Statement from Jackie Odell, Executive Director, Northeast Seafood Coalition
For almost a year, the Northeast Seafood Coalition has been pursuing a resolution for the low annual catch limits prescribed for key groundfish stocks. NSC has continuously conveyed our grave concerns to members of Congress that the limits prescribed for a number of stocks were set far below the overfishing limits, thus threatening the effective functioning of sectors and the economic sustainability of our fishery and communities. We look forward to the Secretary of Commerce utilizing his statutory authority as soon as possible to relieve the unnecessary constraints placed upon the fishery.
The Northeast Seafood Coalition is pleased to see that the Department of Commerce and NOAA are in support of legislation that is essential to bi-lateral management of shared resources on Georges Bank. NSC strongly supports this legislation be enacted at the next available opportunity.
The Northeast Seafood Coalition greatly appreciates the support and leadership of our political representatives (Senator Kerry, Senator Snowe, Senator Brown, Congressman Frank, Congressman Tierney, Governor Patrick, Mayor Lang, Mayor Kirk, State Senator Tarr and Representative Ferrante) on critical issues that face the groundfish fishery and coastal communities across New England.