65 



3) Launch a bottoms-up process involving all kev stakeholders to determine the 

 capacity of the fleet which is sustainable over the long term. What size should the 

 fleet be? What should its composition be? 



4) Form a working task force of fishermen and other stakeholders to examine op- 

 tions to actively reduce the fishing power and the capacity of the northeastern fish- 

 ing fleet, including, particularly, a vessel buy-out program. 



5) Initiate programs which can begin the process of shifting the fishery to smaller 

 scale economically and ecologically sustainable fishing, processing, and distribution 

 systems. Diversify the fishery and reduce the dependence of fishing communities on 

 large vessel fleets. If possible, maintain the owner-operator character of the fishery. 



6) Initiate economic diversification programs to develop new sustainable business 

 and employment opportunities for fishermen and fishing communities which may or 

 may not be tied to the fishery. 



POLICY, PROGRAM, AND FUNDING NEEDS 



Short Term 



1) Collect and compile comprehensive information on the number of vessels, fish- 

 ermen, affiliated businesses, the size and composition of the fishery, the mariiet 

 costs, and overall economic impact of the fishery to the region and develop one or 

 more centralized data bases to house and update the data. 



2) Establish the northeastern fisheries problem as a priority of equivalence to the 

 Pacific northwest timber and salmon problems for the White House and the White 

 House Council on Sustainability. 



3) Develop a co-ordinated federal inter-agency response to the problem. Establish 

 a federal task force of stature to the Pacific Northwest Timber Task Force with rep- 

 resentatives of all agencies with regulatory or funding authority relevant to the fish- 

 eries problem. White House, Commerce, HUD, HHS, Labor, Agriculture, Interior, 

 SBA to co-ordinate the federal response, replicate those task forces in each affected 

 state and involve relevant state relief agencies. 



4) Undertake a detailed analysis of the various available options for reducing the 

 size of the large vessel fleet and permanently removing vessels from the 

 groundfishery, particularly boat buy backs. Support organizations focused on explor- 

 ing policy initiatives and funding sources to facilitate boat buy out alternatives. As- 

 sess other buy-out programs for examples which may be applicable to the north- 

 eastern fishery. 



• Establish a competitive bidding process to stretch available funds as far as pos- 

 sible. 



• Consider voluntary buy-back funded by disaster aid monies, some form of user 

 fee for the industry. 



• Focus on reducing the fishing power in the fleet. Specifically target the 200 

 largest vessels (above 85 feet) built since 1974. 



• Boats and licenses which are acquired should be permanently removed from the 

 fishery and precluded form entering other U.S. fisheries. 



5) Develop matching grant support for NOAA's $1.5 million seed-funding for high 

 priority projects which emerge from the community-based planning efforts. Insure 

 that those projects embody the goals of securing the long term sustainability of the 

 fishery, the fishing industry and the communities. 



6) Launch a professionally facilitated bottoms up community-based planning proc- 

 ess in the coastal communities most affected by the collapse of the Northeastern 

 fishery. Build upon the NOAA town meeting initiative. Insure that these conunu- 

 nities have sufflcient financial and professional resources necessary to effect the de- 

 velopment of comprehensive, realistic actions which will assist in the forthcoming 

 transitions. Where appropriate, identify opportunities for economic diversification. 



7) Provide support for professional mediation and negotiation services and train- 

 ing for the fishing industry and communities participating in the bottoms-up proc- 

 ess. 



8) Provide basic core operating support for fishermen's relief and support organi- 

 zations or social service agencies which could provide those service to fishermen in 

 affected communities. 



9) Develop Family Service Centers in individual ports and for regions to deliver 

 relief programs and funding. 



10) Undertake comprehensive co-ordinated analysis of the federal programs 

 which could provide direct support and relief to commercial fishermen, including 

 federal disaster assistance. Assess the opportunity each presents for assisting with 

 New England Groundfish issue and target appropriate programs on the region. The 

 appropriations process is a critical component of tnis approach. 



