Gov. Patrick joined by Lt. Gov. Murray and Secy. Bowles met with fishing industry leaders in a meeting organized by Mayor Scott Lang During a visit to New Bedford on Friday, Jan 8, 2010, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick spoke with fishing industry representatives in a meeting organized by New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang's Oceans and Fisheries Council. Mayor Lang termed the discussion "very productive" and noted that also participating were Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray and Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles.
“Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray had a very positive meeting with fishermen in New Bedford today about the ongoing crisis facing the industry,” said Secretary Bowles. “Working together over the past three years, we have obtained unprecedented financial relief for the groundfishing fleet and shell fishermen impacted by red tide. Today, we all agreed to keep working together to fight for the fishing industry in Massachusetts as well as protect the natural resource the industry and our fishing communities depend on, based on sound science and fairer federal regulation.”
"The Governor was clear that he wanted an open channel of communication between himself and the citizens of the Commonwealth who are concerned about fisheries," said Bob Vanasse, executive director of the Project to Save Seafood and Ocean Resources. "Secretary Bowles made suggestions as to how we could make that happen, and we have already begun to act on them."
Richie Canastra, of the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction, said "the industry needs to do its part to bring issues to the table and keep the Governor informed. The Governor told us that if we do our job, he will do his." Canastra continued "Our draggers are about to move to sector management with all of its uncertainty. They have made sacrifices over the last 15 years, with the promise that when the stocks return, they will profit. When they see their brother fishermen in scallops — a species that has recovered and has excellent biomass — still being cut back, they are understandably discouraged, and wonder if the promises made by federal regulators are true."
"We appreciate the support that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing to the industry at this time of difficulty," said Drew Minkiewicz, of the Fisheries Survival Fund "and we remain hopeful that reconsideration of the scallop limits will be added to the agenda of the upcoming Council meeting."
"The Governor's participation and engagement is important to keep the pressure on federal regulators to ensure that our fishing families are represented and their economic concerns are weighed appropriately," said Kristen Decas, Executive Director of the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission. "The governor is stepping up to the plate at a most critical time."
Rodney Avila, a member of the New England Fisheries Management Council, said it was "a very constructive discussion."