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Feature Articles
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Responsible fishing conference coming to New England next
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This article is reprinted with permission of Commercial Fisheries News, the Northeast's fishing newspaper for over 30 years, ©2003 Compass Publications Inc. Commercial Fisheries News is published monthly; annual subscriptions are $21.95. To subscribe or request a sample issue: call (877) 263-4496; fax (207) 367-2490; e-mail (cfoster@fish-news.com); or click on the hot link.
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Massachusetts attendees at the responsible fishing conference in June toured a new fishing vessel in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. From left, Bill Amaru, Steve Welsh, and Thomas Moth-Poulsen are shown an instrument that maps the morphometry of the sea bottom, which can lead to lessening the impact of mobile gear on certain sea bottoms. (Arne Carr photo)
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YARMOUTH, NOVA SCOTIA - Several Massachusetts fishermen and gear specialists were among those who traveled to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia June 9-11 for the Third North Atlantic Responsible Fishing Conference.
Fishermen Bill Amaru and Steve Welch and, representing the state's Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), Thomas Moth-Poulsen and Arne Carr came back with the intent of helping DMF host the next conference in the New England area.
"The fourth conference will compliment the previous three," said Carr, who has accepted the role of lead organizer. "The topics will include fishermen increasing their involvement in co-management of the resources, accountability, image, organizations, and information and data access."
All three conferences have been sponsored by the North Atlantic Responsible Fishing Council, which is made up of fishermen, industry representatives, and others mainly from the US, Canada, England, Scotland, and Norway.
The purpose of the conferences, which began in 2000, is to assist fishermen in finding ways to:
- Conserve fish stocks for future generations;
- Protect the aquatic environment and the ecology;
- Provide leadership in the management of the fishing industry;
- Pursue the development of more conservation-oriented and environmentally friendly fishing gears and practices; and
- Share practical knowledge and expertise among fishermen from across the North Atlantic.
Discussion topics during the Yarmouth conference included science and research, economics of the fishery, good fishing practices, the Responsible Fishing Code of Conduct, and co-management concepts, according to Carr.
"Fishermen voiced two issues primary to science and research. First, fishermen have a vested interest in research and science and a viable industry will support research," he said. "Second, fishermen have increased confidence when they participate in research."
The North Atlantic Responsible Fishing Council has set up a web site where fishermen can access reports on previous conferences and share information. The address is www.responsiblefishing.org.
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