A letter sent to the National Marine Fisheries Service regarding Bluefin Tuna management

December 1, 2003

Asst. Administrator William T. Hogarth, Ph.D.
National Marine Fisheries Service
1315 East West Highway
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Dear Dr. Hogarth:

 I am writing to express my opposition to the misguided bluefin tuna management measures contained in the November 18, 2003 Federal Register notice.  With this notice the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) continues a pattern of management decisions based on dubious science that ignore the needs of North Carolina fishermen.

As I'm sure you know, the actions mandated by the notice – closure of the angling category and transfer of 150 metric tons of quota from the general to the reserve category – will cripple the ability of many North Carolina fishermen to make a living this winter.  What's worse is that NMFS effectively shut down the South Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery after it raised bag limits and maintained high trip limits during the early season when the tuna were harvested off New England and Mid-Atlantic states.  This gives the impression that NMFS is fraught with mismanagement, bias in favor of Northeastern fishermen, or both.

Certainly you would agree that one of NMFS' primary missions in managing a coast wide fishery like bluefin tuna is to ensure that all geographic areas have equitable access to the resource.  NMFS' actions fail to meet this standard by excluding North Carolina fishermen from the same opportunities that their northern counterparts enjoy. 

        With your leadership, NMFS can quickly rectify this inequity without harming bluefin tuna stocks.  North Carolina's Division of Marine Fisheries (NCDMF) sent you a letter with a proposal to transfer 25 tons of unused quota to the angling category, and to transfer 150 metric tons of unused quota to the general category.  It is my understanding that the North Carolina Fisheries Association and the North Carolina Winter Bluefin Association support this proposal, and I strongly encourage you to give it every consideration.   

 Since timely action on this matter is critical, I ask that you provide me with a written status report by December 10th.  Furthermore, I urge you to respond quickly to the questions and requests for information contained in NCDMF letter, and to provide me with a copy of your response.  Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.        

Sincerely,

         Walter B. Jones
                 Member of Congress