April 10, 2017 — With the wind-swept vista of the nation’s oldest fishing seaport on full display behind him, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton on Saturday stood with his feet on the Gloucester waterfront and his eye on the future of the commercial fishing industry.
Moulton was in Gloucester to announce legislation he believes will help rebuild the industry’s dwindling workforce by removing training and economic barriers to cultivate a new generation of fishermen.
“Today we’re celebrating the industry that is so fundamental to this community and frankly to our entire region,” said Moulton while flanked by a cadre of state and city officials. “The piece of legislation that we’re announcing today will go toward sustaining that industry into the future by ensuring that young people have a future in the fishing industry.”
The legislation, crafted in partnership with U.S. Rep. Don Young of Alaska, is the Young Fishermen’s Development Act. The bill, according to its sponsors, is a vehicle for addressing one of the fishing industry’s most pressing needs — building a new generation of fishermen that will take the industry into the future.
The bill is modeled after a similar and successful program initiated by the Department of Agriculture to re-energize the farming industry. It is designed to provide federal grants to local organizations to develop training, education and outreach to attract younger fishermen to help reverse the trend of an aging industry.