Fisheries management is based on scientific data. The resulting stock assessments and total allowable catch parameters are what regulate our fisheries. To argue that this science is flawed usually gets a response such as "we have to base our decisions on the best science available." Arguing for better science is essentially ineffective because the resources needed (manpower and money) to improve the science rarely exists…
Here are examples of how two different user groups address this fisheries management paradox.
Here on the Kennebec River there has been an ongoing controversy amongst recreational anglers about the June catch and release artificial lure only striped bass season. Without getting into the nuts and bolts of the issue, there are a fair amount of folks who
stock depletions. In other words, the question is being riased, are we affecting the predator prey balance of our offshore and coastal waters through current management practices? The response, "we are managing these species based on the best available science." In the midst of this controversy a state-of -the-art freezer ship has been allowed to enter into both the mackerel and herring fisheries. The resulting increase in harvest will test "the best available science" as never tested before.
If you were to choose a course of action for fisheries management would you choose to improve the science that decisions are based on? Or, would you choose to act like a farmer selling his feed for profit while hoping his cattle don't starve to death…
Capt. Dave
think these special regulations are either unneeded or too encompassing. When Me DMR was challenged on the issue a few years back they stated that "we don't know enough about the status of the native reproducing striped bass stocks to remove or adjust the current regulations." As a result, a private initiative was established to help raise funds to do the needed research.
Regionally there is a controversy brewing over Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel harvest levels and localized
Freezer Ship American Freedom
Owner:
Atlantic Pelagic Seafood Co Horsepower: 8,000 HP Length: 350' Cost: $24 Million Hold Capacity: 4 million pounds Annual Allocated Herring Harvesting Capacity: 40 million pounds Annual Allocated Mackerel Harvesting Capacity: Unlimited Port of Registration: Portland, ME Port of Lading: New Bedford, MA
