U.S. Sen. John Kerry and five congressmen have petitioned the Secretary of Commerce for emergency executive action to bring economic relief to the New England fishing industry as it faces a dire short-term future at the hands of governmental regulations.
The cutbacks could drain as much as 32 percent of revenue from the groundfishery, according to the government's own estimates.
The group of lawmakers, organized by Congressman William Delahunt, D-Mass., presented Commerce Secretary Gary Locke with four detailed situation analyses that were subject to executive action.
"We outline four problems which are needlessly endangering fishing businesses," read a letter signed by Kerry and Congressmen Delahunt, John Tierney, Barney Frank, Jim McGovern, all Massachusetts Democrats; Chellie Pingree, D-Maine; and Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam.
Read the complete story at The Gloucester Daily Times.