Reduction Industry Crosses the Line <at ASMFC Technical Committee>

[Tom Powers]

on 17 May 2012

By Richen Brame
Coastal Conservation Association
Atlantic Fisheries Director

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Technical Committee (TC) and Stock Assessment Committee (SAC) process is supposed to be a simple one that allows the members, who come from state agencies, federal agencies and academia, to do the technical work necessary to manage marine fisheries. One primary object of this process is to allow only qualified, independent scientists to populate the committees, who can be expected to produce results that are not biased towards any one sector or another. Such scientists insulated from the grind of fishery politics are the very engine on which marine fisheries management runs.

The Commissioners may be the drivers, but the TC and SAC folks provide the horsepower. This process can quickly fall apart if it appears that someone with an agenda is sitting on the committee. Earlier this week, I witnessed just such an event, perhaps the most egregious I’ve seen in attending TC and SAC meetings for 13 years.

To set the scene, the Menhaden Stock Assessment Subcommittee and Technical Committee met to determine what information will go into an assessment update, essentially the data from 2009-2011 which was collected since the last benchmark assessment. As is well known, menhaden are undergoing overfishing and the Board recently set new fishing mortality reference points that are more conservative than the old reference points. To end overfishing, the Board is currently developing Amendment 2 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Atlantic menhaden, which will reduce menhaden harvest for all harvesters.
As is also well known, this will be the first time the menhaden reduction industry – Omega Protein in Reedville, Virginia – will have to operate under a quota and will have to limit its harvest to end overfishing.

It was no surprise, then, that Omega Protein hired two pre-eminent stock assessment scientists to represent them at the TC and SAC meeting. Many groups, including Coastal Conservation Association, had representatives there to observe the proceedings. But the Omega representatives went a step further and interacted freely with the Committee. One of them spoke more than any member of the stock assessment committee. At one point, he essentially led the discussion on whatsensitivity analyses were appropriate for the assessment.

This type of interaction is out of bounds, and it casts doubt on the validity of these proceedings. It threatens to make a mockery of the process and transport it back to the dark days when reduction industry representatives controlled both the Menhaden Management Board and the Technical Committee.

The two scientists hired by Omega are some of the best-known stock assessment experts in the world, and their opinions should be available to the SAC and TC, but in a controlled fashion that is fair to all. What the Omega representatives contributed at that meeting may very well have been useful or valuable, but the manner in which they presented it was entirely inappropriate, and tainted the legitimacy of the meeting. Regardless of what they said, the appearance of impropriety cannot be avoided. As paid representatives of Omega Protein, they are at that meeting for one purpose and one purpose only – to represent Omega’s interests. Would they bother to attend such a meeting if the stock was not undergoing overfishing and Omega was not faced with reductions in harvest for the first time in its history?

I think not.

The ASMFC currently has guidelines on public participation under development, but those will not be approved until October. The Committee Chair and staff person are there to facilitate discussion, not referee who gets to speak and who doesn’t. In the meantime, conservationists are left to wonder about a process that appears tainted. As has happened in the past with this highly political fishery, it appears that the ASMFC is allowing the fox to guard the henhouse. Again.

Conservationists and recreational anglers have come too far in our efforts to protect a critical forage base to let these machinations go unchallenged. The ASMFC must rein in Omega Protein and not allow it to gain control of the menhaden management process. Its failure to do so risks destroying any trust the public has in its ability to manage our marine resources.

[Persistence2]

With NC being closed down, my assumption is they will use whatever means necessary to pull every last Menhaden out of VA waters and let the fishery collapse. Have little faith in VA gov't putting an end to this as their lobbying efforts are too strong.

[Kevin Smith]

Tom,

Interesting reading. Sounds like Dick Brame has really been watching the Menhaden situation closely. Thanks for posting this.

Kevin
Weekend Mistress

[cnaff]

Thanks Tom.

[timber]

It has always been said, "where there is a will. there is a way" I wish I had the education to come up with a way. Somehow this machine called omega has to be brought under controll. What is the way?

[ccx2]

It has always been said, "where there is a will. there is a way" I wish I had the education to come up with a way. Somehow this machine called omega has to be brought under controll. What is the way?

Collect money and buy the Politicians and pay Lobbyist just like Omega does.....I think it is as simple as that. Start a money war,if you look at Omega's Political contributions they don't really add up to that much, at least what I've seen,they just really pork up the ones they need.
I think someone smart and intelligent that is up on the subject like Tom Powers could raise enough MONEY from all of the concerned folks that oppose Omega to distribute enough MONEY TO THE POLITICIANS to really put a crimp in Omega's distruction of Menhaden. Get the word out in a larger way than a small Fishing website and get MONEY support behind all the mostly unheard cries from the few who are actualy trying to do something about it.
I think maybe the CCA tried to do this but didn't put the money in the pockets of the Politicians and couldnt collect so much money from all the"Very Concerned".....start asking for money and the room suddenly gets quiet.
Some need to live a long time before they Learn how Politics and Politicians work,I think I've realized and it ain't pretty. From the Mayor to the President, they aren't in it for You, it's all about them,and their business cronies. I live in Va Beach, did I say something about a Mayor

[Rattletrap]

[QUOTE"Since 2001, Omega Protein has contributed more than $220,000 in campaign contributions to Virginia politicians, including almost $60,000 to the current governor, Bob McDonnell, sometimes mentioned as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney. " ][/QUOTE]

You're right ccx2, it looks to me that Omega is getting off pretty cheap if this is all they contribute. If recs and others that have a interest in a healthy sportfishery could get together it shouldn't be very hard to more than match that.

[Tom Powers]

CCA is a 501c and can not donate to politicians.

[ccx2]

[QUOTE=Tom Powers;1841889]CCA is a 501c and can not donate to politicians.[/QUOTE
And Is the reason they have been somewhat ineffective it the Menhaden game. Why even ask for my donations to get in the game (and I've given my fair share for a common poor guy) if your not going to play hardball like the other team.

[Tom Powers]

My opinion . . . One of the reasons that CCA has been ineffective in Richmond is political donations that open doors. If you look where Omega spends their money . . . one of the places is pretty much every member of the Senate and House committees through which any legislation having to do with fisheries must pass. In years gone by CCA paid for lobbyists For many more years than that volunteers have spent many hours lobbying up in Richmond.

I would bet that this will not stop. While many hunting and fresh water fishing initializations will lobby up in Richmond. Very seldom will you see representatives of saltwater recreational fishing clubs at committee meetings in Richmond. CCA has historically been there.

This battle is being fought at ASMFC. Richie is ONE of the CCA folks that are up there doing battle. CCA VA pays a fraction of his salary and expenses to do so.