By all counts, today should be a landmark day for the fishing industry of Gloucester, all of New England and across the nation.
It's the day that fishermen and their industry allies from here to the Gulf and West coasts are converging on the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
There, they will raise their voices and call for congressional help in an overdue push to reform the Magnuson-Stevens Act and make it flexible and workable for the good of fishermen and fish stocks alike. And they will have support from a growing bipartisan chorus of lawmakers from Massachusetts Democrats such as Congressmen Barney Frank and John Tierney, to Congressmen Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Tim Bishop, R-N.Y., along with U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand, both New York Democrats.
Yet, the most conspicuous voice raised so far this week is one that will thankfully not have a platform today. Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tried to have Eric Schwaab, chief of its National Marine Fisheries Service, added to the speaking program — and mercifully, rally organizers said, "no thanks."
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.