Fishing regulations to remain days-at-sea

PORTLAND – Federal fishery regulators will stick with a days-at-sea approach when developing new commercial fishing rules that go into effect in two years.

At the same time, the New England Fishery Management Council voted Thursday to continue developing alternative management strategies for the region’s groundfish stocks. But those alternatives won’t be developed in time for the next set of regulations, which take effect on May 1, 2009.

Some fishermen and conservation groups were pleased with the council’s vote, saying it was the best that could be done given the time constraints. Other fishermen said it could take years before alternatives are developed, and that they aren’t likely to survive until then.

“There’s no way I’m going to make it,” said Craig Pendleton, a Saco fisherman. “Five years ago we created a process to develop alternatives, but now we’re right back where we started. We’ve just been at this for too long, and we still don’t know where we are going.”

The council regulates commercial fishing in New England waters. It is now developing new regulations for fishermen who catch cod, haddock, flounder and other groundfish.

Fishermen are now regulated through a days-at-sea system that limits the number of days they can be at sea, while also restricting their fishing gear and limiting their catch.

Many fishermen are now pushing for alternative approaches, saying the current system isn’t working for either the fishermen or the fish.

Massachusetts fishermen have proposed creating “points” that can be spent on fish catches, with healthy stocks costing fewer points than troubled ones. Fishermen could fish until their points run out.

Some Maine fishermen have proposed dividing coastal New England into zones; the zones would be open to any fishermen, but those who fish them regularly would have a strong say in settling local rules for them.

While the council voted to stick with the days-at-sea approach for the next round of regulations, it also agreed to begin developing the alternative proposals.

Terry Stockwell, a council member and an official with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, said work will continue on the alternatives while regulators modify the current regulations.

“I look at it as a vote in support of the alternatives,” Stockwell said. “We voted to modify the current days-at-sea while continuing to develop alternative management for the future.”