July 13, 2009
Catch phrases | A round up of new initiatives designed to boost the groundfishing industry's sustainability and profitability
By Mindy Favreau
While it’s been a tough summer so far for the state’s clam flats, news on the groundfishing industry has been positive. Here's a round up of new changes and initiatives designed to boost the industry’s sustainability and profitability:
- The New England Fishery Management Council recently passed a new set of regulations intended to protect fish populations while maximizing fishermen’s profits. The changes allow New England fishermen to join one of 19 sectors and catch only certain percentages of the ocean’s groundfish, determined by fish population estimates and individual fisherman’s histories within each sector, according to the Portland Press Herald. Fishermen who choose to remain independent will work under day-at-sea limits. Though many industry members supported the changes, some questioned whether the regulations would prevent overfishing.
- Three conservation organizations — The Nature Conservancy, Island Institute and Penobscot East Resource Center — have joined forces to purchase two groundfishing permits that fishermen researching more sustainable fishing practices can use, according to a press release. The organizations are covering the costs of the research, including the permits, fuel and the fishermen’s and research supervision scientists’ time. The practice, called permit banking, will allow the organizations to work with fishermen on collaborative research projects without asking them to use their valuable days at sea associated with each permit. The groups plan to share their research.
- A Port Clyde seafood co-op is still going strong a year after its founding, inspiring others to launch similar ventures. Last January, Port Clyde Fresh Catch became arguably the nation’s first community-supported fishery, allowing about 200 shareholders to buy shrimp, cod and other fish from about a dozen fishermen. This year, 250 people are participating, according to the Associated Press. Other CSFs have also cropped up, including a mussels harvester in Brunswick and a lobsterman in Falmouth.
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