These fishermen, who were on board a "calibration cruise" to determine the effects of the mismatched trawl warps at the request of the government scientists, noticed a number of problems with the fishing gear on the research vessel Albatross IV beyond the cables: problems with how the net was rigged and with how it was fished. These problems had apparently been there for quite some time. So, the statistical analysis that shows no significant difference between surveys done post- and pre-"Trawlgate" might just as easily be interpreted as an indication of the entire series of bottom trawl surveys being compromised beyond use by faulty gear and methodology. In essence the trawl survey might have been performed so badly for so long that the current problems in its performance caused by the trawl cables didn't make a significant difference.

Confounding what is already a far too controversial situation, the government is now putting a great deal of emphasis on an "independent" review provided by what is called the Center for Independent Experts. But when we looked at the website of the Center for Independent Experts we found that it was part of the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/groups/cimas/partners.html) at the University of Miami. The "cooperators" are the University of Miami and NOAA, and the Institute appears to be heavily funded by NOAA, heavily staffed by NOAA, and  "serves as a mechanism to bring together the research resources of the University with those of NOAA." If the government was looking for the appearance of independence in this critical review, perhaps they should have looked a little farther. (Guidelines for these independent experts are available at http://www.rsmas.miami.edu/info/fisheries_apply_2k.htm.)

While calling, along with other members of New England's Congressional Delegation, for a moratorium on additional restrictions on the groundfish fishery while this mess is sorted out, Maine Senator Olympia Snowe and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy "have requested that the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Commerce conduct a thorough examination of the manner in which NMFS maintains, inspects, operates, and verifies accuracy of equipment for collecting fishery data, including the timing and cost of these activities. This evaluation would include all regions, noting any gaps or inconsistencies between them, and will help NMFS develop standardized protocols for sampling gear to prevent similar problems in the future" (press release from Senator Snowe on October 24.) Amen to that!

This exceedingly unfortunate situation has not yet played itself out but a regrettable end result, a drastic increase in the level of distrust of federal scientists and science by the fishing industry, has already manifested itself. In a letter to NOAA head Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, six fishermen who were on the Albatross IV cruise, who attended the subsequent workshop, or who took part in both, wrote "…to explain why we cannot at this time continue participating in your Agency's efforts to minimize the very serious effects of the clear mishandling of trawl surveys over recent years. On a moment's notice we took time from fishing, sent our men to workshops and out to sea with your employees, in the hopes that a fisherman's warning of clear negligence would have changed the attitude and approach of science professionals within NMFS and at Woods Hole, and brought us all improved surveys and science. Regrettably, that has not been the case." (The full text of their letter is available on Barbara Stevenson's website, http://www.bdssr.com/latest/trawl/trawlgate.htm, under the October 24 entry.)

 The text of previous updates, starting in January of 2002, are available at 

Note: For further information on any of these issues contact Nils Stolpe (phone: 215 345-4790, fax: 215 345-4869, email: below). To contribute items or announcements for future updates contact Nils Stolpe or Scot Mackey (phone: 609 392-6174, fax: 609 392-6347, email: below).