Fishing activity before, during, and after reopening of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
Evaluation of the economic impacts of marine protected areas is hampered by the fact that it is impossible to observe what would have happened if the protected area had never been closed to fishing. Catch reports and vessel tracks are used to perform an analysis of the potential negative economic impacts of establishing the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument on three commercially important fisheries that were identified as having potential to be harmed. The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a highly protected MPA off the east coast of the United States of America that was created by US President Barack Obama on September 15, 2016. >click to read< By John Lyman 07:43
The data presented in this report in regards to tier1 squid vessels is very misleading..But it does prove a point why the are should remain open..It should be noted the longfin squid fleet only fishes the monument area from october until April.It should also be noted,the New England council has enacted a deep sea coral protection area within the monument area. It should also be noted,at every council meeting climate change is discussed and within that discussion is the movement of fish to the north and east..It should also be noted less trips occur in the monument because of the distance from land and the time of year.. The weather is horrible..But it makes the area vital to the larger vessels who want to distance themselves from the smaller vessels.
My 3 largest squid trips have occurred in the monument area..Never once did we have any interaction with anything that needs to be protected..Todays fishing boats have more computers on board than most small office buildings..We know where we are towing..We are not going to risk ruing hundred thousand dollar nets..
As quickly as the author talks about no income from the area, they can not sight one species of fish that has seen a historic rise in abundance within the area.. The species harvested within the area are short lived species. Like butterfish whiting and loligo squid..There really is nothing else in there besides dogfish and skates(in the winter).
The short lived species are not always down east, but keeping the area open and allowing larger vessels flexibility to avoid bycatch should be a paramount to the governing bodies and environmentalists
as well..3 years ago the area was filled with squid, boats didnt have access.. When the area reopened there were no squid so obviously there was no activity..We dont need to tow somewhere if there is no acoustical signature present..
The lack of boats in the monument the last two years tells me one thing, there were no fish there.. It does not mean the area is not economically important. And if there were no fish there ,what exactly was the monument protecting? The corals already have protection!!!!!
Jim, thank you for your analysis and insight on fishing in this MPA that no one really wanted in the first place. Ironically, a political change occurred with a new administration, opening back up for all the right reasons, only to watch it exclude commercial fishing again with the current administration. I really appreciate your very in-depth comment. BH