NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — July 26, 2012 — Mayor Jon Mitchell is traveling to Washington today to press the members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation on two issues key to the city's welfare: fishing and firefighting.
The possibility that the catch limit for yellowtail flounder on Georges Bank could be set as low as 150 metric tons for the 2013 fishing year prompted the journey, the mayor said. If that limit were to be enforced, there is broad consensus it would effectively shut down both the city's groundfish boats and scallopers, Mitchell said. "Closed Area 2 (on Georges Bank) is the largest scallop fishing ground. Shutting that down would be a gigantic hit to the industry and the local economy."
The mayor has scheduled separate meetings with Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown and Reps. Barney Frank and Bill Keating today.
Mitchell said he will urge the legislators to put pressure on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries Service to revisit its stock assessment model. "The science is dubious at best," Mitchell said. "We need to get out ahead of this with prompt action."
Mitchell will be accompanied to by New Bedford Fire Chief Michael Gomes and union president Billy Cabral. The trio will urge the delegation to support the city's application to renew its SAFER grant, which expires in May. The grant provides federal funds to ensure that fire departments across the nation are adequately manned. It is awarded every two years.
"We can't forgo reapplying for this if we want to maintain current staffing levels," the mayor said.
Read the full story in the New Bedford Standard Times