CHATHAM, Mass. (March 12, 2012) – Fishermen from Cape Cod support the Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act (FIRRA) introduced inthe U.S. Senate today by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME).
The proposed legislation would re-purpose a critical funding stream from duties collected on imported fish products. The bill realigns this revenue with the intent of the original law, which established that a large part of these funds be directed to help promote American fisheries and fund the science and research necessary to make them successful and sustainable.
The new bill provides that these funds would again be distributed on a local level for fisheries research, stock assessments, and monitoring and data collection, among other needs. These resources would come during a critical period when lack of real-time information is creating instability and hardship in New England's fishery.
"It's really encouraging to see our New England Senators take this proactive step for our fishery, and I thank them for their hard work" says Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association president and groundfisherman, Eric Hesse of West Barnstable, Mass. "Today's situation with Gulf of Maine cod underscores the importance of improved cooperative management and greater monitoring resources."
"I am not too crazy about the way fisheries management is working," adds Stu Tolley, a groundfish, monkfish and skate fisherman from Chatham, Mass. "Groundfish are going downhill, and there are too many dogfish and seals. If this bill gets money to the regions to fund fishermen's involvement in research – that would be a good thing. The best knowledge and information about our fisheries is going to come from fishermen."
"The regional council and fisheries service both need more consistent funding for research and monitoring," says scallop fisherman Tye Vecchione of Chatham, Mass. "If they always have to wonder if they're going to get it, they can't build a long-term plan to work with us. At the end of the day, without this research and better data, it's our businesses and our industry that suffer."
The Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that works to develop and implement creative solutions that promote healthy oceans, strong fishing businesses and thriving coastal communities. It is taking action now to make sure there are fish and fishermen for future generations
CCCHFA is the leading voice of commercial fishermen on Cape Cod, working with over 120 independent fishing businesses and more than 300 local fishing families. In the 2010-2011 fishing season, these fishermen brought to market more than 2.2 million pounds of groundfish such as cod, haddock, flounder and pollock, 400,000 pounds of sea scallops and over 227,000 pounds of lobsters, among other important Cape Cod seafood. Learn more about our work and how you can help us support our local fishermen at www.ccchfa.org.
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