The following is an abridged version of my prepared remarks for the "United We Fish" rally in Washington, D.C., this past week:
For almost 400 years, the fishermen of Gloucester have gone down to the sea in ships in their quest to supply a hungry nation with wholesome fish from the oceans. More than 5,000 of our people have lost their lives while fishing, and their names are written on our city walls, and in our memory.
After 15 years of sacrifice to rebuild fisheries, at the cost of jobs and infrastructure and upheaval in fishing communities, stocks are rebuilding at an unprecedented pace, and groundfish stocks are at their highest levels in generations.
In Gloucester, our port has already lost 80 percent of its fleet, and other ports are similarly impacted. And still, the fishing industry faces further cutbacks to the point of extinction.