SCITUATE, Mass. — September 6, 2012 — State Rep. James M. Cantwell was joined by 41 colleagues, including Senate President Therese Murray, Speaker Robert DeLeo, Sen. Robert Hedlund and Rep. Garrett Bradley, on Beacon Hill to request that the U.S. Department of Commerce renew a disaster request for direct economic relief for the local ground-fish fleet in Massachusetts.
Both state Senators and Representatives were prompted to request relief from the federal government after the National Marine Fisheries Service issued a report outlining a significant decrease in ground-fish stock across New England. If the data provided by NMFS is accurate, then fishermen will have to decrease their catch by 45-72 percent depending on the specific species. This will prove to be disastrous for fishermen and their families in Massachusetts.
The disaster relief would provide emergency disaster assistance to our fishermen and fishing communities while working to preserve and replenish ground-fish stock, including Massachusetts staples like cod and yellowtail flounder. Disaster relief from the federal government will prove to be critical in helping to protect the thousands of fishermen, their families and businesses across Massachusetts that depend on the fishing industry for their livelihood.
Read the full story at the Scituate Mariner.