February 28, 2013 — NBC Nightly News highlights need for disaster relief and improved scientific research as Gulf of Maine cod catch drastically reduced
The following was released by the office of Congressman John Tierney.
Washington, DC –February 28, 2013 — As attention and outrage continue to grow over the devastating impact that new catch share rules will have on Northeast fisheries, Congressman John Tierney (D-MA) called on his colleagues throughout the country to support necessary disaster relief for the fishing industry. Last night, NBC Nightly News highlighted the economic disaster facing small fishing boats in Gloucester, MA in a segment called “Death knell for cod fishermen?”, which includes interviews with local fishermen who are losing their businesses, homes, and livelihood. Along with various ports in Massachusetts, eight other states received 2012 emergency disaster declarations for their fishing communities and are still waiting for the disaster assistance they deserve.
“As public outcry intensifies, I urge my colleagues to join me is pressing for relief for our fishermen. The fishing industry is one of the oldest and most relied upon in the country, and it is facing near catastrophe. The Department of Commerce has recognized this and designated fisheries disasters in Massachusetts and several other states last year. Yet, sufficient relief for our fishermen still has not been provided. This is unacceptable. Fishermen in my district and across the country deserve better,” Congressman Tierney said.
Congressman Tierney’s bipartisan Fisheries Disaster Relief and Research Investment Act would:
– Allocate the funds directed to the Department of Commerce under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act only in Fiscal Year 2014 to be used for assistance to those states affected by fishery disasters declared by the Secretary of Commerce in calendar year 2012. (While the specific amount that would be generated in 2014 is not yet known, it is worth noting that in Fiscal Year 2013 the amount directed to Commerce under Saltonstall-Kennedy was $124 million; and in Fiscal Year 2012, it was $109 million)
– Beginning in Fiscal Year 2015, the bill would direct those same funds to research, and put fisheries research, monitoring, and data collection in the hands of regional management councils by requiring multi-stakeholder regional committees, authorized by the bill and appointed by the nation’s eight fishery management councils, to develop plans to identify priorities for investment in each region. The committees would use those priorities to evaluate and recommend grants for funding.
The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act of 1954 ensured that a percentage of tariffs on imported fish products go to benefit and improve our domestic fishing industry. Since then, these funds have been inappropriately redirected to the operations fund at NOAA, depriving our nation’s fisheries of potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.
Read Congressman Tierney’s letter to his colleagues