NEW BEDFORD — The fishing industry in the Northeast has been unhappy with NOAA for a long time, clashing hard for the last two years.
And now that President Barack Obama wants to move the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration out of the Commerce Department and into Interior to pool resources and save money, the question may be: It sounds good at first, but would it be?
Few are objecting outright to the move (if it ever occurs in today's political climate). But some, such as U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., wondered aloud whether saltwater fisheries management might better be handled by the Department of Agriculture.
But Frank then observed that Agriculture may take a budget hit next year and farmers might not appreciate sharing fewer resources with the fishing industry.
Read the complete article from The Standard-Times