U.S. Seafood Industry Supports Ecosystem Management Approachff

The National Fisheries Institute, the nation's largest seafood trade association, weighed in with industry reaction to the recommendations of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.  The Commission released its report yesterday.

“We agree with several of the report's recommendations - the need to examine the impacts of population surges along our coasts, agricultural run-off, and the need to reduce pollution,” said NFI President John Connelly.  He added, “The seafood community has already adopted many of the recommendations the Commission suggests and we look forward to working with Congress to implement these improvements.”

For example, the USCOP recommends adoption of ecosystem management. NFI maintains the ecosystem approach is already being used to make decisions about how much, when and where fish can be caught, but that understanding of entire ecosystems is a lofty goal. Connelly added, “We support an ecosystem approach -- but to manage a system as complex as the largely-unexplored oceans is a monumental undertaking.” Connelly also stated, “Sustainable fishing means we must appreciate how more restrictions and regulations will impact our ability to deliver seafood to the American consumer.” 

NFI supported the idea of “oceans use councils”  based on the successful fishery management model, which incorporate all stakeholders in regional decisions about the management of fishery resources.  “The fishery management system in the United States has been a success.  Bringing together diverse interests through the fishery management councils enables decisions to be made at the local and regional level - and not always through a central bureaucracy in Washington,” Connelly stated.
 
However, the industry rejected the need to create a new bureaucracy to manage oceans, and instead urged better cooperation between the various federal agencies charged with regulating ocean use.  The industry cautioned that because the USCOP report relied on meta-analysis which included a number of assumptions and combines disparate data, Congress should use caution in crafting policy or restructuring agencies to implement the Commission's recommendations based on this report. 
 
Source: NFI Press Release

NFI is a non-profit trade association representing more than 700 companies involved in all aspects of the fish and seafood industry. The Institute also acts to ensure an ample, sustainable and safe seafood supply for consumers.