Of all the issues dividing fishermen and their regulators, none needs more urgent attention than the well-earned absence of credence the industry gives NOAA's science. That's what makes Kerry's call for a systemic data collection "overhaul" so important.

If Bryson wants NOAA to have any regulatory credibility, he would respond favorably to our senior senator's suggestion. Our guess is that more reliable data will show there's neither a need nor reason for NOAA's job-killing regulatory policies that continue to drive family fishing boats the way of the family farm.