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CHOIR Coalition Correspondence
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Received 05/02/07
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Below details the latest efforts and actions taken by the
CHOIR coalition.
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Originally sent to CHOIR Coalition listserve:
Friends:
The following link will take you to a document created by
NEFMC staff that outlines the requirements for observer
coverage of at-sea processors (including those similar to
the American Freedom) in the Pacific and North Pacific
regions. You will see that a vessel like this would have
either 100% or 200% observer coverage were it to be
operating on the West Coast.
http://www.nefmc.org/mesh/index.html
The Pelagics Committee (the list of committee members is
available at:
http://www.nefmc.org/mesh/index.html) has an opportunity
to take action to recommend that the NEFMC request that NMFS
require observers on USAPs at its meeting tomorrow in
Mansfield, MA.
Below my signature is the text of the letter I submitted on
behalf of the CHOIR Coalition addressing this issue. I’m
sure both Regional Administrator Pat Kurkul (pat.kurkul@noaa.gov)
and NMFS Deputy Director Bill Hogarth (bill.hogarth@noaa.gov)
would be pleased to hear your opinion on whether this 380
foot ship that can hold 4 million pounds of fish should be
required to carry federal observers.
Peter Baker, Chairman
CHOIR Coalition
508-641-4064
www.choicoalition.org
The CHOIR Coalition
Coalition for the Atlantic Herring Fishery's Orderly,
Informed and Responsible Long Term Development
www.choircoalition.org
April 30, 2007
Via electronic mail
Dr. David Pierce, Chairman
NEFMC Pelagics Committee
C/o Lori Steele; Woneta Cloutier
New England Fishery Management Council
50 Water Street, Mill 2
Newburyport, MA 01950
Patricia Kurkul, Regional Administrator
Northeast Region
NOAA Fisheries
One Blackburn Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930-2298
RE: Action Needed to Require Observer Coverage on USAP
Vessels
Dear Pat and David,
I write to you today on behalf of the CHOIR Coalition and
the commercial and recreational fishing businesses and
associations that have supported our consistent call for
increasing observer coverage on the herring midwater trawl
fleet. We encourage you to pass a motion at the May 3rd,
2007 meeting of the NEFMC Pelagic Committee that recommends
to the full Council that action be taken to put observer
coverage on United States At-Sea Processors (USAP) operating
in the Atlantic herring fishery. The lack of observers on
USAPs represents a major deficiency in NMFS ability to
effectively observe and monitor the catch, landings, bycatch
and discards occurring in the herring fishery. This major
deficiency makes it effectively impossible for NMFS to
implement Framework 43 to the Multispecies Groundfish Plan,
which implements haddock bycatch caps for the herring fleet.
Currently, the one active USAP in New England waters, the
freezer ship American Freedom, is allowed to operate with no
mandate for observer coverage. The vessels spokesperson has
argued in the press that this vessel should be treated just
as a shoreside processing facility is treated in respect to
observer coverage and monitoring. However, he fails to point
out the major difference between the operations of the
American Freedom and its shoreside rivals: the American
Freedom receives the brailers (cod ends) directly from the
catcher vessels whereas shoreside processors take fish that
have already been pumped out of the net and brought aboard a
catcher vessel. This difference cannot be overlooked and
thus the two operations should not be treated the same. By
taking nets directly from catcher vessels without the fish
first being brought on board the catcher vessels, the
American Freedom becomes the first point at which federal
observers have an opportunity to sample the catch. In
contrast, shoreside processors take fish that may have
already been sampled aboard the catcher vessels.
Introduction of a processing vessel of over 380 feet into
New England’s fisheries without observer coverage opens up
the possibility of large amounts of marine life going
overboard unseen. The midwater trawl fleet that will supply
this vessel with herring has been shown to have a bycatch of
marine mammals, seabirds, and many kinds of commercially and
recreationally important fish stocks, including haddock,
tuna, whiting, striped bass, river herring, and scup. USAPs
are allowed to process 20,000 metric tons of herring,
meaning that nearly one-fifth of the entire herring catch
could be caught, processed and exported without ever being
observed or sampled under current regulations. This is
unacceptable.
