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


MA DMF Fisheries Advisories
Commercial Landing of Certain Shark Species Prohibited Until Further Notice
"The National Marine Fisheries Service will not open the 2010 fishery for Small Coastal Sharks (SCS) until final implementation of Amendment 3 to the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fisheries Management Plan..." [January 7, 2010]
2009 Permits Extended Through January 31, 2010, 2009 Catch Reports Due January 31st
"Due to an unavoidable delay in the processing of 2010 permit renewals, the Division of Marine Fisheries (MarineFisheries) has extended the validity of 2009 permits through January 31, 2010..." [January 4, 2010]
Non-Commercial Lobster Permits Extended Through January 31, 2010
"Due to delays in processing, non-commercial lobster permits for 2009 will remain valid through January 31, 2010...." [December 31, 2009]
DMF to Host ASMFC Public Hearing on American Lobster Draft Addendum XVI - January 8th
"MarineFisheries will host an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) public hearing to gather public comment on Draft Addendum XVI to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American Lobster..." [December 30, 2009]
30,000-LB. Commercial Scup Trip Limit Set For 2010 Winter I Fishing Period
"The Division of Marine Fisheries is providing this notice of regulatory measures in effect for the 2010 Winter I fishing period for scup..." [December 15, 2009]
MarineFisheries Seeks Public Input on 2010 Commercial Black Sea Bass Rules
"MarineFisheries is giving the public an opportunity to provide written comments with suggestions for managing the state’s limited commercial black sea bass quota for 2010..." [December 11, 2009]



 
Fishing News

Fisheries also looking to community-supported model

SouthCoastToday.com - ‎2 hours ago‎
So perhaps it's fitting that the fishing industry is also looking for a piece of the business model's success. Enter community-supported fisheries (CSFs), ...

OUR VIEW: Shredded confidence

SouthCoastToday.com - ‎6 hours ago‎
The new allegations have further undermined NOAA's standing in the eyes of the fishing industry and have done further harm to an agency already under fire. ...

Tuna trade ban raising red flags for industry

Gloucester Daily Times - Patrick Anderson - ‎Mar 6, 2010‎
But fishing industry supporters call it a dangerous precedent that could result in endangered species listings on numerous other commercial species as a ...

GUEST COMMENTARY: Bass bill endangers both fish and fishermen

Wicked Local Eastham - Bruce Peters - ‎Mar 5, 2010‎
The Massachusetts commercial harvest is limited to an annual quota of a set amount of pounds. If it is over-harvested, the amount is deducted from the next ...

Hooked on ice - the ins and outs of ice fishing on Cape Cod

Sandwich Broadsider - Laurie Higgins - ‎13 hours ago‎
Massachusetts Fish and Game regulations limit the number of holes to five per person. He had four holes set up with tip-up traps and was fishing one hole ...

New Bedford to host Northeast Fisheries Summit Monday

O Jornal - ‎1 hour ago‎
The future and sustainability of the fishing industry in New England and near-and mid-Atlantic ports will be the focus of the day-long discussion at the ...

Key fisheries official faces calls to resign

Boston Globe - ‎7 hours ago‎
Senator John F. Kerry and Representatives Barney Frank, John F. Tierney, and William D. Delahunt said yesterday that Dale Jones should step down as director ...






CIIFA.ORG

CAPE AND ISLANDS INSHORE FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATION

USA

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


Apply for membership here

Sign up today - it's free 








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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