Pacific
Marine Conservation Council (PMCC) advocates for ecosystem-based management
that fosters sustainable fishing communities. The U.S. Commission
on Ocean Policy was clear in stating, “ U.S. ocean and coastal resources
should be managed to reflect the relationships among all ecosystem
components, including humans and non-human species and the environments
in which they live.” We agree.
As PMCC considers important and controversial issues, we think in
terms of benefiting the marine environment and the people and livelihoods
connected to the sea. In this spirit, we offer the following position
statement regarding permit stacking.
PMCC believes that fishing quotas are useful market-based tools that
can be used to further fisheries conservation and to encourage fishermen
to be better environmental stewards. PMCC does not believe that market-based
systems in themselves encourage superior stewardship. Poorly designed
systems can work against conservation while hurting communities. In
order to be successful for fish and fishing communities, quota programs:
1) must be accompanied by strong conservation incentives; 2) must
recognize the diversity of both species and gear types within fisheries;
and 3) must include effective safeguards to prevent social and economic
harm to coastal communities.
PMCC would support a market-based plan that is comprehensive, area-based to the extent possible,
prevents adverse impacts such as excessive consolidation, and
provides strong incentives to encourage a sustainable fishery. Any
acceptable plan must fully comply with the Limited Access Privilege
Program and Allocation standards within the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens
Act, as passed by Congress in December 2006.
We also need to ensure that economic rewards are coupled with ecological
health. Market-based policies can only achieve this if they're designed
with conservation as the driver. We need a management system that
encourages sustainability by eliminating overfishing, reducing waste,
and promoting viable coastal fishing communities.
