ANNUAL REPORT 2009

MARINE FISH CONSERVATION NETWORK

WORK
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LETTER

Dear Members and Supporters of the Network,

Back in the mid 1990s, I was working as a mediator, and my late wife, Ellie Dorsey was at-
tending New England Fisheries Management Council meetings as the first marine scientist at
Conservation Law Foundation. She would come home from these meetings exhausted and
very frustrated with the failure of some environmental advocates to have concern or under-
standing for the economics of the situation facing fishermen, and at the same time she was
even more frustrated with some of the fishermen who seemed not to see that without healthy
fish stocks, there could not be sustainable fishing. At one point I off-handedly suggested that
they simply remove all the regulations and those stocks that went economically extinct would
yield certain types of fishing extinct as well.

Well, of course I wasn’t serious, but now 15 years later we are still having many of the same
issues, and I am left still trying to figure out the answer. As the director of MFCN I am con-
vinced that a clearly articulated and conservatively managed regulatory approach is nec-
essary, and that the regional councils have much improved their way of managing marine
fish stocks. I have also visited with members of Congress lately, and while there is not much
appetite for re-opening the Magnuson-Stevens Act, there is genuine concern for the economic
well-being of those fishermen and women that are being affected by what are – in most
cases – necessary restrictions on fishing for the health of a stock.

Perhaps one thing many of us do not realize is that the U.S. management approach really
is one of the more progressive in the world. The implementation of annual catch limits and
accountability measures is a grand experiment that has the chance (unlike most places) of
actually enabling us to have fully sustainable fisheries within the foreseeable future – if stocks
are allowed to rebuild and we take the inherent uncertainty of the data into account. (And
by the way, the 10 year rebuilding time limit in the MSA is not an arbitrary number, and
many stocks can rebound in fewer years.) For this experiment to succeed and yield both sus-
tainable fish stocks and sustainable fishing communities, it is going to take a genuine willing-
ness to trust what each other are saying: about economic pain, about ecological harm, about
scientific uncertainty.

Together we can build productive and sustainable fisheries based on healthy ecosystems and
fish stocks.

