FROM THE CROWE’S NEST

No Theory Needed

The New England fishing industry is at the brink of historic change. That brink could mark the end to a tradition of fishing rights older than this nation.

Private interest groups have taken up powerful positions in support of this. Some are Environmen- tal Non-Governmental Organiza- tions, ENGOs.

The ENGOs have millions of dollars to spend on their fisheries agendas, and they do. The guy and his crew do not. Real fishermen, not corporate fleets, have questioned what these groups want with their resource. The groups say they want to end overfishing.

Some people close to the management process, who question the intent of these groups, are cautious about discussing what could sound like conspiracy theories. There are large amounts of money spent, lawyers hanging around council meetings, politicing, and grants – But who needs a theory?

Conspiracy theories are associated with grassy knolls and remote locations in the Nevada desert. Some basic math, a few facts, recent history, and a pitch from a salesman is evidence, not theory.

The fishing industry is worth billion of dollars. There is a corporate stranglehold on Congress. The Department of Commerce is subject to the will of Congress. There are 400 lobbyists for every U.S. Congressman. Wall Street conspired with Congressman Phil Graham to ditch financial regulations that protected the American people.

“Environment Defense Fund” VP, David Festa, can be heard on the internet (milkeninstitute.org) pitching 400% returns on fisheries shares to investors, if his company can privatize the resource. How absentee, bottom-line, stripmining gamblers are going to rebuild and sustain a living resource has not yet found its way to a power point presentation.

NMFS, under the Dept. of Commerce, wants consolidation of the industry, claiming ease of control. But NMFS couldn’t orchestrate a conspiracy if their personal days depended on it. Rife with missteps, rigidity, bait and switch moves, they are just following marching orders.

If these clad in good will ENGOs want to save the fisheries, good, they can save them for all those who already own them. Do it knowing international science sees the small boat fishery as the best way to sustainable habitat.

The simple fact is, that if fishing does not remain in the hands of small boat fishermen, small boat fishermen and their communities will be gone, and the wild fish resource will soon follow.