American Alliance of Fishermen and their Communities (AAFC)

“PRESERVING OUR NATION’S FISHERIES FOR ALL AMERICA”
P.O. Box 5490
Wakefield R.I. 02880
401-837-6932
tinajaafc@gmail.com

January 29, 2013

The Honorable Dr. Jane Lubchenco
Under Secretary of Commerce
Administrator of NOAA
1401 Constitution Ave
NW Room 5128
Washington DC 20230

Dear Dr. Lubchenco,

Please accept this letter as a formal FOIA Request for the following documents pertaining to Trawl Surveys performed on the RMS Henry Bigelow, RMS Pisces, and the RMS Albatross.

1.Copies of all original handwritten Captains’ Ship logs for the RMS Henry Bigelow for the fishing years 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

2.Copies of all original handwritten Captains’ Ship logs for the RMS Pisces for the fishing years 2011 and 2012.

3.Copies of all original handwritten documentation recorded by the Science and Statistical Committee (SSC) at Woods Hole from the trawl surveys on the RMS Henry Bigelow for the fishing years 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

4.Copies of all original handwritten documentation recorded by the SSC at Woods Hole from the trawl surveys on the RMS Pisces for the fishing years 2011 and 2012.

5.Copies of all original handwritten Captains’ ship logs from the Albatross for the fishing years 2003 and 2004.

6.Copies of all original handwritten documentation recorded by the SSC in the Northeast region from trawl surveys on the RMS Albatross for fishing years 2003 and 2004.

7.A list of all Personnel who are currently or have been employed by NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) or the SSC that specifically work or have worked on the RMS Henry Bigelow or the RMS Pisces through years 2007-present. I am not seeking any personal information pertaining to these government employees other than their names. This would not be a violation of the Privacy Act of 1974 due to the nature of my request. I am simply seeking to obtain the names of employees who are paid through Tax dollars and such a request is in the interest of the Public’s Right to Know.

I hereby request a waiver of fees for this information due to our Non-profit status and it is in the interest of the public and will definitely contribute to public understanding of the operation or activities of NOAA and is not primarily in my commercial interest. I will not personally seek any financial gain from the disclosed information.

I ask that this information be sent to me in paper form. I do not want any computerized version of this request considering I am asking for copies of the original handwritten ship logs and actual on-deck scientific documenting of actual catches during research trawls.

I ask that this request be expedited due to the nature of severe cutbacks on the groundfish stocks currently under review. If the current cutbacks are allowed to occur the entire Northeast ground fishing industry will certainly be eliminated and I feel that stock assessments are so important that the release of this information will further public understanding of how stock assessments are made. The loss of jobs and revenue to all current permit holders, concerned states and the loss of revenue throughout the country are of the utmost importance and this request may pave the way for considerations other than restrictions through any of the Regional Fisheries Councils.

AAFC has advocated for the fishing industry from 2009-present. Our organization is strictly on a volunteer basis. There is no pay for any of the work that we do for AAFC or for the fishing industry. To review any of our white papers or correspondence, please feel free to contact me. My email address and phone number are located at the beginning of this letter and you may contact me at any time regarding this request.
Thank you for your prompt and required attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Tina Jackson
President, AAFC

Cc:
AAFC BOD/Members
The Honorable Rebecca Blank, Acting Commerce Sec.

Eric Shwaab, Director of Fisheries of NOAA
John Bullard, NE Regional NMFS Director
Paul Howard, Director of NEFMC
Chris Kellogg, Coordinator SSC