Sincerely,
y,

Bruce Stedman
Executive Director
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THE NETWORK’S MAJOR ACTIVITIES generation effort to design a national ocean policy and
marine spatial planning for ocean uses. The Network
was instrumental in providing the rationale needed to
Policy Research and Analysis garner more federal government appropriations for
The Network conducts independent research and analy- data collection and analysis, at-sea observers, and
sis addressing marine conservation issues of interest to essential fish habitat and bycatch reduction. We also
its members and the general public. The results include advocated against marine habitat destruction, shark-
Network policy papers, position statements, technical finning, and bycatch of sharks, sea turtles and non-
reports, comment letters, fact sheets, and critiques of targeted species caught in fishing gear. As a broad-
federal legislation and regulations. Our reports, as well spectrum coalition, the Network members sometimes do
as reports from other groups that contain the Network’s not see eye-to-eye, and on occasion there can even be
research and analysis, are made available to the public a very controversial subject that results in serious con-
via the Network’s website and through distribution by tention. Nevertheless, in 2009 we successfully worked
Network members. to build consensus on advocacy for two topics that have
been difficult for the Network to address: open ocean
Our early 2009 report (Implementing Annual Catch aquaculture and limited access privilege programs
Limits: A Blueprint for Ending Overfishing in U.S. Fisher- (aka catch shares). As the year closed, we began to
ies) provided an exposition of the statutory and regula- increase our advocacy to protect the MSA from weak-
tory requirements related to end overfishing, the highest ening amendments.
priority of the reauthorized Magnuson-Stevens Act of
2006. That technical report and ongoing monitoring of
Public Education and Media
regional implementation of the new rules can be found
The Network entered a new era of public outreach in
at: http://www.conservefish.org. The Network provided
2009, assisting with a collaborative national outreach
technical comments on strategic ACL amendments under
campaign on National Ocean Policy and increased
consideration by the New England, Mid-Atlantic, South
utilization of social media. National ocean policy in-
Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific Councils. We also
formation was disseminated throughout the country via
tracked NOAA and White House policy initiatives on na-
a large network of coastal economy supporters, envi-
tional ocean policy and fishery catch shares, and offered
ronmental nongovernmental organizations, and ocean
detailed policy recommendations on each. In addition,
conservationists including the Network. Fishermen and
our policy staff carried out research on national fishery
environmentalists united forces to sustain the rapidly
observer programs, congressional appropriations for fish-
degrading oceans and Great Lakes that surround the
eries, and the impacts of climate change on oceans and
United States. Many Network members offered to
fisheries, to mention a few. Such background research
speak to the media as experts and pledged to work to-
supports a variety of Network products from written testi-
gether on press releases, letters to the editor, and vari-
mony and factsheets to national reports.
ous types of media outreach that highlighted the need
to pass a national ocean policy. The Network played a
Network Advocacy role in obtaining crucial placement in all facets of me-
In 2009 an onrush of issues cascaded into the offices of dia, and those articles, opinion editorials, letters to the
the Marine Fish Conservation Network, and each of these editor and radio show appearances helped highlight
issues was an important component of our effort to pro- the urgency for President Obama to sign an executive
tect the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) and to urge imple- order for a national ocean policy that will help to pre-
mentation of its provisions. Our primary focus in 2009 serve and improve the oceans for generations to come.
was to press the regional fishery management councils
on how (and how quickly) they were implementing an- Staff members continued to educate the public via
nual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures. The personal and public outreach. They freely discussed
Network staff also spent the past year engaging with the with journalists the contributors to a dwindling marine
federal Council on Environmental Quality in a once-in-a- ecosystem, helping to educate the public in a way that
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clearly and easily explains what is happening to the Cruising Toward Sustainability Fundraiser
status of the sea. The Network researched and wrote two The Network literally sailed stormy waters toward
reports – one clarifying the role of annual catch limits sustainability on Oct. 15, 2009, during our second
(ACLs) in fisheries and another that details why govern- fundraising cruise aboard the Capital Yacht Charters
ment should fund the pivotal roles of on-board data boat “Celebrity.” The event, hosted during an autumn
observers who record vital statistics pertaining to com- tempest, was held to raise awareness and money for
mercial fishing. Network conservation efforts. Network staffers,
advisors and members, conservation advocates, and
Network supporters boarded the sightseeing boat to
2009 Network Events celebrate sustainability, indulge in donated hors
d’oeuvres, and take part in a silent auction while gliding
Board of Advisors In-Person Meeting around the Potomac River.
Marine Fish Conservation Network Board of Advi-
sor members journeyed to the Washington D.C. World
Wildlife Fund headquarters on June 2, 2009, to dis-
cuss the future of the coalition. A variety of topics were
highlighted, with priority attributed to the status of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary focus of many activi-
ties. Conversations were held about conservation, regula-
tion and pending policies. Members also benefitted from
a question-and-answer session involving Julia Hathaway
from the House Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans
and Wildlife. She gave the Board insights into issues
concerning the subcommittee. Advisors walked away with
updated knowledge of where the Network is headed,
and new information about how to consider their daily
strife in fish conservation.

Fish Fest 2009

Fish Fest 2009, the annual appreciation reception held
to honor members of Congress who support fish conser-
vation, was hosted at the Sewall-Belmont House amid
torrential rains and high winds. Despite the downpour
of rain, the tenor of conversation remained upbeat and
focused on sustaining fish populations, policy ideas and
the delicious food that was served.

