September17, 2002

 

The Honorable Donald L. Evans

Secretary                      

U.S. Department of Commerce

14th & Constitution Ave. NW

Washington, DC 20230

 

Dear Secretary Evans:

 

    We understand that the Northeast Region of the National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS) has determined that, since February 2000, the gear used on NOAA's

Albatross IV to conduct Northeast fishery surveys was improperly calibrated and

that this differential could affect the results of NMFS's stock assessments for

groundfish in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank.

 

    We are sure you share are conviction that NMFS' data collection programs and

stock assessments must be conducted in a manner and at a frequency that assures

a high level of confidence in management decisions.  The National Research

Council's 2002 report, Science and its Role in the National Marine Fisheries

Service, has acknowledged NMFS' world leadership in fisheries science, but also

pointed to a number of areas that require attention nationwide.  This issue is

of substantial concern in the Bay state, where management decisions made in

reliance upon these assessments directly affect the livelihoods of thousands of

fishing families, as well as our ability to ensure the long-term sustainability

of the stocks upon which these coastal communities depend. 

 

    In order to restore confidence in NMFS's stock assessments, we strongly

encourage you to establish a Northeast science task force that should include

state and regional management experts, as well as leading scientific and gear

experts, including fishermen.  This task force should provide advice on the

effect of the improperly calibrated sampling equipment on our understanding on

stock status and trends, as well as on the biological reference points recently

updated by the Northeast Science Center.  As you move forward to resolve these

issues, it is vitally important to ensure that both state managers and

independent experts are included in the agency's scientific review process.

 

    As you know, a court order has determined that the next fishery management

plan for groundfish, Amendment 13, must be completed by August, 2003.  The

potential economic impacts of this management plan on fishing communities in

Massachusetts are severe. We therefore wish to stress the importance of removing

the cloud of uncertainty concerning the science that will go into developing

this plan.  As you proceed, we encourage you to consult with the New England

Fishery Management Council to determine if such analyses will affect the Council

and NMFS' ability to complete Amendment 13 by the court deadline. If an

extension to the deadline is needed we encourage you to notify the court immediately and

request an extension to the deadline.

 

    Please keep us apprised as you go forward.

 

                    Sincerely,

 

 

John F. Kerry                  

Edward M. Kennedy

William D. Delahunt

Barney Frank    

John F.Tierney

 

cc: Bill Hogarth NMFS