07.02.14

Mitchell proposes changes as Magnuson-Stevens Act heads for reauthorization

South Coast Today
By JONATHAN CARVALHO
July 2, 2014

GLOUCESTER — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell has proposed three major changes to the Magnuson-Stevens Act as the fisheries legislation nears reauthorization by Congress.

At a listening session Tuesday in Gloucester hosted by Rep. John Tierney and Rep. Peter DeFazio, an Oregon congressman who serves as ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, the mayor outlined the proposals he said would strengthen the fisheries law.

Mitchell advocated flexibility in fisheries management, allowing regional managers to be able to set timelines for rebuilding stocks based on biological and ecological factors as well as the economic concerns of the fishing communities in their regions.

He also suggested collaboration between the government and the fishing industry when it comes to research, including the use of video-based technology, which the mayor said would strengthen the quality of data and make management more efficient.

A third proposal of Mitchell's was to improve management accountability, which he said could be done by establishing oversight committees and clearly defining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's role in management.

The mayor said there is still work to do in convincing federal legislators to support the bill.

"The challenge is that most members of Congress don't represent areas that have commercial fishing interests. Most congressional districts are landlocked and have no connection to maritime interests, much less commercial fishing," said Mitchell.

His proposals would make the act "more in tune with the realities at sea" and would tailor regulations to fishing stock, Mitchell said. He also encouraged people involved in the industry to contact lawmakers, noting that the act is only up for reauthorization every 10 years.

"Now is an important time to let members of Congress know that there are reforms in the way the fishing industry is regulated."

Brian Rothschild, dean emeritus at UMass Dartmouth and a board member at the Center for Sustainable Fisheries, said those changes are similar to ones the center proposed and would "probably be incorporated in some point" in the fisheries act.

He said if the changes were adopted they would benefit the groundfishing fleet, which he said was hurt due in part to regulations.

"If that was straightened out, catches would be increased and more fish would flow through the New Bedford economy," said Rothschild. "I think (the meeting) was important because Congrsesman DeFazio had a chance to hear some of the difficulties that our local fishermen have, and enabling him to hear those difficulties would give him a better perspective as the bill moves through the system."