I have spent 27 years in various aspects of the fishing industry, and throughout my career, there has been an ongoing struggle among fishermen, government regulators and environmental groups. The fishing industry, unlike other U.S. industries, has admitted its past mistakes. Fishermen know they have been guilty of overfishing and they have suffered the serious consequences of greatly diminished resources, fought hard to save their livelihoods and family businesses and patiently worked with management councils on conservation measures. Yet fishermen continue to be portrayed as environ- mental rapists who plunder our common resource. This could not be further from the truth.
Fishermen are acutely aware of their environment.
They know more about what is going on in our seas than all but a handful of people. As they have become aware of damage that can be done to the habitat, they have modified their fishing routines, worked on gear improvements and adhered to the practice of closing areas for resource and habitat protection. They have participated in dialogues on environmental subjects, but shy away from one-sided dictates. I would be most interested to know which fishing groups were briefed on the proposed Gulf of Maine International Ocean Wilderness and what information was presented to them. Contrary to Watling's portrayal of regional management councils as dominated by fishermen, virtually rubber-stamping whatever the industry dictates, nobody ever walks away from a council decision happy.