The Nature Conservatory
June 2006

Conservancy purchases federal trawling permits and vessels to protect California's sensitive marine habitats.  Degraded seafloor communities and depleted fish species will now get the chance to recover in a large swath of ocean off the coast of central California, thanks to an innovative trawler buy-out program initiated by The Nature Conservancy.

This summer the Conservancy purchased six federal trawling permits and four trawling vessels from commercial fishermen, becoming the first private organization to buy out Pacific fishing permits and boats for conservation purposes.

The acquisitions are part of a collaborative effort with fishermen and government regulators to protect 3.8 million acres of ocean and help reform a troubled fishery.

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/california/features/art18316.html