Gov. Deval Patrick has asked U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to take action on catch limit increases "no later than October 15, 2010.”
BOSTON – Oct. 6, 2010 – In a letter dated October 1, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick thanked Commerce Secretary Locke for visiting Massachusetts and Maine, and for his announced actions on law enforcement. He asked the secretary for a 45-day window for more fishermen, captains and owners to ask that a past enforcement case be reopened
The governor wrote “My team will be in touch with your general counsel to work on the development of a legally and scientifically sound path to raise catch limits to the maximum possible extent within the constraints of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Given the number of fishermen who testified to the severe economic impacts and increasing bankruptcies among small family fishermen due to unnecessarily low limits, I ask you to take action no later than October 15, 2010.”
The Governor observed that the Secretary announced funds for gear research to reduce bycatch, Patrick wrote, “none of these funds address the serious need for a credible groundfish stock assessment, which was the cornerstone of my original request. Parties around the table noted that the solution to historic mistrust between industry science and NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) science will only be overcome through the kind of collaborative effort that I requested in June 2009."
“I ask you to identify $2.1 million in additional funding to allow us to conduct a cooperative groundfish assessment program in partnership with federal, state, and industry stakeholders. You asked for suggestions as to how a portion of NOAA’s asset forfeiture fund could be used to benefit fishermen. I believe such funds could be used to conduct a cooperative groundfish assessment program.”
Finally, the Governor asked for direct assistance for fishing families this winter. "I’m deeply concerned about the prospect of hundreds of fishermen and their families facing hardship this winter due to overly restrictive federal fishing regulations. I ask NOAA to immediately begin identifying funding, either from the asset forfeiture fund or another source, to assist with transitional and heath care coverage in the event that progress is not made on raising limits in the next several weeks.”
Read the letter from Governor Patrick to Secretary Locke.