New Hope for Alaska Halibut
Catch share program revives ailing fishery
Though many fish populations around the world are in trouble, fishing communities that have adopted catch share programs are experiencing sustainable and profitable fishing.
Catch shares are good for:
- fishermen,
- the communities they live in, and
- the one billion people worldwide that rely on protein from the sea.
The problem with the Alaska Halibut fishery
Traditional management techniques included:
- shortening fishermans' days at sea
- setting trip limits
These rules resulted in a dangerous "race for fish" with:
- A season reduced from 8 months to just two, often deadly, days at sea.
- Income often dependent on a few days at sea.
- Dangerous fishing in any kind of weather, with little regard for safety or for the resource.
- Harm to fish and ocean wildlife from tossing unwanted fish overboard or leaving fishing lines in the water.
- Lowered quality of fish brought to stores.
- Lowered prices for fishermen.
The solution: Catch share management
Alaska halibut fishermen now get shares of the annual catch. That's changed everything.
Fisherman now:
- Start the year knowing exactly how much they can catch.
- Take their time to choose when and how to fish.
- Go out in the best kinds of weather.
- Reduce risks to their own safety
- Take their time fish more efficiently.
This greatly reduces damage to ocean wildlife and even to the halibut that fishermen are catching.
They can bring in fresh, high-quality fish to the stores when prices are best.
A brighter future
There are many types of catch share programs that can be designed to fit the needs of individual fishing communities around the U.S.
Environmental Defense Fund is working with:
- fishermen
- coastal communities
- fishery managers
to design the best catch share programs to end overfishing and poor management.
In 2007, the U.S. made a commitment to end overfishing. Catch shares make that happen, and they give fishermen the opportunity to innovate and profit from conservation.
Posted: 18-Nov-2008; Updated: 25-Nov-2008
- Send to friend
- +
- Rate: Avg: --, 0 votes
Most Popular Pages
- Major Strides Made at Climate Talks in Buenos Aires Newsletter article about successes in implementing the Kyoto Protocol
- Americans Want Clean Energy: Poll after Poll Proves It
- In California, Passage of Water Bills Signals New Era EDF helps sparring groups come together to transform water policy
- Fred Krupp's Remarks to the Point Carbon Conference
- Victory Against Factory-Style Hog Farms in Colorado Newsletter article about new amendment in Colorado that makes hog farms responsible for pollution and other problems
