Pallone, Fishermen's Rights Groups Express Significant Concerns Over NOAA's Catch Shares

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) Thursday questioned representatives from the recreational and commercial fishing communities regarding the implications of the administration’s stringent catch shares program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration implementation of the program. Pallone expressed serious concern about catch shares and took issue with existing problems in them at the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife hearing on catch shares.

“Will fishermen be priced out and be denied access because of catch shares? Will they create consolidation and force job losses? Will regional management councils have the ability to choose which management tool to use if needed funds only come with catch shares?” asked Pallone. “All of these issues remain unaddressed by NOAA and have grave consequences for the fishing industry.”

Jim Donofrio of the New Jersey based Recreation Fishing Alliance who also represented eight other fisherman’s rights groups provided testimony at the hearing. Donofrio acknowledged that the economic effects of enforcing the catch shares restrictions could be devastating to the industry.

“Fisheries are a major, and sometimes the only, economic force in coastal towns from Maine to Alaska. Our nation’s oceans are a tremendous resource for our commercial and recreational fishermen and I will do everything I can to keep them on the water.”

Pallone has urged NOAA to answer his concerns and those of fishermen before implementation of catch shares. He has also called on NOAA to expand the role of science to keep fishermen on the water rather than relying on another management tool.

This hearing provided an industry perspective as a follow up to NOAA’s testimony at a February 24th House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife hearing.