessment of New England cod stocks, released this month, combined with a low catch this year is more evidence of their poor condition, Bullard said. Tough cuts are mandatory if fish populations are ever going to rebound, he said.

‘‘Yes, stocks can get rebuilt, but they don’t get rebuilt on dreams, they get rebuilt on difficult decisions that get made,’’ he said. ‘‘So that’s what has to happen with New England groundfish.’’

Fishermen have long disputed the accuracy of fishery science that drives regulation, pointing to numerous examples of bad estimates. They also say they've been needlessly squeezed by arbitrary and unneeded rules pushed to promote conservation. Environmentalists counter that regulators have too often caved to the industry, allowing overfishing that hurts stocks.

Bullard said failures by fishery managers are ultimately to blame for weak stocks that haven’t rebounded.

‘‘We set the rules and clearly the rules have failed,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s no other conclusion.’’

The fishery council’s science committee is recommending catch reductions of 81 percent for cod in the Gulf of Maine, to 1,249 metric tons, and 61 percent for cod in Georges Banks, to 2,506 metric tons. As recently as 2003, fishermen caught about 8,000 metric tons of Gulf of Maine cod and about 12,000 metric tons of cod in Georges Bank.

New Hampshire fishermen Dave Goethel, a council member, said the recommend catch limits aren’t ‘‘even remotely enough fish to make any of these boats viable businesses.’’

‘‘We’re not talking about, ‘Oh yeah, we’re going to have a tough year next year,'’’ Goethel said this earlier week. ‘‘We’re talking about, you know, that’s it.'’’

Bullard said he thinks the groundfish industry will ultimately continue in some form, as fishermen seek alternatives to stay in business for now. Some fishermen have already turned to other commercial seafood, such as monkfish or lobster, and Bullard predicts people will hang on until the groundfish get healthy.

The upheaval will be painful, but it’s no different from what other industries face, he said.

‘‘A plant shuts down. A person who’s worked there for 30 years all of the sudden goes to the factory door and it’s closed,’’ Bullard said. ‘‘You learn a new trade and you adapt. ... People adapt and they survive.’’

Goethel said the bulk of his assets and decades of his life are tied up in fishing. At age 59, whatever’s ahead for the industry, he has to ride it out.

‘‘Fishermen are eternal optimists. Every day I go to sea I'm going to have the best day I ever had in my life,’’ he said. ‘‘So, yeah, I'm always optimistic that somehow, some way I haven’t figured out how yet, we'll find a way out of this mess.’’

© Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[bulletbob]

Pretty simple.. Too many boats catching too many fish for too long...
Doesn't matter where the boats are from, here or "over there"... Those stocks really need time to regenerate..
The reason recreational types don't destroy fish stocks is because we can release small fish, OR big fish, we are limited by regulation as to how big and how many, and sea and seasonal conditions limit us as to when and where we can fish.. Big netters kill millions upon millions of juveniles of all species, and once dragged for miles in a net the fish die, period..
I don't know the answer for these fishermen that lived their lives catching fish, but simply letting them continue as is, is probably not the best way.. Cod Pollack, Haddock and various Hake type fishes, will come back strong, they are prolific breeders.. They just need a break.. Matter of fact, the way our own Ling fishing has been lately, don't be surprised if you see recreational limits on them too.. Just something I think will happen soon.. Can't say for sure... bob

[shrimpman steve]

A plant shuts down. A person who’s worked there for 30 years all of the sudden goes to the factory door and it’s closed,’’ Bullard said. ‘‘You learn a new trade and you adapt. ... People adapt and they survive.’’

Scum bag! JMHO

[tautog]

[QUOTE=bulletbob Matter of fact, the way our own Ling fishing has been lately, don't be surprised if you see recreational limits on them too.. Just something I think will happen soon.. Can't say for sure... bob[/QUOTE]

As someone who fishes for ling year round, it has been better this past year than it has for all but one year in the late 1990s. Admittedly my records only cover 17 years, but there is no problem with the ling fishery. 60 plus per day last Jan and Feb, 20-30 almost every day this summer.

