NOAA’s Decision to Allow Bottom-Trawling in Key Habitat Areas in New England’s Ocean ‘Political and Shortsighted’ says Conservation Law Foundation

CONTACT:
Karen Wood, CLF, (617) 850-1722

BOSTON, MA  July 11, 2013 – Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) has objected to yesterday’s proposed action by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow bottom-trawl fishing in nearly 3000 square miles of New England’s ocean that have that have offered protection to fish and fish habitat for nearly two decades. CLF says that NOAA acted without undertaking analyses required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and without regard for the comments from more than 100 scientists, dozens of coastal community leaders and business owners, and some 70,000 citizens who urged the federal agency to keep these protections in place.

“This rushed decision is political and shortsighted,” said Greg Cunningham, senior attorney, Conservation Law Foundation. “Whatever small gain might be recognized in relief to some fishermen today comes at the expense of long-term health of the fisheries, their habitat and generations of fishermen to come. The agency’s actions are premature given that the results of a belabored and delayed 10 year process addressing a federal mandate to protect fish habitat from the impacts of fishing gear is due to be finalized this spring. Making decisions that impact fish habitat before complete information is available is hasty and irresponsible.”

New England’s once plentiful fisheries are severely depleted by decades of chronic overfishing, with cod stocks at their lowest recorded numbers in history. These fish now face additional stress from warming waters due to climate change. Scientists have reported the highest sea temperatures on record along the northeastern coast. “This decision finds no basis in science and is flies in the face of good fishery management, stewardship and response to climate change,” continued Cunningham.

Regarding NOAA’s decision to keep important habitat areas in the Gulf of Maine off-limits to bottom-trawling, Cunningham commended the agency for recognizing the value of places like Cashes Ledge, an area 80 miles off the coasts of Massachusetts and Maine that harbors the largest and deepest kelp forest on the eastern seaboard and shelters some of the most diverse habitat and wildlife in the region. “Cashes Ledge is an ecological gem in the Gulf of Maine and deserves continued protection,” he said.

NOAA’s own assessments prior to this action have found that protected habitat areas generate larger fish, which produce more offspring and build bigger, more resilient fish populations. Prominent marine scientists have explained in this letter to the agency that dismantling these protected areas would have disastrous results for the ocean ecosystem, recovering fish populations, and fishing communities. The scientists write that this decision will likely bring “ecological setbacks to the recovery of fish populations already at low levels, and serious economic harm shortly afterward.”

Conservation Law Foundation and EarthJustice have filed suit against NOAA, based upon an earlier NOAA decision that opened the doors to this action. The lawsuit argues that NOAA had not completed the necessary analysis of the proposal to allow bottom-trawling in areas currently off limits to commercial fishing.

Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) protects New England’s environment for the benefit of all people. Using the law, science and the market, CLF creates solutions that preserve natural resources, build healthy communities, and sustain a vibrant economy region-wide. Founded in 1966, CLF is a nonprofit, member-supported organization with offices in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.