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On May 1, 2010, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) implemented a new management system for groundfish in New England. It established 17 fishermen-run collectives, called sectors. Sectors were pioneered by fishermen as voluntary, cooperative and community-based, and were designed to protect fleet diversity and coastal communities. The new management system operates on three simple premises:
Our Goals:In order to ensure the success of sectors, the campaign is working to ensure that NMFS does the following:
Sectors will help rebuild fish populations while fishermen reap the benefits of market demand. New England’s sector program has just begun, and it deserves time to work.
Pew has partnered with two regionally based commercial fishing organizations, the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association and the Midcoast (Maine) Fishermen’s Association. Together, we are working to ensure that our shared goals are met: to end overfishing and protect the livelihoods of fishermen while groundfish populations rebuild.
For more information, visit the Campaign to End Overfishing in New England.
Photo Credit: Dieter Craasmann
May 06, 2013 - Thanks to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, hard work, and dedication, our nation now benefits from dozens of rebuilt fish populations. The law's requirements to end overfishing and rebuild fish populations are working. In fact, A new report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, "Status of Stocks 2012," demonstrates that since 2000, 32 fishery stocks have been rebuilt, with a record 11 stocks recovering in just the last two years
Read: Summary View: Full Report (Adobe PDF)
Nov 03, 2009 - Science-based annual catch limits are essential if catch shares are to be effective and if requirements to end overfishing and rebuild depleted fish populations are to be met.
May 06, 2009 - The New England groundfish fishery would be more economically and environmentally sound if the system used to manage the activities of commercial fishermen was changed from regulations based on “days-at-sea” to annual catch limits, according to a report released by the Pew Environment Group.
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On May 1, 2010, fishermen for New England’s iconic cod and other dinnertime favorites like haddock and flounder moved into a new management system called sectors. Boston’s NPR affiliate, WGBH 89.7 FM, produced a series exploring the history of New England’s fishing industry, its transition to this new cooperative way of fishing and the different forces at work – some that signal hope for the future, others that engage in an ongoing fight.