SavingSeaFood - Federal visitors get firsthand look at economic challenges brought by fishing regs

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Federal visitors get firsthand look at economic challenges brought by fishing regs

NEW BEDFORD — On the second day of a three-day visit to the city, an economic assessment team from the U.S. Department of Commerce heard about the challenges facing the fishing industry and the shore-side businesses that depend on it.

In addition to the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, the office of Housing and Urban Development, the Treasury Department, the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration were also represented on the team.

Explaining their visit at a time when fishermen are struggling with new regulations and sector management, Brian McGowan, deputy assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, said: "This is obviously a result of the regulations and how they've affected this community. It's a unique deployment with a number of federal agencies working together." Five other ports in the region will receive similar visits, he said.

The New Bedford stop is not confined strictly to the waterfront, McGowan said. "There are 6,500 people unemployed in this town. So it needs to be about more than just fishing, although we recognize that fishing is absolutely the prime economic driver."

Read the complete story from The South Coast Today.

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