The introduction of USAP into the herring fishery represents
a new operation in New England. The activity undertaken is
different in nature than joint ventures (JV) and the ongoing
activities of catcher vessels that deliver their catch
shoreside. With a new venture of this scale comes the
responsibility of quantifying the catch, landings, bycatch
and discards associated with it. Currently, there is no
regulatory requirement to do due diligence in meeting this
responsibility.
We call on the Pelagics Committee to recommend to the NEFMC
that they request that NMFS create regulations that require
200% observer coverage on USAP(s). For this coverage to be
effective, the regulations must stipulate that everything
that is caught by catcher vessels intended to be transferred
at sea is sampled (i.e. no dumping of partial or full bags).
Having 200% observer coverage will allow one observer to be
awake and observing the catch while the other is off duty.
Sampling of all fish in the nets is crucial to the
statistical viability of the observer program. This is
consistent with our understanding of how similar vessels are
observed in other parts of the country, including the North
Pacific.
I have attached with this letter another letter that the
CHOIR Coalition has sent to members of Congress encouraging
them to allocate $1,500,000 in Fiscal Year 2008 to observe
the midwater herring trawl fleet. The letter is signed by
more than 100 associations and businesses.
In closing, given the state of New England’s marine
resources, it is imperative that USAP(s) have a high level
of monitoring and observer coverage to ensure that their
operations are not jeopardizing the rebuilding of stocks or
the continued viability of the herring fishery while meeting
the requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation Act.
Regards,
Peter Baker, Chairman
CHOIR Coalition
210 Orleans Road
North Chatham, MA 02650
CC: Bill Hogarth, Deputy Director, NMFS
The CHOIR Coalition
Coalition for the Atlantic Herring Fishery's Orderly,
Informed and Responsible Long Term Development
April 16, 2007
Dear Representative
We write today to voice our support for increased observer
coverage in the herring midwater trawl fishery in New
England.
These vessels employ the largest nets, with the smallest
mesh, ever used by the domestic fleet in New England.
Current regulations allow these vessels to operate in
Groundfish closed areas and only miles from shore. More than
95% of the time they operate without any NMFS observers
aboard.
For many years now CHOIR and its allies have voiced concern
over the bycatch associated with the midwater trawl fishery
for herring. Based on the limited information available (as
well as anecdotal accounts), this bycatch includes bluefin
tuna, haddock, cod, striped bass, mackerel, river herring,
seals, marine mammals and a host of other species. It also
includes substantial amounts of discarded herring.
In order to ensure that the data pertaining to the herring
fishery is accurate and sufficient for proper management, we
request that Congress provide $1.5 million in the FY 2008
budget to observe the herring midwater trawl fleet.
Currently, funding for observer coverage has been cut so
that, on average, observer coverage is around 3% of all
trips made, which is far below the level needed to ensure
good information for management. In Canada and on the West
Coast, vessels like these would have 100% observer coverage.
The level of coverage that is seen now in this fleet is
unacceptable and inadequate to enforce the haddock bycatch
cap that was implemented in Framework 43 to the
multi-species groundfish plan.
We encourage you to support a $1.5 million line item in the
FY 2008 budget to provide NMFS the resources to properly
observe the midwater herring fleet so they can properly
enforce their own regulations and provide an accurate
description of the quantity and disposition of bycatch in
the Atlantic herring fishery.
