The Senator announced that he has requested a private meeting with Secretary Gary Locke, and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco.  He expressed extreme frustration with the lack of action from both officials in recent months on fisheries issues. The Senator said local fishermen are hurting, and "it's not entirely because of the economy, it's because of the Federal Government and some of the decisions that have been made with insensitivity and without adequate creativity."

Locke has denied Gov. Deval Patrick's request for increased catch allowances for groundfish, and also rejected appeals for financial aid for the fishing industry as it complies with sector management and catch shares introduced last year.

Last month, Locke also refused a request from Senator Kerry and other lawmakers to expand the scope of an investigation of prosecutorial abuse by fisheries law enforcement in New England as identified by Commerce Department Inspector General Todd Zinser.

The Senator announced plans to hold hearings to look into fisheries regulation and misuse of NOAA's Asset Forfeiture Fund.

Many detractors of NOAA's "catch shares" program in New England have been critical of the increase in fleet consolidation since the implementation of the "sectors".  The Senator addressed the consolidation issue, saying he does not want to see the small commercial fisherman "driven literally into the past."

The Senator sharply criticized the difference between how the Federal Government treats farmers, versus how it treats fishermen.


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