February 5, 2003Consequences of Rebuilding Strategies
Groundfish Peer Review Presentation
The following PowerPoint presentation, Consequences Of Rebuliding
Strategies was given at the Groundfish Peer Review held at the New
England Center, University of New Hampshire on February 3- 5, 2003 in Durham
NH.
The graphs and tables of projected catch were created by our consultant,
David Lincoln, using the assumptions contained in the New England Fishery
Management Council Draft Amendment 13 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP . The
purpose is to illustrate various scenarios from which the New England Fishery
Management Council must choose between in order to implement Amendment 13.
In all cases, there is a clear choice between the low mortality rebuild
targets, low projected catch, and associated industry hardships when using
the 2009 deadline compared to longer rebuild timeframes. Additionally,
arguments are presented justifying the option of allowing more time for these
crucial stocks to rebuild.
The alternatives could be devastating for the industry and for the
communities of New England. Reductions in Cod of 88% and Yellowtail of 96%
could require the total shutdown of groundfish and would have a similar
destructive impact on the scallop fishery and other fisheries with bycatch.
These catastrophic management measures are not necessary to rebuild the
stocks in a reasonable timeframe and neither are they necessary to control
overfishing. With most stocks on the rise, we must allow them sufficient time
to fully recover without wiping out the commercial fleet.
Click here to view the rest of the MFP graphs of Amendment 13 Catch
Projections, published January 13, 2003.
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