Signed,
Peter Baker, Chairman, CHOIR Coalition
On behalf of the undersigned organizations and businesses:
Commercial Fishing Associations/Organizations
East Coast Tuna Association, Director Rich Ruais, Salem, NH
North Shore Community Tuna Association, Saugus, MA
General Category Tuna Association, Director Peter Weiss,
Boston, MA
Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association, Director
Paul Parker
Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, Director Craig
Pendleton, Saco, ME
Northeast Hook Fishermen’s Association, President Marc
Stettner, Portsmouth, NH
Georges Bank Cod Fixed Gear Sector, Manager Eric Brazer, Jr,
N Chatham, MA
Georges Bank Cod Hook Sector, Manager John Pappalardo, N
Chatham, MA
IFISH, Proctor Wells, Bath, ME
New Hampshire Marine Coalition
Stonington Fisheries Alliance, President Carol Bridges,
Stonington, ME
Midcoast Fishermen’s Association, Chairman Glen Libby, Port
Clyde, ME
Recreational and Charter Fishing Associations/Organizations
Recreational Fishing Alliance, Executive Director Jim
Donofrio, New Gretna, NJ
National Association of Charterboat Operators, Executive
Director Bobbi Walker
Northeast Charter Boat Captain’s Association, President Rich
Milligan, Revere, MA
Stellwagen Bank Charter Boat Association, President Tom
DePersia, Marshfield, MA
Maine Association of Charterboat Captains, Bath, ME
Rhode Island Saltwater Angler’s Association, President Steve
Medeiros, Coventry, RI
Coastal Conservation Association New England
Massachusetts Striped Bass Association, President Chris
Lincoln, Braintree, MA
Plum Island Surfcasters, President Kevin Moore, Newburyport,
MA
Charter Fishing and Guiding Companies
Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing, Captain Tim Tower, Ogunquit,
ME
Pritnear Charters, Capt. Dave Johnson, Kennebunk, ME
Rip Tide Charters, Capt. Dave Guerard, York, ME
Bigger-N-Better Charters, Capt. Mike Sosik, York, ME
Captain Doug Jowett Fly Fishing Charters, Capt. Doug Jowett,
Brunswick, ME
Asticou Charters Boat Company, Capt. Rick Savage, Northeast
Harbor, ME
Lady J Sportfishing Charters, Capt. Adam Littell, Kennebunk,
ME
Super Fly Charters, Capt. George Harris, Warren, ME
Lethal Weapon Fishing Charters, Capt. Bob Liston, Wells
Harbor, ME
Shark Five Charters, Capt. Barry Gibson, Boothbay Harbor, ME
Offshore Adventures Sportfishing, Capt. John Pappas, Cape
Elizabeth, ME
Fish Tale Charters, Capt. Dave Gittins, York, ME
Mavens Guide Service, Capt. Harvey, ME
Saco Bay Guide Service, Capt. Cal Robinson, Biddeford, ME
Portland Guide Service, Capt. John Ford, Portland, ME
Sushi Hunter Sportfishing Charters, Capt. Kevin Anderson,
Portsmouth, NH
Camp Ocean Adventures, Owner Doug Anderson, Newcastle, NH
Reel Jerk Sportfishing Co., Inc., Capt. Rich Albert,
Hampton, NH
Captain Bills Charters, LLC, Capt. Bill Wagner, Deerfield,
NH
Triple Play Charters, Capts. Rich and Sue Kilborn, South
Hampton, NH
Massachusetts Bay Guides, Capts. Greg Sears, Dave Newell,
Rob Green, Jay Berggren, Don
Campbell, Joe Marino, Mike Evensen, Gene Bernard, Greenbush,
MA
Boston Fishstix Guide Service, Capts. John Mendleson and Jim
Armstrong, Boston, MA
Striperking Charters, Capt. Vito Demetri, Gloucester, MA
Striper Moon Charters, Capt. Scott Bradley, Plymouth, MA
Outer Cape Sportfishing, Capt. Jeffrey Duncan, Provincetown,
MA
Black Dog Charters, Capt. Ryan Bessette, Newburyport, MA
Sandy B Charters, Capt. Bruce Bornstein, Gloucester, MA
Kayman Charters, Capt. Kevin Twombly, Gloucester, MA
Summer Job Charters, Capt. Scott Maguire, Newbury, MA
North Shore Charters, Capt. Dave Pelletier, Beverly MA
