Rep. Bill Keating (left) and Rep. Rob Bishop (right) discuss at-sea monitoring in a visit to New Bedford on Thursday, June 2. (Photo: House Natural Resources Committee)
June 3, 2016 — The following is excerpted from a story published yesterday by WBSM:
The City of New Bedford welcomed a possible congressional ally for the fishing industry Thursday to tour fisheries along the harbor.
Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) took a tour of the Whaling City Seafood Auction and seafood processing plant Northern Wind along with Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA), New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell and representatives of the local seafood industry.
Elected officials and members of the fishing industry have expressed grave concern over the federally mandated costs by NOAA for at-sea monitors aboard select fishing vessels across the east coast.
Keating said it’s difficult for legislators outside maritime districts to fully understand the impact of the at-sea monitoring costs.
“It creates a greater challenge to get the understanding why this is so important,” said Keating. “The cost of monitoring $800 a day could be enough to be the difference between success and failure of a small business.”