New England News

CONTACT:

Dave Bard – 202.486.4426
Nancy Civetta - 617.901.7193

Pew Environment Group to Host Briefing on Catch Shares

October 30, 2009

UPDATE: Listen to a recording of the briefing (MP3)

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, November 3, at 12 p.m. EST, the Pew Environment Group (PEG) will lead a background press briefing to discuss "catch shares," one means for managing how annual catch limits of fish are allocated among fishermen.

In the coming weeks, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Catch Shares Task Force will issue recommendations to guide fishery managers as they explore development of these types of management programs for federal ocean fisheries under their jurisdiction.

Tuesday's call will focus on PEG's new catch shares white paper, which gives detailed background on these programs and how they are viewed under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, along with a few case studies that highlight how this tool can create problems or be successful depending on how it is designed and implemented. Community-based commercial fishermen and recreational fishermen will share their experiences with and perspectives on these programs.

WHAT:
Background press briefing to discuss the PEG's new policy paper on catch shares and case studies.

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 12 p.m. EST

WHO:

• Lee Crockett – director of Federal Fisheries Policy at the Pew Environment Group (moderator)
  Mr. Crockett will discuss the PEG white paper.
• Paul Parker – director of the Cape Cod Fisheries Trust
  Mr. Parker will discuss Cape Cod hook fishermen's successful sector management.
• Linda Behnken – executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association
  Ms. Behnken will discuss examples of well designed and problematic programs in Alaska.
• Zeke Grader – executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association
  Mr. Grader will discuss the concerns that small scale community fishermen have with catch shares.
• Dick Brame – executive coordinator for the Coastal Conservation Association's Atlantic States Fisheries Committee
  Mr. Brame will discuss the concerns that recreational fishermen have with catch shares.

For more details, including call in information, please contact Dave Bard, 202.486.4426, or Nancy Civetta, 617.901.7193

This call will be recorded as an mp3 and will be posted to www.EndOverfishing.org approximately three hours after the call ends.

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Paper: Design Matters — Making Catch Shares Work (PDF) - Pew Environment Group- November 3, 2009