FSF had urged NOAA to close the area and protect scallop resources.
NEW BEDFORD, MASS. — Last week the NOAA Fisheries Service announced that, at the request of the scallop industry, they would close the Nantucket Lightship Access Area to fishing for the 2011 fishing year. The Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF) had asked NOAA to take this emergency action to preserve scallop resources in the area which was originally scheduled to open on June 15.
"We thank NOAA for their quick action to close the Nantucket Lightship area," said the Fisheries Survival Fund Board of Directors. "Responsible stewardship of the Atlantic Ocean and its scallop resources is the Fisheries Survival Fund's top priority. We are grateful for the governors and members of Congress who assisted us and for NOAA's partnership in our crucial rotational management program."
FSF worked closely with NOAA and the New England Fishery Management Council and urged an emergency action to close the area before its scheduled opening on June 15. FSF members also traveled to Washington, DC for two days of meetings to enlist the help of members of Congress and governor's offices.
At FSF's request, members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, led by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), and members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, led by Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Jon Runyan (R-NJ), sent letters to NOAA urging the emergency action. The offices of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy together with Representatives Joe Courtney (R-CT), Rob Wittman (R-VA) and David Cicilline (D-RI) also weighed in with the agency on behalf of FSF.
FSF's members travelled to Washington to gather support for various policy issues that affect the scallop industry. Over two days members took meetings with Senate, House, and governor's offices representing Atlantic coast states from North Carolina to Massachusetts.