WASHINGTON - Jan. 7 2011 -  (Saving Seafood) - Massachusetts Governor Deval  Patrick issued the following statement on the letters he received from Commerce Sec. Gary Locke and National Marine Fisheries Service Administrator Eric Schwaab in which they denied his request for increased groundfish allocations and economic aid.
 
"I am deeply disappointed in the Secretary's decision not to raise catch limits within conservation limits or provide economic assistance to fishermen in need. Our agencies supplied him with more than sufficient evidence of economic distress and dislocation resulting from a poorly planned and executed transition to catch shares, and evidence based on the best available science that catch limits could be raised without undermining our conservation commitments. And yet the Secretary denied outright our request for economic aid for impacted fishermen and a judicious increase in catch limits, and provided no alternative form of relief in its place. In doing so, I believe he has squandered an opportunity to relieve the economic hardship currently suffered by many fishing families and restore a sense of trust and good will toward the federal agencies who regulate their livelihood. We will continue to work with the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to secure aid to help fishermen and work with Commerce to significantly improve the transition to catch shares, which for many fishermen has been a failure so far."
 
Earlier today, Congressman John Tierney, whose district includes Gloucester, Mass. also responded to the denial of the Governor's request with this statement:

"I am deeply disappointed that the Secretary did not take emergency action to increase catch limits despite the fact that credible, scientific evidence was provided to him demonstrating the need for it." said Congressman John F. Tierney. "The livelihood of fishermen in our area and many other coastal communities will be negatively impacted by this decision.  As we move forward, I will continue to explore all avenues to press the Secretary of Commerce to take appropriate action in order to ensure that our fishermen receive a fair shake."

Congressman Tierney continued, "Although the availability of certain fish stocks may rise with the recently enacted International Fisheries Clarification Act, which will allow regulators to negotiate higher catch limits with Canada for domestic fisherman under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, it is important to note that, taken alone, this is not enough," continued Tierney. "There is still much more to be done to help our fishing communities, and the fact remains that the lack of action by the Secretary will result in more hardship for our fishing communities."