Saltwater Fishing Discussion Board Including Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Saltwater Fly Fishing and Kayak Fishing

I found these excerpts from the testimony interesting. I don't know if the links to the full testimony will work. If they don't and you want to read something post a note in this thread and I'll get the complete transcript of that person's testimony.

On Tuesday, March 16, 2010 the House Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife, led by Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), held an oversight hearing on "Catch Shares as a Management Option: Criteria for Ensuring Success.

Highlights of the statements and testimony are listed below, along with links to the full testimony of witness and statements of Members where available.

Rep. Madeleine Z. Bordallo, (D-Guam), Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans

-“There is no universal agreement on the merits of catch shares. Proponents argue that they [catch shares] reduce by catch, increase efficiency, and enhance the industry’s role in fishery conservation. Opponents, on the other hand, are concerned that catch shares will result in fleet consolidation and the loss of fishing communities. The amount of anecdotal evidence to support either side is considerable but research about the impacts of catch shares on both the fish and the fishers is quite slim.”

Read the opening statement of Chairwoman Bordallo

Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr., (R-South Carolina) Ranking Republican Member, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans

-“Rarely do we see all the fishery sectors speaking with one voice” [like we did in the united we fish rally]

-“It seems that while the agency is willing to increase funding by $810 million for one satellite program to gather climate information, it apparently can only find about one million dollars increase for the stock assessment program for the 530 fishery stocks that NOAA manages. This does not reflect the actual needs of the agency for fishery management.”

-“I would like to suggest that NOAA concentrate on figuring out how many fish are out there and how to keep fishermen working rather than spending 54 million dollars telling fishermen how great catch shares are.”

“At the subcommittee’s hearing … concern was raised that the new catch share program initiative request for $54 million dollars is taking money away from other agency needs such as stock assessments, cooperative research and data collection on recreational fishing activities.”

“Catch share programs have been and can be effective, but only when the fishermen are active participants of the development and design of those programs.”

Congressman Doc Hastings, (R-Washington) Ranking Republican Member, Committee on Natural Resources

-“Catch shares should be formed from the bottom up, through the regional management council system, and not forced or mandated by the agency. The agency should not be pushing catch shares where they are not wanted.”

-“Implementing catch shares does not eliminate the need for basic stock assessments, data collection and enforcement. These are fundamental requirements for the management of the fishery whether under the catch shares program or some other fishery management plan.”

-“Catch share programs have been, and can be effective, but only when the fishermen are active participants in the development and the design of those programs”

Eric Schwaab, Director, National Marine Fisheries Service

-“Catch share systems provide in many cases, innovative solutions that keep fishermen fishing while resources recover, rather than employing closures or other very restrictive seasons that push fishermen off the water”

-“The president’s FY11 budget requests a total of 54 million dollars for catch shares nationwide. This request supports analysis and evaluation of fisheries for catch share programs, development of fishery management plans and regulation, and increased investment in observing and monitoring cooperative research in other activities. This funding is not requested at the expense of other important fishery research and management programs.”

Chairwoman Bordallo: “Do you think NOAA has prioritized catch shares over science…?”

Schwaab: “…A significant amount of the investment in catch share dollars will in fact yield important new monitoring and observer data which will contribute to our overall science”

Read the written testimony of Director Schwaab

Congressman Peter DeFazio, (D-Oregon)

Peter DeFazio: Mr Rosenberg, in your testimony it says, “In order to meet social and economic goals, important considerations of program design includes rules, fees, eligibility requirements based on transferability of quota shares; these issues can be dealt with but it is very much harder to do so after the implementation of the system than as part of the initial implementation”…So [speaking to Schwaab], are we ready to move forward…have we adequately addressed all those issues on the timeline that your agency has set, or perhaps we should take a little longer to discuss this…?

Eric Schwaab: …there are a number of elements of that process moving forward that have to be addressed.

DeFazio: Would you support taking longer to do this at the outset…or can you say, “Well, if you [NOAA] can’t really address these issues before 2011, let’s [NOAA] put it off and spend more time getting it right”?

Schwaab: If circumstances suggested that we could not move forward on the current timeline in an effective way we would certainly be receptive to delay. We may find ultimately that we are not able to meet that January 1 date.

