July 8, 2013 — Last week a coalition of commercial fishing and dogfish processing organizations banded together to encourage the spiny dogfish industry. Spiny dogfish is plentiful and has the potential to support these fisheries as other groundfish supplies dwindle and overseas markets for dogfish decline.
A letter was submitted to the Deputy Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of USDA, requesting the Section 32 commodity purchase of spiny dogfish in response to the New England groundfish disaster and continuing degeneration of overseas dogfish markets. The second letter was submitted to the entire New England delegation, seeking their support for this collaborative industry request. The list of industry supporters includes:
– Associated Fisheries of Maine
– Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Association
– Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen’s Association (now the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance)
– Eastern Fisheries Inc.
– Maine Lobstermen’s Association
– Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association
– Marder Trawling Inc.
– Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association
– Northeast Seafood Coalition
– Rhode Island Commercial Fishermen’s Association
– Seatrade International Co. Inc.
– Sustainable Fisheries Association
– Zeus Packing Inc.
In response to the action, Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA) and his staff helped secure the support of the entire New England delegation to submit a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture requesting the support of USDA for this innovative solution to a fisheries crisis.
Read the full story from the New England Farmers Union