Repeal of the Amendment CMR 8:07:1B2 - which currently allows fishing vessels to use small mesh nets to target Squid close to our shores resulting on a negative impact on our near shore coastal marine environment.

The Issue

Last year, amendment CMR 8:07:1B2 was passed, allowing large fishing boats dragging 2 inch mesh nets to work around the clock in Nantucket's and Martha's Vineyard's historically rich inshore (inside of 3 miles) fishing waters. These boats targeted squid (the biggest bait in our fishery) and had a significant impact. This gear type is an indiscriminate killer and is deadly effective not only on Squid but also on Striped Bass, Bluefish, Scup, Sea Bass, Fluke and numerous other marine species (all considered bi-catch). This amendment can be reversed with your help.

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Nantucket FishingPetition Starter
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This petition had 3,513 supporters

The Issue

Last year, amendment CMR 8:07:1B2 was passed, allowing large fishing boats dragging 2 inch mesh nets to work around the clock in Nantucket's and Martha's Vineyard's historically rich inshore (inside of 3 miles) fishing waters. These boats targeted squid (the biggest bait in our fishery) and had a significant impact. This gear type is an indiscriminate killer and is deadly effective not only on Squid but also on Striped Bass, Bluefish, Scup, Sea Bass, Fluke and numerous other marine species (all considered bi-catch). This amendment can be reversed with your help.

avatar of the starter
Nantucket FishingPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Randy Sigler
Randy Sigler
Member, Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Responded
“Regardless of how I feel about the question at hand, this is one of the least effective approaches that I have seen in terms of influencing decision making. The petition itself has typos. The rationale given by people who have signed on is predominantly un compelling, and often completely contradictory. This whole approach (as it is currently presented) diminishes the value of valid comments when surrounded by so many disregard able statements. I am very much looking forward to hearing comment at the public meetings, and voting in the best interest of the resource and the citizens who depend on and enjoy the resource.”
Jared Silva
Jared Silva
Regulatory Coordinator, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Paul Diodati
Paul Diodati
Director, Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries
Chuck Casella
Chuck Casella
Member, Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee
Joe Huckemeyer
Joe Huckemeyer
Member, Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Advisory Committee

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Petition created on January 7, 2015