I sat across a conference table from the Secretary of Commerce, looked him in the eye, and explained how twelve years ago, NOAA Enforcement destroyed my career, took away my livelihood, and put my wife and family through hell. I was able to seek redress directly from a member of the President’s cabinet because of Barney Frank.
I’m a Massachusetts kid. I grew up in Westport Point. I started lobstering as a 12-year-old. I always wanted to be a fisherman. By 1967, I was a commercial fisherman in New Bedford. I worked my way up from apprentice deckhand to engineer to captain. I moved to scalloping in 1975 with a small boat, bought a large boat in 1978, and a larger boat in 1985. I had achieved my life’s dream.
That dream was shattered in 1998. I was one of the many victims of overzealous enforcement by NOAA. My case was prosecuted by Charles Juliand, the attorney recently removed from his enforcement duties in the wake of the abuses uncovered by the Inspector General.
I settled my case, even though I believed I was right, because my attorney advised me that it was nearly impossible to win — even when the facts were on your side. Those of us targeted by corrupt enforcement knew we’d been wronged. But the deck was stacked.
NOAA forced me to give up my permits. No longer able to work in the industry I love, I moved my family to Florida’s west coast, where I use my U.S. Merchant Mariner master’s license to operate passenger vessels.
Last month, I travelled to Washington with colleagues from the fishing industry. I was able to do something that I never dreamed could happen. I sat across a conference table from the Secretary of Commerce, looked him in the eye, and explained how twelve years ago, the agency now in his portfolio destroyed my career, took away my livelihood, and put my wife and family through hell.
The secretary listened. He acknowledged that there are many stories like mine. And then, something else I never dreamed could happen, did happen. The secretary said he was starting a process so that cases like mine could be reviewed and reopened.
I was able to seek redress directly from a member of the President’s cabinet because of the leadership and tenacious efforts of Congressman Barney Frank.
This is not the first time I’ve witnessed Congressman Frank’s work for his constituents.
In 1994, Marjorie Orman and five scallop captains — including myself — started the Fisherman’s Survival Fund to fight for scallopers. Thanks to Congressman Frank, we retained Washington attorney David Frulla, who for 15 years has worked to ensure that the Federal Government does not trample upon the rights of scallopers.
Thanks to Congressman Frank, we were able to get help from Dr. Brian Rothschild and the University of Massachusetts School for Marine Science and Technology. (SMAST). Today, the work of SMAST in developing ocean bottom surveys is legendary. Their top-quality science saved the scallop industry and returned New Bedford to its place as the most profitable seaport in the country.
Congressman Frank championed the Massachusetts Fishing Partnership Health Plan, which provides health insurance for fishing families and has become a model for covering the working uninsured.
In the past two years, Congressman Frank has been at the forefront of the effort to stop the abuses perpetrated on fishermen by NOAA’s out-of-control enforcement arm.
For the past year, Congressman Frank has worked to overcome a NOAA Administrator appointed by his own party who has ignored the economic concerns of coastal communities.
He organized a Congressional fisheries caucus with members from North Carolina to Maine to forge one of the few successful bipartisan coalitions in Congress.
He obtained a pledge from the Secretary of Commerce to look at economic and scientific data from scholars who fisherman can trust to make a determination on emergency actions to help the industry.
We fishermen have sometimes been our own worst enemy. When confronted with industry-threatening issues, we have allowed old gripes and grudges to surface. Over and over, Congressman Frank has been there to provide leadership that has helped us rise above the bickering.
Many of us were attracted to fishing because we have fiercely independent personalities. Fierce independence and political liberalism don’t always go hand in hand. There have been times when many of us have not agreed with Barney on national issues. But then again sometimes we don’t agree with our own wives, kids, and best friends.
Barney has been one of the best friends this industry has ever had.
Friendships forged over decades, and fortified by example after example of trust and good deeds deserve loyalty.
If anyone deserves our loyalty it’s Congressman Frank. The fishing industry needs his intelligence, experience, and tenacity to continue represent us in Washington.