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A28 SCIENCE
Saturday 25 November 2017

Plan to change New England ocean stewardship up for debate

By PATRICK WHITTLE
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) —
The federal government is
close to enacting new rules
about New England ocean
habitat that could mean
dramatic changes for the
way it manages the marine
environment and fisheries.
The National Marine Fisher-
ies Service has been work-
ing on the rules for some 13
years and recently made
them public. They would
change the way the gov-
ernment manages the Gulf
of Maine, Georges Bank
and southern New England
waters, which are critical
pieces of ocean for rare
whales, unique underwater
canyons and commercial
fishermen.
The new rules would affect
the way highly valuable
species such as scallops
and haddock are har- In this April 23, 2016 file photo, David Goethel sorts cod and haddock while fishing aboard his trawler off the coast of New Hamp-
vested, in part because it shire.
would alter protections that Associated Press
prohibit fishing for species ble, and allow fishing to oc- Some environmentalists ery campaign manager for been thoroughly vetted,
in parts of the ocean. The cur to successfully in areas and have raised objections Oceana. “To let destruc- there has been a great
proposal states that its goal that are less vulnerable,” to the proposal, but also tive fishing gears into those deal of scientific study,”
is to minimize “adverse ef- Kelly said. voiced support of the fact areas will knock down that said Robert Vanesse, ex-
fects of fishing on essential One of the most-debated that it would protect areas ecological function and ecutive director of industry
fish habitat.” pieces of the plan includes for young cod to grow. New cause harm to our ocean advocacy group Saving
The revamped rules are a provision that would England’s cod population ecosystem.” Seafood. “It represents ar-
required by federal law, open up the northern edge has plummeted, leaving The proposal is called the guably the best compro-
and are also necessary be- of Georges Bank to scal- regulators scrambling to Omnibus Essential Fish mise.”
cause some areas that are lop fishing, which is not come up with solutions to Habitat Amendment. It is The fisheries service is tak-
closed to fishing have been currently allowed there. It rebuild it. intended to bring the man- ing comments on the pro-
restricted since the 1990s would also close the Great “The areas that are be- agement of New England posal through Dec. 5. It’s
and an update is needed, South Channel, which sep- ing considered to reopen fisheries into compliance expected to issue a deci-
said Moira Kelly, a senior arates Nantucket Shoals have been recovering for with the Magnuson-Stevens sion on the new rules by
fisheries program specialist and Georges Bank, to the 20 plus years, and those ar- Act, which governs U.S. fish- early January. The regula-
with the fisheries service. harvesting of scallops and eas have regained much eries. tory New England Fishery
“We can highlight the ar- clams and fish like cod, of their ecological func- “It came at the end of a Management Council ap-
eas that are most vulnera- flounder and haddock. tion,” said Gib Brogan, fish- decade of discussion, it has proved the plan in 2015.q