BOSTON — August 15, 2012 — Calling the need for a disaster declaration “more critical than ever” and saying he feared for the state’s fishing industry, Governor Deval Patrick appealed to the federal government Monday to facilitate direct economic relief to Massachusetts fishermen.
In a letter to Acting US Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank, Patrick cited recently released National Marine Fisheries Service data suggesting potential groundfish catch limit cuts next year of between 43 percent and 73 percent across multiple stocks, reductions that the governor said would put “the very viability of the historic and economically vital New England fishing fleet at risk.”
“We must take immediate action to prevent a massive consolidation of the fleet and to protect the thousands of fishermen and their families who depend on this industry for their livelihood,” Patrick wrote in his letter, asking Blank to use authority she holds under the Magnuson-Stevenson Act.
Noting Massachusetts had renewed its disaster declaration request in November 2011, Patrick asked Blank to act before cuts in fish catch limits are implemented next year.
“Without this advance and proactive action, I fear for the viability of our fleet, and the communities and shore-side businesses that depend on the industry,” Patrick wrote.
In November 2010, Patrick asked the federal government to provide $21 million in relief to the groundfish fleet in Massachusetts “for the impact caused by the implementation of and transition to catch shares.” In January 2011, that request was denied but federal officials asked for more research.
Read the full story at the Boston Globe.