Andrew Rosenberg, Senior Vice President for Science and Knowledge, Conservation International

-“One of the greatest potential benefits of the catch share system is that in principle many of the decisions about fishing tactics are internalized to the fishery rather than by regulation….In my observation those participating in catch share systems usually become strong supporters of the approach, but the corollary is that those who opt out or are left out usually seem to assign all problems of the fishery to that same catch share approach.”

Read the written testimony of Dr. Rosenberg

Congresswoman Lois Capps, (D-California)

Lois Capps: Should catch shares be allocated and what steps can be taken to limit consolidation as one aspect of the local economic factors?

Andrew Rosenberg: I think it depends upon an actual analysis of what the financial conditions are for many of the businesses within the fishery and probably multiple communities…having more analysis upfront would be very beneficial.

Capps: I really believe this hearing begs the need for more hearings on this topic; many, many unresolved questions and concerns.

Edward Backus, Vice President, Community Ecosystem Services, Ecotrust

-“In fisheries, we regard CATCH SHARE programs as having several valuable features, including increasing vessel safety, extending fresh market seasons and most important, accountability and incentives at the level of the individual vessel. But the dark side of fisheries quota programs is that they create an intangible asset which can then migrate away from communities, displacing the economic benefits of fishing in a painful manner.”

-“Recommendations: That NOAA strengthen the new policy on CATCH SHARES to set the following required standards on US fishery management councils if and when the undertake CATCH SHARE programs: Mandate the direct allocation of community ownership of at least 10% of all quota shares in each fishery management council region; require the development of community fishing associations regional fishing associations and other community structures now authorized in Magnuson”

Read the written testimony of Mr. Backus

Leesa Cobb, Executive Director, Port Orford Ocean Resource Team

Catch Share programs prevent people from entering the fishery, unless they come from established fishing families already owning boats, or are wealthy enough to purchase quota.

I am troubled by NOAA and the Councils saying that Catch Shares are not a property right. If you can buy and sell quota, take it to the bank and mortgage quota, fight over quota in divorce court – quota is property.

It is common knowledge that Catch Share programs improve economic efficiency and by their very nature result in consolidation of the fleet. This in turn causes loss of jobs, economic disruption to coastal communities that rely on fishing jobs, and can cause the loss of infrastructure at ports that traditional fishing relies on.

Read the written testimony of Ms. Cobb

Mark Fina, Ph.D. Senior Economist, North Pacific Fishery Management Council

The gravity of the radical change in management to catch shares for some stakeholders should not be underestimated. As with all management programs, catch shares programs, particularly at the initial allocation, define “winners” and “losers”. While the Council’s public process is intended to ensure that a program achieves its goals with minimal negative consequences, decision makers should be prepared to critically review the effects of these programs and adopt modifications as needed.

Read the written testimony of Dr. Fina

====MakoMike=====

Click here for The Makomania Sportfishing website

Makomania out

saltysurfman

Joined: 08/02/2008
Posts: 779
Location: Hicksville

posted 03/18/2010 01:27 PM

Found that very interesting. Great post MakoMike. I have been trying to keep up on this topic as much as possible and it would be great if I can get a copy of Eric Schwaab's testimony as well as a copy of Congressman Peter DeFazio if possible. I would really like to try to see where this is going because it seems that only Eric Schwaab is for the implementation of the Catch Share program and I think that a great deal of good information is in those two testimonies.

Thanks again for such an informative post.

MakoMike
Noreast.com Club Member

Noreast Writer

Moderator
The Angler's Lounge

Joined: 12/28/2000
Posts: 44568
Location: Pt. Judith

posted 03/18/2010 02:35 PM

Ask and ye shall receive!

