{"id":3573,"date":"2013-11-19T12:08:37","date_gmt":"2013-11-19T17:08:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/?p=3573"},"modified":"2014-07-28T14:20:45","modified_gmt":"2014-07-28T18:20:45","slug":"editorial-northeast-fisheries-merit-federal-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fish-news.com\/cfn\/editorial-northeast-fisheries-merit-federal-support\/","title":{"rendered":"EDITORIAL \u2013 Northeast fisheries merit federal support"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"editorial-SH\"The tremendous importance of Northeast fisheries to local, state, and national economies is the main message of \u201cFisheries of the United States 2012,\u201d the latest installment of the annual report from the National Marine Fisheries Service that compiles statistics on landings and their value for ports around the nation.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The document is a must-read, especially for members of this region\u2019s congressional delegation, many of whom are relative newcomers to the job of representing their fishing industry constituents.\u00a0 These congressmen and senators are now in a position to update and improve the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other laws, including the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act, which was designed to be a source of significant funding for marketing and research efforts but is not being executed the way it was intended.<\/p>\n

For the 13th consecutive year, New Bedford was the highest-valued port in the country.\u00a0 The city handled 143 million pounds of seafood worth $411 million in 2012.\u00a0 Much of the value was attributed to sea scallops \u2013 more than 36 million pounds of them \u2013 worth an average ex-vessel price of $9.83 per pound.\u00a0 Scallop landings also were immensely important to fishing communities in New Jersey and Virginia.\u00a0 Cooperative research has proven to be a vital component of the successful management of this highly valuable fishery, as well as many other Northeast fisheries, and it must be a priority issue during MSA reauthorization.<\/p>\n

American lobster landings totaled 149.6 million pounds, an increase of 18% compared to the previous year, with an ex-vessel value of $429.3 million.\u00a0 Lobster is the most valuable fishery in the state of Maine, fueling the economies of scores of coastal communities.\u00a0 Lobster is important to fishing ports in other states, too, especially Massachusetts.\u00a0 Yet, the average ex-vessel price in 2012 dipped to $2.87 per pound.\u00a0 The need for effective marketing programs to expand demand is critical, a fact recognized by Maine, which is about to take matters into its own hands and embark on a new, industry-funded promotion campaign.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s groundfish \u2013 cod, haddock, and flatfish that were once mainstays of ports like Gloucester, Portland, Boston, and Provincetown.\u00a0 While flatfish and haddock landings increased between 2011 and 2012, landings and value of cod dipped.\u00a0 And we all know that when the report comes out next year, landings of many groundfish species will have declined due to severe quota cuts imposed this year.\u00a0 Building flexibility into the MSA is essential to allow fishermen to catch their quotas of relatively healthy groundfish stocks.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, we need to develop markets for abundant alternative species such as dogfish and skates.\u00a0 The US Department of Agriculture certifying these species for its large-scale commodities purchase program would go a long way in that regard.<\/p>\n

The commercial fishing industry is clearly a huge economic contributor to the Northeast region.\u00a0 It needs and deserves congressional action to support cooperative research, MSA reforms, marketing initiatives, and disaster aid to ensure that fishermen and coastal infrastructure remain viable.\u00a0 \/cfn\/<\/b><\/p>\n

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<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The tremendous importance of Northeast fisheries to local, state, and national economies is the main message of \u201cFisheries of the United States 2012,\u201d the latest installment of the annual report from the National Marine Fisheries Service that compiles statistics on landings and their value for ports around the nation. The document is a must-read, especially … <\/p>\n

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