CATCH SHARES

Catch share programs set a biologically based annual catch limit for a fish stock and allocate a particular portion of that catch limit to entities, such as commercial fishermen, cooperatives or communities. With their share secure, commercial fishermen can be far more selective about how and when they catch their allotment. When intended properly, catch share programs assist remove the race to fish, decrease overcapacity and bycatch, and enhance economic efficiency.

Unfortunately, in fisheries where there is a huge and expanding recreational sector, exclusive fishing rights proposals maximize advantages to the commercial fishing market whilst ignoring the participation and useful economic impacts of recreational fishing.

&quotCatch shares are naturally a key focus for this Administration and we are concerned not only about the influence they have on recreational fisheries, but also at the pace with which they are being pushed into the management technique. Catch shares are on a rapidly track and we don’t really feel we have the luxury to ‘just say no’ – we’ve in no way chosen that option in any fisheries management crisis. We didn’t do that during the debate more than marine protected places or open-loop LNG terminals and we are not going to do it now. Catch shares are a actual threat to the future of a quantity of recreational fisheries and they are not going to just go away anytime soon. We are going to stay extremely active on this situation to make certain recreational anglers are not left out of the debate…and out of the fishery.&quot

Chester Brewer, Chairman
CCA National Government Relations Committee