NEFMC to decide next moves on scallop license allocation leasing in Gloucester Tuesday

The New England Fishery Management Council said it plans to discuss a controversial limited access scallop fisher license allocation leasing plan at its September Council Meeting in Gloucester Tuesday.

"The leasing discussion is not going to come up before lunch," NEFMC spokeswoman Janice Plante said. "So if they're only there for the leasing discussion, that's in the afternoon."

Scallop allocation leasing — the practice of boat owners selling days and tonnage from a fishing license to other vessel owners to harvest in restricted zones — has been at the center of debate in the Port of New Bedford since the NEFMC held two scoping meetings at the New Bedford Whaling Museum on May 11 and May 25 respectively.

Scoping process

During its three month-long scoping process, the NEFMC invited stakeholders to attend nine meetings in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, North Carolina, Virginia, and two webinars.

The only state that saw multiple meetings was Massachusetts, with one in Gloucester on April 27, and the two New Bedford meetings.

The meetings in New Bedford were the most well attended by far, with 160 and 80 participants respectively, 60% of the total 397 attendees at all meetings recorded by the Council.

77 of the 305 comments submitted to the NEFMC were presented orally. 58% of those were given at the New Bedford meetings.

When written comments were taken into account, they came in from nine states, the majority, 120, coming in from Massachusetts.

Most of those in favor of leasing came from outside Massachusetts, according to the report.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agencies 2021 Annual Report on the Status of Fisheries released in May, New Bedford was the nation's largest landing point for scallops, making up 84% of the port's $451 million worth of seafood landings in 2020.

Arguments against

According to the Council, the vast majority, 78%, of the 286 commenters (several repeated, inflating the total number to 305) spoke against the proposed allocation leasing project during the scoping process.

"In my opinion, a leasing program is not needed in the [Limited Access Scallop] fishery," wrote Robert Haines, a New Bedford boatowner. "In my opinion, a leasing program is not needed in the [Limited Access] fishery. "Our fishery instead needs to focus on promoting better fishing practices and better science to increase our biomass. Leasing is a contentious issue that will take up the majority of the Council's time.

"This time is better spent focusing on issues that will help the entire fleet, especially in these uncertain times."

Haines, like others, also emphasized the impact a feared consolidation of fishing fleets resulting from the allocation leasing may have on shoreside industries.

Another boat owner who spoke against the proposed reform was Paul Weckesser, the owner of six-New Bedford-based scallopers.

He admitted that as an owner with a relatively large economic footprint, there would at least be some benefit to the plan, but those underneath would have to pay the price.

"My three reasons are crew, community, and resources," he said at the May 25 meeting. "If I can stay at home and watch cartoons with my kids, you can bet I am going to do it."

He added that the drop in trips would harm crew pay rates, making them pay for the lease in effect.

Memories of the consolidation of the groundfish fishery in 2012 weighed heavy on the minds of many in opposition to it.

"I do not believe a leasing program is needed in the LA fishery," wrote Ivan Mjolhus, a New Bedford captain. "Leasing is another form of consolidation and will have detrimental effects to our fishery.

"Leasing has not worked well in the groundfish fishery and the members of the scallop fishery do not wish for the same thing to happen to our fishery."

Arguments for

According to the Council's summary of comments, comments in favor were more dispersed geographically.

Many came from The Scallopers' Campaign, a lobbying group with a Washington, D.C. address, argued passionately for leasing's passage.

"A typical full-time [Limited Access] scallop vessel harvests its annual scallop allocation in approximately 70 days, leaving vessels inactive and tied to the dock more than 80 percent of the year," the organization wrote in a July 2020 letter to the NEFMC. "The only growth option is to buy another permit, which means buying another vessel.

"Although one vessel could easily harvest the allocation of two LA permits, the fleet has no flexibility to do so," it continues. "In the absence of a leasing program, smaller, independent owner/operators are not able to grow their operations in reasonable increments."

Ronald Enoksen, president of Eastern Fisheries, Inc., said that allocation leasing will help the industry adapt to climate change during the May 25 meeting.

He argued the process will lead to ocean acidification, habitat change, and other ecological pressures, and that leasing would be a useful tool to maintain industry viability.

"[Leasing] makes sense," he said. "We need better operation flexibility. Leasing would be a good opportunity to transfer" agency to vessels.

Meeting agenda

The Gloucester meeting will take place from Sept. 26 to 29 at the Beauport Hotel.

The first meetings on Tuesday will focus on several national marine sanctuaries and monuments.

The Scallop Committee will meet starting at 10:40 a.m., when it will receive some reports on the 2022 scallop survey which examined biomass, breeding grounds, and environmental patterns of import to the fishery.

The Council will take up discussion on allocation leasing after lunch, around 1:15 p.m.

The NEFMC said that it is up to the chairperson's discretion whether there will be public comment at the meeting.

Those who cannot attend in person may register for the meeting via webinar at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7374448002191175695.

Contact Kevin G. Andrade at kandrade@s-t.com and follow him on Twitter: @KevinGAndrade. Support local journalism and subscribe to the Standard-Times today!

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: NEFMC to decide next moves on scallop license allocation in Gloucester