Sens. Ayotte, Brown Introduce Bill to Level Playing Field for New England Fishermen

Press Release

In response to serious concerns raised by fishermen in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Scott Brown (R-MA) introduced legislation today that would scrap one-size-fits-all federal catch share programs that are needlessly devastating New England's fishing community. The Ayotte-Brown "Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011" would require the Secretary of Commerce to terminate new and existing catch share programs that result in a 15 percent or more reduction in the total number of fishermen in the program, and develop a new management plan within one year; strengthen the voice of fishing communities in the catch share program process; and protect taxpayers from shouldering additional costs associated with implementing and managing new catch share programs.

Under regulations that went into effect in May 2010, fishermen purchase permits that allocate their total allowable catch per year. Fishermen in New Hampshire and Massachusetts have expressed concerns that the system is unfairly skewed toward larger fleets, which have more capital to collect permits and were able to present better documented fishing histories when permits were originally allocated. Also of concern is the price tag associated with initial implementation and monitoring of catch share programs, which has been estimated at between $6-$12 million for New England. To date, these costs have largely been subsidized by taxpayers, and fishermen will soon have to bear these additional costs themselves, which could push small fishermen out of business completely.

"Catch share programs are driving New Hampshire's fishermen out of business. Five months after federal catch shares were implemented in New England, 55 out of the initial 500 boats in the fishery controlled 61 percent of the revenue, and 253 of the boats were sitting at the dock, unable to fish without quota," said Senator Ayotte, a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fishers, and Coast Guard. "This legislation would help level the playing field for independent small fishermen by scrapping unreasonable federal mandates that are killing jobs while giving local fishing communities more control during the program establishment process."

Senator Brown said: "It is clear that the hastily implemented system of catch-share management in New England has led to fewer fishing jobs and a consolidated fishing fleet. As more and more jobs disappear from Massachusetts ports, Congressional action is needed to save the fishing industry from overzealous federal regulation. This bill sends a clear message to NOAA that the broken relationship between the agency and fishermen needs to be fixed and we need to work together to save fishing jobs and ensure a robust and vibrant industry in Massachusetts."

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