The Network reserved the convenient, intimate Capitol

Hill location to enable more mingling and better con-
versation. Several of the District’s finest chefs created
sustainable seafood dishes for nearly 250 guests that in-
cluded fishermen, senior staff members of Congress, and
marine conservation advocates. The delectable samplings
were prepared by representatives from Sonoma, Cater-
ing by Chef Inc., Coppi’s Organic Restaurant, Café Saint-
Ex, Lynette’s Cakes and Catering, Agraria, and Bistro Bis.
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NETWORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS
plans based on the principles outlined in our Blueprint:
Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Pacific
DEFENDING THE MSA AGAINST Councils.
WEAKENING LEGISLATION See: http://www.conservefish.org

In March, legislation was introduced to block implementa- Analysis of NMFS’ Annual Status
tion of the New England interim 2009 groundfish regula- of Stocks Report
tions designed to rebuild overfished stocks. Legislation to The Network’s analysis demonstrated that fishery manag-
weaken the MSA’s rebuilding provisions was also intro- ers made no progress in reducing the number of stocks
duced in the House and Senate; these bills began to get subject to overfishing in 2008 and over half of the 531
more attention in Congress. The Network and its mem- stocks reported to Congress for 2008 are so data-poor
bers monitored these initiatives carefully, developed ma- that their status with respect to overfishing and overfished
terials, and sought both Congressional and public support determinations is simply unknown.
for stopping these bills. These “flexibility” bills began to See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marinefish3/
get even more traction at the end of the year, and will documents/statusofstocks2008regional.pdf
be a major focus of the Network in 2010.
Confidentiality of Fisheries Statistics Letter
ENDING OVERFISHING MFCN assisted the Association for Professional Observers
with a letter to NOAA regarding regulatory guidelines
governing the confidentiality of fisheries statistics and
Blueprint for ACL Implementation
public access to fishery data.
A new and strong National Standard 1 (NS1) rule on
annual catch limits (ACLs) and accountability measures
(AMs) went into effect in January (the result of a major Improving Environmental Review in Fisheries
effort by the Network and its Member groups in 2008). Management
The new guidelines should considerably improve fishery The Network explored the feasibility of bringing together
management performance if fully implemented by the a group of stakeholders to discuss NMFS’s approach to
regional fisheries management councils. To influence revising and updating its environmental review proce-
these implementation steps, we researched and wrote dures for integrating the requirements of NEPA with the
Implementing Annual Catch Limits: A Blueprint for Ending MSA, as Congress required when the MSA was reautho-
Overfishing in U.S. Fisheries outlining a science-based, rized in 2006.
risk-averse framework for implementing ACLs and AMs
that would prevent overfishing and restore America’s
overfished stocks. The report concludes that virtually ev- NATIONAL OCEANS POLICY & MARINE SPATIAL
ery fishery management plan (FMP) in the nation must be PLANNING
amended to comply with the new requirements for ACLs
that account for scientific and management uncertainty. President’s Task Force on National Ocean
See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marinefish3/
documents/mfcnacl09.pdf
Policy and Marine Spatial Planning
Network staff was directly involved in drafting
detailed recommendations memo to the task force, “Rec-
Urged the Regional Councils to Implement ommendations for the Adoption and Implementation of an
ACLs in Fishery Management Plans Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes National Policy.”
The Network provided technical comments on strategic See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marinefish3/
and potentially precedent-setting fishery management documents/rceq73109.pdf
 6
The Network also managed an internal working group Facilitated the Writing of a Nationally-Appli-
that developed a detailed memo to CEQ on a national cable Forage Fish Report
MSP framework. The Network collaborated with Point Reyes Bird Observa-
See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marinefish3/ tory to write an action plan for protection of forage fish
documents/mfcnmspltr.pdf and advancement of ecosystem-based management in
the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem – Ecosys-
May through June MFCN interviewed representatives tem-based Management of West Coast Forage Species.
of conservation-oriented fishing groups from around See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marinefish3/
the country to gauge their understanding and views on
documents/prbo.pdf
proposed approaches to developing a national ocean