[action]

A plant shuts down. A person who’s worked there for 30 years all of the sudden goes to the factory door and it’s closed,’’ Bullard said. ‘‘You learn a new trade and you adapt. ... People adapt and they survive.’’

Scum bag! JMHO
Aman shimpman what a dirtbag.bullard don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out:mad:

[AndyS]

The great thing about all this is if you remember the commercial guys wiped out the Cod and pushed Haddock to near extinction. THEN cried to the goverment there were no fish to fish for so we need you to hand us money, then they went after the herring when all the groundfish were gone.

I'm sure the rod and reel guys will really take it on the chin with this one, we always do.

[Reelron]

As someone who fishes for ling year round, it has been better this past year than it has for all but one year in the late 1990s. Admittedly my records only cover 17 years, but there is no problem with the ling fishery. 60 plus per day last Jan and Feb, 20-30 almost every day this summer.


Agreed!

[tropics]

The great thing about all this is if you remember the commercial guys wiped out the Cod and pushed Haddock to near extinction. THEN cried to the goverment there were no fish to fish for so we need you to hand us money, then they went after the herring when all the groundfish were gone.

I'm sure the rod and reel guys will really take it on the chin with this one, we always do.

Maybe last years opening of the Cod on Stellwagon Banks could have, Had something to do with the shortage this year. They lowered the size to 19" from 24" after the draggers wiped out all the market size Cod. JMHO

[TUNA.COM]

The stocks were completely rebuilt to healthy levels up till Lubcenco created the catch shares and sector programs. I am not as familiar with all the logistics involved as some of the commercial fishermen I know here, but everyone of them said that this new program would destroy the fishery.

Too many bigs boats in too small of an area. Lubcenco can now pat herself on the back for a job well done.

Yes, the recreational sector will be a thing of the past too. What they are doing is a necessary evil.

[dakota560]

You don't need science to understand you can't repeatedly pound any stock of fish and expect it not to have an impact. The issue is commercial fisheries....period. Recreational rod and reel will NEVER cause a stock to decline. Doesn't mean there shouldn't be logical limits for recreational as well because at times enough is enough. I know I'll get push back but 60 ling in a trip. That's insane. As good as ling are they don't freeze well at all and 60 fish or 120 fillets is nuts in my opinion. Having said that, recreational is not what killed the ling and whiting fishery, small mesh netters did.....period end of story. Unfortunately government talks conservation and then uses the rebuilt stocks to their advantage and make political decisions to line their own wallet. Whether it's opening up a fishery to international interests as was the case with the cod fishery back in the 70's or to select domestic special interest groups. Ends up the rebuilding of the entire species is on the shoulders and bank accounts of many and the benefit once the stocks are rebuilt accrues to the greedy politicians and special interests groups who grease their campaigns every year with contributions. I agree their needs to be restrictions but the only way to change any of this after the stocks are rebuilt are to vote the people in to office who will represent the recreational guys fairly and equally.

It's a very sad situation. The only good news is I would think the ground fish population should rebuild pretty quickly if left to do so but that's of no consolation to the guys whose livelihood depend on these fisheries today. Sad indeed!

Dakota

[Leif]

Maybe last years opening of the Cod on Stellwagon Banks could have, Had something to do with the shortage this year. They lowered the size to 19" from 24" after the draggers wiped out all the market size Cod. JMHO
You got it Richie!

The fish were coming back nicely, the "rules" were changed and they were wiped out. We had a nice thing going there with the cod coming back. As soon as they came back it only took them a few years to ruin it. I remember talking to a guy from SMAST UMASSD back in 2006. He said on some of the survey trawls they couldn't go more than a few minutes before the nets were full of cod.

We are all to blame. We pounded the hell out of them when they came down to Montauk off Block. Rec. boats were catching thousands of fish every time they got out from 2008-2012. Then the comercial guys finished them off.

There are still cod out there but not enough to sustain a fishery. If we let them come back and protect the herring and mackerel they feed on it will work but now it will take years and years,

It took at least 25 years to get back the cod and now we wiped them out again.

Leif

[bulletbob]

As someone who fishes for ling year round, it has been better this past year than it has for all but one year in the late 1990s. Admittedly my records only cover 17 years, but there is no problem with the ling fishery. 60 plus per day last Jan and Feb, 20-30 almost every day this summer.

