Two months after visiting New Bedford to talk with troubled groundfishermen, Gov. Deval Patrick is requesting $3.2 million in federal funding to support a cooperative research study of key groundfish stocks.
Gov. Patrick made the funding request in a letter he sent last week to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, chief of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The letter included a research proposal prepared by the Massachusetts Marine Fisheries Institute, a partnership between the state Division of Marine Fisheries and UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology.
A NOAA spokesman said Dr. Lubchenco has received the letter and is reviewing the proposal.
Patrick gave local fisheries scientists 30 days to produce a groundfish research proposal when he visited the port on April 16 and learned how frustrated fishermen were with new rules limiting their groundfish catch, particularly winter flounder. Upon receipt of the proposal, Patrick promised that his staff would take an additional 30 days to review it and seek funding for the research.
Read the complete story at South Coast Today.
See also: SavingSeaFood – Mayor’s group completes plan to mitigate effects of days-at-sea reduction and Governor seeks NMFS backing for flounder study.