policy; we also received 80 responses to an on-line sur-
CLIMATE CHANGE AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS
vey of fishermen with similar questions.
See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marinefish3/
documents/nopmfcnrpt.pdf Produced an “Ocean Climate Change Resolu-
tion” and Call to Action
PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION & See: http://www.conservefish.org/index.
ECONOMIC STIMULUS php?option=com_content&task=view&id=392&Item
id=324
Engaged in the Transition to the Obama
Administration
Network staff members were involved in meetings with OPEN OCEAN AQUACULTURE
the transition team, and assisted in developing ideas and
information on what should be high priority for the new Opposed the Gulf Offshore Aquaculture FMP
administration. We followed up on our October 2008 letter opposing
the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Contributed Ideas to Stimulus Discussions proposal to establish a fisheries management plan
The Network joined with other Member groups to provide allowing and regulating commercial offshore aquaculture.
detailed recommendations to the Obama Administration In particular we called on the Secretary of Commerce to
for fishing and marine conservation funding that would reject the FMP approach to aquaculture.
create jobs. See: http://www.conservefish.org/storage/marine-
fish3/documents/aquafmpfactsheet.pdf
ECOSYSTEM-BASED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
Influenced National Legislation
Major Steps to Reduce Bycatch of The Network worked with Member groups to influence
national legislation now being drafted by the House, cur-
Mid-Atlantic River Herring and Menhaden rent versions of which use language and ideas first raised
The Network pressed the Atlantic States Marine Fisher-
in Network press releases and comment letters on the
ies Commission and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management
Gulf FMP.
Council to curtail bycatch of river herring in the Atlantic
mackerel and Atlantic herring fisheries. We also urged
the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission to pro-
hibit reduction fisheries for menhaden in state waters and
the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources to imple-
ment a catch limit for Gulf menhaden, require scientific
observers, and start an ecosystem assessment of the
reduction fishery in state waters.
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APPROPRIATIONS
Board of Advisors (as of December 2009)
Testified on the Need for Significant Increases Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
for the FY10 NOAA Budget Linda Behnken, Lead Contact
The Network was instrumental in developing detailed Alaska Marine Conservation Council
numbers for the conservation community and submitted Dorothy Childers, Program Director
written testimony to the House and Senate Subcommit- Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association
tees for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Sue Nickerson, Executive Director
regarding the FY2010 budget. Conservation Law Foundation
Peter Shelley*, Vice President and Director
SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD Environment America
Mike Gravitz*
Seafood Panel at the Blue Vision Summit Oceans Advocate
Organized the Panel on the Future of Sustainable Sea- Food & Water Watch - James Mitchell,
food for a meeting of ocean advocates in Washington, Legislative Coordinator; Fish Program
DC, including sections on fishing, aquaculture, and nation- Greenpeace
al ocean policy. Phil Kline*, Senior Ocean Campaigner
See: http://www.bluefront.org/bluevision Gulf Restoration Network
Aaron Viles*, Campaign Director
Letter to Judges Hawaii Audubon Society
At the request of the Department of Justice, the Network Linda Paul*, Director of the Aquatics Division
wrote a letter to educate the judges in the case about the International Game Fish Association
importance of upholding the fisheries management laws Jason Schratwieser, Conservation Director
(re: Sentencing in Illegal Rockfish Trafficking Cases in MD, Jersey Coast Anglers Association
DC and VA. United States v. Cannon Seafood, Inc., et al. Tom Fote, Legislative Chairperson
and United States v. Collins). Monterey Bay Aquarium
Geoff Shester, Senior Science Manager
National Coalition for Marine Conservation
Ken Hinman, President
Natural Resources Defense Council
Laura Pagano, Oceans Program Staff Attorney
Oceana
Buffy Baumann, Fisheries Advocate
Ocean Conservancy
Dana Wolfe*, Manager, Legislative Program
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association
Zeke Grader*, Executive Director
SeaWeb
Philip Chou, Manager of Conservation Ourtreach,
Seafood Choices Alliance
Sierra Club
John Swingle, National Marine Committee Wildlife & Habitat Chair
United Anglers of California
Bob Strickland, President
*Executive Committee Member
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MFCN Donor Chart 2009
(2008-09 Funders)

