August 16, 2012 – Massachusetts State Representative Robert M. Koczera, a Democrat who represents New Bedford in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, joined Governor Patrick in calling on the Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank to provide direct economic relief to Massachusetts fishermen.
In a letter sent today to Acting U. S. Commerce Secretary Blank, Koczera urged acceptance of Massachusetts’ 2011 request for a disaster declaration to aid fishermen suffering financial losses and consolidation.
The text of his letter follows:
The Honorable Rebecca Blank
Acting Secretary
United States Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Dear Acting Secretary Blank:
As a State Representative representing the City of New Bedford, a major fishing port in the nation, I am writing to urge the Department of Commerce to accept the Commonwealth’s November 2011 request for direct economic relief for the Massachusetts groundfish fleet. The 2011 request was based on financial losses and consolidations within the groundfish fleet. The preliminary report from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) forecasting further, devastating cuts to the New England groundfishery in 2013 makes the need for a disaster declaration more critical now than before.
The preliminary NMFS’ report suggests groundfish cuts between 43 and 73 percent across multiple stocks. A cut of this magnitude will be disastrous to the fishing fleet. Direct economic relief is needed to prevent the catastrophic consolidation of the fleet and to protect the livelihood of fishermen. It is critically important to the viability of the New England fishing industry that the department provide this much needed economic aid before any further cuts in allocation are authorized.
Our fishermen are farmers of the sea. They deserve and need the same supports we provide agricultural farmers.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Koczera
Massachusetts House of Represenatives