WRITTEN STATEMENT OF
ERIC SCHWAAB
ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR
NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ON
CATCH SHARES
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON INSULAR AFFAIRS, OCEANS AND WILDLIFE
COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MARCH 16, 2010
Madam Chairwoman and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today on NOAA’s draft Catch Share Policy. My name is Eric Schwaab and I am the Assistant Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Catch shares are a fishery management tool that has been recommended for consideration by the National Research Council and the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, as well as several Members of Congress. In appropriate circumstances, catch share programs can play an essential role in meeting our national goal of rebuilding and sustaining our fishery resources. Such outcomes are a key ingredient to achieving our larger objective of healthy and resilient marine ecosystems.
On December 10, 2009, NOAA released a draft national policy encouraging the use of catch shares, a powerful tool for managing fisheries. The draft policy encourages but does not require the use of well-designed catch share programs. In appropriate circumstances, these programs can help end overfishing, rebuild fisheries, and sustain fishing jobs and fishing communities. In the development of the draft policy, NOAA received individual input from representatives of each of the eight regional fishery management councils (Councils) as well as NOAA experts. NOAA has also worked with individuals from key stakeholder groups before and after the issuance of the draft policy to get their input on this important policy initiative.
In catch share programs, a portion of the scientifically-based, total allowable catch for a species is apportioned to individual fishermen or groups, according to the allocation rules recommended by the regional fishery management councils and approved by NOAA. Each holder of a catch share must stop fishing when his/her specific quota is reached.
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Catch share programs, which include a variety of approaches like individual fishing quotas and Limited Access Privilege Programs, authorized by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), have operated successfully in the United States since 1990. Currently, there are 15 different catch share programs in place, stretching from Alaska to Florida, and several additional programs are expected to start over the next year.
NOAA’s goals in developing a national policy on the use of catch shares are to: (1) reduce administrative or organizational impediments to the Councils’ consideration of catch shares; (2) inform and educate stakeholders of the different options and capabilities of catch share programs; and (3) help organize collaborative efforts among interested councils, states, communities, fishermen and other stakeholders on the design and implementation of catch share programs. The draft catch share policy itself is quite simple. It states that: To achieve long-term ecological and economic sustainability of the Nation’s fishery resources and fishing communities, NOAA encourages the consideration and adoption of catch shares wherever appropriate in fishery management and ecosystem plans and amendments, and will support the design, implementation, and monitoring of catch share programs. While the draft policy encourages the careful consideration of catch shares, it does not mandate catch shares be used in any specific fishery or sector (e.g., commercial vs. recreational fisheries). In fact, we believe that catch shares may not be the best management option in some fisheries. Catch shares are but one tool among several for effectively managing fisheries, and they are not a panacea. The key to developing any successful fishery management program is active involvement from fishermen and other stakeholders in the regional fishery management council where the programs are designed.
Under traditional fishery management approaches, a scientifically-based total allowable catch is established for a species overall, and is not allocated to specific individual fishermen or groups. Under this approach, anyone who wants to participate in the fishery can fish, until the overall total allowable catch limit is reached. This can lead to a competitive environment, with fishermen racing each other to catch as many fish as they can before the total allowable catch is reached and the fishery is closed for the season. We have also seen this approach result in more boats and gear in the water than is either biologically or economically necessary to catch the available harvest. The results of this type of management system often are shorter fishing seasons, unsafe fishing practices and high levels of bycatch. Finally, one other serious drawback to this system is that too many fish may be brought to market at once, depressing the price of fish for fishermen and coastal communities. Conversely, catch share programs allow fishermen to plan their fishing seasons and be more selective about when and how they catch their allotment, knowing their individual shares are secure. Fishermen participating in catch share programs are able to plan their fishing effort around the weather, markets, or other business considerations. Because they are allotted a share in a fishery, fishermen gain an economic incentive to catch their
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allocation at the least cost and without going over their allotment because as a fish stock rebuilds the holder’s share increases in value. In addition, fishermen need not take unnecessary risks because they can fish whenever they want, and they can fish at times when there is not a glut in the market. Catch share programs have a proven track record of success in many fisheries in the United States and around the world. Here are a few examples:
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The Crab Rationalization Program allocates Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) crab resources among harvesters, processors, and coastal communities. The program was implemented in 2005 when overcapacity in BSAI crab fisheries had resulted in a frenzied race for crab. Harvesting and processing capacity had expanded to accommodate highly abbreviated seasons, encouraging unsafe fishing practices and resulting in significant portions of the capacity to be idle between seasons. Under the rationalization program, season lengths have increased from 3-5 days to 93-230 days, revenues from the fishery have increased by 40 percent (in constant dollars) in just three years, and fatalities and U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue cases have declined to historic lows.
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The Halibut Individual Fishing Quota Program in Alaska, now more than a decade old, eliminated a dangerous derby fishery that lasted less than a week per year and replaced it with a program allowing for a longer, more profitable and much safer fishing season, and has helped sustain local fishing-dependent communities and jobs.
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Gulf of Alaska rockfish were historically caught in a limited entry derby fishery during 3 weeks in the middle of the busy Alaska salmon season. Product quality was low, and bycatch and discard rates were high. In 2005 the North Pacific Council adopted a catch share-based management program which permits harvesters to form voluntary cooperative associations. Revenues for northern rockfish and Pacific perch have since doubled (in constant dollars) as a longer fishing season (7 months) allows fishermen to produce more high value products, and deliver their catches to processors at times that do not conflict with the salmon season. Notably, the incidental catch of halibut has been reduced substantially, as have discards of other species. Participants report that cooperative management has allowed them to adopt conservation-minded practices without sacrificing their overall opportunity in the fishery.
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A two-year old catch share program in the Gulf of Mexico is helping rebuild Gulf of Mexico red snapper fish stocks, reducing overcapacity in the fishery and boosting profits for participating fishermen. NOAA scientists announced that overfishing has ended in the Gulf of Mexico red snapper fishery after more than two decades of overfishing. The use of catch shares in the commercial fishery has helped maintain the fishing industry while strict management measures have been in place to end overfishing and move toward rebuilt stocks.
