The Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust is a Massachusetts 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 2011 to: (i) Preserve the historic fishing fleets, communities, and economies of Martha’s Vineyard; (ii) Protect the marine populations and fishing grounds off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard and New England; (iii) Educate the community about its local fisheries. The fishing commu
nities of Martha’s Vineyard and the way of life that has been established by generations of its fishermen are facing extinction. Less than 30 years ago, the island’s fishing fleet was harvesting healthy bounds of swordfish, groundfish, lobster, and sea scallops. Now, regulatory changes have enabled mainland corporate boats to flourish and threaten our local fish populations while making fishing unaffordable for the island’s owner-operated fishing fleet. In order to participate in most of our local fisheries, small-boat fishermen are now required to purchase permits and must also frequently lease “quota,” or the right to catch a certain amount of fish. Many of our long-established fishermen are approaching retirement, and the feasibility of their offspring and other young people entering a fishery or of current fishermen having the ability to expand their small-boat fishing businesses without incurring overwhelming expenses is dim. An aging vessel infrastructure compounds the threat to our cultural values, the principles and ideals that are at the core of our island’s fishing heritage to provide fresh and sustainably harvested catch for the people of Martha’s Vineyard. Throughout New England, communities are establishing such permit banks as a way of fighting corporate displacement of local owner-operated fleets. Similar to land conservation initiatives, they hold fishing permits for the benefit of their local fishermen, leasing the fishing rights and/or quota associated with those permits at affordable rates. Thus, the permit bank model would ensure a lasting, viable, and sustainable commercial fishing community on Martha’s Vineyard. Martha’s Vineyard’s historic fishing character is revitalized and sustained, with (1) economic growth and stability in local fisheries, bringing young people into fishing jobs that pay a living wage; (2) healthy local fish stocks supported by science and innovative cooperative management between regulators and local fishermen; and (3) an educated public on the island and nationwide that supports our fishing industry and buys fresh, local, sustainable seafood. Starting in the spring of 2014, we began to hold board meetings twice a month in order to develop operating procedures and program plans. Currently, our board includes ten members, which we plan to expand to thirteen over the next two years. Board Members:
John Keene, President
Owner of John Keene Excavation, Inc. Shelley Edmundson, Executive Director and Treasurer
PhD, Zoology/Marine Biology
Katherine Carroll, Clerk
President of Menemsha Texaco Service, Inc. Emily Bramhall
Executive Director of The Permanent Endowment for Martha’s Vineyard
Wesley Brighton
Commercial Fisherman
Warren Doty
Retired fish buyer and Chilmark Selectman
Todd Goodell
Commercial Fisherman
Matthew Mayhew
Commercial Fisherman and Electrician
Stanley Startzell
Certified Financial Planner, Registered Representative Lincoln Investment
David White
Artistic Director and Executive Producer of The Yard
