Trawl Task Force Wins But Fishing Methodology Between N.O.A.A. and Commercial Fishing Today Is Vastly Different
To Whom This May Concern: First I will talk about N.O.A.A.‘s methodology of fishing when their fishing survey was started to find the abundance of fish, but tows were randomly picked, tows were 20 minutes long, using a net which was too small for the boat and the area covered by the bouncing net and wire was minor compared to today’s commercial fishing tows. At that time, these surveys had No Quota Effects on Commercial Fishing. Times have changed since then, BUT NOW N.O.A.A. surveys control fish given to commercial fishing by their inadequate surveys methodology. >Click to read< by Sam Novello, a Gloucester fisherman who cares about the future of fish and fishermen. 23:30
You are absolutely right in your observations Sam. This ridiculous practice has been going on since the survey program started. Having the government do these surveys is not only foolish, but the costs are staggering, all at the taxpayers expense. Most if not all countries that do surveys use industry provided platforms with the help of scientists/bean counters. Not only would it give a better picture of what’s going on, but there would finally be industry confidence in this important work.
However I’m not holding my breath waiting for this to be changed. It makes to much sense. And when does the government ever do anything that makes sense. Especially with this administration!
Congressman Moulton Groundfish Trawl Task Force
June 15, 2020
Taskforce Members:
Jonathan H. Grabowski, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University
Steven X. Cadrin, School for Marine Science & Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Vito Giacalone, Northeast Seafood Coalition
Lisa A. Kerr, Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Jackie Odell, Northeast Seafood Coalition
Andrew J. Pershing, Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Graham D. Sherwood, Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Kevin D. E. Stokesbury, School for Marine Science & Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Geoffrey C. Trussell, Marine Science Center, Northeastern University
We can’t forget “Trawlgate”!!!
I remember hearing about this EXACT topic at the NB whaling museum “counting fish” presentation back in Nov 2015. UMass Dartmouth SMAST folks ( Kevin Stokesbury et. all) folks discussed the problem with the R/V Bigelow not being able to slow down for the nets to fish properly. They had cameras on the nets they had borrowed from NOAA fisheries and they could see the nets pull flat and not fish correctly.