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FROM THE CROWE’S NEST
After decades in the MSA regulatory gulag, it became difficult to believe that something more constructive and responsible was possible, but there are signs of hope. The early MSA was designed and driven through congress by the big boat, big money, industrial fishery of the west coast and Alaska. That state’s Senator Ted Stevens has his name on the Act and he worked hard to get it all his way again this time. While the big industrial model, owned and operated by a few wealthy companies, was from the beginning, bad for the traditional small boat, family owned reality of the Gulf of Maine, more has changed than has remained the same. At the beginning of the Sustainable Fisheries era in 1969, managers talked of producing 500 million metric tons of fish from the ocean annually. Just 38 years later, and now predictions have shifted to empty oceans in another 38 years. The international race to build the biggest ships to catch the most fish has left its mark on the world’s oceans. Through the decade long efforts of the fishermen of New England change appears to be coming. Fishing organizations from around the country have begun to bring local control and conservation to center stage. The determined efforts of Representative Tom Allen in the House helped secure amendments to the Act in an eleventh hour decision that will help preserve the small boat fishery in Maine. The skill of Senator Olympia Snowe in the Senate helped pave the way for inclusion of important amendments sought by Gulf of Maine fishermen. Many who recognize the rights of all to resource access, think this reauthorization is better than the previous MSA. The work is not finished, but the groundwork has been laid to go forward. The ocean is an enormous resource, with great riches, but none the less finite. Engineering has made it easy to have the oceans emptied by greed and ignorance. The combined efforts of many, none of whom will get rich for their contributions, has brought signs of hope for all New England fishermen. |
