Industrial midwater trawling in the Atlantic herring fishery continues to threaten New England's groundfish closed areas - protected areas created to restore depleted stocks of cod, haddock and other groundfish species. Faced with mounting evidence of groundfish bycatch (fish caught unintentionally while targeting another species) in one of these sensitive groundfish nursery areas (Closed Area I), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recently proposed a rule requiring these trawlers to carry federal observers and prohibit dumping of unsampled catch when accessing this area.

While we are supportive of this rule, we feel that its effectiveness is weakened by a provision that allows vessels to release or discard the contents of their catch due to a high concentration of spiny dogfish bycatch (greater than 50% of catch by weight), allowing them to continue to fish without consequence or penalty.

Help us strengthen this rule by asking NMFS to support a rule that is more equitable and easier to implement and enforce by requiring all industrial herring trawl vessels to end their trip and return to port if dumping occurs for any reason.

Use the letter below as a guide but please add your own comments.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

RIN 0648-AX93

I applaud your decision to take action on New England Fishery Management Council's recommendation regarding Atlantic herring midwater trawler access to Closed Area I. The need for substantial and immediate improvements in how industrial trawling is managed in New England cannot be understated.

While I am supportive of the overall intent of this proposed rule, I believe it would be more easily implemented and enforced if vessels were required to terminate their trip and immediately return to port following any incidence of dumping or release of unsampled catch - including for reason of a high concentration of spiny dogfish bycatch.

Again, I thank you for introducing a rule that will finally bring some real reform to this industrialized trawl fleet and give us the data we need to know what is going on in this fishery. But, time is of the essence. Please strengthen and finalize this rule as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 16, 2009