Chafee seeks federal aid for struggling fishermen

Many independent East Coast fishermen face rough economic seas due to limits in the amount of fish they will be allowed to catch next year.
On Aug. 24, Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee wrote to the U.S. Department of Commerce, requesting the state be declared a federal disaster area for the New England groundfish fishery. Should the Commerce Department agree, they would begin to work with Congress to provide financial relief and support to the fishery. Such a declaration could make fishermen eligible for additional loan programs and authorize Congress to provide additional assistance. Groundfish are bottom-dwelling fish and include species such as cod and fluke, staples of the industry.
The state’s four congressional delegates last month sent a similar letter to acting-Secretary of Commerce Rebecca M. Blank.
“We specifically want to underscore the governor’s point that in addition to the direct impact on groundfish catch limits, there will likely be indirect impacts on other fisheries that these same permit-holders, and many other Rhode Island fishermen, also rely on,” said Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Reps. James Langevin and David Cicilline.
Chafee’s request joins others made by the governors of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine in mid-August, stressing the importance of the New England groundfish fishery and all its ancillary services.
In mid-August, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick asked for $21 million in disaster relief for his state, home to two of the largest ports on the East Coast, Gloucester and New Bedford.
The regulators, the New England Fisheries Management Council and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, released a statement Aug. 2 saying that “several important fish stocks are in poor condition and some catch limits for 2013 will be reduced markedly from 2012.” They estimate the cuts in allowable catch will range from 50 percent to 75 percent.
Based on NOAA’s estimation, there will be cuts of approximately 70 percent for cod, haddock and American plaice. Yellowtail flounder stock cuts are predicted to be approximately 50 percent, which would amount to a 94 percent cut from 2011.
The total allowable catch of Gulf of Maine cod is estimated to take a 72 percent cut from the current year, while the catch limit for Georges Bank cod is projected to be cut 70 percent. American plaice, or sole, would be cut 69 percent.
There are 108 Rhode Island boats with federal groundfish permits. Last October, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole announced the stock in the Gulf of Maine is overfished and that continued overfishing is occurring. They also said the cod fishery would not be rebuilt by its 2014 deadline. According to NFSC, it will not attain acceptable levels until at least 2018.
The Rhode Island delegation’s letter suggests working with the Small Business Administration on available operating and disaster loans, workforce-education programs and supporting the National Marine Fisheries Service on other assistance measures.
Richard L. Fuka, president of the Rhode Island Fishermen’s Alliance, says most fishermen disagree with that approach.
“I don’t know of any fisherman that wants any loans, that’s just taking on more debt,” he said. “Workforce education sounds like retraining in order to get out of the industry, and not too many want to make a living assisting NMFS.
“Fishermen don’t want a handout, all they do is want to do is go fishing,” said Tina Jackson, president of Rhode Island-based American Alliance of Fishermen and their Communities. Like many fishermen, she believes NOAA’s stock estimates are based on poor sampling and science. “If the science was done properly the industry wouldn’t have to look for a bailout.”
Jackson isn’t alone; on July 31, Massachusetts Reps. Barney Frank, John Tierney and William Keating wrote to NOAA’s acting administrator for fisheries on the unreliability of the stock assessment for Georges Bank yellowtail flounder.
South Kingstown’s Brian Loftes, an independent fisherman of 30 years, also does not believe there’s an impending crisis in fish stocks. “There have been more groundfish from [Galilee] to Block Island than any of the last five years,” he said.
Like many fishermen, Loftes believes current regulations are designed to put the small fisherman out of business so that larger, corporate boats can fill the void.
Chances of the Department of Commerce granting aid appear thin, in part because of pending litigation. In May 2010, New Bedford, Gloucester and nine additional plaintiffs filed suit in the United States District Court, Massachusetts District against the secretary of commerce and the administrator of NOAA for activating the catch-share system. The court ruled against the plaintiffs in August 2011 and the matter is under appeal. Declaring a disaster might be seen as evidence supporting the plaintiffs in that case, Fuka said. •

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