The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust has acquired more than $1 million in commercial groundfish fishing quota from The Nature Conservancy.
The Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust is a new non-profit organisation created to own and lease groundfish quota to local fishermen, while working to improve the economic and environmental performance of the fishery. The Trust has permanently secured these historic fishing rights for the long-term benefit of the Monterey Bay community.
“Thanks to The Nature Conservancy’s contribution, the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will be able to support our local, family-owned fishing businesses,” said David Crabbe, commercial fisherman and Board President of the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust. “This will provide stability for our local ports and waterfront businesses, and it will ensure that future fishermen have access to this important fishery for years to come.”
In 2011 catch shares were introduced for 90 species of the West Coast groundfish fishery (such as sablefish, petrale sole, and rockfish). The program has achieved significant conservation goals, including reduced bycatch and discards.
However, as catch shares can be bought and sold, there is a risk they will be sold to large, well-capitalised businesses from outside of the region, so the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust will acquire groundfish quotas and hold them in trust for the community, helping keep long-time fishermen fishing, and ensuring a future for the next generation of fishermen.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium, the City of Monterey, and community leaders, worked to establish the Monterey Bay Fisheries Trust to guarantee a future for stable and sustainable fisheries and fishing communities in Monterey Bay. “Our future depends on the health of the ocean,” said Margaret Spring, the aquarium’s vice president of conservation and science and chief conservation officer. Ms Spring also serves as vice president of the Fisheries Trust board. “We hope others in our community will contribute to the remarkable recovery of the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery by purchasing local, sustainably caught groundfish, and supporting this innovative effort to advance both economic opportunity and ocean conservation.”
While TNC’s quota (roughly 4.2 million annual quota pounds) is an important first step, the Trust will need to acquire more quota to support a diverse and resilient fishing industry and serve a three-port region.