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In British Columbia, the multispecies groundfish fishery use of individual vessel quotas for all species has resulted in sustainable catch levels, greatly reduced bycatch, improved cooperation among fishermen, and safer fishing practices.
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While catch shares have been a successful tool in many instances, it is important to note that catch shares are not appropriate for every fishery, and we need to remain mindful of the negative impacts these programs can have. By their nature, catch shares can result in some consolidation of the harvesting sector because some fishermen holding shares make a willing business decision to lease or sell their privileges to someone else. While they are compensated for their exit, others are impacted by their decisions. For example, in the Bering Sea crab fishery noted above, the rate and extent of vessel consolidation surprised many observers, and the traditional number of crew positions was reduced significantly in the first year as vessel owners sold their shares and their vessels left the fishery. Many part-time crew jobs were lost, although catch shares typically lead to an increase in the number of full-time jobs. There have also been other concerns expressed about how catch shares programs might affect recreational fisheries, contribute to job losses on shore, or threaten the sustainability of small boat communities as shares are transferred among vessels, ports and sectors.
NOAA’s draft policy encourages the regional fishery management councils to carefully design catch share programs to effectively avoid or mitigate these issues, using the tools available in the MSA. With the development of any new catch share program, there is a great deal of design flexibility to allow fisheries to support diverse fleets of both small and large vessels, encourage owner-operated fleets, set aside shares for specific sectors such as recreational participants, and provide opportunities for new entrants to enter the fisheries.
NOAA recommends that Councils pay particular attention to the following critical design issues:
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Set Specific Goals: Identification of specific management goals for each catch share program is critical, such as eliminating overfishing; ending a race for fish; reducing bycatch; or creating socio-economic stability for fishermen and communities. The more specific the goals, the more precisely a catch share design can be structured to attain them.
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Define Transferability: Councils need to work directly with harvesters and the larger fishing community to choose whether, when, and to whom to allow transfers of catch shares to ensure the long-term success of the program. This is a balance between promoting maximum flexibility for fishermen’s business decision making and controlling the rate and scale of change in a fishery to address harvesting, processing and community sustainability goals.
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Consider New Entrants: Councils need to evaluate catch share designs that allow new generations of fishermen or small businesses into the fishery. Besides set-asides and proper design of initial allocation and transfer criteria, loan programs and permit banks can help ensure continued fishery access in traditional ports.
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Help Communities: Thoughtful catch share design can promote sustainable fishing communities, including good jobs, preservation of wharfs, processing facilities, fuel and ice suppliers and other coastal businesses essential to a working waterfront. There are several recently added provisions in the Magnuson-Stevens Act to help sustain fishing communities and small owner-operator fleets via catch shares. These provisions include special allocations to fishing communities and regional fishing associations, and loan programs for small vessel- and entry level-fishermen.
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Consider Recreational Impacts: Councils allocate the total allowable catch among sectors in all fisheries, regardless of whether a catch share is used to further distribute the allocation among eligible participants in a sector. Councils can opt to manage the commercial sector with catch shares and manage the recreational sector by other means. The draft policy states that where catch shares are proposed for the commercial sector but not the recreational sector, Councils should evaluate the effects of catch shares on all sectors associated with a fishery.
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Improve Data: A key component in any well designed fishery management system, catch shares or otherwise, is accurate and credible data in which managers and stakeholders have confidence. Every limited access privilege program collects a fee of up to 3 percent of the ex vessel value of the landings to support management, data collection and enforcement. Additional appropriated funds have been requested to support expanded data collection, monitoring and observer programs. These funds will support both the science and management needs of catch shares in the areas of stock assessments, catch and bycatch monitoring, research, and catch share compliance and management.
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Review Progress: Councils should periodically review all catch share and other fisheries programs to gauge whether they are meeting the goals and objectives; no program will be perfect the first time and Councils should plan for making adjustments over time. Getting feedback on management plan performance and being adaptive makes good sense, and already is required by law for limited access privilege programs.
NOAA has already and will continue to meet with stakeholders and seek broad input on these and other aspects of its draft policy, and we welcome your feedback as well, to ensure the policy addresses any concerns your constituents may have. We continue to schedule constituent briefings, and are traveling to all eight Councils to present the policy and take public comments. We are accepting comments through April 10, 2010.
The President’s fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request a total of $54 million to accelerate and enhance the implementation of catch shares nationwide. The request supports analysis and evaluation of fisheries for catch share programs, development of fishery management plans and regulations, observing and monitoring at sea and on shore, and enforcement activities.
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I want to assure you that this catch share funding is not requested at the expense of other fisheries research and management programs. The FY 2011 budget sustains funding for Fisheries Research and Management and adds to investments to implement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act. The National Marine Fisheries Service Operations, Research, and Facilities budget request increased from $724.2 million in fiscal year 2009 to $907.8 million in FY 2011; this $183.6 million increase demonstrates that fisheries research and management has been, and continues to be, a clear priority for NOAA.
In addition, to collect the foundational data required for fisheries research and management NOAA has invested significantly in its fleet of fisheries survey vessels (FSV). In 2007, Henry B. Bigelow was commissioned and started fisheries research in the northeast in FY 2008. Since then NOAA has received delivery of Pisces and Bell M. Shimada to support fisheries science efforts in the near future. The FY 2011 budget includes requested funds for two fisheries survey vessels, FSV5 and FSV6.
In closing, many Councils face extremely difficult management choices as we work to rebuild stocks and improve economic profitability. NOAA is committed to working with Councils to take the necessary steps to recover these resources and ensure we are on the path to long-term sustainability of both the resource and the fishing community. Whether catch shares are ultimately the option chosen for a fishery or another tool is selected, NOAA is committed to keeping fisheries viable and helping to ensure a future for fishermen, fishing communities and working fishery waterfronts. NOAA will be there supporting and coordinating the science and management actions necessary to attain this shared goal of sustainable fisheries, but we can’t do it without help, and we need everyone’s support.
Thank you for allowing me to speak with you this afternoon. At this time, I would be pleased to take your questions.

