Overview
Title
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fisheries; Proposed 2021-2026 Fishing Quotas
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government wants to keep the same rules for catching certain clams until 2026 to make sure people can keep catching them without running out, and they want to hear what others think about these rules.
Summary AI
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed keeping the current fishing quotas for Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2021 and projecting the same quotas through 2026. This move aims to prevent overfishing while supporting consistent market supply and the fishing industry's stability. The proposal includes continuing the suspension of the minimum shell size limit for surfclams for 2021. Comments on the proposal are invited and must be submitted by March 4, 2021.
Abstract
NMFS proposes status quo commercial quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2021 and projected status quo quotas for 2022-2026. This action is necessary to establish allowable harvest levels of Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs that will prevent overfishing and allow harvesting of optimum yield. This action would also continue to suspend the minimum shell size for Atlantic surfclams for the 2021 fishing year. The intended effect of this action is to provide benefit to the industry from stable quotas to maintain a consistent market.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The proposed rule from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks to maintain existing fishing quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries from 2021 through 2026. Its primary goal is to prevent overfishing while ensuring a stable market and supporting the fishing industry's continuity. The rule also proposes to continue suspending the minimum shell size limit for surfclams in 2021. Public comments on these proposals are invited until March 4, 2021.
General Summary of the Document
The NMFS aims to maintain the current fishing quotas for several upcoming years. The quotas include 5.36 million bushels of ocean quahogs and 3.40 million bushels of Atlantic surfclams, among others. To ensure sustainable fishing practices, the proposal follows stock assessments indicating healthy levels of these species, thus preventing overfishing. The document also discusses the ongoing suspension of size restrictions for surfclams due to a small percentage (11%) falling below the standard size.
Significant Issues or Concerns
A critical concern is the ambiguity around the term "status quo." It could be confusing as it does not specify how these quotas fare compared to past levels, except to imply consistency since 2018. Furthermore, the decision to continue suspending the minimum shell size limit for surfclams could benefit from a clearer rationale, given that only a small fraction of surfclams are smaller than the minimum size requirement.
Another issue involves the classification of quota owners. Some owners are categorized under vague "unknown" classifications, which could obscure the transparency of quota allocations. Additionally, the document mixes imperial and metric units, which might lead to confusion for readers unfamiliar with converting such measurements.
Impact on the Public Broadly
The public may generally benefit from the stability and consistency of seafood supply, which these quotas aim to support. By preventing overfishing, the proposal seeks to sustain ocean resources for future generations. However, any discrepancies or inaccuracies in quota allocations or oversight might indirectly impact consumers by affecting the long-term availability of these seafood resources.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For stakeholders such as fishermen and the seafood industry, maintaining the quotas provides predictability and stability, thus enabling efficient business planning. However, stakeholders might also be negatively impacted if unknown classifications or ambiguous terms cause confusion or inequality in allocation. Additionally, suspending the surfclam size limit ensures that fishermen do not face financial penalties for harvesting clams under a size that is still biologically viable, though it may raise concerns regarding ecosystem impacts if not carefully managed.
In conclusion, while the proposal largely supports sustainable fishing, there are areas where clarity and transparency could be improved to better serve both the public and specific industry stakeholders.
Issues
• The proposed rule mentions maintaining 'status quo' quotas for 2021-2026. The term 'status quo' could be ambiguous for some as it doesn't specify how the quotas compare to previous levels, except in historical context. It might benefit from more explicit language.
• The document specifies multiple entity classifications for quota owners (e.g., 'Commercial Fishing', 'Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers'). Some of these promote transparency, but the 'unknown' classification for some allocation owners could be more detailed.
• This document notes that some data classification is 'unknown,' which could indicate a lack of comprehensive information on the parties involved, potentially leading to oversight.
• The justification for suspending the minimum shell size for surfclams could be laid out more clearly, as current data indicates only 11% fall below the minimum size, which may not necessitate a full suspension.
• The use of imperial and metric measurements together (e.g., '3.40 million bushels (181 million L)') may be confusing without clarification or standardization.
• The regulation sections and amendments referenced (e.g., Amendment 10, 13) might not be clear to those unfamiliar without additional context or a summary of what those amendments entail.
• There could be more detailed analysis or prediction provided on the possible economic impact in subsequent years, considering environmental changes that might affect fishery stocks.
• The document discusses a suspension since 2005 for the surfclam minimum shell length requirement without detailed analysis of why past conditions validating suspensions continue.