Ciifa Action Alert
Petiton to raise fluke hook landing limits to 300#'s

Why CIIFA?  It's about time that the small boat hand gear fisherman in Ma. had some effective representation to the regulatory authorities.

The small boat fishermen in this state, both recreational and commercial are the majority users of our coastal fisheries, yet they have seen access to those fisheries consistently be favorably allocated to a minority group of privileged rights owners.  Unfortunately, they lack  active and effective representation to the entities managing those resources, but the other gear groups are well represented, both at council and commission and in presence at hearings. Hook fishermen, have had little representation or input in our fisheries for cod, fluke, scup and sea bass and as a result, the majority of the access has gone to the other gears. In recent years, MA fisheries management policy has systematically reduced access opportunities for small scale fishermen, both commercial and recreational.

Why we need CIIFA now - Ask yourself these questions:

Have you lost access to fisheries for the sake of protecting the interest of other gear types or better invested fishermen?

Do you make 51% or more of your income from fishing?

Do you depend on the money you earn from fishing?

Do you think you should have equal access to other fishermen and not less based on the gear you use?

Are you a young person getting out of school?

Would you like to become a fisherman, but can't because you know you won't be able to afford to buy a boat and permits?

Are you concerned with the deterioration of the health our inshore habitat?

Are you against the proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound?

Are you a fish market owner or business who deals with local fishermen who is concerned with keeping local fishermen working and fishing?

If you answered yes to any or all of those, then you need to get involved.

Our goal is to provide a voice to the small scale commercial fishermen. Our emphasis will be towards improved access and improved quality of the resources we share.  Presently, the focus in fisheries management is for protecting the interest of those with the most money invested in the fisheries. We'd like to find ways to legitimize inshore small scale fishing to attain equal access to our fisheries. There is no valid reason for small vessel fishermen using hand gear to be restricted to less fish, because of their gear type.    We are deeply concerned about what we consider to be the privatization of our rights of access to the resources we all own and the current trend towards private ownership of our fisheries.   More about CIIFA


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CIIFA NEEDS SPONSORS
Are you a Ma. business who deals with small boat fishermen,
a fish dealer or restaurant who buys cod, striped bass, summer
flounder or shellfish?  We want to keep fishermen working on our inshore waters, we need your help to do this.
Please contact us for details.
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