GLOUCESTER, Mass. — August, 14 2012 — On the day the White House announced $170 million in meat purchases to help farmers struggling with drought in the heartland, Gov. Deval Patrick renewed his now nearly 9-month-old disaster declaration request for the state's fishing industry, which is consolidating rapidly while looking at huge cuts in allowable landings next year.
Patrick last November filed a disaster declaration package including by two scientific studies, one done jointly with the federal government, showing the state's small-boat businesses failing at an increasing rate, unable to break even. Much of the industry is based in Gloucester and New Bedford.
Despite repeated telephone conferences with officials at the Department of Commerce over the months, the administration has responded in no way.
Since the filing, the economic climate for fishermen has grown more dire. "(National Marine Fisheries Service) numbers suggest groundfish cuts between 43 and 73 percent across multiple stocks, putting the very viability of the historic and economically vital New England fishing fleet at risk," wrote Patrick to Acting Commerce Secretary Roberta Blank.
Read the full story at the Gloucester Times