Conti v. United States

48 Fed. Cl. 532, 2001 A.M.C. 2256, 51 ERC (BNA) 1983, 2001 U.S. Claims LEXIS 3, 2001 WL 29235
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedJanuary 11, 2001
DocketNo. 99-987C
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 48 Fed. Cl. 532 (Conti v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Conti v. United States, 48 Fed. Cl. 532, 2001 A.M.C. 2256, 51 ERC (BNA) 1983, 2001 U.S. Claims LEXIS 3, 2001 WL 29235 (uscfc 2001).

Opinion

OPINION

MARGOLIS, Senior Judge.

This takings claim is before the Court on government’s motion to dismiss pursuant to RCFC 12(b)(4) for failure to state a claim. After careful consideration of the parties’ written and oral arguments, the Court concludes that plaintiff has not stated a claim for relief. The government’s motion to dismiss is therefore GRANTED.

FACTS

In ruling on this motion to dismiss, the Court assumes all credible facts as alleged by plaintiff to be true.

Plaintiff, Paul Conti, resides in the port city of Gloucester, Massachusetts where he has harvested swordfish since 1985. Plaintiff has always used drift gillnets. His fishing vessel, the F/V PROVIDENZA, was specially designed and built for use in drift gillnet fishing.1 Plaintiff fishes in the Atlantic Swordfish Fishery2 under a limited access permit issued to him by the National Marine Fishery Service (“NMFS”). The permit allows swordfish harvesting subject to all NMFS regulations. Plaintiff must apply an[534]*534nually for the permit which is valid for the stated period unless revoked, suspended, or modified. See 50 C.F.R. §§ 635.4(a)(6), (k), (m) (2000). Plaintiff generally takes a few fishing excursions per year. In July 1997, plaintiff prepared for his fishing trip by fueling his vessel and making provisions for himself and his crew. Prior to his departure, the United States Coast Guard informed plaintiff that the use of gillnet gear was prohibited and warned him not to embark on his trip. Plaintiff has not fished since that time.

Fishery conservation and management in the United States is complex and pervasive. Fisheries are subject to many regulatory statutes: the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq., the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act, 16 U.S.C. § 971 et seq. (implementing the terms of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas), the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1361 et seq., and the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq. The primary regulatory statute is the Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq., (“Act”) which gives the Secretary of Commerce the power to regulate fisheries. The Act aims to prevent overfishing of fish stock while obtaining the maximum yield for each fishery. See 16 U.S.C. § 1851(a)(1) (2000). Fishery management is effected primarily through Fishery Management Plans (“FMP”s), which are prepared and managed by fishery management councils,3 see 16 U.S.C. § 1852(a) (2000), and approved by the Secretary. See 16 U.S.C. § 1852(h)(1) (2000). These FMPs must contain measures designed to “prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stock and to protect, restore, and promote the long-term health and stability of the fishery.” See 16 U.S.C. § 1853(a)(1)(A) (2000). Further, they must describe the “type and quantity of fishing gear used.” See 16 U.S.C. § 1853(a)(2) (2000). The Act also permits the FMPs to “prohibit, limit, condition, or require the use of specified types and quantities of fishing gear, fishing vessels, or equipment.” See 16 U.S.C. § 1853(b)(4) (2000). Additionally, an FMP may include quotas, limited access systems, and permit regulations. See 16 U.S.C. § 1853(b) (2000).

In 1985, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, in conjunction with the New England, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Mid-Atlantic Councils, submitted an FMP to the NMFS for the Atlantic Swordfish Fishery. See Atlantic Swordfish Fishery, 50 Fed.Reg. 33,952 (1985). The NMFS’ Final Rule adopted a permit requirement for commercial swordfish vessels, began a data collection system to gather more information on drift gillnet use and effects, and enacted seasonal closure times. See 50 C.F.R. §§ 630.4, 630.5, 630.21 (1985). The Secretary approved the NMFS action and the Atlantic Swordfish Fishery has been subject to increasing government regulation ever since.

Drift gillnet use became an area of international concern because of large amounts of bycatch.4 As a result, the United Nations banned their use in international waters in 1989. G.A. Res. 225, U.N. GAOR, 44th Sess., 85th píen, mtg., U.N. Doc A/44/225 (1989). In 1991, restrictions on size and quotas were implemented on drift gillnet gear users. See Atlantic Swordfish Fishery, 56 Fed.Reg. 65,-007 (1991). As a result of the quotas, the drift gillnet gear quota was often met within two weeks. See Atlantic Swordfish Fishery, 58 Fed.Reg. 37,443, 37,444 (1993). In 1995, in order to reduce incidental bycatch, the Atlantic Offshore Cetacean Take Reduction Team was formed. The Team submitted a study and plan to the NMFS to reduce drift gillnet entanglements with marine mammals. Atlantic Offshore Cetaceans Take Reduction Plan, submitted to NMFS by Susan Podziba, Nov. 22, 1996. Further, a provision was added to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, requiring all FMPs and regulations to be consistent with the goal of minimizing bycatch and by-catch mortality. See 16 U.S.C. § 1851(a)(9) (2000). In order to stay within international quotas, the Atlantic Swordfish Fishery is of[535]*535ten closed. See Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Drift Gillnet Emergency Closure, 61 Fed. Reg. 64,486 (1996). In fact, the NMFS closed the entire fishery from December 1996 through July 1998, re-opening for only 14 days in August 1998. See Atlantic Swordfish Fishery, Drift Gillnet Emergency Closure, 61 Fed.Reg. 64,486 (1996); Extension of Drift Gillnet Emergency Closure, 62 Fed. Reg. 30,775 (1997); North Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Closure, 63 Fed.Reg. 41,205 (1998). In both 1996 and 1997, the swordfish quota was again reduced. See Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; 1996 Quotas, Minimum Size, Adjustment, 61 Fed.Reg. 27,304 (1996); Atlantic Swordfish Fishery; Annual Quotas, 62 Fed. Reg. 55,357 (1997). In July 1997, the NMFS issued additional restrictions on gillnet use in order to reduce the incidental takes of certain types of whales. See

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48 Fed. Cl. 532, 2001 A.M.C. 2256, 51 ERC (BNA) 1983, 2001 U.S. Claims LEXIS 3, 2001 WL 29235, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/conti-v-united-states-uscfc-2001.