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Seafood Industry Leaders Oppose Proposed Monopoly
PORTLAND, Ore.-(Business Wire)-March 25, 2008 - During the week of June 9, the Pacific Fishery Management Council will vote on new regulations for the West Coast groundfish and Pacific whiting fisheries that will have a far-reaching impact. Under consideration is an individual quota system in which only the owners of government issued permits participate, in essence granting what West Coast seafood industry leaders argue is a monopoly of the seas to 176 permit owners. These seafood industry leaders — representing more than 3,000 jobs in Washington, Oregon and California — oppose a monopoly quota system that will put coastal jobs and communities, seafood consumers, and sustainable fisheries at risk.
"Giving these fishing vessel corporations monopoly-access to the oceans is unfair and will hurt seafood consumers and coastal jobs," said Jay Bornstein, president of Bornstein's Seafood. "We support a fair system that balances the economic investments of the fishermen and the processors, as well as the needs of consumers and the environment."
A 100 percent initial allocation of quota to owners of government issued permits would provide permit owners with economic safeguards that are unavailable to other industry stakeholders, leaving processors, workers, communities and conservation efforts behind. Without fair and reliable access to resources, those impacted may be forced to take drastic measures to remain afloat, from eliminating innovative efforts to better and more responsibly utilize the seafood catch to raising prices and cutting jobs.
According to a recent study, conducted to better understand the economic contributions by West Coast groundfish and whiting processors, there are 4.3 shore-side processing jobs for each fisherman in the groundfish fishery and 12.5 jobs to one in the whiting fishery. In total, shore-side processors in California, Washington and Oregon contribute over $36.5 million in annual payroll and over $20 million in annual utilities, plant supplies and equipment purchase and repair to the local economies.
"We are simply asking for a fair deal," said Heather Munro Mann, deputy director of the West Coast Seafood Processors Association. "Processing jobs are already at stake with restrictions on salmon and groundfish and the threat of marine reserves. The seafood industry needs the stability that a balanced approach would provide, not the upheaval that would result from a one-sided allocation."
Seafood Industry Leaders Support a Shared Market
Leaders within the West Coast seafood industry support a shared market quota system that would provide both processors and fishermen with an initial allocation of quota. Both groups have invested heavily in coastal jobs and capital equipment, and a shared market approach would provide both with economic safeguards. A shared market could:
— Protect current jobs in coastal communities
— Guarantee fair access to resources
— Stabilize prices for consumers
— Encourage environmental stewardship
The following seafood industry leaders and associated businesses support a shared market quota system to ensure economic opportunity continues for both processors and fishermen: -0- *T Washington Crab Producers, Inc. Sea Catch National Restaurant Association Pacific Group Transport, Inc. West Coast Seafood Processors Bandon Pacific, Inc. Association Georgia Pacific PermaCold Engineering Bio Oregon Seacliff Seafoods, Inc. Bornstein Seafoods, Inc. Holly Seafood Co. Inc. Mike Kris, F/V Cassandra Anne Behrman Transport, Inc. Express Materials LLC Resource Staffing Group Universal Fish & Handling Pacific Seafood of Washington O&M Industries J.K. Aronson Construction Pacific Seafood Group Northwest Food Processors Assn. Robert Mann Packaging Hallmark Fisheries Trident Seafoods Sea Level Seafoods West Coast Fuels MalloryCo Ryco Equipment National Fisheries Institute Oregon Restaurant Association Benjamine Downs, F/V Pacific Conquest Kneaper Electric Whalers Inn Restaurant American Fish and Seafood Northwest Staffing Resources, Inc. Company Olde Port Inn Holland America Pacific Coast Seafoods Company Nelson Crab Inc. Charlie Galvez Trucking Simply Seafood Darren Reefe, F/V Pacific Hooker Red Lion Port Angeles Redwood Electric Repair Valmark King Market Olde Port Fisheries Hagadore Hospitality Columbia Colstor, Inc. Fugazzi Inc. Point Adams Packing Company North Coast Fiberglass Island Seafoods *T
More about Supporting a Shared Market
For more information about the proposed groundfish and Pacific whiting regulations and their potential impact on coastal jobs and communities, visit www.coastaljobs.org.
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