On Wednesday  afternoon, March 4th, over 130 commercial, harpoon, charter and recreational tuna fisherman attended a meeting at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) headquarters in Gloucester Massachusetts.  The topic of concern was the proposal by the NMFS to allow the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) to reduce our quota of tuna by up to 50% in the year 2011 if we are not able to catch our current quota level in years 2009-10. 

While US fisherman operate under many  regulations, put in place by the NMFS,such as only  allowing  the sale of fish 73" and greater,  other countries in the ICCAT  catch and sell fish 45" and greater.  Therefore,  if we do not meet our quota during the next two years (due mainly to restrictive regulations the are imposed by the NMFS),   the NMFS/ICCAT will give our a large portion of our quota to other countries who in turn will take fish that we have been trying to protect.  It make absolutely no sense to give away our quota to foreign countries who have shown in the past little regard for the development of the tuna fishery,  through not only taking these smaller fish but also exceeding their quotas by thousands of metric tons (for which they have not been penalized)

There were numerous attendees who spoke and gave many options as to how the NMFS could help fisherman obtain the quota (lower size to 65", increase limits per trip, allow for mutiple day/limit trips etc). Unfortunately, it seemed the NMFS has made their minds up and offered no remedy to help US tuna fisherman meet quota levels. They confirmed that If we fail to meet the quota, we will lose a large portion ( up to 50%) of our quota to foreign countries. This reduction  will effect both commercial and recreational fisherman due to the way the NMFS allocates quota and manages the fishery

What was GOOD about this meeting was that this group of fisherman both commercial and recreational stood side by side and united in their opposition to the NMFS/ICCAT....this is the first time this has ever happened.  As a result a new organization, NORTHEAST BLUE FIN TUNA ASSOCIATION is being formed to fight this proposal with a united front.  Anyone who fishes for tuna should become a member if you want to protect your rights to fish for tuna in the years ahead.  I will be posting more information on NBTA as soon as it becomes available.

In the mean time, I encourage everyone who is reading this article to contact their US Congressional delegation  in Washington DC, and let them know that you want them to stop the NMFS from giving away our tuna quota to other foreign countries.  In these hard economic times is incomprehensible that our own government would be trying to hurt the economic stability of our own fisherman as well as take away your rights to fish  for tuna.   Your letters and phone calls are needed now as the only  two things the NMFS fears is a lawsuit from a deep pocket "environmental" organization or the loss of Congressional funding.  Make your voice heard on this matter TODAY!

Tight Lines,

Capt. George