75 



1. Coordination of the response to fishing industry issues at the state level and 

 integration at the local level are crucial. Tne federal agencies involved in the re- 

 sponse are all line agencies that provide specific services in accordance with statute. 

 NAO'S in its response does best what it is accustomed to doing. However, the overall 

 response needs to be multifaceted. This can readily be accomplished at the state 

 level. The NOAA led efibrt to date has not yet eflectively incorporated this reality 

 into its program. 



2. The federal response to date does not adequately address the economic dynam- 

 ics of overcapitalization. There is a dangerous overemphasis on underutilized species 

 which risks lulling fishermen directly affected by Amendment 5 into believing that 

 they will be able to replace value lost during efforts to restore groundfish stocks by 

 shifting capacity. Exit strategies are inchoate. There is no vessel buy back program. 

 Aquaculture, while it may have long range promise, offers little bv way of imme- 

 diate relief. Ironically, aquaculture could become productive precisely as groundfish 

 stocks are restored posing a new dilemma for everyone. 



3. Programs are more oriented toward and accessible to vessel owners and opera- 

 tors and the owners and operators of shore based activities; while insufficient atten- 

 tion has been given to meeting the needs of those with the least resources, crew 

 members, shoreside employees, and their families. While reliable information on the 

 demographics of the industry remain to be developed, it is entirely probable that 

 70 percent of people needing assistance are outside the owner/operator category. 



On behalf of the many Rhode Islanders involved in this process I urge the com- 

 mittee to take the above matters into consideration as it reviews and refines the 

 federal response to the Northeast fisheries crisis. 



ATTACHMENT A— RHODE ISLAND FISH LANDINGS IN POUNDS 



l.1<>,805 

 111,782 __^ IlO.ft.l.l 



Rhode Island Fish Landings 



[In 1,000 pounds] 