Perhaps.. In deep water, on wrecks, and in the Mudhole etc.. However, I was around when these fish were everywhere.. Go right out of Shark River Inlet, maybe 3-400 yards, and there they were there all day, even mid day in sping and late fall.. they were between the channels off Sandy Hook and the bottom was covered with them near Ambrose Tower, all winter long.. Right during mid day right up until the Blues showed up... Night time was just stupid fishing, but it wasn't even necessary to go at night.

Right off the beach at the Cedars while Flounder fishing in April and May... Ling would hit worms, mussels and clams right beside the flounders.

This time of year, all the boats from AH to Point fished ling inshore day and night and everyone on board caught buckets in a few hours.. That went on for decades.
Those close inshore fisheries simply don't exist any more, leading me to believe that the numbers simply aren't where they should be, or at least USED to be...
Yes you can still catch Ling if you want, but the sad fact is, I NEVER went out to the Mudhole or deep wrecks to do so.. We caught them in under 60 FOW, year after year, for decades... No GULP was needed for a good catch.. They hit ANYTHING and double headers were the norm.. Yes we still have Ling, but those of us that remember the 70's, 80's and 90's remember they were FAR more abundant than they are today.. The pressure from decades of dragging and killing juveniles by the millions , plus the increase in rec pressure on wrecks and in the Mud Hole , 17 Fathoms etc has had an effect on stocks.. Otherwise, the boats would be catching them most of the year at close range as they did for many many years.. Just my opinion... bob

[blkbear]

On the north east ground fishing its catch shares and sector programs that are hurting the Cod and Haddock. Big Corps buy catch share off the little guys and go in an net in one day everything in a sector( big, small , everything) and clean out the area. Then the Brains come in and scream its overfished .

These catch shares and sector programs can clean an area out and wipe fishing for years in that area. where line fishing would not put a dent in the fish in that area

Look at the GOM last year, they cried no haddock then turn around and make it unlimited and now they want to cut it 80% only idiot would call this science
and managment.

To rebuild these stocks of Haddock and Cod they only need to stop the big companies from dragging the major banks and areas.
rec fisherman with a 8-10 fish limlt is adrop in the bucket and bring much need money to these areas. The big Company just dreges up everything and processes it right on the boat creatating very few land base jobs

Washington needs to hire someone who know the area and can see that area and sector fishing is causing major drops in ground fish

[tautog]

Not sure if it is a population issue or a habitat issue on the ling. For some reason the winter flounder do not come in the backwaters in great numbers but I see more flounder than ever in the deep. I can catch 20-40 flounder per day without any chumming in June and July if I set my mind to it. But for some reason most of these flounder don't winter over in the back or they leave quickly without feeding in April.

We do see a few weeks of good ling fishing inshore in the late spring, but not as much as we used to, but fish have been just as plentiful in the deep, if not more so. I think ling is on an upswing from the the low point of the early and mid 2000s. I would like to see a bit more 4lb plus fish like we had in the 1990s, but that could take a while with an expanding population.

[Fishguts]

[QUOTE=blkbear]On the north east ground fishing its catch shares and sector programs that are hurting the Cod and Haddock. Big Corps buy catch share off the little guys and go in an net in one day everything in a sector( big, small , everything) and clean out the area. Then the Brains come in and scream its overfished .

These catch shares and sector programs can clean an area out and wipe fishing for years in that area. where line fishing would not put a dent in the fish in that area


To rebuild these stocks of Haddock and Cod they only need to stop the big companies from dragging the major banks and areas.
rec fisherman with a 8-10 fish limlt is adrop in the bucket and bring much need money to these areas. The big Company just dreges up everything and processes it right on the boat creatating very few land base jobs

Washington needs to hire someone who know the area and can see that area and sector fishing is causing major drops in ground fish[/QUOTE

Just wondering are there really "big company process ships"working the GOM ground fish stocks?? Are these the same type factory ships that target sablefish and p cod in the Bering sea??

[Fishguts]

Not sure if it is a population issue or a habitat issue on the ling. For some reason the winter flounder do not come in the backwaters in great numbers but I see more flounder than ever in the deep. I can catch 20-40 flounder per day without any chumming in June and July if I set my mind to it. But for some reason most of these flounder don't winter over in the back or they leave quickly without feeding in April.
on.

