March 2010 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 11.
Commercial Fishing News
MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL FISHING NEWS
Groundfish Amendment 16 Approved 16, and includes authority for NOAA’s Fish- fice for Law Enforcement and the Office of the tracking database that links enforcement and
A revision of federal groundfishing rules eries Service to make in-season adjustments General Counsel for Enforcement and Litiga- legal case management systems; Increasing
known as Amendment 16 has been approved to trip limits and days-at-sea counting rates tion. communications with the Fishery Manage-
by NOAA’s Fisheries Service. The final regu- for vessels not participating in sectors. “I intend to take proactive steps to imple- ment Councils, especially in the Northeast
lations required to implement these measures NOAA Takes Steps to Improve Fisheries ment the recommendations that emerge from U.S.; Providing explanatory notes to case
will be published prior to May 1, 2010, the Law Enforcement the summit,” Dr. Lubchenco said, “and I am files; Tracking priorities; Providing public
start of the new fishing year. NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco confident that we will develop innovative access to information on charges brought
The amendment includes new proce- has directed the agency’s enforcement and and responsive approaches that will improve and cases concluded.
dures to establish annual catch limits for legal offices to take steps to promote greater NOAA’s enforcement capabilities while fos- The IG report is available online at http:/
groundfish stocks and expands the use of transparency in law enforcement, ensure fair- tering a better immediate and long-term work- /www.oig.doc.gov/oig/.
fishing sectors, a type of catch share program ness in penalties, and improve lines of com- ing relationship with our constituents.” The more than 200 agents and attorneys
whereby a group of fishing vessels is allotted munication with commercial and recreational Dr. Lubchenco also praised the profes- in NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement and
a share of the total catch, as a means for fishermen. The action comes in response to sionalism and integrity of NOAA’s law en- the Office of the General Counsel for Enforce-
regulating the groundfish fishery. a Commerce Department Inspector General forcement agents and attorneys during the ment and Litigation are responsible for carry-
Under the proposed measures, all limited (NOAA is an agency of the Commerce De- Inspector General’s review. “Their input and
Continued on Page 12.
access groundfish permit holders would be partment) nationwide review issued today candor allowed the Inspector General to gain
able to form groups or “sectors” that would that outlines several recommendations to a good understanding
get a share of the year’s allowable catch. Each improve NOAA’s enforcement operations. of our law enforcement
sector’s share would be based on the historic Dr. Lubchenco requested the review in June efforts,” she said.
landings of their members. They would also 2009 after hearing concerns about NOAA The IG noted that
be able to develop their own rules for allocat- enforcement from some members of the fish- NOAA’s General
ing that catch among the sector members. ing community and Congress. Counsel for Enforce-
These sectors would be an integral part “Rebuilding our fisheries and sustain- ment and Litigation has
of a catch share program for Northeast ing the jobs and coastal communities that already started making
groundfish. Such programs have been depend on them is a goal we share with the improvements to poli-
shown to maintain stable fish populations, fishing public,” said Dr. Lubchenco. “As cies and procedures
resulting in more consistent income for fish- fishermen know, having an enforcement pro- that will lead to in-
ing communities. gram that is transparent and perceived as fair creased coordination
One measure proposed in Amendment and accountable is central to sustainable and consistency in law
16 was disapproved, a pilot program that fishery management. This nationwide review enforcement efforts,
would have allowed sink gillnet vessels to shows that we can do a better job in this calling them a “good
use specialized nets to target haddock be- regard. We will take steps to improve the start to building trans-
tween January through April. NOAA’s Fish- system and to reinforce confidence in the parency.”
eries Service rejected this measure to better system—in the interest of the fisheries re- These steps in-
protect pollock and Gulf of Maine cod stocks source and all who are dependent upon its clude: Revising proce-
that are rebuilding but that would likely be viability.” dural regulations and
taken as bycatch in this fishery. However, the One of the recommendations of the IG the penalty schedule;
agency will consider whether this mesh ex- report is for NOAA to develop more uniform Developing an internal
emption could be allowed as a special exemp- policies and procedures where appropriate. operations and proce-
tion for vessels fishing in requesting sectors, To that end, Dr. Lubchenco has asked dural manual; Estab-
given that any pollock or cod caught in this NOAA’s new general counsel, Lois Schiffer, lishing a new case
exemption would be counted against the sec- to lead a high level review of existing policies
tors quota, thus limiting how much of these and procedures, and recommend ways to
two stocks can be taken. increase coordination and consistency,
KUSTOM STEEL
Two other separate regulatory actions, transparency, accountability, and fairness
which currently are underway, are expected nationwide in agency law enforcement ef-
to be effective, along with Amendment 16 forts. Schiffer starts at NOAA on Feb. 1.
management measures, on May 1, 2010, if Dr. Lubchenco also announced that
approved. NOAA will convene a national summit on
One action implements fishing year 2010 enforcement policies and practices in order to
operations plans for those vessels fishing in hear from constituents and experts in the
a groundfish sector. The public comment field. The summit will include representatives
period for this proposed action closes today. from the commercial fishing industry, the
The other action defines what actual recreational fishing community, environ-
annual catch limits for each groundfish stock mental groups, academic institutions, and
for fishing years 2010 through 2012 will be, outside experts from law enforcement, as well
Looking to have metal work done at a reasonable cost?
revises trip limits submitted in Amendment as significant participation by NOAA’s Of-
Welding a specialty!
Commercial & Recreational
Also marina slips with lots of parking and storage available.
Marine Suppliers
USCG Safety Inspection Station
Call: (207) 991-1953
Mooring Supplies
South Main Street, Brewer, Maine 04412
Polyform US Fenders & Floats
Areas Largest Rope Supplier
Revere Liferafts
A FULL SERVICE YARD
Trawl Netting Gasoline · Diesel · Marine Store
FIBERGLASS REPAIR
Sports Netting for Golf/Baseball
Laundry · Showers
Outside Storage
Telephone · Ice
Shrinkwrap
and of course new boat construc-
& STORAGE
EVINRUDE/JOHNSON
tion (Holland 14, 32 and 38/40)
OUTBOARD SALES & SERVICE
ELECTRONICS INSTALLATIONS
FLOAT & MOORING SERVICE
LOCATED IN CRADLE COVE WITH
GREAT ANCHORAGE
INSIDE STORAGE SPACE
AVAILABLE
1-800-IMP-8865
CALL FOR DETAILS
700 Acre Island, P.O. Box 25
44 SOUTH STREET
HOLLAND'S BOAT SHOP, INC.
Lincolnville, ME 04849
NEW BEDFORD, MA 02740 Mill Lane, Belfast, Maine 04915 · (207) 338-3155
207-734-2246 · VHF 09
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32