June 30, 2014 — The following was released by the Office of the Mayor of New Bedford, Mass.:
New Bedford, Massachusetts- On Tuesday, July 1, 2014 Mayor Jon Mitchell will speak on the topic of fisheries management at special listening session in Gloucester, Massachusetts hosted by Congressman John Tierney and Congressman Peter DeFazio, the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Natural Resources.
The House Committee on Natural Resources has jurisdiction over the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing marine fisheries management in federal waters.
At the session, Mayor Mitchell will present the recently released “Groundfish Port Recovery and Revitalization Plan for the Port of New Bedford and Fairhaven,” which includes recommendations for the Northeast's struggling groundfish fishery.
Among the Plan's recommendations are; adoption of new camera technology to improve the accuracy of stock surveys; maximizing yield within the constraints set by regulations; setting conservation goals based on the best available scientific information and derived from collaborative research between the government, fishermen, and marine scientists; minimizing bycatch; considering fisheries' respectively unique distinctions when setting management goals; minimizing costs; and considering efficiency when allocating resources, including non-economic considerations.
The listening session will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 10:30-11:30AM at Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Avenue, Gloucester, Massachusetts.
New Bedford is the Number One commercial fishing port in the United States of America.
Read the original media advisory from the Office of the Mayor of New Bedford, Mass.