Rings Island Charters, Capt. Gary Morin, Salisbury, MA
Fin Addiction Charters, Capt. Jeff Smith, Wellfleet, MA
Hilton Sport Dock, George Hilton, Newburyport, MA
Capeshores Charters, Capt. Bruce Peter, East Orleans, MA
Joppa Tern Charters, Capt. Dan Brown, Newbury, MA
North Coast Angler, Capts. Skip Montello, Dave Beshara, Al
Montello, Allan Smith and
Instructor Stephen Papows, Gloucester, MA; Salem, NH,
Rockport, MA, Newbury, MA
Calexa Charters, Capt. Glen Feldmann, Eastham, MA
Maverick Charters, Ltd., Capt. Jack Riley, Harwich Port, MA
White Ghost guide Services Ltd., Capt. Jim White, East
Greenwich, RI
Kerratim Charters Inc., Capt. Fred Gallagher, Shannock, RI
Block Island Sportfishing Charters, Capt. Steve Miller,
Block Island, RI
Benmar Custom Charters, John Groff, Mystic, CT
Reel Crazy Sportfishing, Capt. Pat Juliano, West Haven, CT
Kingfisher Charters, Capts. Mark and Scott Anderson, Noank,
CT
Researchers and Educators
Penobscot East Resource Center, Director Robin Alden,
Stonington, ME
Bar Harbor Whale Museum, Curator Toby Stephenson, Bar
Harbor, ME
The Whale Center of New England, Director Mason Weinrich,
Gloucester, MA
Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, Director Peter
Borrelli, Provincetown, MA
Blue Ocean Society, Director Jennifer Kennedy, Portsmouth,
NH
Friends of Maine Seabird Islands, President Jane Hopwood,
Rockport, ME
Allied Whale, Director Sean Todd, Bar Harbor, ME
Island Institute, Robert Snyder and Jen Litteral, Rockland,
ME
Audobon Society-Seabird Restoration Program, Senior
Researcher Scott Hall, Belfast, ME
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Regina Asmutis-Silvia,
Plymouth, MA & UK
Whale Watch Companies
Cape Ann Whale Watch, Capt. Jim Douglass, Gloucester, MA
Newburyport Whale Watch, Bill Neelon, Newburyport, MA
Portuguese Princess Excursions/Whale Watch, Provincetown, MA
Boothbay Harbor Whale Watch, Mechele Vanderlaan, Boothbay
Harbor, ME
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co., Naturalist Zack Klyver, Bar
Harbor, ME
Harris Whale Watch, Capt. Butch Harris, Eastport, ME
Atlantic Fishing and Whale Watch, Capt. Brad Cook, Rye
Harbor, NH
Granite State Whale Watch, Pete Reynolds, Rye, NH
Ecotourism Companies
Downeast Windjammer Cruises, Capt. Steve Pagels, Cherryfield,
ME
Bar Harbor Ferry Service, Capt. Steve Pagels, Bar Harbor, ME
Acadian Nature Tour & New Horizons Cruise Co., Capt. Gary
Fagan, Bar Harbor, ME
Aquaterra Adventures Kayak Co., President Dave Legere, Bar
Harbor, ME
Ardea EcoExpeditions, President Darrin Kelly, Gouldsboro, ME
Old Quarry Ocean Adventures, Inc., Capt. Bill Baker,
Stonington, ME
Lulu Lobster Boat Ride, Inc., Capt John Nicolai, Gouldsboro,
ME
Publications, shore support and other companies
Barnacle Billy’s, Inc., Billy Tower, Ogunquit, ME
Maguro America, Inc., Robert Fitzpatrick, Chatham, MA
On The Water Magazine, East Falmouth, MA
Saco Bay Tackle, Saco, ME
Tightlines Tackle Co., Dave Mason, Walpole, ME
Offshore Pursuits Premium Tackle, Dave Dodsworth, MA
Elsam Corp., Andover MA & Ogunquit, ME
Boatwise, LLC., Capts. Rick and Sue Kilborn, South Hampton,
NH
Northeast Merchant Systems, Inc., Sturbridge, MA
Chaliflour’s Flowers, Gift & Gourmet, Ryan Abood,
Manchester, NH
Offshore Pursuits, LLC., Dave Dodsworth
Gourmetgiftbaskets.com, President Ryan Abood, Manchester, NH
SAM Mechanical Services, LLC.
Blue Sea Fisheries, Inc., Capt. Dave Pelletier, Beverly, MA
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© Offshore Pursuits LLC 2007 |
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