NEFMC to NOAA on Closed Area Access: “Council Opposes 100% Observer Requirement” – “Your Arguments Are Not Convincing”

logoNew England Fishery Management Council Chairman C.M. “Rip” Cunningham has written to NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Administrator John Bullard expressing the Council’s opposition to NOAA’s requirement for the industry to fund all at-sea monitoring coverage for closed area access. Chairman Cunningham suggests this requirement may prevent any participation in the program. He notes that as a result of the fragile economic state of many participants, the increased costs to fund observers may not be affordable. He also noted that little, if any, justification for this requirement was provided other than two general statements which the Council did not find convincing. Read the Letter

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