I figure if they ever open the season up again during the summer it won't be to long until I see your name with a new state record.As you know Ask a scalloper what happens to baby ling.

[blkbear]

I spoke with a Capt in MA. and he witnessed this on a bank he fished for years. loads of fish then they opened the sector for so many metric tons to Comm fishing and by the next week end all the line fisherman where skunked for the rest of the season. They took everything, He said you could bearly get a cusk of the bank.
Ask TUNA>COM I ams sure he has seen this in his area.

[tautog]

I know if they open the season in the summer, I will gain 5lbs a month on twice a week flounder meals. Fried flounder on a kaiser roll with tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato, crab stuffed flounder and flounder mueniere. Then you have your crispy fried whole flounder with sweet and sour sauce or steamed whole flounder with scallions, red pepper and sesame oil, etc.:D

[tautog]

I spoke with a Capt in MA. and he witnessed this on a bank he fished for years. loads of fish then they opened the sector for so many metric tons to Comm fishing and by the next week end all the line fisherman where skunked for the rest of the season. They took everything, He said you could bearly get a cusk of the bank.

I know out at Georges there are very large ships over 200 feet dragging. We almost got hit by one when we were anchored for the night on the Yankee Capts and it was over twice as long and three times higher at the bow. Have to imagine that big boy had to have quite a catch to remain profitable.

[blkbear]

Just wondering are there really "big company process ships"working the GOM ground fish stocks?? Are these the same type factory ships that target sablefish and p cod in the Bering sea??
__________________
The big companies have been buying the smaller local company shares in a zone then come in and harvest and move on.
The problem is a zone can be huge but the cod and haddock are concentrated to smaller areas like banks and ledges . 1 days harvest can clean an area out.
This is not open water netting, or a small operation taking 10,000 lbs its turned in to wiping out the area and moving to the next zone that opens.
small companies are local and can not do that.
This has evolved to where its easier for the little guy to sell his shares and stay docked and make a little profit.

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/catchshare/docs/gbcod_fixedgear.pdf
http://www.noaa.gov/factsheets/new%20version/catch_shares.pdf

[Fishguts]

I know out at Georges there are very large ships over 200 feet dragging. We almost got hit by one when we were anchored for the night on the Yankee Capts and it was over twice as long and three times higher at the bow. Have to imagine that big boy had to have quite a catch to remain profitable.
200 ft vessel ?? Mid water herring/ mackrel trawl most likely. Seen them a few times on Cashes. Are there any 200ft squid boats up that way?

[tautog]

Think he was fishing for macks and herring but at that time there was very significant groundfish bycatch as many mid water trawlers are fishing rather close to the bottom and the fish are chasing the bait off the bottom.

[Fishguts]

Think he was fishing for macks and herring but at that time there was very significant groundfish bycatch as many mid water trawlers are fishing rather close to the bottom and the fish are chasing the bait off the bottom.
I tried to follow the mid water trawl stuff a few years ago when it was a real hot button issuse. At the time large bycatch was not a real concern as I remember. It was more a concern on depleting the forage base from localized areas. They did have a low number of on board obsevered trips but I believe the bycatch concerns had more to dowith seals more than ground fish. I heard of a 20000 lb tow of haddock but that was and exception and haddock trip limits were high anyway. Maybe this change in the last year or two. Also I had been under the impression that the largest Commercial fishing vessel active on the east coast is 165' and is a mid water trawler. I am now courious about one of these 200' vessel that's out there. The fact that those vessel can not target or land ground fish at all makes the bycatch issuse a real concern.

[blkbear]

This is the new Head of the NE for NOAA
He need to realize that Rec fishing is a drop in the bucket to thier catch shares and would have no impact with 7-10 fish limits on cod and haddock in the GOM. They need to stop lumping Rec fisherman in with Comm fisherman.



http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x730433784/Regional-NOAA-head-wont-ease-limits

john.bullard@noaa.gov

978-281-9250

Northeast Region, Nmfs

NMFS/NER

Regional Administrator