On April 8, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that they will allocate $16 million of it's current fiscal budget to assist the Northeast fishing industry with the transition to managing the fishery by catches and shares.
Of this $6 million will go to cooperative research whereby fishermen and scientists will work together to improve surveys of fish stocks as well as develop and test fishing gear that targets healthy stock.
The balance will be used to develop data reporting and monitoring systems for better documentation of catches and creating a transparent and almost real time management of the fishery.
These efforts will create a healthier ocean and a healthier fishery. Securing a sustainable fishery means secure jobs for the fishermen, and the communities and industries that support and depend on them. Not to mention a sustainable and healthy food supply for our nation and others.
This is government at its best, working with the private sector not only to improve the lives and income of our people, but our environment as well. Actions like this are long overdue.
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