NEW BEDFORD — Saying that many fishermen are suffering, in part because of harsh federal regulations, Sen. John F. Kerry on Monday announced plans to convene Congressional hearings to examine those regulations.
Kerry, D-Mass., said during a daylong visit to the city that he plans to meet next week with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and representatives of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regarding a wide range of regulatory issues that are devastating many small fishermen.
Kerry also said he plans to convene oversight committee hearings through the Senate Commerce Committee to examine NOAA's asset forfeiture proceedings.
The state's senior senator said he wants to know why the penalties assessed on New England fishermen far exceed those meted out elsewhere.
Kerry said the scope of the committee hearings will include the science used by regulators in determining catch shares, asset forfeitures and the catch shares themselves.
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