The US west coast trawl groundfish industry – fishermen and processors – will experience a fundamental change in management in 2011. The change to catch shares or an individual quota system will likely create some temporary confusion but may lead to innovation and increased value-adding options for processors in subsequent years, said the West Coast Seafood Processors Association.
At the same time, several species of groundfish are set to begin the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification process. If approved, west coast processors may be able to increase their access to global markets, the association said.
The transition to a catch-share or quota-management system for the trawl industry has taken fishery managers the better part of seven years to complete and should be ready for implementation on 1 January 2011.
“Significant consolidation among fishermen and processors is expected, with the current fleet of about 120 trawlers reduced by one-half to two-thirds and smaller processors and less efficient plants no longer handling groundfish.”
The West Coast Seafood Processors Association, whose members in Washington, Oregon and California process roughly 80% of the groundfish delivered to shore, are struggling with ways to deal with potentially lower volumes being delivered and changes in delivery times.
“While we expect the Pacific hake fishery will increase recovery and have better quality fish, the other traditional trawl-caught species such as Dover sole and Pacific rockfish are likely to be sold more in the frozen market than the fresh market,” said WCSPA executive director Rod Moore.
In 2009, the shoreside industry processed $32 million (€24.4 million) of trawl-caught groundfish sold as fresh or frozen product and $6 million (€4.6 million) of Pacific hake or whiting that sold as fillets, H&G, or surimi.
Some processors are also looking to work with fishermen to add value to sablefish (blackcod) – one of the fish on the list for MSC certification consideration.
Most sablefish is sold to Japan and fixed-gear, longline-caught fish fetches better prices on the wholesale market. Under the individual quota system, trawlers may be able to make shorter tows, which would, in turn, result in better quality fish for better markets.
“The new catch share system has some significant flaws and new costs, especially for the traditional trawl fleet,” said Moore. “Our hope is that we will emerge from the transition period with our processing sector leaner but stronger.”
