The fishermen are concern that this continue catch limits will allow them to survive another year. Usually, scientific studies showing fish population declines drive harsher regulations. But this year, new rules due to be implemented in May slash the catch of skates and pollock even though the scientists have information that those populations may actually be more robust than previously believed.
National Marine Fisheries Service believes that dogfish population constitutes a healthy stock, which is roughly double what is in the ocean right now. Even at their current population size, sharks are holding back the recovery of other species such as cod, they claim. About skates NMFS to consider new scientific data showing a higher population of skates than previously believed. Fishermen want NMFS to replace current daily catch limits of 1,900 pounds per boat with the previous 10,000-pound limit.
For pollock a fast-track NMFS evaluation of scientific data from research vessels in U.S. and Canadian waters that fishermen believe will show there are more pollock and will mitigate the 65-percent cut in harvest levels for the coming year. Thomas Dempsey, a policy analyst with the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association, said that if they can’t find a way to get higher skate and dogfish quota, and to get more pollock … they will see fishing businesses go under in 2010.
Dempsey said NMFS has set an unrealistic goal. Dogfish, he said, are eating up other species and impeding efforts to rebuild stocks of cod and other fish. The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association wants NMFS to allow independent scientists to review the federal agency’s rebuilding target and consider the impact of that level of dogfish on other species.
The drastic pollock catch reduction is under review, and fishermen believe new data will show a large pollock stock. Scientists are meeting in Woods Hole this week to evaluate pollock numbers and possibly move to a better, more accurate way of assessing that population.
