IPHC Meeting Concludes Today with Vote on Halibut Catch Limits
The five day 2015 annual meeting of the International Pacific Halibut Commission concludes today in Vancouver where the Commission will vote on halibut catch recommendations. Expectations are that the Commission will recommend that the Bering Sea catch be set above the 'blue line', which are the limits suggested by the scientific model used by the IPHC. If the blue line limits were imposed in the Bering Sea, there would be virtually no directed halibut fishery for quota holders, but a substantial take of halibut through by-catch.
The Gloucester-based Northeast Seafood Coalition and the Maine-based Sustainable Harvest Sector, among industry stakeholders, are displeased with what they consider NOAA’s casual rejection of an industry plan that would eliminate the 200-pound cod bycatch trip limit and open up some closed broad stock areas in return for the sectors surrendering up to 60 metric tons of allocated cod quota. “I’m flabbergasted,” said Maggie Raymond of the Associated Fisheries of Maine. “It’s just shocking that (NOAA Fisheries) is not willing to work with us.”
In other news lawmakers have drafted the Safe Food Act of 2015, which, if passed, would create an independent food safety agency. "It's crazy to have one cabinet secretary in charge of chicken, beef and pepperoni pizza, and another cabinet secretary responsible for eggs, milk and cheese pizza," said CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal.
Finally, the National Restaurant Association’s Performance Index ticked up in December driven by higher sales and traffic. The Index finished 2014 with its best three month run since 2006.
Have a good weekend.
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