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Mainstream media loves to talk about doom and gloom in wild-capture stocks. But the reality is, the majority of U.S. fisheries are strong and getting stronger. Among fisheries that are growing or have the potential to grow, many fishery advocates and participants are suggesting that the fleets be owner operated.

The recent trend toward quota (rather than boat) ownership has led not only to consolidation, but in some cases loopholes for fraud (see the federal case against New England groundfish and scallop kingpin Carlos Rafael). Owner-operator requirements could go a long way toward resolving the complications of fishing quotas, but they are not without fault.

In Maine, state Rep. Lydia Blume (D-York) introduced a bill that would require all sea urchin diver and scallop boats to be owner-operated. The proposal, endorsed by the nonprofit Penobscot East Resource Center, is making some fishermen ask why it’s necessary, while others declare that it’s about time and would do nothing to harm the fishery or access while preserving local ownership.

As always, some fishermen and industry advocates wonder why we need more regulation at all, which is a fair question. The fishery so far is well managed, so why more and why now?

At the heart of the proposal is an issue that most fishermen can understand: community preservation. New entrants are prohibited — for the time being. But Maine’s scallop and urchin stocks are strengthening, which is putting pressure on regulators to open the fisheries to new license holders.

“Implementing measures like owner-operator requirements should be done before opening the fisheries,” Blume told the Portsmouth Herald.

While I can’t advocate for regulation for the sake of regulation, I do believe community preservation ought to be at the core of any fishery management. Without robust fishing communities, we will not long have small-scale, sustainable, local fisheries.

There’s room for big and small boats alike in our national profile of fisheries, but we must recognize that many fisheries thrive on small communities, and the communities depend on those fisheries. If we could go back in time and find a way to preserve local manufacturing, small farms and other local businesses, would we put an emphasis on local ownership? I think so. Most Americans value their community enough to make a few small sacrifices to preserve it. Otherwise we are only selling ourselves short.

 

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Jessica Hathaway is the former editor in chief of National Fisherman.

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