To the editor:
The
commercial fishing industry is threatening our coastal fish stocks. A
May 2003 study published in Nature magazine found that populations of
large ocean fish such as tuna have declined by 90 percent in 50 years.
Industry-dominated
fisheries management councils set overfishing protections. Also, since
1985 more than 80 percent of council members have represented
commercial fishing interests.
In
Maine our oceans are valuable to us for tourism, commercial and
recreational fishing. Our oceans are too important to let the
mismanagement of our fisheries to continue. Currently, the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management and Conservation Act, which is the
law responsible for the regulation of our fisheries, is being updated
in Congress.
The
proposal in the House is being lead by Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, and it
is not strong enough in its current form. One feature that really needs
to be strengthened is who sets the number of fish that can be caught
sustainably. These numbers should be decided by experts, based on sound
science. There should also be consequences when commercial fishing
corporations go over the catch limits. I urge Maine Reps. Tom Allen and
Mike Michaud to work to strengthen this bill in order to protect our
oceans and fisheries for the future.
Liz Batsford,
Environment Maine,
Portland
