April 29, 2013 — Frustrated by the response of federal fishing regulators, top Bay State politicians on Monday decried new catch-limits on fishermen set to take effect in two days that they said could cripple the fishing industry in Massachusetts, while Gov. Deval Patrick has sought to intervene with the White House to protect the livelihoods of fishermen.
In an attempt to guard against overfishing and allow populations of haddock, cod and yellowtail flounder to replenish, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is set to implement new restrictions on May 1 reducing the amounts of fish that boats from around New England can catch by as much as 78 percent.
Fishermen, scientists and elected officials have questioned the science used to set the catch-limits, and have called for a less drastic one-year reduction in fishing limits by 40 percent. Additional funding for research into the groundfish stocks off the Atlantic Coast of New England is also being sought, officials said.
Patrick has written multiple letters to Congressional leaders and the U.S. Commerce Department seeking assistance, and last Thursday spoke with Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett about his request for an interim measure to postpone deep reductions to fishing limits.
So far, attempts to secure disaster relief or forestall the catch-limit reductions before Wednesday have been unsuccessful, but leaders said they would not give up. NOAA on Monday insisted the limits were necessary.
“The fishermen do not want to take all the fish out of the ocean. That’s not sustainable for them over the long haul. It’s not going to be a business they can then hand to their children and their grandchildren. Everyone’s looking for sustainability. The fishermen want good science and something that doesn’t wipe out their entire industry between now and when the stocks are replenished,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said on Monday.
Warning of a “catastrophic perfect storm of circumstances” that could cripple the fishing industry in Massachusetts, fishermen from Gloucester to New Bedford gathered at the Fish Pier in South Boston on Monday to urge the Obama administration to overrule NOAA and postpone the reduction in catch-limits for 2013.
A dozen public officials, including Warren and interim U.S. Sen. Mo Cowan, rallied on the pier under blue skies. They also called on Congress to approve disaster relief funding for fishermen impacted by the new rules.