====MakoMike=====

Click here for The Makomania Sportfishing website

Makomania out

NilsS

Joined: 09/10/2004
Posts: 837
Location: Edgewater, Florida and Trenton, New Jersey

posted 03/18/2010 10:40 PM

Mike -

Thanks for the testimony. I listened to the session, you know? But the written testimony is always more illuminating, you know? Particularly when it;s about an issue as complex and as controversial as catch shares, you know? (Folks, you really have to listen to the hearing to fully appreciate how telling the use of a term like "you know?" can be.)

Sandysurfman -

I've written a couple of pieces that you might be interested in; one on the implementation of catch shares by NOAA/NMFS and the other on the DC rally and Assistant Administrator Schwaab's role in or around it. They're both available at the Fishnet Lite blog here.

Up until he was chosen to head NMFS, I doubt Mr. Schwaab had much interest in catch shares. Other than a short term on the Mid-Atlantic Council he seems to be inexperienced in marine fisheries. However, Environmental Defense was and still is one of the strongest proponents of catch shares. Ms. Lubchenco, now the head of NOAA, the parent agency of NMFS, used to be on the board of EDF.

Nils Stolpe
Garden State Seafood Association

saltysurfman

Joined: 08/02/2008
Posts: 779
Location: Hicksville

posted 03/21/2010 06:12 PM

Thanks for all the information MakoMike. I'm going to read through it all now and may be back with some questions.

Thank you for the link NilsS. I will definitely be checking that out as well.