Active Campaigns

Our policy and advocacy campaigns are where the best ideas of the small-boat fleet are debated and refined, shared with fishery managers, elected officials and scientists, then worked into sensible regulations to help fish and fishermen.

We serve as the voice of the local community at decision-making tables: Fishermen’s Alliance staff has continuously held a seat for 19 years on New England Fishery Management Council, and 21 years on Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission and 8 years on Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, representing Cape Cod’s fishermen.

We support fishermen’s participation in Advisory Panels and Take Reduction Teams, and empower the community to successfully engage in the public policy making process that is fisheries management.

Active campaigns change regularly based on fishermen’s priorities and current challenges; below is a small sample of active campaigns.

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Sea Scallop

Cape Cod’s small-boat scallopers can’t safely travel as far as the big trip boats, but areas open to scalloping rotate each year. We work with the scallop fleet to secure exclusive access to inshore areas, making limited biomass of scallops last longer and support the local fleet. Local scallopers are also helping to improve scallop science: in 2022-2024 staff and fishermen will be conducting a Scallop Reproduction Study funded by Research Set-Aside Quota.

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Herring Protections

Atlantic Herring provide a key source of food for striped bass, bluefin tuna, and many other groundfish, seabirds, and marine mammals. The New England Fishery Management Council is in the process of evaluating what should be done to improve herring management.

Your voice matters! They need to hear from you about your interest in herring, impact of user conflicts on you, and proposed area and seasonal management measures that may be necessary to rebuild herring.

Tips for Making Your Voice Heard at March 27th Meeting

Herring Campaign Summary + Comment Instructions

More information about Herring Amendment 10

 

CALL TO ACTION:

PLEASE ATTEND A SCOPING MEETING AND MAKE A COMMENT: BUZZARDS BAY – WEDNESDAY 3/27 6-8PM

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Monkfish

Monkfish is a valuable fishery for the local gillnet fleet.  Unfortunately, the science for monkfish is far behind other species and the stock assessment relies upon the last three years of landings data.  The low landings are a result of COVID impacts on the market, so fishermen see lots of monkfish while the Council is forced to significantly cut how much they can land.  We’re working to provide additional data to the stock assessment to prevent these types of mistakes.