The article, published on the New Bedford Standard-Times' website, follows Commerce Secretary Gary Locke's decision last week to reject an emergency request to raise catch limits of certain fish. Governor Deval Patrick and members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation had made the request to aid the decimated fishing industry and followed up the request with a report from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, that provided ways to raise the limits without endangering fishing stocks.

Locke said the report did not provide enough new scientific evidence that showed such a change in policy was warranted.

"The Obama administration violated assurances that it was prepared to work constructively with the fishing industry in New England,'' Frank wrote. "... It is now clear that the secretary is unwilling to exercise independent judgment and that an anti-fishing attitude prevails in the National Marine Fisheries Service.

"This is unacceptable."

Frank had a warning for the administration. "I have worked with the Obama administration on a number of important issues since the president came to office ... But the president must understand that if the administration persists in such a serious assault on the livelihood of the working men and women of the fishing industry, it will make it difficult for me and others to maintain this degree of cooperation."

Read the complete story from The Boston Globe.