I keep hearing this, and wondering aloud -- since commercials are (at least on the CR) limited by impacts -- why haven't they switched to more selective methods previously? I mean more fish = more money, right? Could be any of:

a) economics are net negative -- e.g. the extra fish don't offset the incremental costs

b) impacts math is based on gill net mortality, seasons are set on these impacts--so each skipper to use the most productive, lowest cost method legally allowed. In short the commercials COULD make more money with seiners, but would need to be organized. They end up here out of disorganization--even as disorganized as we are traded opportunity (days) for selectivity (barbless/clip fisheries)

c) fear that once they go selective, the old allocation methods (based on impacts) will be traded for new allocation methods (based on harvest #s).

d) something I've not thought of yet