December 27, 2013 — The following was released by Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr:
BOSTON – In the face of serious threats to the survival of the groundfish industry in Massachusetts and major challenges to the viability of other commercial fishing sectors, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) has filed legislation to bring the force of state government to the marketing of seafood products to aid in the survival and ongoing sustainability of one of the Commonwealth’s oldest industries.
The bill, which calls for the establishment of a Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program within the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), has drawn the support of 23 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives and the Senate. It calls for the establishment of a coordinated program within DMF to market seafood landed in the Commonwealth and to take actions to increase consumer demand and preference for the local seafood products and support for the Commonwealth’s fishing and seafood industry.
“Reduced catch shares imposed under new federal regulations that went into effect May 1 have pushed our commercial groundfishing industry to the verge of extinction,” said Senator Tarr. “This proposal is just one of many avenues we can and should pursue to help save the industry and ensure that commercial fishing remains viable in Massachusetts.”
The legislation reflects the recommendations made by the Special Commission on Seafood Marketing in its July 2013 report. Senator Tarr served on the commission, along with Representative James Cantwell (D-Marshfield), Senator Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) and Representative George Peterson (R-Grafton), all of whom are co-sponsoring the new bill.
The objectives of the proposed marketing program include but are not limited to:
– Increasing the public’s knowledge about the health benefits of eating seafood and the economic importance of the Commonwealth’s fishing industry;
– Educating the public on fisheries resources, management and commercial fishing to build consumer confidence;
– Creating name recognition and increasing consumer demand and preference for Commonwealth seafood products;
– Stabilizing market prices through the promotion of the Commonwealth seafood products in low consumer demand or when the supply of said products is high;
– Developing a variety of promotional and educational tools and strategies to achieve the program’s purpose and objectives; and
– Identifying a range of sources and mechanisms to fund program activities and to increase the scope of program outreach to the public and other stakeholders.
The legislation also creates a permanent steering committee to assist DMF in the administration of the seafood marketing program. This committee will include representatives of wholesale seafood dealers, seafood retail businesses, seafood restaurant businesses, fishing industry advocacy organizations, and the commercial fishing/harvesting industry, including representatives of the lobster, scallop and wild caught shellfish industries.
In addition, the bill establishes the Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program Fund to be administered by the DMF. This fund will be used to help provide ongoing financial support for the administration of the Massachusetts Seafood Marketing Program.