Fleet Diversity Matters to Local Businesses

By Nicola Williams, guest blogger
Sustainable Business Network, Board Member


Note: This letter was addressed to New England fisheries decision-makers regarding Amendment 18 to the groundfish plan. We encourage everyone to join Nicola by submitting your own comments in support of fleet diversity. Click here to learn how.



To the New England Fishery Management Council,

I oppose the no-action alternative option under A18 because the loss of fleet diversity is a major problem facing the New England fleet. Loss of fleet diversity affects me because I eat fish, I care where my food comes from and I believe in sustainable fishing. As a supporter of local businesses, I see consolidation as a problem because we need affordable fisheries through incentive programs and leasing policies that do not disproportionately impact portions of the fleet including owner-operators, independently owned businesses, and potential new entrants. It is imperative that we support a diverse and local fleet for sustaining local jobs and economies.

A range of actions can be implemented that can address alternatives B-F. I recommend that Amendment 18 include measures to achieve the following goals related to fleet diversity.

1. Prevent heavy concentration of fishing effort around inshore areas.
2. Foster an affordable fishery through incentive programs and leasing policies that do not disproportionately impact portions of the fleet including owner-operators, independently owned businesses and potential new entrants. 
3. Limit the concentration of quota for any one entity.

I also recommend that the Council explore the following potential solutions in order to achieve the goals:

• Establish mechanisms to keep offshore boats offshore for example restrictions from fishing in multiple broad stock areas.
• Establish quota set-aside programs to reward sectors that are able to meet certain benchmarks in order to promote fleet diversity.
• Incentivize fishermen who are primarily owner-operators.
• Establish policies that ensure quota is fished by fishermen and not used solely as an investment tool.
• Dis-incentivize fishermen who decide to lease 100% of their quota.
• Establish leasing and permit trading constraints that maintain affordability for smaller fishing operations and new entrants.
• Establish leasing and permit trading rules that prevent consolidation into larger fishing operations.
• Set PSC accumulation caps - e.g. somewhere between 2-5% for each species for any one entity.

Thank you,

Nicola Williams

Board Member. Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston

NOTE FROM NAMA:
Thank you Nicola for sharing your comments! We encourage everyone who, like Nicola believes fleet diversity matters to local businesses, to submit your own comments as part of a public comment period. Click HERE for help on e-mailing comments. Every comment counts!