Violations Not Mentioned

To the editor:

I work on behalf of a herring and mackerel processing plant in New Bedford that is supplied by four midwater trawling vessels [WWF March 2008]…

While promoting the "traditional (sustainable?)" herring fishery of old, the author [of your story] fails to mention that several of the leading "traditional" Maine purse seiners are the subject of one of the largest federal fisheries violations ever levied on the east coast, and there are more investigations underway.

They were busted in August for not reporting any of their catches from June through the day in August when they were busted. If they had not been caught, what would have been the impact on the management and long-term health of the fishery?

What does this say about their commitment to "sustainable" fishing?...

Why did the author not interview others in the audience during Mr. Baker’s MERI talk, who clearly held a different opinion than that reflected in her article?

Meanwhile, there is a sincere effort ongoing by the midwater trawler owners and captains to develop third party science-based approaches to documenting the bycatch levels in the herring fishery.

Peter Moore

Freeport