According to the press release Anti-Fishermen Act, formerly known as the Jones Amendment, prohibits approval of new catch share programmes for U.S. fisheries under the jurisdiction of the South Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, New England, or Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. The Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance, the Gulf Fishermen’s Association and the South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association say that this act reduces opportunities for fishermen and empowers Congress to make decisions better made regionally.
Commercial fishing groups are working to ensure this language doesn’t extend to the FY2012 budget. In the budget catch share system has been shown as a fishery management system to make fishing more efficient, profitable and sustainable. By taking catch shares off the table, Congress is forcing fishermen to accept traditional fishery management that has historically benefited few and left many fisheries depleted, which hurts fishing businesses and local communities.
TJ Tate, Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance Executive Director, said that federal money will still be spent on existing catch share programmes. He added that the Anti-Fisherman Act will not save taxpayers any money, it just prevents money from being spent on new catch share programmes. He also said that it could end up costing money in the long term because it will continue failed fishery management approaches.
Tate said that the opinions of local fishermen are very important in order to decide anything on catch shares in the regional fishery management councils. Glen Brooks, Gulf Fishermen’s Association President, said that all parties are fighting to make sure the Anti-Fisherman Act goes away this year. Matt Ruby, South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association President, said that Congress is taking a proven management option off the table in favour of keeping fishermen tied to the dock.
