March 3, 2015 — As with all crewmen that have worked the groundfish boats in the Northeast Multispecies Groundfish fishery since 2010, though, Sawyer is anxiously awaiting his share of the $3 million earmarked for commercial crew members as part of the second phase of the federal groundfish disaster funding being administered by the state.
"It's nothing new," Sawyer said today. "I'm used to getting the runaround from these government guys."
Throughout Gloucester and across Cape Ann, commercial crew members _ and the boat owners and captains looking out for them _ have grown increasingly frustrated at the lack of movement in getting the much-needed financial assistance to the most needy: crew members.
The optimism that greeted the news last year that crew members would be among the primary beneficiaries in the second round of disaster funding has turned to skepticism and anger at what they consider bureaucratic foot-dragging and a total lack of empathy for those along the bottom rung of the commercial fish employment ladder.
"It's just not right that these guys are having to wait as long as they have," said longtime Gloucester boat owner Joe Orlando said. "And no one's giving us any answers."
Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times