1. Buying Out the East Coast
Capacity Reduction:
Buying Out the East Coast
Groundfish Fleet
M I T S E A G R A N T
Madeleine Hall-Arber, Ph.D.
Anthropologist
Center for Marine Social Sciences
Marine Advisory Programs

2. Why? Biomass too low Overcapitalization high tech talented fishermen
low profits
Long-range Outlook (NEFSC)
Amendment 13 (NEFMC)

3. How? Industry-funded buyout (Today’s focus)
Legal requirements (Leo Erwin, NERO)
West Coast Experience (Peter Leipzig, Fishermen’s Marketing Association)
Next steps
Decision about whether or not to proceed
Questionnaire
Comments
If yes:
Financial Plan
Referendum
Decision will be made by those who vote

4. Other ways to reduce capacity
Coops
Community quotas
IFQs
TURFs

5. What do you envision for your port?
Few boats with many DAS each?
Many boats with few DAS each?

6. Pros and Cons Profit Environment, stewardship, impacts & bycatch
Safety
Management, monitoring and enforcement
Social support
Capital, labor and other resources

7. Vision of your community
Moderate profitability for more vessels may keep more shoreside businesses viable, maintain the fishing community identity and promote food security.
Higher profitability for fewer vessels may raise standards of maintenance and safety, keep fishing attractive as an occupation for a few, make the waterfront available to other uses.

8. How does one ensure equitable fleet reduction?
Participate in the discussion
Consider your history, the history of your community and the future
Consider the effects of the different methods of fleet reduction
Join with others who share your point of view and comment