In creating an impression of massive amounts of haddock bycatch by midwater trawlers, Jennifer Litteral’s article “Haddock bycatch upsets groundfishermen” (Working Waterfront, November) does a disservice to the public, the herring fishery and those who rely upon it for their bait supply.
Frankly, the complaint by groundfishermen is baseless. Here are the facts. Haddock is a recovered species and the most recent data available shows robust stock status and recruitment. Haddock is bycatch in many fisheries; in fact, the amount of haddock taken by midwater trawlers is miniscule when compared to the regulatory discards of haddock in the directed groundfish fishery.
In recognition of these facts, the New England Fishery Management Council in 2006 allocated an allowable annual bycatch cap of 0.2 percent of the Georges Bank/Gulf of Maine haddock quota to the herring midwater trawl fishery. In 2008, that bycatch cap amounts to over 500,000 lbs.
Federal rules require herring boats to keep haddock. To the extent possible, the haddock must be sorted, brought to shore, weighed, held for a minimum of 12 hours so that regulators can inspect it, then discarded. It may not be sold. Obviously, with a high-volume fishery such as herring, 100 percent sorting isn’t always possible-especially in Maine, where herring landed for lobster bait are often pumped directly from the catcher vessel into bait trucks. This, too, is recognized and allowed under fisheries regulations. Persons wishing to see the details on the above may find them online at http://www.nefmc.org/nemulti/frame/fw43/final_fw43_feb06.pdf.
The offshore herring fleet did encounter more haddock than expected when it began fishing near Georges Bank in October. As a result, the fleet has generally avoided the area since. Far from the way it has been portrayed by well-funded activist groups, the midwater trawl fleet takes its responsibility for sustainable and environmentally sound fishing practices extremely seriously. We work closely with fisheries scientists, take observers every time they’re assigned, report landings well in advance so regulators can examine the catch dockside, and utilize gear and techniques that minimize bycatch. By contrast, opponents rely on emotion, anecdotes, speculation, non-peer reviewed “studies” and “reports” that are essentially propaganda. When reporters buy into these without question, the public interest isn’t served.
Working Waterfront, feel free to call us any time. We’ll be happy to give you the rest of the story.
David Ellenton
General Manager, Cape Seafoods, Gloucester, Massachusetts
President, The Sustainable Fisheries Coalition