Sign a petition against catch shares

Government agencies are given the great responsibility of managing our oceans and everything in them for the benefit of all of us in the United States. Those agencies have tilted the balance to mostly favor big business interests. This can ultimately damage both the marine environment and long-term stability of coastal communities.

So what can you do about it? Tell policy makers and regulators that you want a new program for better fisheries management that is sustainable for our fish and marine environment and will provide the most benefits for everyone in the U.S.!

Sign the petition now

Locals say rules could dry up fishing business | SeacoastOnline.com

From Maine to San Diego to Alaska. We soon will be saying goodbye to most small fishing organizations, courtesy of hacks (politicians) and junk science. Is this "change we can believe in"?

She said she fears new federal regulations, which take effect May 1, will have a crippling economic impact on fisheries and fisherman all across New England.

"Some guys are already leaving (the business)," Eastman said. "They don't have to wait until May 1. They already know they can't make a living."

Locals say rules could dry up fishing business | SeacoastOnline.com

Fleet Vision Pledge | NAMA: Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance

Pledge support for the Fleet Vision project!

...for a diverse New England fishing fleet

...for an economically viable New England fishing fleet

...for an environmentally sustainable New England fishing fleet

...for a fishing fleet that is managed through a participatory governance structure.

Fleet Vision Pledge | NAMA: Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance

Officials hail NOAA fisheries cop's ouster | SouthCoastToday.com

Finally a positive action taken at NOAA. It's still a secret as to what exactly happened to this jackass, so we can assume he has received a golden parachute and a "Good job Jonesey" on the way out. They really had to do something to appease we peasants (aka taxpayers) that support our hard working commercial fishing industry!

The chief of law enforcement for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was removed from his job Thursday after allegations of document shredding during an investigation by the Commerce Department's inspector general.

Officials hail NOAA fisheries cop's ouster | SouthCoastToday.com

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Editorial: Fed lawmakers must put legislative clamps on runaway NOAA push - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

I thought we got some momentum going, but now it seems to be back to just one newspaper is covering this scandal. Oh well. Things are going to get intesting come May 1st with the new catch share scam. Almost time to raise the PIRATE FLAGS my friends!

On May 1, the start of the new fishing year, the regulatory system known as catch shares, designed to have fishermen work in cooperatives known as "sectors," will go into effect along with some ultra-conservative total allowable catch limits imposed by NOAA and its National Marine Fisheries Service.

The net effect is expected to reduce the revenue from the groundfishery by 32 percent, according to the government's own numbers.

Estimates of business failures in the industry, largely based in New Bedford and Gloucester, are 50 percent or higher.

Editorial: Fed lawmakers must put legislative clamps on runaway NOAA push - GloucesterTimes.com, Gloucester, MA

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TRUTH: Fishing Crisis or Government Mismanagement?

The 2009 film takes up the struggle between the fishing industry and government regulation. Town Dock fishermen and others across the Northeast have said increasingly strict regulations designed to rebuild fish stocks have not only dramatically reduced the number of days they can fish and how much they can land but are putting boats out of business.

Among the fishermen featured in Truth is Sig Hansen, the Seattle-based captain of the fishing vessel Northwestern. Hansen has appeared frequently in the documentary television series Deadliest Catch.

TRUTH: Fishing Crisis or Government Mismanagement?

Meeting with NOAA chief leaves fishing representatives, politicians frustrated | SouthCoastToday.com

The fear in the industry is that the changes will cause a huge wave of job losses and idle boats by midyear because the allocations are too small to be economically viable for small boats.

Lubchenco also took fire for not removing Dale Jones, the chief law enforcement attorney at NOAA who, according to sworn testimony, shredded documents during an investigation by the Commerce Department's inspector general.


Meeting with NOAA chief leaves fishing representatives, politicians frustrated | SouthCoastToday.com

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