WASHINGTON – Interim rules the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing for the Northeastern groundfishing industry drew harsh criticism today from the Pew Environment Group’s End Overfishing in New England campaign.

“The measures strive to reduce overfishing, continue rebuilding of groundfish stocks,” such as cod, haddock and flounder, “and provide more options for fishing businesses trying to mitigate the economic effects of the measures while the New England Fishery Management Council finalizes a major revision to the fishery management plan,” the NMFS’ Northeast Regional Office says in a statement on its Web site about the draft rules, which are scheduled to go into effect May 1.

But Peter Baker, manager of the regional End Overfishing campaign, said the draft document “shows that the agency, sadly, is committed to fixing New England’s broken management system with the same tools that have proven ineffective at rebuilding fish stocks for years.

“That failed system – based on limiting both the number of days a fisherman can fish (days-at-sea, or DAS) and the amount of fish that can be carried back to the dock – is decimating the traditional fishing fleet, reducing revenues and forcing many coastal businesses to close,” he said.

“Regrettably, this system has not ended overfishing nor rebuilt depleted stocks.” Likewise, he said, “This interim rule will not solve our problems, and may well cost many of the region’s fishermen their livelihoods.

“The time for a new approach has come,” Baker continued. “With the support of many forward-thinking commercial fishing organizations, the New England Fishery Management Council is already developing a new management structure that can rebuild fish populations and make the region’s cod and groundfish fleet profitable once again.”

By contrast, he said, “a new management system – known as ‘sector allocation’ – has been working well for two groups of fishermen in Chatham, Mass., for the last five years. ‘Sectors’ are harvesting co-ops that receive a share of the annual catch determined by science-based catch limits. These limits are essential to prevent overfishing and depend on good monitoring so that we know how many fish are caught.

“This new system allows the co-ops to set guidelines that fit their own fishing methods, providing them with the flexibility to be economically viable.

“With this independence comes accountability,” Baker added: “Once a co-op has caught its share of the catch for a given species, fishing ends, ensuring that catch limits are respected.

“Co-op proposals from 17 fishing groups (sectors) have already been submitted to the New England council,” he said.

“But in the transition period, other fishermen will continue to operate under the old days-at-sea system. These fishermen will be in a common pool, and it is imperative that hard catch limits be put in place for them, as well as for sectors.

“Ending overfishing and allowing the fish to recover will benefit all of New England’s fishermen and fishing communities. The National Marine Fisheries Service must support the work of the New England Fishery Management Council to end overfishing by implementing science-based catch limits and sectors,” Baker said.

His comments were echoed by Earthjustice lawyer Roger Fleming.

“This interim rule relies on the same broken system that has resulted in the severely depleted condition of most of New England’s groundfish stocks,” he said. Moreover, the NMFS plan “would not comply with the new provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens [Fishery Conservation and Management] Act that Congress recently required beginning in 2010 – an approach that calls for scientifically-based catch limits and accountability measures that ensure overfishing ends.”

Fleming said that Earthjustice agrees with “our allies at the Pew Environment Group, who are advocating for a new approach to fisheries management that will comply with the law and do a better job of conserving fish and ensuring viable fishing businesses.”

The National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization (NOAA), is responsible for conserving, protecting and managing the nation’s living marine resources. Its goals include promoting economic opportunities and healthy ecosystems and enhancing the quality of life for the American public. Additional information – including the NMFS Northeast Regional Office’s proposed interim rules for the local groundfishing industry – is available at www.nmfs.noaa.gov.

The Pew Environment Group – the conservation arm of The Pew Charitable Trusts – identifies and advances effective policy approaches to critical issues facing the states. For more information, visit www.PewCenterOnTheStates.org.