Catch-Shares-in-New-England-FINAL-02-10.pdf
After reading an article this week in the Gloucester (Mass.) Times (Catch share group pushes private forum) about a closed-door meeting on New England's catch shares program, I got right on the horn to call the coordinator of the meeting to find out if members of the press would be allowed to attend.

I left a message and quickly received a call back from Jill Swasey at the MRAG Americas New England office, who explained that while the Monday morning workshop is, in fact, invite-only, observers are welcome, including the press.

Swasey clarified that the 9-to-5 gathering is a technical workshop hosted by MRAG Americas, a non-profit NOAA contractor that provides dockside monitoring services for several groundfish sectors in New England.

I strongly urge every tied-up fisherman to get to the Sheraton in Portsmouth, N.H., on Monday morning by 9 a.m.

If you would like more information, do not hesitate to call the MRAG Americas Essex, Mass., office at (978) 768-3880.

In the meantime, I also encourage attendees to read the report MRAG Americas published in collaboration with the Meridian Institute titled "Catch Shares in New England." http://www.mragamericas.com/wp-conte...INAL-02-10.pdf

Catch-Shares-in-New-England-FINAL-02-10.pdf

Thank you for your time.