STUDY
RESULTS SHOW STRONG SUPPORT FOR CALIFORNIAS FISHING INDUSTRY
MONTEREY,
Calif. April 11, 2007 A recent study of 801 Californians,
conducted by Responsive Management, a nationally recognized public opinion
and attitude survey research firm, on behalf of the Alliance of Communities
for Sustainable Fisheries (ACSF) showed overwhelming support for local,
sustainably harvested seafood and family-run fishing operations. The
telephone survey evaluated Californians opinions on and attitudes
toward commercial and recreational fishing in coastal areas of California,
the ecological health of Californias coastal fisheries and wildlife,
and fisheries and wildlife management along the
coast.
According to the results of the study, two-thirds of Californians (66%)
disagree that fishing harms the ocean. There was much more support (by
more than 2 to 1) for allowing fishing in all areas, with science-based
limits on the total harvest (68% support this position) over fully protecting
(i.e., prohibiting all harvesting in) some areas with the concomitant
result that fishermen would concentrate their fishing in remaining open
areas (24%). In simple terms, Californians support harvest limitations
over complete harvest bans.
Respondents were asked to directly rate the importance of commercial
fishing to Californias economy, and why they think it is important:
a large majority, 79% rated commercial fishing at the midpoint or higher;
only 17% rated it less than the midpoint. Many items reflect that the
public does not blame family fishing for concerns about the ocean/fish
populations, 59% consider foreign factory or large corporations as the
type of fishing that is harming the ocean, 66% do not feel that fishing
is even harming the ocean, 25% rated their concern for continuing family
fishing at the highest level possible and 55% disagree that family fishing
is harming the ocean.
Results illustrated that the public does not want to jeopardize the
family fishing industry. Knowing that California fishing is more highly
regulated than other countries, 82% would prefer to buy local and 63%
would not be willing to buy imported seafood, if that meant putting
Californias family fishermen out of business. In response to the
studys findings, Vern Goehring, manager of the California Fisheries
Coalition of which the ACSF is a member stated, Its difficult
to understand why national conservation groups work in partnership with
fishing in foreign countries, yet they seem not to care about marine
protected areas and reserves in the U.S. that are driving small, local
fishing businesses out of business.
When presented with the scenario where fish stocks are stable or already
recovering, there was little support for a ban, as only 24% agree that
commercial fishing should still be banned if scientific evidence shows
that fish stocks are stable or already recovering (66% disagree). Slightly
higher agreement (37%) was found when suggested that commercial fishing
be banned while allowing recreational fishing, if scientific evidence
shows that fish stocks are stable or already recovering (53% disagree).
Kathy Fosmark, member of the Federal Pacific Fisheries Management Council
and co-chairperson of the ACSF stated, The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported, and science is telling
us that there is no overfishing on the west coast of California. The
seven fish stocks that had been declared overfished are in stock rebuilding
plans that are already improving faster than predicted.
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