Corporate & Organizational Support

Clifford Press Celeste Leroux
Good Search Tara Losoff
IBM International Foundation Chris Lyons
Patagonia, Inc. Kathleen Murphy
Nautica Patricia Nickles
Caroline Paulsen
Kaiten Rivers
Matching Gifts Rebecca Rauhala
Pew Charitable Trusts Diane Sartori
Lori Schuller
Foundations Arthur Solomon
The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation Court Squires
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation Bruce Stedman
Gulf Restoration Network Ruth Terrill
Marisla Foundation Melissa Wittwer
Norcross Wildlife Foundation Marina Yankovchuck
The Oak Foundation
The Ocean Foundation In Kind Donations
Pew Charitable Trusts Agraria Restuarant
Walton Family Foundation Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
Bistro Bis
Individual Donors Brutus Seafood
Susan Bourdaudhui Café Saint-Ex
Balfoure Brenes Capital Yacht Charters
Mark Brownton Catering by Chef, Inc.
Doug Crane Congressional Seafood
Anthony DeFalco Coppi’s Organic Restaurant
Alan Epstein Lynette’s Cakes & Catering
Kait Falahee Pacific Seafood Group
Kimanie Farquharson Pemaquid Mussel Farms
Ariel Fromm Prime Seafood
Hilary Goodwin Samuels & Son Seafood Co., Inc.
Wayne Heldt Seafood Producers Cooperative
William Hendricks Sonoma
Ayelet Hines Washington Dungeness Crab Fishermen’s
Kate Juergens Association
Thomas Kitsos
Gary Lapid
Dorothea Leicher
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MARINE FISH CONSERVATION NETWORK
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND CHANGE IN NET ASSETS
FOR THE YEARS ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 & 2009

2009 2008
REVENUE
Contributions 482,837 504,274
Foundation grants 468,000 275,000
Consulting fees 226,957 106,386
Interest income 1,062 1,895
Rental income 66,035 45,868
Other revenue 0 7,129
Net assets released from donor restrictions 0 0
Total revenue 1,244,891 940,552

EXPENSES
Program services 532,928 794,308

Supporting service
Management and general 251,248 355,257
Fundraising 18,586 7,903
Total supporting services 269,834 363,160
Total expenses 802,762 1,157,468
Change In Net Assets 442,129 (216,916)

NET ASSETS
Beginning of year 102,275 319,191
End of year 544,404 102,275
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MARINE CONSERVATION NETWORK
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

ASSETS

2009 2008
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 133,820 179,249
Accounts receivable 68,376 4,339
Grants receivable 339,431 1,431
Prepaid Expenses 20,645 9,534

Total current assets 562,272 194,553

FIXED ASSETS
Furniture and equipment 57,140 57,140
Website development cost 7,650 7,650
Computers and equipment 48,920 46,856

113,710 111,646
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization (102,524) (65,251)
Net fixed assets 11,186 46,395
TOTAL ASSETS 573,458 240,948

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 22,346 57,959
Deferred revenue 5,208 79,214
Deposit 1,500 1,500
Total current liabilities 29,054 138,673

NET ASSETS
Unrestricted (30,615) (166,725)
Temporarily restricted 575,019 269,000
Total net assets 544,404 102,275
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 573,458 240,948
MISSION STATEMENT

The Marine Fish Conservation Network advocates for national poli-

cies to achieve healthy oceans and productive fisheries. The Net-
work is the largest national coalition solely dedicated to promoting
the long-term sustainability of marine fish. With almost 200 mem-
bers—including environmental organizations, commercial and recre-
ational fishing associations, aquariums, and marine science groups—
the Network uses its distinct voice and the best available science to
educate policymakers, the fishing industry, and the public about the
need for sound conservation and better management practices.
Photo Credit: Phil Kline

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