On January 25, the Northeast office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it may have to enforce huge cuts in catch limits this year. According to The Associated Press, fish populations are currently very small and even though fishermen warn that these restrictions could devastate the Northeast industry, officials from the NOAA say that this is a reality they have to face.
Fishing regulators will meet this week to decide on the catch limits, but as of right now the New England Fishery Management Council is recommending reductions of up to 81 percent for certain types of fish in different parts of the region.
Dave Goethel, a New Hampshire fishermen who has been involved with the industry for decades, told the source that this could mean more than just a bad year for he and his colleagues. In fact, he said it may ultimately destroy their businesses. Nevertheless, the 59-year-old remains surprisingly positive.
“Fishermen are eternal optimists. Every day I go to sea I’m going to have the best day I ever had in my life,” Goethel said. “So, yeah, I’m always optimistic that somehow, some way I haven’t figured out how yet, we’ll find a way out of this mess.”
Living the life of a commercial fisherman means facing a great deal of uncertainty about weather conditions, fish populations and much more. In addition to this, there are a number of dangerous risks that these professionals encounter on the water each and every day. With that in mind, many boat owners and organizations turn to marine insurance providers that can help them find the best rates and ensure that they are covered in the case of an accident.